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To show FPS with RivaTuner Statistics Server (RTSS), use MSI Afterburner to select the Framerate metric, then let RTSS draw it over the game. Install both programs, enable Show in On-Screen Display for Framerate, keep both applications running, and launch the game.
What you need
- A Windows PC with current graphics drivers recommended.
- MSI Afterburner.
- RivaTuner Statistics Server.
Download Afterburner only from MSI or Guru3D. Fake download sites have distributed modified installers. RTSS and Afterburner are separate programs:
- MSI Afterburner collects and configures metrics such as framerate, frametime, GPU usage, temperatures, and CPU usage.
- RTSS supplies the in-game overlay that displays those metrics.
For the standard Afterburner FPS counter, you normally need both programs. MSI’s current download page lists Afterburner 4.6.6 Final and 4.6.7 Beta, while Guru3D lists RTSS 7.3.7 Final as of the August 2026 check. Prefer the latest stable or final release unless a particular game or driver requires a beta build; version labels can change.
Set up the FPS counter
- Install MSI Afterburner. Leave RivaTuner Statistics Server selected in the installer. If Afterburner is already installed without RTSS, install RTSS separately from Guru3D.
- Open MSI Afterburner and click the gear icon.
- Open the Monitoring tab.
- In the hardware-monitoring list, select Framerate.
- Enable Show in On-Screen Display.
- Optionally select Frametime, Framerate Avg, or Framerate 1% Low. Frametime helps reveal stutter, while average and 1% low FPS provide more context than an instantaneous number.
- Click Apply, then OK.
Selecting Framerate is not enough by itself: the Show in On-Screen Display option must be enabled for that specific metric.
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Keep both programs running
Before starting the game, check the Windows notification area for the RTSS icon. If it is missing, open the Start menu and launch RivaTuner Statistics Server. MSI Afterburner must also remain open in the background. MSI’s setup guidance states that both applications need to be running for monitoring data to appear in games.
Launch the game after applying the setting. The FPS number should appear in a screen corner.
Move, resize, or recolor the overlay
Open RTSS while the game is closed or running and adjust its presentation controls. You can change the overlay position, increase the Zoom level, change the text or background color, and enable a display fill or contrasting background. These controls are useful when the counter blends into bright scenery, disappears against a HUD, or is too small to read.
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Assign a hotkey
To toggle the counter without closing the game, open MSI Afterburner → Settings → On-Screen Display and assign a key to Toggle On-Screen Display. Choose a key that the game does not already use.
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Make RTSS work with one specific game
If the overlay works in one game but not another, create a game-specific RTSS profile:
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- Open RTSS.
- Click Add.
- Browse to the game’s actual executable file.
- Select the executable and create its profile.
- Set Application detection level to High if the default level does not detect the game.
- Ensure OSD support is enabled for the profile.
- Save the profile and relaunch the game.
Add the rendering game’s executable, not necessarily its launcher. Some launchers start a different process after the game loads. If you are unsure which file is rendering the game, identify the active process in Windows Task Manager, then recreate the RTSS profile for that executable.
RTSS compatibility is application-specific. Rendering APIs, game updates, anti-cheat systems, protected executables, capture software, and other overlays can all affect whether the hook works.
RivaTuner is not showing FPS
| Symptom | What to check first |
|---|---|
| No Framerate option | Afterburner installation, the Monitoring tab, and whether you installed a legitimate complete package. |
| Framerate is enabled but no overlay appears | Confirm that RTSS and Afterburner are both running and that Framerate has its OSD option enabled. |
| It works in some games only | Add the actual game executable to an RTSS profile and raise application detection. |
| The counter shows zero | Check for the wrong executable, an undetected game, or a blocked overlay hook. |
| The game crashes | Disable RTSS or its profile for that title and test again. |
| Two FPS counters appear | Disable the game’s, Steam’s, GPU driver’s, or Xbox Game Bar’s counter. |
| The text is unreadable | Increase RTSS Zoom and adjust position, color, or display fill. |
If the FPS option is missing
Close Afterburner and RTSS, restart Windows, and reinstall the current stable Afterburner package with RTSS selected. An old, incomplete, or modified installation can cause missing monitoring options. MSI recommends a clean reinstall when an Afterburner update breaks the overlay.
If the overlay works on the desktop but not in-game
Test the game in windowed mode and then borderless-windowed mode. If the game offers more than one rendering API, testing another API can help identify a compatibility problem, but it is not a guaranteed fix. Launch RTSS before the game and temporarily disable other overlays.
If the counter remains at zero
Remove the incorrect RTSS profile and add the actual game executable. A launcher profile can attach to the launcher rather than the process that renders frames. If the game still is not detected, test its built-in counter or Windows Game Bar.
If the game crashes after enabling RTSS
Close the game, open RTSS, and remove or disable the game’s profile. You can set application detection to None or disable OSD support for that title, then test again. Also disable competing overlays. Do not try to bypass an anti-cheat restriction; check the game’s or anti-cheat vendor’s guidance and leave RTSS disabled if required. Some games restrict or conflict with third-party overlays, and RTSS is not guaranteed to work with every online game.
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- DISPLAYPORT 1.4 VIDEO FUSION – Designed for high-bandwidth video fusion and display overlay workflows. DisplayPort 1.4 connectivity helps provide clear image detail, smooth signal transmission, and stable performance for compatible desktop display environments.
- AUTOMATIC RESOLUTION DETECTION – Intelligent device recognition detects compatible display parameters during startup and helps match the appropriate resolution and refresh-rate configuration, reducing repeated manual adjustments.
- FULL-COLOR DISPLAY AND EASY CONTROL – The integrated color display provides clear system and signal information. Front-panel controls offer convenient access to operating functions for a straightforward setup and user experience.
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Alternatives when RTSS will not work
- Windows Game Bar: press Win + G, open the Performance widget, enable FPS, and pin it. MSI suggests Game Bar for some games where its OSD does not appear.
- Steam FPS counter: useful when you only need a basic counter for a Steam game.
- Game-built-in counter: often the safest option for a title with strict anti-cheat or overlay policies.
- NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel overlays: convenient if the graphics vendor’s software is already installed, although menus and customization vary by vendor and version.
RTSS plus Afterburner is the better choice when you want FPS alongside frametime, GPU and CPU statistics, temperatures, or per-game profiles. The trade-off is additional setup and the possibility of conflicts. Overlay overhead is generally small, but it can vary with the game, capture mode, overlay complexity, and system.
Sources
- MSI: How to use MSI Afterburner
- MSI: On-Screen Display, Monitoring and Features
- Guru3D: RivaTuner RTSS homepage
- MSI: Afterburner and RTSS troubleshooting
Frequently Asked Questions
Can RTSS show FPS without MSI Afterburner?
RTSS can display information supplied by supported applications, but the simplest standard FPS-counter setup uses Afterburner to select Framerate and RTSS to draw it.
Does RTSS work with NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel graphics?
The Afterburner and RTSS ecosystem is used with multiple GPU vendors, but monitoring and overlay behavior can vary by hardware, driver, game, and rendering API.
Does RTSS lower FPS?
Its impact is generally small, but there is no universal zero-cost guarantee. Overlay complexity, capture features, the game, and the system can change the result.
Can anti-cheat block RTSS?
Some games or anti-cheat systems may restrict or conflict with third-party overlays. Follow the game’s rules and disable RTSS rather than attempting to bypass a restriction.
Why are two FPS counters visible?
Another counter is enabled, such as the game’s own display, Steam, NVIDIA, AMD, Intel, or Xbox Game Bar. Disable all but one while troubleshooting.
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