AMD has announced that its upcoming version of FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR), currently referred to as Redstone, is set to be compatible with virtually any graphics processing unit (GPU), including those manufactured by competitors like Nvidia. This marks a significant shift from previous iterations, such as FSR 4, which relied on AMD’s dedicated AI matrix cores, and Nvidia’s DLSS, which is exclusive to its Tensor cores. The next iteration of AMD FSR will operate directly on GPU shader cores, broadening its accessibility.
If AMD’s forthcoming upscaling technology matches the performance of FSR 4 while maintaining compatibility across all GPUs, it could pose a formidable challenge to the Nvidia DLSS ecosystem, which is limited to Nvidia hardware. Historically, AMD has attempted a universal approach, but earlier versions of FSR fell short in quality compared to DLSS, often resulting in noticeable shimmering and distortion around moving objects, as well as blurriness. A well-executed universal version of FSR, however, could be a game changer for AMD.
Technical Insights
In a recent interview with the Japanese gaming outlet 4Gamer.net, Chris Hall, AMD’s senior director of software development, elaborated on FSR Redstone’s foundation in machine learning, akin to FSR 4. However, this new version does not necessitate specific AI cores within a GPU. Instead, the core components of the neural rendering technology are transformed into optimized Compute Shader code through AMD’s ML2CODE technology. This adaptation allows it to function on any GPU capable of handling compute shader code, which encompasses nearly all GPUs on the market.
Compute shaders, much like pixel or vertex shaders, utilize the stream processors (or CUDA cores) within a GPU to perform computational tasks. This capability enables GPUs to be leveraged for various general-purpose applications beyond gaming, as well as for specific gaming functionalities. As noted by 4Gamer.net, “rather than executing trained AI cores at runtime, it optimizes them as existing Compute Shader code and enables native execution.”
In addition to upscaling capabilities, AMD has indicated that FSR Redstone will introduce a suite of new features powered by machine learning, including neural radiance cache, ray generation, and frame generation—technologies that are currently managed by Nvidia GPUs on their Tensor cores.
Slated for release by the end of 2025, FSR Redstone (potentially branded as FSR 5 upon launch) could significantly influence the industry landscape if it successfully operates on the shader cores of any GPU while delivering performance on par with FSR 4. However, this advancement may also place additional demands on a GPU’s shader cores, potentially impacting overall performance.
Should the performance impact be minimal, and if AMD can effectively replicate a substantial portion of Nvidia’s DLSS 4 functionality across all GPUs—not just its own but also older Nvidia models that currently lack support for frame generation or multi-frame generation with DLSS—it could diminish one of Nvidia’s key competitive advantages. Of course, the success of this initiative hinges on sufficient game support.
As we await further developments, for those considering an upgrade, our guide to purchasing the best graphics card offers insights into the top options available today.
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