MSI Mode Tool

The MSI Mode Tool shows the interrupt mode of each device, the supported options and, in the advanced view, core affinity and interrupt priority. For a compatible driver you can switch between Line Based, MSI and MSI-X modes.

When to use

The tool makes sense when there is a persistent problem with a specific device: audio clicks, network dropouts or visible interrupt conflicts that you have already reproduced. Procedure:

1. Create a restore point.
2. Open Tools → MSI Mode Tool and find the device; next to it the current mode and the indicators “MSI supported” / “Line Based supported” are shown.
3. Make sure the desired mode is marked as supported. An unsupported mode can disrupt network, audio or video operation, or prevent Windows from booting.
4. Change only one device at a time: “Apply to device”, not “Apply all”.
5. Open “Preview changes”: it explicitly warns that the changes may require a reboot.
6. Reboot Windows and check Device Manager, the event log and the actual load.

Switching to MSI does not guarantee lower latency or higher FPS: a modern driver usually already selects the appropriate mechanism. You should not start with the system drive, the network adapter or the video output device.

How to revert to the original mode

1. Open the tool again and select the same device.
2. Click “Rollback”: BoosterX restores the saved original values and reports “Rollback completed”. If there is no backup, the tool explicitly says “No backup available” — in that case select the original mode manually from your own record.
3. Reboot Windows and make sure the device works normally.

Sources and boundaries

• Microsoft: Introduction to message-signaled interrupts
• Microsoft: Interrupt affinity and priority

Manual interrupt distribution is a related topic: when not to touch it is covered in the article Blocking interrupt routing.

Last check of BoosterX behavior: 2026-09-19.