MSI Afterburner
MSI Afterburner is a free Windows utility for tuning and monitoring graphics hardware.
What MSI Afterburner is
MSI Afterburner is a free Windows utility for tuning and monitoring graphics hardware. Its listed controls cover GPU overclocking and undervolting, voltage and power limits, custom fan control and fan curves. It also provides hardware monitoring, an on-screen display and saved tuning profiles. GPU support is multi-vendor, rather than limited to a single graphics card maker. The Free plan costs nothing and includes GPU overclocking and undervolting, hardware monitoring, custom fan control and an on-screen display. The available platform is Windows. The listed maker is MSI Afterburner, with headquarters in New Taipei City, Taiwan, and a founding year of 1986.
Good
- Free plan includes GPU overclocking and undervolting.
- Supports voltage and power limit control.
- Offers custom fan curves.
- Includes hardware monitoring and on-screen display.
- Supports multiple GPU vendors.
Watch out
- Windows is the only listed operating system.
Who it suits
It suits Windows users who want to monitor and adjust GPU settings, including fan behavior and power limits. Multi-vendor GPU support is listed.
Verdict
MSI Afterburner provides free GPU tuning and monitoring controls for Windows. Its listed scope makes it a fit for users seeking adjustable graphics hardware settings on that platform.
Plans and prices
From MSI Afterburner's own pricing page, checked 20 Sep 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | GPU overclocking and undervolting · Hardware monitoring · Custom fan control · On-screen display |
| MSI Afterburner | Free | GPU overclocking and monitoring · works with graphics cards from all brands · Windows desktop utility |
The facts
Each one read from MSI Afterburner's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Documentation
- Official help covers installation, OC Scanner, monitoring setup, profiles, fan control and restoring defaults, with links to two walkthroughs.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Download safety
- MSI warns that phishing Afterburner sites may steal data and says the correct sites are msi.com and Guru3D.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Download security
- MSI recommends downloading Afterburner only from MSI.com or Guru3D because phishing sites distribute modified installers.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Fan curves
- Users can create software-controlled fan curves by editing points on a temperature-versus-speed graph.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Fan profiles
- Afterburner lets users customize a fan speed curve to control cooling performance.checked 11 Oct 2026
- GPU compatibility
- MSI states that Afterburner works with non-MSI graphics cards, although some MSI cards unlock extra functions.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Hardware monitoring
- The software displays GPU frequency, VRAM frequency, voltage, temperature, driver version and related hardware information.checked 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.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Latest beta
- The official page lists version 4.6.7 as a beta released in September 2026.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Latest final release
- The official page lists version 4.6.6 as the final release from September 2026.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Licence classification
- Wikipedia identifies MSI Afterburner as freeware rather than open-source software.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: limited options
- PCWorld listed few options as a drawback compared with competing utilities.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: overlay conflicts
- PC Gamer reported that Afterburner's FPS overlay has been known to conflict with Steam and Origin overlays.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: stability work
- Softpedia noted that achieving a stable undervolt or overclock can require time-consuming stress testing.checked 15 Oct 2026
The company
- Founded
- 1986checked 23 Sep 2026
- Headquarters
- New Taipei City, Taiwanchecked 23 Sep 2026
- Maker founded
- Crunchbase says Micro-Star International was founded in 1986.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Maker headquarters
- Crunchbase places the company's headquarters in New Taipei, Taiwan.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Maker legal name
- Crunchbase identifies the maker's legal name as Micro-Star INT'L CO., LTD., also known as MSI.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Maker public status
- LinkedIn identifies MSI as a public company operating in computers and electronics manufacturing.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Maker size
- LinkedIn lists MSI's company size as 1,001–5,000 employees.checked 15 Oct 2026
Money
- Free availability
- MSI says Afterburner is completely free and supports graphics cards from every brand.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
Where it runs
- 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.checked 15 Oct 2026
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