Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

HWiNFO VS MSI Afterburner

Compare HWiNFO VS MSI Afterburner and see what are their differences

HWiNFO logo HWiNFO

Professional System Information and Diagnostics. Comprehensive Hardware Analysis, Monitoring and Reporting for Windows and DOS. FREEWARE. download. Advertisements.

MSI Afterburner logo MSI Afterburner

Tool to manage video cards. Shows video card stats (temp, GPU usage, etc.).
  • HWiNFO Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-25
  • MSI Afterburner Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-12-29

HWiNFO features and specs

  • Comprehensive Hardware Monitoring
    HWiNFO provides detailed information about system hardware, including CPU, GPU, motherboard, RAM, and more, which helps users monitor and diagnose hardware components easily.
  • Real-Time Monitoring
    The software offers real-time monitoring of system sensors, such as temperature, voltage, and fan speeds, allowing users to keep an eye on critical system parameters.
  • Custom Alerts
    HWiNFO allows users to set custom alerts for various hardware parameters, ensuring they are informed of any abnormal conditions promptly.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The interface is intuitive and provides detailed yet organized information, making it accessible for both novices and advanced users.
  • Free for Personal Use
    HWiNFO is free for personal and non-commercial use, providing powerful tools without the need for a financial investment.

Possible disadvantages of HWiNFO

  • Overwhelming Amount of Information
    For users who are not technically savvy, the extensive amount of data provided can be overwhelming and potentially confusing.
  • Limited Logging
    The software's logging capabilities are somewhat limited, which might not meet the needs of users requiring extensive and long-term data logging.
  • No Mac Version
    HWiNFO is not available for macOS, limiting its use to Windows and DOS platforms only.
  • Basic Graphical Presentation
    The graphical presentation of data, such as charts and graphs, may appear basic and less visually appealing compared to some other monitoring tools.
  • No Built-in Stress Testing
    Unlike some competitors, HWiNFO does not include built-in stress testing tools, so users need additional software for stress testing purposes.

MSI Afterburner features and specs

  • Comprehensive Overclocking Tools
    MSI Afterburner offers a robust set of features for overclocking your GPU, including core voltage control, power limit adjustments, and custom fan profiles.
  • Real-Time Hardware Monitoring
    The software provides real-time monitoring graphs for various GPU metrics like temperature, usage, clock speed, and voltage, allowing users to track performance and make adjustments as needed.
  • Custom Fan Profiles
    Users can create custom fan profiles to adjust fan speeds according to temperature thresholds, enabling better thermal management and reducing noise levels.
  • Compatibility
    MSI Afterburner is compatible with a wide range of graphics cards from different manufacturers, not just MSI branded ones.
  • In-Game Overlay
    The software includes an in-game overlay feature, providing real-time performance data displayed during gameplay without the need for a second monitor.
  • Screen Capture and Video Recording
    MSI Afterburner includes tools for screen capturing and video recording, adding value for gamers and content creators.

Possible disadvantages of MSI Afterburner

  • Complexity for Beginners
    The variety of features and settings can be overwhelming for beginners, making it challenging to use effectively without some prior knowledge of overclocking and hardware monitoring.
  • Risk of Hardware Damage
    Improper use of overclocking features can potentially damage the graphics card or other system components, especially if voltage and temperature limits are not adhered to.
  • System Stability Issues
    Altering GPU settings can sometimes lead to system instability, crashes, or compatibility issues with certain games and applications.
  • User Interface
    While functional, the user interface of MSI Afterburner may not be as intuitive or visually appealing as some newer or more streamlined overclocking tools.
  • Software Conflicts
    MSI Afterburner may conflict with other system utilities or monitoring tools, requiring users to troubleshoot and resolve conflicts for smooth functionality.

HWiNFO videos

HWiNFO Walkthrough

More videos:

  • Review - Product Review - HWiNFO - Professional System Information and Diagnostics
  • Review - HWiNFO - an introduction of THE Monitoring Tool

MSI Afterburner videos

MSI Afterburner - How to setup On-Screen Display

More videos:

  • Tutorial - MSI Afterburner Complete Guide & Tutorial 2019
  • Review - MSI Afterburner! GPU Overclocking for Beginners.

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to HWiNFO and MSI Afterburner)
Monitoring Tools
74 74%
26% 26
Device Management
68 68%
32% 32
Gaming
0 0%
100% 100
System Information
77 77%
23% 23

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare HWiNFO and MSI Afterburner

HWiNFO Reviews


8 Best SpeedFan Alternatives for Computers for Windows and Mac
They have got a bunch of add-ons, which will increase the usability of the platform. HWiNFO has a system health monitor. It can alert you when something goes south. Mac users may be disappointed to know that it’s only available for Windows. Another best feature we liked about the software is its ability to export overviews into XML, HTML, and CSV formats.
Source: xtendedview.com
HWMonitor Review & Alternatives for 2023
There are also add-ons to enhance the core monitoring experience of HWiNFO. Add-ons available for HWiNFO include RivaTuner/MSI Afterburner/EVGA Precision On-ScreenDisplay, Rainmeter plug-in, HWiNFOMonitor, LCDHost plug-in, and more. Each add-on adds a new feature to the program. For example, the HWiNFOMonitor extension adds a customizable sidebar that adds additional graphs...
7 Best Speedfan Alternatives for 2023
There are also a number of plugins you can download for HWiNFO to monitor your system even better. For a free application, it offers a lot and many people donate to the developers because they like it so much. Unfortunately, HWiNFO is not compatible for mac users.
11 Best CPU Temperature Monitor For Windows PC To Check Accurate CPU Temp Readings
HWiNFO is another CPU temperature monitor for Windows PC to check CPU temp, GPU temp, CPU load, frequency, and fan speed. This system information tool displays tons of info about your PC hardware. If you simply want to monitor CPU temp then HWiNFO is not your choice because the way this tool shows data might confuse you.
Source: www.softlay.com
20 Programs to Analyze and Benchmark Your Hardware
If HWinfo shows far too much detail for you, then there's always Speccy. This little program is made by the developers of CCleaner and it's essentially a system summary. There is some sensor logging built in, as you can see in the image below: the little green bar graphs actively plot temperature values or amount of RAM, storage, etc used.

MSI Afterburner Reviews

Top 8 BEST NZXT CAM ALTERNATIVES
MSI Afterburner is a program similar to Nzxt CAM that monitors and enhances the performance of your computer. It has a lesser FPS impact than Fraps while yet offering the same capabilities. Along with the video capture, the beta versions feature audio streaming. The software is responsible for monitoring the performance of a component’s Graphics Processing Unit. You can use...
Source: gisuser.com
10 Best Nzxt CAM Alternatives
One advantage MSI Afterburner has over Nzxt CAM is the OC Scanner, which detects the optimal overclocking settings for your computer’s graphics card. This way, you don’t have to manually adjust the graphics card settings.
11 Best CPU Temperature Monitor For Windows PC To Check Accurate CPU Temp Readings
MSI Afterburner is the world’s most famous graphics card overclocking software that is used by millions of users even in 2021. If you want to overclock your CPU or GPU then you can download MSI Afterburner. You can also check CPU temp and GPU temp, monitor CPU fan speed, CPU frequency, load.
Source: www.softlay.com
Top 10 Best Game Booster Software Windows 2020
Last yet not the least in the rundown of best Game Booster programming for Windows, MSI Afterburner is an incredible sponsor for Windows 10. This is one of only a handful couple of programming like GameBoost which offers overclocking alternatives. Aside from the typical capacities, it gives the client a chance to tweak the fan speed, benchmark video record, and screen. It...
Source: techigem.com
11 Best Game Optimizers and Boosters for Windows PC
Meet the best game booster software, MSI Afterburner for your Windows 10 machine. This is one of the few solutions which offer overclocking options. Apart from the usual functions that every top game speed boosting tool provides, it lets the user customize the fan speed, benchmark video record, and monitor. It offers full control over the GPU voltage and frequency. You can...

What are some alternatives?

When comparing HWiNFO and MSI Afterburner, you can also consider the following products

CPU-Z - CPU-Z is a freeware that gathers information on some of the main devices of your system : Processor name and number, codename, process, package, cache levels.

Open Hardware Monitor - Monitors temperature sensors, fan speeds, voltages, load and clock speeds, with optional graph.

Speccy - Speccy - find the details of your computer's specs. Great for spotting issues or finding compatible upgrades. Download the latest version free.

Guru3D - Guru of 3D: PC Hardware Reviews and tests

AIDA64 - AIDA64 is a system information, diagnostics and benchmarking solution for Windows PC.

Geforce Experience - GeForce Experience is a new application from NVIDIA that optimizes your PC in two key ways.