Views: 222 Author: Tina Publish Time: 2025-02-01 Origin: Site
Content Menu
● Setting Up MSI Afterburner for CPU Monitoring
>> Step 1: Download and Install MSI Afterburner and RTSS
>> Step 2: Enable CPU Monitoring in MSI Afterburner
>> Step 3: Configure RTSS for OSD Display
● Advanced Customization Options
>> Grouping Metrics for Better Organization
● Troubleshooting Common Issues
>> Issue 1: CPU Temperature Not Displaying
>> Issue 2: OSD Fails to Appear in Games
>> Issue 3: Metrics Overlap Game UI Elements
● Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
>> 1. Why isn't my CPU temperature visible in MSI Afterburner?
>> 2. Can I display CPU metrics on a secondary monitor?
>> 3. How do I change the OSD font size?
>> 4. Does MSI Afterburner support per-core CPU monitoring?
>> 5. Can I save multiple OSD profiles?
MSI Afterburner is one of the most popular tools for monitoring and overclocking PC hardware. While it is widely recognized for its GPU tweaking capabilities, it also provides robust support for monitoring CPU metrics such as temperature, usage, and clock speed. With the help of RivaTuner Statistics Server (RTSS), you can display these metrics on your LCD display or even overlay them in games. This article will guide you through the process of configuring MSI Afterburner to monitor your CPU metrics and display them effectively on an LCD screen.
Monitoring your CPU is essential for ensuring optimal performance and preventing overheating during resource-intensive tasks such as gaming, video editing, or 3D rendering. By keeping an eye on parameters like temperature, usage, and clock speeds, you can:
- Prevent thermal throttling: Ensure that your CPU doesn't slow down due to high temperatures.
- Optimize performance: Identify bottlenecks in your system.
- Extend hardware lifespan: Avoid damage caused by prolonged overheating.
With MSI Afterburner and RTSS, you can view these metrics in real time, either on your primary display or a secondary LCD screen.
To begin, download the latest version of MSI Afterburner from its official website or trusted sources like Guru3D. During installation:
1. Select both MSI Afterburner and RivaTuner Statistics Server (RTSS).
2. Follow the installation prompts to complete the setup.
Once installed, launch MSI Afterburner and follow these steps to enable CPU monitoring:
1. Access Settings
- Click the gear icon in the main interface to open the settings menu.
2. Navigate to the Monitoring Tab
- In the settings window, go to the Monitoring tab.
- You'll see a list of available hardware metrics such as GPU temperature, memory usage, and more.
3. Select CPU Metrics
- Scroll down to find CPU Temperature, CPU Usage, and CPU Clock Speed (or individual core metrics like CPU Core #1 Usage).
- Check the box next to each metric you want to monitor.
4. Enable On-Screen Display (OSD)
- For each selected metric, check the box labeled Show in On-Screen Display. This ensures that the data will appear on your screen or LCD display.
RivaTuner Statistics Server (RTSS) controls how monitoring data is displayed on-screen or on external monitors. To configure RTSS:
1. Open RTSS from your system tray (it runs automatically with MSI Afterburner).
2. Adjust the following settings under the On-Screen Display tab:
- Application Detection Level: Set this to High for accurate detection of games or applications where you want OSD enabled.
- Positioning: Use the X and Y offsets to move the OSD to a specific area of your screen or LCD display.
- Font Size and Transparency: Customize text size and background transparency for better readability.
In MSI Afterburner's Monitoring tab, you can group related metrics together under a single heading (e.g., “CPU Stats”). To do this:
- Use the Group Name field at the bottom of the Monitoring tab to assign a custom name to selected metrics.
- Drag items up or down in the list to reorder them.
For setups with multiple monitors or external LCD screens, RTSS allows you to select which display will show the OSD data. This feature is particularly useful for streamers or gamers who want real-time performance stats visible without cluttering their main gaming screen.
MSI Afterburner supports custom skins that can change how metrics are displayed in its interface or OSD overlay. You can download skins from online communities or create your own using skinning tools provided by MSI.
If CPU temperature isn't showing up in MSI Afterburner:
- Install [HWiNFO](https://www.hwinfo.com/), a third-party hardware monitoring tool that provides detailed sensor data.
- Enable HWiNFO's Shared Memory Support in its settings menu.
- In MSI Afterburner, link HWiNFO as a data source by clicking the triple-dot menu next to each metric in the Monitoring tab.
If OSD doesn't appear during gameplay:
- Ensure that RTSS's Application Detection Level isn't set to “None.”
- Run both MSI Afterburner and RTSS as Administrator.
- Verify that no conflicting overlays (e.g., Steam Overlay) are blocking RTSS.
To reposition OSD metrics so they don't interfere with game HUDs:
- Open RTSS and adjust X/Y offsets under the On-Screen Display tab.
- Alternatively, reduce font size or enable transparency for less intrusive overlays.
MSI Afterburner is a versatile tool for monitoring both GPU and CPU performance metrics, making it invaluable for gamers, overclockers, and PC enthusiasts alike. By combining it with RivaTuner Statistics Server (RTSS), you can customize how these stats are displayed on your main screen or an external LCD monitor. Whether you're optimizing performance during gaming sessions or ensuring stable temperatures during heavy workloads, this guide provides all the steps necessary to set up real-time monitoring effectively.
With advanced customization options like grouping metrics, multi-monitor support, and third-party integrations (e.g., HWiNFO), users can tailor their monitoring experience to suit their specific needs.
- Ensure that HWiNFO's Shared Memory Support is enabled and linked as a data source in MSI Afterburner's Monitoring tab settings.
- Yes! Use RivaTuner Statistics Server (RTSS) to configure which monitor displays OSD data.
- Adjust font scaling via RTSS's On-Screen Display tab using the Zoom slider.
- Yes! Enable individual core usage metrics like “CPU Core #1 Usage” under the Monitoring tab.
- While MSI Afterburner doesn't natively support profiles, you can back up its configuration files from `C:\Program Files (x86)\MSI Afterburner\Profiles`.
[1] https://pplx-res.cloudinary.com/image/upload/v1738408319/user_uploads/HcaUxQVXKUbDAMi/image.jpg
