Open Afterburner and find the temperature display

MSI Afterburner shows your CPU temperature in the main window as soon as you launch it. The temperature appears in the left column under "GPU" readings — but Afterburner also monitors CPU temperature by default, even though the interface groups everything together. Look for a line labeled "CPU Temperature" or similar; it will display in Celsius.

If you do not see CPU temperature listed, you may need to enable it. Click the settings icon (the gear symbol) in the Afterburner window, then go to the "Monitoring" tab. Scroll through the list on the left side and find "CPU Temperature". Check the box next to it, then click "OK". The temperature will now appear in the main Afterburner display.

The temperature updates in real time as you use your computer. When you run demanding programs — games, video editing software, or rendering tasks — you will see the number climb. Afterburner refreshes every second or so, giving you a live view of how hard your CPU is working.

Key Takeaways

  • CPU temperature appears in the main Afterburner window on the left side, listed alongside GPU readings.
  • If CPU temperature is not visible, enable it in Settings > Monitoring by checking the box next to "CPU Temperature".
  • Afterburner updates temperature readings in real time, so you can watch how your CPU responds to different tasks.
  • Most CPUs stay safe below 80°C under load; temperatures above 90°C mean your cooling system needs attention.
  • You can set up on-screen display (OSD) to see CPU temperature while gaming or working without switching windows.

Set up on-screen display to watch temperature while you work

Afterburner can overlay your CPU temperature directly on your screen while you game or use other programs. This way you do not have to minimize your game or switch windows to check the reading. Open Afterburner, click the settings icon, and go to the "On-Screen Display" tab.

In the "On-Screen Display" tab, find "CPU Temperature" in the list on the left. Click it once to select it, then look for a checkbox or toggle that says something like "Show in OSD" or "Display". Check that box. You can also assign a keyboard shortcut to toggle the display on and off — look for a field labeled "Hotkey" and click it, then press the key combination you want to use (for example, Ctrl+O).

Click "OK" to save. Now when you launch a game or full-screen program, press your hotkey and the temperature will appear in a corner of your screen. The exact position depends on your Afterburner settings, but you can usually move it by dragging in the OSD tab.

Understand what temperature readings mean for your CPU

CPU temperature is measured in Celsius. Most modern processors are designed to run safely up to around 90–100°C, but you want to keep them cooler than that during normal use. Temperatures in the 30–50°C range at idle (when your computer is not doing much) are typical. Under heavy load — gaming, rendering, or compiling code — temperatures of 60–80°C are normal and safe.

If your CPU regularly hits 85°C or higher during everyday tasks, your cooling system may not be working well. This could mean your heatsink is dusty, your thermal paste has dried out, or your case fans are not moving enough air. Temperatures above 95°C can throttle your CPU, meaning the processor slows itself down to avoid damage, which makes your programs run slower.

Afterburner will not shut down your computer automatically if the temperature gets too high — that is your motherboard's job. But watching the temperature in Afterburner helps you catch cooling problems before they become serious. If you see the temperature climbing steadily over weeks or months, it is time to clean your heatsink or replace your thermal paste.

Compare CPU temperature across different tasks

Different programs put different loads on your CPU. A web browser with a few tabs open might keep your CPU at 35–45°C. A video game could push it to 70–85°C. A video rendering job or a large file compression might hit 80–95°C. By watching Afterburner while you work, you learn what is normal for your specific hardware and your specific setup.

This information is useful when you are troubleshooting. If your CPU temperature suddenly jumps 10–15°C higher than usual while doing the same task, something has changed — dust buildup, a failing fan, or a background program consuming CPU power. Afterburner gives you the data to spot that change.

You can also use temperature readings to decide whether your cooling system is adequate for what you want to do. If you want to play demanding games and your CPU hits 90°C, you might need a better cooler or better case airflow. If you want to do video editing and your CPU throttles at 95°C, upgrading your cooler will improve your rendering speed.

Troubleshoot if Afterburner is not showing CPU temperature

Sometimes Afterburner does not detect CPU temperature, usually because the monitoring driver is not installed or not running. The first step is to reinstall Afterburner completely. Uninstall it through Windows Settings > Apps, restart your computer, then read the latest version from MSI's website and install it fresh.

If that does not work, check whether your CPU has a built-in temperature sensor. Very old processors or some budget chips do not report temperature data. You can verify this by opening Afterburner's settings and looking at the "Monitoring" tab — if "CPU Temperature" does not appear in the list at all, your CPU may not have a sensor.

Another option is to use a different monitoring tool alongside Afterburner. HWiNFO and Core Temp are free programs that also read CPU temperature. If those programs show a temperature but Afterburner does not, the problem is specific to Afterburner's driver, and reinstalling is your best fix.

Adjust Afterburner settings for clearer temperature readings

By default, Afterburner may show CPU temperature as an average across all cores, or it may show individual core temperatures. If you want to see the hottest core (which is usually the most useful number), go to Settings > Monitoring, find "CPU Temperature", and look for options like "Max" or "Peak". Select whichever option shows the highest temperature among your cores.

You can also change how often Afterburner updates the display. In the main settings, look for "Refresh Rate" or "Update Interval" and set it to 1 second for real-time readings. A slower refresh rate (like 5 seconds) uses less CPU power but gives you less detail about temperature spikes.

If the on-screen display text is too small or hard to read, you can adjust the font size in the OSD settings. Look for "Font Size" or "Scale" and increase it. You can also change the color of the text to make it stand out better against your game or program background.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a safe CPU temperature?

Most CPUs stay safe below 80°C during heavy use. Temperatures of 60–75°C under load are ideal. If your CPU regularly exceeds 85°C, your cooling system needs attention — clean the heatsink, check that fans are spinning, or consider upgrading your cooler.

Why does my CPU temperature jump around so much?

CPU temperature changes quickly because the processor speeds up and slows down based on what you are doing. When you open a demanding program, temperature spikes. When the program finishes a task, temperature drops. This is normal. Afterburner updates every second, so you see these changes in real time.

Can I lower my CPU temperature by changing Afterburner settings?

Afterburner monitors temperature but does not directly control it. However, you can use Afterburner to underclock your CPU (run it at a lower speed), which reduces heat. Underclocking makes your computer slightly slower but cooler. This is an advanced setting — only attempt it if you are comfortable with BIOS changes.

Does Afterburner work on laptops?

Afterburner is designed for desktop graphics cards and works best on desktops. On laptops, it may show GPU temperature but often cannot read CPU temperature reliably. For laptops, use HWiNFO or your laptop manufacturer's monitoring tool instead.

Should I close Afterburner when I am not gaming?

Afterburner uses very little CPU power when it is just monitoring. You can leave it running in the background all the time. Close it only if you want to free up a tiny amount of RAM or if it conflicts with another program.