MSI Prepares RTX 50 “Extreme OC” GPU With Advanced Voltage Control, Afterburner Dev Confirms First Samples
MSI is preparing a new line of RTX 50 “Extreme OC” graphics cards, designed to push performance boundaries beyond NVIDIA’s standard limitations. The development was confirmed by Unwinder, the creator of MSI Afterburner, who revealed on the Guru3D forums that he has received and is currently testing the first working samples of these future MSI GPUs.
According to Unwinder, MSI has collaborated with NVIDIA to enable extended functionality of the MP2988 and MP29816A PWM controllers, which are typically locked on reference RTX 5090 and 5080 cards. As a result, these new “Extreme OC” models will introduce several advanced features tailored for enthusiasts:
Triple-channel voltage control and monitoring, covering GPU core, memory, and auxiliary (MSVDD) voltages.
Direct PWM access mode, providing a voltage adjustment range of ±100mV, compared to the limited 0–20mV range available on reference designs.
On-die VRM temperature monitoring, utilizing the MP29816A’s integrated sensor for improved thermal management.
These capabilities will be exclusive to MSI’s upcoming “Extreme OC” GPUs and will not be available on existing RTX 5080 or 5090 reference cards due to NVIDIA’s restrictions.
The move strongly hints at the return of MSI’s Lightning series, which has historically represented the company’s most advanced overclocking designs. The last Lightning card was the RTX 2080 Ti Lightning OC from the RTX 20 generation, after which MSI shifted focus to the SUPRIM lineup. A new Lightning-branded RTX 5090 or 5080 would mark a significant comeback for MSI’s flagship overclocking series.
With extended voltage control, enhanced monitoring, and a design philosophy centered on pushing hardware to its limits, MSI’s upcoming “Extreme OC” GPUs are positioned to become the choice for competitive overclockers and enthusiasts looking to extract maximum performance from NVIDIA’s RTX 50 series.
Do you think the return of MSI Lightning could set new overclocking records with the RTX 5090 and 5080?
