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MSI Afterburner
MSI Afterburner · New Taipei City, Taiwan · founded 1986
What it is
MSI Afterburner is free Windows software for overclocking graphics cards and monitoring hardware in real time. Its controls include GPU clock frequency and voltage settings, fan speed, and fan-curve customization. OC Scanner can find the highest stable overclock settings for a graphics card, while the in-game On Screen Display shows system performance information during gaming. MSI says the utility works with graphics cards from all brands, including non-MSI cards. The listed Free plan costs nothing and includes GPU overclocking and undervolting, hardware monitoring, custom fan control, and an on-screen display. The page also describes Predator software for recording games or overclocking, with H.264 support and WMV and AVI formats. MSI lists Afterburner versions 4.6.6 (Final) and 4.6.7 (Beta), both released in September 2026. It warns that phishing Afterburner sites may steal data and identifies msi.com and Guru3D as the correct sites.
For and against
For
- Free to use
- Works with graphics cards from all brands
- OC Scanner finds stable overclock settings
- Fan curves can be customized
Against
- Available platform listed is Windows only
- MSI warns of phishing sites impersonating Afterburner
The verdict
MSI Afterburner offers free GPU tuning, fan control, and real-time monitoring on Windows. Use the listed official download sites with care, since MSI warns that phishing sites may steal data.
Who it suits
It suits Windows users who want to tune and monitor graphics hardware, including cards from brands other than MSI. Gamers may also value the in-game performance display and listed recording software.
Plans and prices
Free
GPU overclocking and undervolting · Hardware monitoring · Custom fan control · On-screen display
Read 20 Sep 2026 · us.msi.com
MSI Afterburner
GPU overclocking and monitoring · works with graphics cards from all brands · Windows desktop utility
Read 15 Oct 2026 · msi.com
On the record
- Documentation
- Official help covers installation, OC Scanner, monitoring setup, profiles, fan control and restoring defaults, with links to two walkthroughs.msi.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Download safety
- MSI warns that phishing Afterburner sites may steal data and says the correct sites are msi.com and Guru3D.msi.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Download security
- MSI recommends downloading Afterburner only from MSI.com or Guru3D because phishing sites distribute modified installers.msi.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Fan curves
- Users can create software-controlled fan curves by editing points on a temperature-versus-speed graph.msi.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Fan profiles
- Afterburner lets users customize a fan speed curve to control cooling performance.msi.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Free availability
- MSI says Afterburner is completely free and supports graphics cards from every brand.msi.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- GPU compatibility
- MSI states that Afterburner works with non-MSI graphics cards, although some MSI cards unlock extra functions.event.msi.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Hardware monitoring
- The software displays GPU frequency, VRAM frequency, voltage, temperature, driver version and related hardware information.msi.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Laptop limitation
- Laptop GPUs generally cannot use Afterburner's custom fan curves because their curves are set in firmware by the manufacturer.msi.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Latest beta
- The official page lists version 4.6.7 as a beta released in September 2026.msi.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Latest final release
- The official page lists version 4.6.6 as the final release from September 2026.msi.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Licence classification
- Wikipedia identifies MSI Afterburner as freeware rather than open-source software.en.wikipedia.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: limited options
- PCWorld listed few options as a drawback compared with competing utilities.pcworld.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- 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.event.msi.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: overlay conflicts
- PC Gamer reported that Afterburner's FPS overlay has been known to conflict with Steam and Origin overlays.pcgamer.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: stability work
- Softpedia noted that achieving a stable undervolt or overclock can require time-consuming stress testing.softpedia.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Maker founded
- Crunchbase says Micro-Star International was founded in 1986.crunchbase.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Maker headquarters
- Crunchbase places the company's headquarters in New Taipei, Taiwan.crunchbase.com · read 15 Oct 2026
