MSI Afterburner Introduces Independent Fan Control for GeForce RTX 50 GPUs, New Version Released Ahead of Retail Launch

MSI Afterburner, the acclaimed GPU overclocking and monitoring tool, is set to receive an exciting update tailored for the upcoming GeForce RTX 50 graphics cards. This enhancement will enable independent fan control, significantly improving the cooling efficiency and performance options for users.

Independent Fan Control for GeForce RTX 50 GPUs: An Exciting Update

The forthcoming version of MSI Afterburner promises to provide users with the ability to manage fan speeds independently on the forthcoming RTX 50 series GPUs. Although specific confirmations for individual models have not yet been made, this feature is likely to be accessible across the entire RTX 50 series lineup.

In a recent discussion on the Guru3D forums, Alexy Nicolaychuk, the mastermind behind Afterburner, announced that this update will roll out before the retail release of the RTX 5080. He also revealed that the RTX 5080 will be the first GPU in NVIDIA’s Blackwell series to officially debut. It is important to note that while the announcement for the RTX 5080 is scheduled for January 6th, the Afterburner update will be available prior to its retail launch on January 21st.

Alexy Afterburner RTX 5080 update — Image Source: Guru3D Forums

This innovative software update will empower users to separately adjust fan speeds for each fan on triple-fan editions of the RTX 5080, enhancing both cooling performance and acoustic profiles. Alexy mentioned that users will enjoy a new button feature dedicated to asynchronous speed control for the third fan.

However, it remains unclear whether this capability will extend to other GPU series, including the RTX 40 models, that also feature a tri-fan design. Currently, MSI’s offerings include a ‘Fan Sync’ function, allowing limited fan control for dual-fan setups. As for the RTX 5080, only one tri-fan model, the MSI GeForce RTX 5080 GAMING TRIO, has been revealed in leaks thus far, showcasing its potential cooling capabilities.

First NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 GPU Custom Model Leaks Out: 16 GB GDDR7 Memory Confirmed, 2.2 Slot Design 1 — Image Source: Chiphell Forums

As we approach the official launch, it is expected that additional triple-fan designs will emerge from NVIDIA’s board partners, enhancing the diversity of offerings within the RTX 50 series. With just a couple of days remaining until the debut, anticipation is running high for the RTX 5080, which is rumored to feature 10,752 CUDA cores, 16 GB of GDDR7 VRAM, and a thermal design power (TDP) of 360W.

To stay updated, refer to the Guru3D forums for more news, and check out the detailed analysis at Wccftech.