When AMD unveiled FSR 4 last year, it marked a significant turning point for its Radeon graphics line. This version of FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) finally achieved image quality that rivaled Nvidia’s DLSS technology. However, there was a notable drawback: FSR 4 was initially restricted to RDNA 4 graphics cards. Interestingly, a leaked version of FSR 4 designed for INT8 processing indicated that this limitation might not be as strict as it seemed.
On RDNA 4 graphics cards, AMD's FSR 4 leverages hardware-accelerated FP8 calculations to enhance AI-driven upscaling. Unfortunately, this level of hardware support is not present in earlier Radeon GPU architectures. Nonetheless, the leaked INT8 build of FSR 4 has shown promise, successfully running on older RDNA 3 and RDNA 2 GPUs during testing by gamers. It's important to note, however, that this INT8 variant appears to be in an experimental stage and doesn't yet match the level of refinement seen in the official RDNA 4 version that utilizes FP8.
In a recent inquiry from Hardware Unboxed regarding the status of INT8 support for FSR 4, AMD responded with a rather vague statement, indicating they have "no updates to share at this time." The future of FSR 4's availability on older GPUs remains uncertain. Nevertheless, it seems unwise for AMD to overlook bringing FSR 4 to RDNA 3 and RDNA 3.5 graphics cards. With new hardware featuring RDNA 3.5 solutions emerging this year, it is crucial for AMD to extend FSR 4 support to these products. Failing to do so could expose them to ongoing criticism from the gaming community.
When we compare this situation to Nvidia's strategy, particularly with their releases of DLSS 4 and 4.5, we see a different approach. Nvidia allowed users with older RTX graphics cards to access these newer DLSS versions through a feature known as DLSS Override. Although these new iterations are slower on older hardware, they still provide gamers with the choice to utilize them, offering both faster and higher-quality scaling options. Even users of the RTX 20 series can take advantage of DLSS 4.5, demonstrating Nvidia's commitment to giving gamers flexibility with their graphics settings.
While the INT8 version of FSR 4 may not perform as quickly as FSR 3.1 on RDNA 3 or 3.5 GPUs, the improvements in image quality justify its use. Moreover, enabling FSR 4 for older RDNA graphics cards would not only enhance consumer satisfaction but also significantly elevate the visual performance of AMD's RDNA 3.5 laptops and gaming handhelds. In summary, supporting FSR 4 across a broader range of devices seems like a logical step for AMD. So what’s holding them back?
Join the conversation about AMD's commitment to FSR 4 for older Radeon GPUs here.
