MSI Afterburner is a graphics card overclocking and monitoring utility that allows users to fine-tune their graphics card settings and test the stability of their system. It is a popular tool among PC enthusiasts and gamers, as it allows users to push their hardware to its limits and ensure that their system is running at optimal performance. In this article, we will discuss how to use MSI Afterburner to stress test your GPU and ensure that it is running smoothly.
Before we begin, it’s important to note that overclocking your GPU can potentially void your warranty and damage your hardware if done improperly. It is always recommended to research and understand the risks involved before attempting to overclock your GPU.
With that being said, let’s dive into the steps for using MSI Afterburner to stress test your GPU.
Table of Contents
Step no – 01
Download and install MSI Afterburner. MSI Afterburner can be downloaded for free from the MSI website. Once downloaded, install the program on your PC and launch it.
Step no – 02
Overclock your GPU. Before you can stress test your GPU, you will need to overclock it. To do this, go to the “Settings” tab in MSI Afterburner and click on the “Unlock Voltage Control” and “Unlock Voltage Monitoring” options. This will allow you to adjust your GPU’s clock speeds and voltages.
Step no – 03
Increase the GPU clock speed. In the “Clock Speeds” tab, you can adjust the core and memory clock speeds of your GPU. Start by increasing the clock speed by a small amount (e.g. +50 MHz) and click “Apply.”
Step no – 04
Increase the GPU voltage. In the “Voltages” tab, you can adjust the voltage of your GPU. Start by increasing the voltage by a small amount (e.g. +50 mV) and click “Apply.”
Step no – 05
Run a stress test. Now that you have overclocked your GPU, it’s time to stress test it to see if it is stable at these settings. There are several stress testing tools available, such as FurMark and 3DMark, that you can use to put your GPU under a heavy load and see if it can handle it. Run the stress test for at least 20-30 minutes to ensure that your GPU is stable at the higher clock speeds and voltages.
Step no – 06
Monitor your GPU temperature. While running the stress test, it’s important to keep an eye on the temperature of your GPU. You can use MSI Afterburner to monitor the temperature of your GPU in real time. If the temperature gets too high (e.g. above 90°C), you may need to decrease the clock speed and voltage to prevent damage to your GPU.
Fine-tune your overclock. If your GPU was able to handle the stress test without any issues, you can try increasing the clock speed and voltage further and running another stress test to see if it is still stable. Repeat this process until you reach the optimal clock speed and voltage for your GPU.
Conclusion
In conclusion, MSI Afterburner is a powerful tool that allows users to fine-tune their GPU settings and stress test their hardware to ensure that it is running at optimal performance. By following the steps outlined above, you can use MSI Afterburner to stress test your GPU and ensure that it is stable at higher clock speeds and voltages. Just be sure to research and understand the risks involved with overclocking your GPU before attempting to do so.
