AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution: what it is and how it works

Following the official announcement during the conference held at Computex 2021, AMD is ready to launch a new feature for AMD Radeon RX 6000 series GPUs and more. IT IS FidelityFX Super Resolution, a solution that challenges Nvidia’s DLSS by combining 4K resolutions and ray tracing. FidelityFX Super Resolution could be a big step forward for AMD and, from supports proprietary and third-party hardware, could dethrone DLSS as an expansion solution. We’ve put together all the information you need about AMD Fidelity FX Super Resolution in this article, which we’ll update whenever there’s news.

What is AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution?

Super Resolution AMD FidelityFX, abbreviated as FSR, is the risposta to Deep Learning Super Sampling Introduced by Nvidia on the Nvidia GeForce RTX 20 series and later GPUs. AMD FidelityFX super resolution is an image reconstruction tool, which makes a game appear to be rendering at a higher resolution than it actually is. In this way, the graphics engine can render the game at 1080p and then let FidelityFX Super Resolution intervene to “fill in” the missing pixels and make the output appear 1440p.

The approach taken by AMD with FidelityFX Super Resolution It’s open. The function will be available for many GPUs Both AMD and Nvidia: AMD Radeon RX 6000, 5000 and 500 series GPUs and Nvidia GeForce GTX 10 and newer GPUs will be supported at launch. Ryzen APUs with Radeon integrated graphics will also support FidelityFX Super Resolution. Developers will have to implement AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution in games, who will have complete freedom on the final product and its results.

How does FidelityFX Super Resolution work?

Fidelity Super Resolution is not a copy of Nvidia’s DLSS. Nvidia’s technology works by training artificial intelligence with high-quality offline scans (the same principle later adopted by Nvidia GANverse3D). With FidelityFX Super Resolution, AMD is going in a completely different direction. Scott Herkelman, vice president of graphics at AMD, explained in a PCWorld brodcast on Youtube that you “don’t need machine learning to do this” and that AMD is “evaluating many different ways” to achieve the FidelityFX Super Resolution results.

In 2019, AMD filed a patent, called “Super resolution for gamesAnd released on May 20, 2021, which explains how FidelityFX Super Resolution works. The document reveals that AMD uses a hybrid supersampling approach, combining linear and non-linear scaling technology to achieve the most detailed image possible. The patent explains that linear techniques through a neural network do not include non-linear information, which “typically results in blurry and / or corrupted images.” To solve this problem, AMD has chosen to use a hybrid solution and combine both methods. “The combination of linear and non-linear scaling – informs the text – facilitates both the preservation of color and large-scale image characteristics from linear scaling and the preservation of finer image characteristics from non-linear scaling.

With FidelityFX Super Resolution there is therefore two paths for the reconstructed image. The original low-resolution image goes through a series of linear scaling and a series of non-linear scaling simultaneously, collecting different information. FidelityFX Super Resolution then combines the low resolution images to create a pixel grid, then applies the highest resolution image to each of them. After cleaning the frames, you will have the reconstructed image. We know that FidelityFX Super Resolution offers four quality levels, called “Ultra”, “Quality”, “Balanced” and “Performance”. Ultra mode, according to Computex 2021, can increase the frame rate by 50% while maintaining as much detail as possible. The other modes offer an even higher frame rate, while reducing image quality.

What products will FidelityFX Super Resolution support?

The patent also confirmed that AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution will work on a large number of devices. The document states that it can work on “a computer, gaming device, handheld device, set-top box, television, cell phone or tablet.” Right now, AMD seems ready to support more than 100 GPUs and CPUsincluding Mobile GPUs and some APUs. We are reportedly assuming that AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution can support more CPUs, GPUs, and APUs in the future. Like the rest of the AMD feature set, it will be possible to access the FidelityFX settings directly in the game.

When will FidelityFX Super Resolution launch?

AMD introduced FidelityFX Super Resolution during the Computex 2021 keynote address. The premiere date is set for Tuesday, June 22.. Initially, the feature will only be available on PC, but we hope that AMD may also present it on next-gen consoles. based on RDNA2 GPU, both Xbox X | S Series such as PlayStation 5. The eventual distribution of FidelityFX on consoles could affect the development cycle of games and the useful life of the machines. While both consoles are great and have yet to be fully exploited today, in the future developers will necessarily have to turn to image reconstruction technology to get the best look in games, perhaps even turning on plotting. rays, or leave it up to the players. Choice between aesthetics and performance. Since Nvidia’s DLSS technology is unique to its GPUs, it cannot be adopted by any console except for a possible successor to the Nintendo Switch.

What games will FidelityFX Super Resolution support at launch?

During the keynote address at Computex 2021, AMD showcased FidelityFX Super Resolution with Godfall. The Action RPG from Counterplay Games had a 59% performance increase in 4K and active ray tracing when applying FidelityFX’s Ultra mode. AMD has announced that a first group of games will support FidelityFX with an update from June 22. According to the company, they are at least 10 software houses that will adopt FidelityFX Super Resolution by the end of 2021.

AMD has also created a survey to ask users to indicate the games in which they would like FidelityFX Super Resolution to be implemented. While AMD will work with developers to anticipate FidelityFX in their games early on, they will be the ones to choose whether, when and how to implement this feature. At the moment 40+ titles support at least one FidelityFX feature, typically Adaptive Contrast Sharpness. We expect the list of FidelityFX Super Resolution compatible titles to grow rapidly in the coming months.

The outlook for FidelityFX Super Resolution

Although AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution and DLSS exhibit very close performance, there is a possibility that AMD achieves better results through cross-platform and open development. Developers should be pushed to implement FidelityFX in their games thanks to the support on a large amount of hardware. Also, FidelityFX Super Resolution could make buying an AMD GPU more attractive. Nvidia currently holds the record for ray tracing performance thanks to DLSS. If, thanks to FidelityFX Super Resolution, AMD Radeon RX 6000 series GPUs emulate DLSS performance, AMD GPUs will once again be a solid choice for playing the latest AAA versions at maximum active settings. We will monitor the situation with our analysis and, in the case of major performance improvements, we will update our guide to the best video cards to better reflect any changes.