A common point of confusion is right in the name: people assume they need an MSI-branded graphics card to use this, then search specifically to confirm before downloading. You don't; Afterburner works with Nvidia and AMD cards from any board partner, since it's built on the RivaTuner engine underneath MSI's branding. This page gets you the current installer for Windows. It's free with no paid tier, and the on-screen display overlay for showing FPS and temps during gameplay is bundled in, not a separate purchase.
Why the RivaTuner Connection Matters
MSI Afterburner is built on Unwinder's RivaTuner Statistics Server engine, which is why it works identically across Nvidia and AMD cards from any manufacturer, not just MSI's own lineup.
The installer bundles RTSS automatically for the in-game FPS and hardware-monitoring overlay; declining that component during setup disables the overlay but leaves core overclocking and fan controls intact.
Who ends up using MSI Afterburner
Afterburner draws PC gamers and benchmarkers monitoring or overclocking their graphics card, regardless of whether it's actually MSI hardware.
- Gamers overclocking an Nvidia or AMD card for extra performance headroom
- Streamers displaying an on-screen FPS and temperature overlay during gameplay
- Enthusiasts fine-tuning custom fan curves to keep a GPU cooler and quieter
Before you install
A couple of things worth knowing about MSI Afterburner before you request the link: it only ships for Windows, so double-check that's the machine you're installing it on before you request the link. And on pricing, MSI Afterburner is free to use outright — there's no paid tier hiding behind it, so what you install is the whole app. It's developed and maintained by MSI / RivaTuner.
System requirements
- WindowsWindows 10 or 11 (64-bit); older 7/8.1 builds usually still run but no longer get official support
It's a lightweight tool, so there's no serious CPU/RAM/storage requirement beyond what its OS already needs to run comfortably.
Quick steps
- Download the Windows installer below.
- Run setup and keep RTSS checked if you want the FPS overlay.
- Adjust core clock, memory clock, or fan curves from the main sliders.
MSI Afterburner: the honest trade-offs
- Works identically on Nvidia and AMD cards from any manufacturer, not just MSI
- Bundled RivaTuner overlay shows real-time FPS and temperatures during gameplay
- Fan curve and voltage controls give fine-grained cooling and performance tuning
- Interface and sliders can feel intimidating to someone new to overclocking
- Aggressive overclocks still carry the usual stability and heat risks of any such tool
The build here comes straight from MSI's official Afterburner distribution, unaltered, including the bundled RivaTuner Statistics Server component.
Other System Utilities downloads people search for
Browse the full System Utilities category →
Keeping MSI Afterburner up to date
MSI Afterburner typically checks for updates from inside the app, or you can just re-download the current installer from the official source periodically — reinstalling over the top keeps your settings. Sticking to the developer's own distribution channel — which is what this page links to — means you're never stuck on an old build with unpatched bugs just because a mirror site stopped updating its copy.
Features, install steps, alternatives and more detail live on the main MSI Afterburner page.
Frequently asked questions
Will this damage a non-MSI graphics card?
No, overclocking always carries some risk regardless of brand, but Afterburner's controls are the same safe, reversible sliders used industry-wide on Nvidia and AMD cards alike.
Do I need to install RivaTuner Statistics Server separately?
No, RTSS is bundled into the Afterburner installer and offered as an optional component during setup, so a separate download isn't necessary for the overlay to work.
