AMD Confirms FidelityFX Super Resolution 4.0 will be AI-powered, Focused on Efficiency

[AleksandarK]

According to Tom's Hardware, AMD has confirmed that its upcoming FidelityFX Super Resolution 4 (FSR 4.0) graphics upscaling solution will harness the power of AI for frame generation and frame interpolation. This update marks a significant shift from the company's previous analytical-based approaches, as revealed by Jack Huynh, AMD's senior vice president and general manager of the Computing and Graphics Business Group. Initially, FSR4's primary focus is addressing the persistent challenge of battery life in handheld gaming devices. Huynh emphasized the need for extended playtime, stating, "I need to play a Wukong for three hours, not 60 minutes." To achieve this, AMD has been working on AI-based upscaling techniques for nearly a year. As a reminder, FSR 1.0 used spatial upscaling, version 2.0 used temporal upscaling, and FSR 3.0 also used temporal upscaling with optional frame generation.

While the initial context for FSR4 centers on handheld devices, AMD's work with developing open-source, architecture-agnostic algorithms suggests broader applications. FSR4 might be compatible with a wide range of GPU solutions, including non-handheld devices, benefiting desktop and laptop users as well. This move to AI-based technology aligns AMD with competitors like Intel, who have implemented similar approaches in their XeSS technology, and NVIDIA with its DLSS solution. Although the release date for FSR4 remains unannounced, its year-long development suggests it may be nearing completion. However, as with previous upscaling solutions, widespread adoption in games may take time following its release.



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[wolf]

Neat, I wonder if this will be an RDNA4 feature, I welcome them including a hardware requirement if the results are worthy of that requirement. Or perhaps it'll go the way of XeSS, with multiple code paths depending on the hardware present. AMD's FG has been a relative hit compared with FSR super resolution which gets fairly clowned on in comparisons.

 

[Waweq]

Good job AMD, telling your fans on PC that their hardware is worthless already

 

[darakian]

I wonder how closely related fsr 4.0 and pssr are.

 

[las]

I hope AMD will be able to improve FSR to match DLSS eventually.

I wonder how closely related fsr 4.0 and pssr are.

Not related, because PSSR is Sony in-house development.

 

[Macro Device]

AMD taught me that if they announce a super dooper function one should assume it might even come less than a year late and work. Somehow.

FSR is in a very desperate need of obtaining something special about it. Something that makes it more compelling than DLSS on RTX devices. And no, that special they already included is called, "special needs."

 

[Launcestonian]

Interesting, can see a use for the NPU on my 8600G.

 

[bug]

Really? No more talking thrash about Nvidia for using AI to do it? Go figure...

 

[Kyan]

Really? No more talking thrash about Nvidia for using AI to do it? Go figure...

If they manage to make it work on some older device, that's great, but if it's exclusive to RDNA4 and forward, then that's not great. As wolf said, it can be like XeSS in a way.

 

[AusWolf]

"As a reminder, FSR 1.0 used spatial upscaling, version 2.0 used temporal upscaling, and FSR 3.0 also used temporal upscaling with optional frame generation."

Thanks for that, I was going to ask. I tend to get lost in all these versions.

Neat, I wonder if this will be an RDNA4 feature, I welcome them including a hardware requirement if the results are worthy of that requirement. Or perhaps it'll go the way of XeSS, with multiple code paths depending on the hardware present. AMD's FG has been a relative hit compared with FSR super resolution which gets fairly clowned on in comparisons.

If the only difference is using AI cores, then I suppose RDNA 3 could also get it, and finally see some use case for such cores.

 

[Dredi]

However, as with previous upscaling solutions, widespread adoption in games may take time following its release.

Why though? It’s now system level dll based for new titles via the direct x interface and those can be updated via driver updates. For legacy titles it’s as always up to devs to swap scalers for new ones.

 

[W3RN3R]

Why though? It’s now system level dll based for new titles via the direct x interface and those can be updated via driver updates. For legacy titles it’s as always up to devs to swap scalers for new ones.

That's the issue, name any game with FSR 3.1 except for the one's that launched with it. What's the point of having these better updated upscalers if it's not being implemented by game devs. Cyberpunk and Jedi Survivor recently received updates, no FSR 3.1, no excuse for that tbh.

 

[Dredi]

Neat, I wonder if this will be an RDNA4 feature

It will likely use standard API:s and should run on any hardware. It might just be too slow to execute for many graphics cards and not make sense because of it.

What's the point of having these better updated upscalers if it's not being implemented by game devs.

That is why it’s now a DX interface and for new games it will not be part of the game installation. Legacy games had this problem due to the devs needing to take action. Now they just follow the DX interface doc and the scalers will be updated automatically.

Cyberpunk and Jedi Survivor

Legacy games not using the latest dx scaler interface.

 

[Event Horizon]

They mention AI-powered frame generation and interpolation but not much about upscaling. Hope that shimmerfest is getting an update too.

 

[Prima.Vera]

Good job AMD, telling your fans on PC that their hardware is worthless already

FSR4 might be compatible with a wide range of GPU solutions, including non-handheld devices, benefiting desktop and laptop users as well.

 

[Mysteoa]

I hope this is ready for when the new UDNA arch is releases, so it has big impact. Which might make it not compatible with the RDNA, if it is using the buffed compute in UNDA.

 

[Dredi]

I hope this is ready for when the new UDNA arch is releases, so it has big impact. Which might make it not compatible with the RDNA, if it is using the buffed compute in UNDA.

Is there going to be some new API to go with UDNA? Or are you trying to say that they would lock the new (open source) feature out artificially?

 

[z1n0x]

Finally! Let's hope image quality is good. Performance will likely depends on underlying ML hardware and instructions used.

 

[Neo_Morpheus]

Given that going for gamer/consumer friendly way was received with mockery and dismissal, I hope they copy Ngreedia and require only their hardware.
Heck, dont even bother with open sourcing it either.

Do note, I find FSR and DLSS as “excuses” for proper hardware advancement.

About the FSR is trash crowd, i found this video interesting on the subject. And now, i’m not saying the techs are equal, but i dont think is as bad as painted.

 

[Makaveli]

Good job AMD, telling your fans on PC that their hardware is worthless already

So whats the idea here continue to use a software based approach that is inferior to what the competition is doing?

You one of those glass half empty type of dudes?

I hope this is ready for when the new UDNA arch is releases, so it has big impact. Which might make it not compatible with the RDNA, if it is using the buffed compute in UNDA.

I think you will see it before that. RDNA 4 and the PS5 Pro.

 

[Event Horizon]

Intel XeSS proves that AMD can do better without going full NVIDIA.

 

[mrnagant]

Seems like an obvious natural progression. It is amazing to me that FSR and XeSS (non-AI) can do so much. Using NPUs obviously is better, but the improvement margins are a lot smaller. FSR1-3 even not the best, is still great stuff to have. To bad it isn't easy to just toss into any game at like the driver level, but oh well. Good to have agnostic technology (everyone can benefit) but also dedicated stuff for your hardware as you can eek out even more benefits. Wonder if FSR4 will have have like an FS3 fallback, or better yet a generic AI fallback that can run on all hardware.
When FSR was coming out, things like the GF1600 series were still top video cards and Nvidia left them behind. It is why I wish Nvidia at least continued to improve DLSS 1.0 for a while, but they dropped it like a rock. Now that cards like the GF3000 are the most popular cards, and AMD including NPUs, it only makes sense to pivot to AI upscaling. But again, hopefully they at least have an AI model that can run on any NPU and then a model tailored for their hardware. An agnostic model that can run on Intel, Apple, Nvidia, etc hardware that can have a benefit could be pretty popular. Like if it has 95% the IQ but 120% of the performance as the latest DLSS version at all resolutions and scaling, you'd have a winner right there.

 

[Neo_Morpheus]

Good to have agnostic technology (everyone can benefit)

No, no, no, it can only benefit me and my favorite corporation, to hell with the greater good for everyone.

*Current crop of consumers.

Its really sad observing that behavior from consumers these days.

 

[Lew Zealand]

They mention AI-powered frame generation and interpolation but not much about upscaling. Hope that shimmerfest is getting an update too.

IMO if shimmerfest is the only thing fixed in FSR4 then it will be a resounding success.

 

[Minus Infinity]

I wonder how AMD will manage to botch the launch of FSR4. RDNA4 can't accelerate it in hardware would be a good start or busted drivers after the inevitable 6 months delay to promised release date.