Skip to content
SPECIFICTION
Get listed

MSI Afterburner

us.msi.com

Free plan WindowsAndroid
Visit us.msi.com
Spec score 8.7 #10 of 59 in Hardware monitoring tools

What it is

MSI Afterburner is Windows software for tuning graphics cards and monitoring hardware in real time. Its controls cover GPU clock frequency, voltage, power limits and fan speed, and users can set fan curves and save tuning profiles. MSI says it works with graphics cards from all brands, not only its own. OC Scanner can find the highest stable overclock settings for a card. While gaming, an on-screen display can show live system performance information. The page also describes Predator, a separate recording tool for games or overclocking that supports H.264, WMV and AVI formats. MSI lists a free plan at free, with overclocking and undervolting, hardware monitoring, custom fan control and an on-screen display. There is no free trial. MSI lists versions 4.6.6 (Final) and 4.6.7 (Beta), both released in September 2026. It warns that phishing sites may steal data and identifies msi.com and Guru3D as the correct sites.

Spec sheet

What it does
MSI Afterburner is a desktop utility for overclocking and monitoring discrete graphics cards.Read 15 Oct 2026 · event.msi.com
Purpose
MSI Afterburner is graphics card software for overclocking and real-time hardware monitoring.Read 11 Oct 2026 · msi.com
Free plan
YesRead 20 Sep 2026 · us.msi.com
Headquarters
New Taipei City, TaiwanRead 23 Sep 2026 · us.msi.com
Founded
1986Read 23 Sep 2026 · us.msi.com
Documentation
Official help covers installation, OC Scanner, monitoring setup, profiles, fan control and restoring defaults, with links to two walkthroughs.Read 15 Oct 2026 · msi.com
Download safety
MSI warns that phishing Afterburner sites may steal data and says the correct sites are msi.com and Guru3D.Read 11 Oct 2026 · msi.com
Download security
MSI recommends downloading Afterburner only from MSI.com or Guru3D because phishing sites distribute modified installers.Read 15 Oct 2026 · msi.com
Fan curves
Users can create software-controlled fan curves by editing points on a temperature-versus-speed graph.Read 15 Oct 2026 · msi.com
Fan profiles
Afterburner lets users customize a fan speed curve to control cooling performance.Read 11 Oct 2026 · msi.com
Free availability
MSI says Afterburner is completely free and supports graphics cards from every brand.Read 15 Oct 2026 · msi.com
GPU compatibility
MSI states that Afterburner works with non-MSI graphics cards, although some MSI cards unlock extra functions.Read 15 Oct 2026 · event.msi.com
Hardware monitoring
The software displays GPU frequency, VRAM frequency, voltage, temperature, driver version and related hardware information.Read 15 Oct 2026 · msi.com
Laptop limitation
Laptop GPUs generally cannot use Afterburner's custom fan curves because their curves are set in firmware by the manufacturer.Read 15 Oct 2026 · msi.com
Latest beta
The official page lists version 4.6.7 as a beta released in September 2026.Read 15 Oct 2026 · msi.com
Latest final release
The official page lists version 4.6.6 as the final release from September 2026.Read 15 Oct 2026 · msi.com
Licence classification
Wikipedia identifies MSI Afterburner as freeware rather than open-source software.Read 15 Oct 2026 · en.wikipedia.org
Limit: limited options
PCWorld listed few options as a drawback compared with competing utilities.Read 15 Oct 2026 · pcworld.com
Limit: no integrated-GPU support in app
The official mobile FAQ says the app works only with discrete graphics and cannot overclock integrated AMD or Intel graphics.Read 15 Oct 2026 · event.msi.com
Limit: overlay conflicts
PC Gamer reported that Afterburner's FPS overlay has been known to conflict with Steam and Origin overlays.Read 15 Oct 2026 · pcgamer.com
Limit: stability work
Softpedia noted that achieving a stable undervolt or overclock can require time-consuming stress testing.Read 15 Oct 2026 · softpedia.com
Maker founded
Crunchbase says Micro-Star International was founded in 1986.Read 15 Oct 2026 · crunchbase.com
Maker headquarters
Crunchbase places the company's headquarters in New Taipei, Taiwan.Read 15 Oct 2026 · crunchbase.com
Maker legal name
Crunchbase identifies the maker's legal name as Micro-Star INT'L CO., LTD., also known as MSI.Read 15 Oct 2026 · crunchbase.com
Maker public status
LinkedIn identifies MSI as a public company operating in computers and electronics manufacturing.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Maker size
LinkedIn lists MSI's company size as 1,001–5,000 employees.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Manual overclocking
The utility exposes GPU core and memory frequencies, core voltage, power limits and temperature limits.Read 15 Oct 2026 · msi.com
Mobile companion
MSI describes a free Android mobile app that remotely monitors and adjusts the desktop utility over a local wireless network.Read 15 Oct 2026 · event.msi.com
Mobile connectivity limit
The mobile app requires a local 802.11b/g/n network and does not support Bluetooth.Read 15 Oct 2026 · event.msi.com
Mobile requirement
The mobile app only works when the desktop Afterburner program is running.Read 15 Oct 2026 · event.msi.com
Notable news
Tom's Hardware reported that the 4.6.7 beta added a warning for detected faults in 16-pin GPU power connections.Read 15 Oct 2026 · tomshardware.com
OC Scanner
OC Scanner automatically searches for the highest stable overclock settings supported by a card.Read 15 Oct 2026 · msi.com
On-screen display
An in-game OSD can show GPU and CPU statistics while a game is running.Read 15 Oct 2026 · msi.com
Overclocking controls
Its overclocking tools provide access to GPU clock frequency and voltage settings, alongside fan speed control.Read 11 Oct 2026 · msi.com
Praise: broad hardware support
PCWorld praised Afterburner for working with most modern hardware regardless of graphics-card brand.Read 15 Oct 2026 · pcworld.com
Praise: comprehensive tuning
Softpedia rated the application excellent and described it as an accessible, complete GPU overclocking and monitoring tool.Read 15 Oct 2026 · softpedia.com
Praise: ease of cooling control
PC Gamer found the fan-profile feature an easy way to balance GPU temperature and noise.Read 15 Oct 2026 · pcgamer.com
Praise: focused controls
PCWorld described the interface as focused and said it presents voltage, clock, memory, fan, profile and monitoring controls clearly.Read 15 Oct 2026 · pcworld.com
Praise: overclocking starting point
PC Gamer called Afterburner the best place to start GPU overclocking and highlighted its temperature graph and real-time clock monitoring.Read 15 Oct 2026 · pcgamer.com
Profile slots
The desktop application provides five profile slots for saving and loading settings.Read 15 Oct 2026 · event.msi.com
Rating on Softpedia
5 out of 5 from 1 editor reviewRead 15 Oct 2026 · softpedia.com
RivaTuner dependency
In-game monitoring overlays require RivaTuner Statistics Server to be installed and running alongside Afterburner.Read 15 Oct 2026 · msi.com
Safety warning
MSI warns that overclocking damage is not covered by warranty and recommends caution.Read 15 Oct 2026 · msi.com
Security integration
PC Gamer reported that MSI's GPU Safeguard+ power supplies can interface with Afterburner to throttle power and warn about abnormal 12V-2x6 delivery.Read 15 Oct 2026 · pcgamer.com
Support contact
MSI lists an online customer service request for contacting its headquarters.Read 11 Oct 2026 · msi.com
Versions
The page lists Afterburner 4.6.6 (Final) and 4.6.7 (Beta), both released in September 2026.Read 11 Oct 2026 · msi.com
Video capture
The bundled Predator capture feature records gameplay using H.264 and WMV or AVI output formats with configurable size and quality.Read 15 Oct 2026 · msi.com

Plans and prices

Free Free GPU overclocking and undervolting · Hardware monitoring · Custom fan control · On-screen display Read 20 Sep 2026 · us.msi.com
MSI Afterburner Free Free to use · works with graphics cards from all brands Read 11 Oct 2026 · msi.com
MSI Afterburner Free GPU overclocking and monitoring · works with graphics cards from all brands · Windows desktop utility Read 15 Oct 2026 · msi.com

Every MSI Afterburner plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Works with graphics cards from all brands.
  • OC Scanner finds stable overclock settings.
  • Custom voltage, power-limit and fan-curve controls.
  • Free plan includes monitoring and an on-screen display.

Limits

  • Available for Windows only.
  • No free trial is listed.
  • MSI warns that phishing sites may steal data.

Who it suits

It suits Windows users who want to tune graphics cards from different brands and monitor performance while gaming. It may also suit users who want adjustable fan curves and profiles.

Verdict

Afterburner combines GPU tuning with real-time monitoring and in-game performance display on Windows. Its stated support for all graphics card brands and free plan are useful details for shoppers comparing compatibility and cost.

Where Specifiction places it

Alternatives to MSI AfterburnerAll alternatives →