Early independent analysis of AMD's FidelityFX Super Resolution 4 (FSR 4) indicates a significant leap in upscaling quality and performance, thanks to its new machine learning based approach. These findings, following early hands-on testing, are very promising for AMD's new graphics cards.
Impressive Quality Improvements
Hardware Unboxed on YouTube recently tested FSR 4 against FSR 3.1 using demo systems running Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart on new Radeon RX 9070 GPUs. The results were impressive, showing clear improvements in:
- Crisper edges and better anti-aliasing
- Fewer visual artifacts
- Improved detail in small, fast-moving elements like particles
- Much clearer rendering of fur textures and fine details
- Better handling of reflections, transparency, and holographic effects
FSR 4 vs FSR 3.1
The most notable improvement was seen in 4K Performance mode, which was previously a weak point for FSR. FSR 4's machine-learning-based upscaling is much more adept at preserving the clarity of quickly moving objects and finely detailed surfaces compared to the older technology. This represents a substantial jump in performance and image quality for AMD’s upscaling solution.
Machine Learning: A Game Changer
FSR 4's switch to a machine-learning model, similar to Nvidia's DLSS, is a significant shift. The early testing suggests that it could be a game-changer for future gaming handhelds featuring RDNA 3.5 iGPUs (assuming they get FSR 4 support), despite currently only being limited to RDNA 4.
Important Note
It is important to note that this analysis was performed using one game, in one specific scene, and, thus, might not be fully representative of overall performance. However, it clearly shows that AMD is making considerable strides in improving the quality of its upscaling technology.
Availability
The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT and other 9070 series GPUs are expected to be available in Q1 2025.
Source: Hardware Unboxed's YouTube video
