Gainward ExperTool vs MSI Afterburner
Gainward ExperTool
gainward.comMSI Afterburner
us.msi.comSide by side
| Figure | Gainward ExperTool | MSI Afterburner |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 3 |
| Spec score · GPU Overclocking Software | 8.3 (#3) | 8.1 (#6) |
| Spec score · GPU Tuning Software | 8.4 (#3) | 8.1 (#5) |
| Founded | 1984 | 1986 |
| Headquarters | Taipei, Taiwan | New Taipei City, Taiwan |
| Purpose | Gainward describes EXPERTool as a tuning utility for customized performance enhancements and efficient desktop management. | MSI Afterburner is graphics card software for overclocking and real-time hardware monitoring. |
Plans
In their own words
Gainward ExperTool
Gainward ExperTool is a free Windows utility for tuning graphics-card performance and desktop management. Gainward positions its dedicated Expert Tool for overclocking. ExperTool II adds flexible fan curve control and a BIOS saving feature, and also offers LED lighting control for ARGB effects. Gainward says fans stop during multimedia or general workloads and start under heavier loads when GPU temperature exceeds 60°C. Download requirements depend on system architecture and Nvidia driver version: the 64-bit download is listed for Nvidia GPUs with driver 436.xx or newer, while 32-bit downloads specify drivers 415.xx or newer and 347.xx or newer. The listed 64-bit package is version 11.13, dated 2025-02-19, and is 16.5 MB. Its supported Windows versions are Windows 7 (64-bit), Windows 10 (64-bit), and Windows 11. Gainward was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan. Warranty and return handling goes through authorized distributors or the original store.
MSI Afterburner
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.