RivaTuner, developed by Alexey Nicolaychuk in 1997, is a free program for overclocking and hardware monitoring specifically for Nvidia video cards. In this blog, we talk about What is RivaTuner.
It has set the bar for subsequent graphics card monitoring utilities and is compatible with GPUs from Riva TNT to GeForce 700 Series, and to some extent, the Radeon series of video cards starting from the Radeon 8500.
Introduction
As a go-to tool for those with supported GPUs, the Riva tuner is often utilized for overclocking. With its user-friendly interface, it enables users to perform driver-level Direct3D and OpenGL tweaking while also providing hardware monitoring capabilities.
Supported Nvidia drivers range from Detonator 2.08 to ForceWare versions released in 2009. RivaTuner is compatible with Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003 x32, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, and Windows 11.
It even functions on older operating systems such as Windows 98, 98 SE, and ME, albeit without official support.
RivaTuner received its last update back in 2009 and has since been licensed to various computer hardware vendors, who have integrated it into their overclocking utilities, including MSI Afterburner, EVGA Precision X (before version 16), and ASUS GPU Tweak.
However, in 2014, EVGA terminated its contract with Alexey, the creator of RivaTuner, and was found to have stolen its source code to release a similar tool claiming to be an in-house design. The community backlash was swift, and EVGA had to redesign its overclocking tool.
When RivaTuner needed an add-on, RTSS was created. Now, RTSS is a software that not only monitors hardware performance and frame rates but also supports video capture and frame limiting.
Even though RivaTuner is not updated anymore, RTSS has kept up with the latest graphics cards and APIs. It is included in MSI Afterburner but not necessary for it to work.
However, MSI had to stop paying for RTSS due to economic sanctions caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Nonetheless, they will still use it as the foundation of Afterburner.
Features of RivaTuner
RivaTuner, a powerful tool, offers several features to its users. These include:
1. Multi-monitor support
With RivaTuner, users can enjoy the benefits of multiple monitors on their system, allowing them to manage multiple tasks efficiently.
2. Built-in registry editor
This feature provides users with the ability to modify and tweak system settings with ease.
3. Overclocking tool
For gaming enthusiasts and those who want to push their hardware to the limits, rivatuner’s overclocking tool comes in handy. It allows users to increase the clock speed of their system components such as the CPU and GPU.
4. Hardware monitoring module
RivaTuner also offers support for monitoring modules from NVIDIA and ATI Technologies. This means that users can keep track of their hardware performance in real-time and make adjustments as needed.
5. Fan Control
The tool also features a fan control system that allows users to manage their computer’s cooling system and prevent overheating.
6. Logitech G15 LCD panel support
For users with a Logitech G15 LCD panel, RivaTuner also supports the integration of this hardware component for additional functionality and convenience.
Overall, RivaTuner provides users with a powerful set of tools to enhance their system’s performance and capabilities.
Conclusion
RivaTuner is a powerful and user-friendly tool for overclocking and hardware monitoring, specifically designed for Nvidia video cards. Its features include multi-monitor support, a built-in registry editor, overclocking tools, hardware monitoring modules, fan control, and Logitech G15 LCD panel support.
Despite not receiving updates since 2009, it remains a popular choice for gamers and enthusiasts. Its add-on, RTSS, has also kept up with the latest graphics cards and APIs, providing video capture and frame-limiting features.
Overall, RivaTuner offers a comprehensive set of tools to improve system performance and capabilities.
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