MSI Kombustor 4.1.36.0 for Windows

MSI Kombustor 4.1.36.0 is a free graphics card stress test and benchmark from MSI for Windows. You can download MSI Kombustor to put your GPU under heavy load and check whether it stays stable and cool, for example after overclocking with MSI Afterburner.

Quick facts

• Version: 4.1.36.0
• Developer: MSI
• Platform: Windows
• Licence: freeware
• Companion app: MSI Afterburner
• Size: about 92.70 MB according to catalogue data

What it is for

A graphics card can seem fine in everyday use and still crash in a demanding game, especially after a change: a new card, a new driver, an overclock or a cleaned cooler. Kombustor renders heavy 3D scenes that push the GPU to full load and keep it there, while showing temperature, clock speeds and frame rate. If the picture shows artefacts, the driver resets or the PC shuts down, you know the setup is not stable before a game session reveals it. MSI presents Kombustor together with its overclocking tool, Afterburner, on the same official page: you raise clocks in Afterburner and verify them in Kombustor. You do not need an MSI card; the stress test is about the graphics chip, whatever brand is on the box. Scores from the built-in benchmark help compare results before and after a change on the same PC.

How to run a safe test

1. Download it from the official MSI Afterburner page, where Kombustor is offered.
2. Close games and heavy programs, then start Kombustor.
3. Choose a test and resolution; start with a short run.
4. Watch the temperature and stop the test if it climbs close to the limit stated by your card's maker.
5. If the run finishes without errors, try a longer one.

Requirements

Kombustor runs on Windows with a graphics card that supports the 3D APIs it uses; keep your graphics driver up to date. Laptops and small PCs need extra attention, because their cooling is limited.

Is it safe?

A stress test is designed to make hardware hot. Modern cards protect themselves by slowing down, but long runs on a card with dusty coolers or a weak power supply can cause shutdowns. Do not leave the test running unattended for hours. Download only from msi.com.

Reading the results

A stable run means no crashes, no flickering or coloured dots in the picture and no driver reset messages. If any of these appear after an overclock, lower the clock speeds in Afterburner and test again. If they appear at default settings, check cooling, driver version and power supply before blaming the card.

Price

MSI Kombustor is free.

Pros and cons

• Pro: quick way to reveal unstable overclocks.
• Pro: works with cards from any brand.
• Pro: free, pairs with Afterburner.
• Con: pushes hardware to extreme temperatures.
• Con: results do not always match real games.

Alternatives

Other system tools on our site include NZXT CAM for monitoring, Custom Resolution Utility (CRU) for display modes and Timer Resolution for system timing.