MSI Afterburner updated with new GPU protection features and RTX 5090 Lightning support

MSI Afterburner, the free graphics card utility for monitoring performance and overclocking settings, has been the go-to app for PC gamers for years. With the release of the insanely powerful MSI GeForce RTX 5090 LIGHTNING Z, check out our full review here, MSI has also released a new Beta build for its Afterburner software that adds new features.

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MSI Afterburner 4.6.7 Beta 2 not only adds official support for the GeForce RTX 5090 LIGHTNING Z, a GPU with a default 800W OC and a 1000W Extreme Mode, but it also expands its power, voltage, and monitoring support to integrate MSI's new GPU Safeguard+ technology, which is a key part of its new MSI MEG Ai and MPG Ai power supplies.

These PSUs include per-pin current monitoring with firmware-level alarm sensors, so they're not software-dependent. These protections were developed to resolve the rare overheating and 'cable meltings' associated with modern 12VHPWR and 12V-2x6 power connectors for GPUs. In this new MSI Afterburner release, GPU Safeguard+ can trigger an alarm and load a safe GPU profile with a customizable reduced power limit and Boost Clock speed.

As these new PSUs are designed to offer safe, efficient performance when using a GPU with a 16-pin power connector like the new GeForce RTX 5090 LIGHTNING Z, this release introduces a new PSU.dll plugin adding native monitoring support for MSI's new power supplies - covering rail telemetry, power, efficiency, thermal performance, and fan speed.

For those who use MSI Afterburner for GPU tweaks and overclocking, and don't have one of MSI's new GPU Safeguard+ PSUs, the 4.6.7 Beta 2 release also updates the voltage and frequency curve editor with zoom and pan controls for finer tuning. For the full Release Notes and link to download MSI Afterburner 4.6.7 Beta 2 - head here.