What is AMD FSR?
AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) is an open-source upscaling technology designed to boost frame rates in games by rendering at a lower resolution and then intelligently reconstructing the image to your monitor's native resolution. It aims to provide a significant performance uplift without a noticeable drop in visual quality, making higher frame rates more accessible across a wide range of hardware.
How FSR Works
FSR operates by rendering a game at a lower internal resolution, such as 1440p for a 4K display, and then applying a sophisticated spatial upscaling algorithm to reconstruct the image to the target resolution. This process significantly reduces the computational load on your GPU, allowing for higher frame rates. It uses advanced edge reconstruction and sharpening filters to maintain visual fidelity during the upscaling process.
FSR Generations: FSR 1, FSR 2, and FSR 3
FSR has evolved through several generations. FSR 1 was a spatial upscaler, applying a sharpening filter to the upscaled image. FSR 2 introduced temporal upscaling, utilizing data from previous frames to reconstruct a higher-quality image, similar to DLSS. FSR 3 further enhances this by incorporating AMD Fluid Motion Frames (AFMF) frame generation technology, which inserts AI-generated frames between traditionally rendered frames to dramatically increase FPS, even on older GPUs.
FSR vs. NVIDIA DLSS
The primary difference between FSR and NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) lies in their approach and hardware compatibility. DLSS is a proprietary, AI-driven temporal upscaler that requires dedicated Tensor Cores found only on NVIDIA RTX GPUs. FSR, being open-source, is compatible with a much broader range of GPUs, including AMD Radeon (RX 500 series and newer), NVIDIA GeForce (GTX 10 series and newer), and even Intel Arc graphics cards. While DLSS often has a slight edge in image quality due to its AI training, FSR's broad compatibility makes it a more universally accessible performance booster.
Performance Benefits and Use Cases
FSR can provide substantial performance gains, often boosting frame rates by 50% or more, especially when playing demanding titles at higher resolutions like 1440p or 4K. This allows users with mid-range GPUs, such as an AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT or NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060, to achieve smoother gameplay in graphically intensive games without needing to upgrade to a top-tier card like an RTX 4090. FSR 3's frame generation can push FPS even higher, making previously unplayable frame rates much more enjoyable.
Key takeaways
- •FSR boosts frame rates by rendering games at a lower resolution and intelligently upscaling them.
- •FSR is open-source and compatible with a wide range of GPUs from AMD, NVIDIA, and Intel.
- •FSR 2 introduced temporal upscaling for better image quality, while FSR 3 adds frame generation for even higher FPS.
- •While DLSS might offer slightly superior image quality in some cases, FSR's broad compatibility makes it a more versatile choice for performance gains.
- •Utilize FSR to achieve smoother gameplay at higher resolutions without needing to purchase the most expensive graphics cards.
What to do next
- →Browse GPUs compatible with AMD FSR
- →Read our comparison: 'DLSS vs. FSR: Which Upscaler is Right for You?'
- →Explore games that support AMD FSR 3
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