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Use MSI Afterburner to collect hardware readings and RivaTuner Statistics Server (RTSS) to show them over a game. For a basic FPS and temperature display, you do not need to change clock speeds, voltage, or power limits. Monitoring alone does not make a game faster.
What each program does
| Program | Its job here | What to leave alone |
|---|---|---|
| MSI Afterburner | Select and record available hardware sensors | Overclocking and voltage controls if you only want monitoring |
| RTSS | Display the on-screen overlay and provide supported frame statistics | Injection or detection tweaks you do not understand |
| The game | Run the workload you want to observe | Keep the same scene and settings when comparing readings |
Install Afterburner and RTSS from a trusted source
- Start at the official MSI Afterburner page. Avoid advertisements and copied download sites.
- Run the installer and include RTSS when the package offers it. If you need a separate RTSS installer, follow the source linked by MSI.
- Open Afterburner and RTSS. Both need to be running for the usual Afterburner on-screen display.
- Keep the default clock, voltage, and power settings. You can configure monitoring without applying an overclock.
Afterburner is not limited to MSI-branded graphics cards, but available controls and sensor readings depend on your hardware and drivers.
Choose the FPS, temperature, and usage readings
- Open Afterburner’s Settings, then the Monitoring tab.
- In the active hardware-monitoring list, enable a reading you want to track.
- Select that reading and tick Show in On-Screen Display. Repeat for each item.
- Open the On-Screen Display tab and set a toggle shortcut that does not clash with the game.
- Apply the settings, leave RTSS running, and start a supported game.
MSI’s OSD guide and Afterburner setup instructions show the relevant controls. You may not see every sensor shown in another person’s screenshot.
A useful small overlay
- Framerate: frames displayed per second.
- Frametime: the time between frames; spikes can help reveal stutter that an average FPS hides.
- GPU temperature and usage: useful context for graphics load.
- CPU usage and temperature: choose available readings, and inspect individual cores when an overall average is misleading.
- Memory readings: select the specific RAM or graphics-memory sensor you need; they are not interchangeable.
There is no universal safe temperature or perfect usage percentage for every part. Compare readings with the hardware maker’s specifications. Our CPU instruction-cycle guide explains why clock speed and one usage number cannot describe all processing work.
If the RivaTuner overlay is not showing
- Confirm both programs are running and that each selected metric has Show in On-Screen Display enabled.
- Check the overlay toggle shortcut and RTSS’s on-screen-display switch.
- Check whether the game has a separate executable or launcher profile.
- Temporarily close another overlay to test for a conflict.
- Check the game’s support guidance. Some games and anti-cheat systems restrict third-party overlays.
Respect those restrictions. Use the game’s built-in performance display or another supported monitoring option rather than forcing an overlay into a blocked game. Do not disable anti-cheat or security software to make it appear.
How to compare a change fairly
Use the same resolution, graphics settings, and repeatable scene. Watch frametime as well as average FPS, and change one setting at a time. If you are unsure which CPU or Windows edition you have, check Windows system properties before choosing drivers or interpreting results.