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Enabling Framerate 1% Low and Framerate 0.1% Low in MSI Afterburner is not always enough. The usual problem is that Afterburner is configured to display the statistics, but RivaTuner Statistics Server (RTSS) is not collecting the benchmark data needed to populate them.
Enable both metrics in Afterburner, turn on RTSS benchmark mode, and—if the values remain blank or stuck at zero—try RTSS’s Percentile buffer set to Ring. If necessary, start an explicit benchmark recording with Afterburner’s Begin recording hotkey.
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The shortest fix
- Open MSI Afterburner → Settings → Monitoring.
- Select Framerate 1% Low and Framerate 0.1% Low, if available. For each entry, enable Show in On-Screen Display, then click Apply.
- Open RivaTuner Statistics Server, click Setup, and enable Enable benchmark mode under the General tab.
- If the lows are still missing or remain at zero, change Percentile buffer from Unlimited to Ring, if that option exists in your build.
- Restart the game. If the statistics still do not update, start a measurement using an Afterburner benchmark-recording hotkey.
The Ring-buffer change is a commonly reported compatibility fix, not a universal MSI requirement. The exact options can vary between Afterburner and RTSS builds.
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What the symptom means
| Symptom | Most likely cause |
|---|---|
| The 1% Low or 0.1% Low labels are absent | The entries were not individually assigned to the OSD, or the installed build does not expose them. |
| The labels appear but values are blank | No benchmark measurement has started, or RTSS is not supplying usable frame data. |
The values stay at 0 |
Benchmark mode, percentile buffering, or frame capture is not active. |
| The values appear only after pressing a hotkey | That installation is using recording-based benchmark measurement. |
| The entire OSD is missing | RTSS may not be running or hooked into the game, or another overlay or anti-cheat system may be interfering. |
| It works in one game but not another | The difference may be a per-game profile, graphics API, anti-cheat restriction, or game-specific hook compatibility. |
| The numbers seem implausibly low | The run may be too short or may include loading, shader compilation, a long hitch, or a background interruption. |
Configure MSI Afterburner correctly
- Open MSI Afterburner and click the gear icon.
- Open the Monitoring tab.
- Scroll to the framerate entries.
- Select Framerate, Frametime, and Framerate Avg, if available.
- Select Framerate 1% Low and Framerate 0.1% Low, if available.
- For every statistic you want to see, enable Show in On-Screen Display.
- Click Apply.
Adding a metric to the Monitoring graph does not necessarily display it in the game. Each statistic must be assigned to OSD output individually. Ordinary FPS and frametime can therefore work while the percentile entries remain absent.
If Framerate 0.1% Low is not in the list, do not keep searching through unrelated settings. Its availability depends on the installed Afterburner/RTSS combination. Update or clean-reinstall the official package rather than using a modified repack.
Configure RTSS benchmark mode
- Open RivaTuner Statistics Server from the Start menu or notification area.
- Click Setup.
- On the General tab, enable Enable benchmark mode.
- If the lows remain blank or at zero, look for Percentile buffer.
- When available, change it from Unlimited to Ring.
- Close RTSS and restart the game.
RTSS is not merely an optional display skin. It provides the in-game statistics and OSD path used with Afterburner. The Ring-buffer setting is supported by community troubleshooting reports, including this reported fix and additional troubleshooting guidance; it is not documented by MSI as a requirement for every system.
Start an explicit benchmark recording
Benchmark mode allows RTSS to collect statistics, but some installations do not populate the low-percentile values until a measurement has begun.
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- Open Afterburner → Settings → Benchmark.
- Assign a key to Begin recording.
- Assign another key to End recording.
- Launch the game and enter the scene you want to test.
- Press the Begin recording key.
- Play or run the test scene for a representative period.
- Press the End recording key.
MSI uses F9 and Shift+F9 as example hotkeys, but choose keys that do not conflict with the game. MSI’s documented workflow says the average and low statistics begin updating when recording starts. Beginning a new measurement resets the measurement state.
If the values remain at zero
- Start a measurement. Press the configured Begin recording key while the game is active. If the values start changing, the OSD configuration was correct but no measurement had started.
- Confirm RTSS is running. Check the notification area and launch RTSS directly if necessary. Installing Afterburner without RTSS can leave monitoring entries available without a functional in-game statistics path.
- Try the Ring buffer. In RTSS Setup, change Percentile buffer to Ring if the option is present.
- Run the test longer. A 0.1% statistic needs more samples than ordinary FPS. A few seconds in a menu or loading screen may not produce a useful result.
- Start a fresh capture. End the current benchmark, begin a new one, and test a consistent gameplay section.
If the entire OSD is missing
First check that RTSS is running and that the actual game executable—not only its launcher—appears in RTSS. If it is absent, add the executable manually to the RTSS application profile list. Guidance for manual profile creation is available on the RTSS homepage.
Then check the following:
- The game is not assigned a disabled RTSS profile.
- The OSD toggle hotkey is not being intercepted.
- Steam, Xbox Game Bar, NVIDIA or AMD software, Discord, OBS, ReShade, or another monitoring tool is not competing with RTSS.
- The game’s anti-cheat system is not blocking the overlay hook.
- The game’s DirectX, Vulkan, or OpenGL presentation path is compatible with the installed RTSS build.
Temporarily disable competing overlays, restart the game, and test again. Do not permanently disable anti-cheat or security software. RTSS supports common DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan applications, but its documentation warns that some anti-cheat systems and other OSD software can interfere.
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Why it works in one game but not another
RTSS hooks individual game executables, not an abstract “game library.” A title may use a different executable, launcher, graphics API, protected rendering path, anti-cheat system, or presentation mode from another game.
- Add the actual game executable to RTSS.
- Test with other overlays temporarily disabled.
- Confirm whether ordinary FPS and frametime appear.
- Enable or verify benchmark mode.
- Start a benchmark recording.
- Test a second game to determine whether the issue is global or title-specific.
Why 1% Low and 0.1% Low are not minimum FPS
1% Low FPS is the average frame rate of the slowest 1% of sampled frames. 0.1% Low FPS is the average of the slowest 0.1%. They are percentile averages, not necessarily the single lowest observed frame. NVIDIA describes these metrics in its FrameView documentation.
Because 0.1% Low uses a much smaller portion of the sample, it is especially sensitive to test length. A short run may contain too few frames for a stable result. A very low value can also be caused by one long frame from shader compilation, asset streaming, a loading screen, alt-tabbing, a background process, or a temporary system interruption.
A low 0.1% result is therefore not automatic proof that the game constantly stutters. Repeat the test, exclude loading and setup activity, and inspect the frametime graph before drawing a conclusion.
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Frame generation and newer presentation paths
Current RTSS releases include compatibility work for newer presentation technologies and PresentMon-related functionality, so behavior can differ between old and current builds. Do not assume that an OSD number represents display-delivered frames in every frame-generation configuration.
For serious comparisons, keep the game settings, capture tool, and measurement method identical. If the metric determines the conclusion, validate it with a dedicated capture tool rather than relying on one live OSD reading.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Clean-reinstall Afterburner and RTSS
If the metrics are missing from the list, the OSD stopped working after an update, or the installation appears mismatched:
- Uninstall MSI Afterburner and RTSS.
- When prompted, remove profiles and saved settings.
- Reboot Windows.
- Download a legitimate current package from MSI or the official Guru3D distribution page.
- Install both Afterburner and RTSS.
- Configure the OSD and benchmark settings again from scratch.
MSI warns against unofficial Afterburner downloads, and Guru3D recommends removing profiles during a clean uninstall when overlay problems follow an update. Avoid modified installers and spoofed download sites.
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How to run a meaningful test
For a useful result, use a repeatable gameplay route or built-in benchmark and let the test run long enough to collect a substantial sample. Exclude loading screens, shader-compilation setup, menu time, and accidental alt-tab interruptions. Repeat the run if a one-off hitch dominates the 0.1% figure.
When reporting results, include:
- Game version and graphics API.
- Resolution, graphics preset, upscaling, and frame-generation settings.
- Test duration and scene or route.
- Average FPS.
- 1% Low and 0.1% Low.
- A frametime graph.
Frame-generation and unusual presentation modes make tool-to-tool comparisons particularly difficult. Use the same capture method across all hardware or settings comparisons.
When to use another tool
| Tool or method | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Afterburner + RTSS | A customizable live OSD showing hardware sensors, FPS, frametime, and percentile statistics. | The setup is split between two applications, and hooks may conflict with games or anti-cheat. |
| NVIDIA FrameView | A separate benchmarking workflow with documented average FPS, minimum FPS, 1% Low, and 0.1% Low metrics. | Less convenient than Afterburner for a heavily customized hardware overlay. |
| CapFrameX | Detailed frametime capture, charts, and comparison of multiple runs. | More setup and post-processing; it is not primarily a simple drop-in OSD. |
| Built-in game benchmark | Repeatable fixed camera paths for comparing settings or hardware. | It may not represent traversal stutter, multiplayer play, shader compilation, or ordinary gameplay. |
If your immediate goal is a live overlay, fix the Afterburner–RTSS setup first. If the game blocks the hook or you need reproducible exported data, a dedicated capture workflow is the better fallback.
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