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A couple of weeks in the past, we in contrast FSR 4 to DLSS 4 upscaling for the primary time, doing so at 1440p and concluding that FSR 4 is a stable upscaling know-how. It is a vital step up from FSR 3.1, usually outperforming Nvidia’s DLSS 3, though the newer DLSS 4 with its transformer AI mannequin nonetheless takes the lead. However how does it stack up at 4K? That is what we’ll be exploring right this moment.
Analyzing upscaling at completely different output resolutions is essential as a result of upscaling high quality can range dramatically between 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. At increased resolutions, extra information is fed into the upscaling algorithm, so output high quality is mostly higher than at decrease resolutions.
With FSR 3.1, for instance, High quality mode upscaling was usually usable at 4K however seemed tough at 1080p. So, we’re to see how FSR 4 performs underneath probably the most favorable situations for the know-how.
All of the FSR 4 examples proven on this article have been captured at 4K utilizing the Radeon RX 9070 XT, whereas the opposite DLSS samples have been captured utilizing the GeForce RTX 5090. We used a collection of video games with settings like movement blur, movie grain, vignette, and chromatic aberration disabled.
Sharpness was set to 0 for upscaling. All DLSS 3 examples have been up to date to DLSS 3.8.10, apart from Hunt: Showdown, which stays on DLSS 3.7 as it may well’t be upgraded. All DLSS 4 examples are utilizing the most recent mannequin out there through Nvidia’s driver override.
Let’s get into it.
FSR 4 vs FSR 3.1 at 4K
Probably the most spectacular elements to FSR 4 was its enchancment in comparison with FSR 3.1 at 1440p. The brand new AI-based upscaler is considerably higher at that decision, even when evaluating the High quality modes, and the hole grows wider when evaluating Efficiency modes. At 4K, nevertheless, the development FSR 4 brings is a little more nuanced, since FSR 3.1 was already extra usable at this decision.
For a greater illustration of picture high quality comparisons, try the HUB video beneath:
There’s nonetheless a noticeable distinction between FSR 4 and FSR 3.1 at 4K utilizing High quality mode, and we consider most avid gamers will acknowledge the improve FSR 4 gives. A number of the artifacts that have been very apparent within the FSR 3.1 1440p footage are much less distinguished at 4K, so the development is not as dramatic.
As an illustration, FSR 3.1 in 4K High quality mode can seem barely grainy in areas like hair and transparencies, however it’s nowhere close to as problematic as it’s at 1440p, the place these parts usually look damaged or distracting.
Throughout your entire picture, FSR 4 delivers higher sharpness, readability, and the next perceived decision in comparison with FSR 3.1. High quality particulars like grass are visibly improved, transparencies are a lot cleaner, hair is rendered extra precisely, and there is far much less shimmering.
A number of the most problematic titles for FSR 3.1 – akin to Ratchet & Clank: Rift Aside – see a big improve with FSR 4, significantly by way of picture stability. This offers the FSR 4 output a extra real 4K really feel, whereas FSR 3.1 nonetheless seems to be like the sport is working at a decrease decision, regardless of the “4K” output.
The distinction turns into much more obvious when evaluating the Efficiency modes. Even at 4K, FSR 3.1’s Efficiency mode struggles. FSR 4 holds up significantly better – it is much less grainy, extra secure, and in lots of eventualities, truly fairly usable. In truth, if you happen to have been beforehand utilizing FSR 3.1 in High quality mode at 4K, switching to FSR 4’s Efficiency mode will doubtless be an improve in most conditions. That is how a lot progress has been made.
For a greater illustration of picture high quality comparisons, try the HUB video beneath:
That is clearly seen in a clip from Spider-Man 2, which demonstrates how FSR 4 permits higher efficiency on new RDNA4 playing cards in lifelike, playable situations – since now you can use FSR 4 Efficiency as an alternative of FSR 3 High quality.
FSR 4 vs DLSS: Texture High quality
For the remainder of this text, we will examine FSR 4 to DLSS, as that is the place the extra attention-grabbing battle lies. FSR 4 simply outperforms FSR 3.1, however similar to we discovered at 1440p, there’s much more nuance in how FSR 4 stacks up towards DLSS 3 and DLSS 4. We cannot undergo each instance from the earlier 1440p comparability – as an alternative, we’ll give attention to a number of checks to confirm whether or not these findings maintain true at 4K.
For a greater illustration of picture high quality comparisons, try the HUB video beneath:
One of many standout strengths of each FSR 4 and DLSS 4, as seen at 1440p, is their capacity to cut back or eradicate movement blur related to TAA. This profit carries over to 4K as effectively.
Nonetheless, relative to DLSS 4, FSR 4 is a bit much less spectacular at this decision than it was at 1440p. On the decrease decision, FSR 4 in High quality mode usually seemed clearly higher than DLSS 3, falling someplace between DLSS 3 and DLSS 4. At 4K, DLSS 4 is a little more spectacular, and in related examples, FSR 4 seems nearer to DLSS 3, although often nonetheless superior.
We consider it’s because the blur that TAA-based applied sciences introduce in movement is much less noticeable at 4K than at 1440p. With DLSS 3 specifically, the distinction between nonetheless and transferring photographs is smaller at increased resolutions. DLSS 4 preserves texture high quality extraordinarily effectively. FSR 4 would not fairly match that degree, however even in much less favorable situations, it sometimes matches or exceeds DLSS 3 in texture element. This holds true in each High quality and Efficiency modes.
Even when it would not fairly match DLSS 4, FSR 4 nonetheless gives sturdy readability and sharpness when gaming at 4K. In the event you’re taking part in on a 4K monitor, you count on detailed visuals, and FSR 4 delivers that, addressing the blur points seen in earlier AMD upscalers.
For instance, Efficiency mode is now fairly usable by way of texture high quality, delivering outcomes near High quality mode relating to decreasing TAA blur – one thing we beforehand would not have really useful in any respect.
FSR 4 vs DLSS: Picture Stability
On the subject of picture stability, FSR 4 performs higher at 4K than it did at 1440p. Throughout 1440p testing, FSR 4 was typically much less secure than DLSS 3, and in some odd circumstances, the Balanced mode supplied extra stability than High quality mode. At 4K, that inconsistency disappears.
For a greater illustration of picture high quality comparisons, try the HUB video beneath:
Usually picture stability, FSR 4 is often on par with DLSS 3 when each are utilizing High quality mode. Whereas FSR 4 would not match DLSS 4’s rock-solid presentation, the standard continues to be very usable and there is no vital enhance in shimmering in comparison with DLSS 3. Due to the upper decision, visible artifacts like shimmering and scorching are additionally much less seen at 4K, enhancing total picture stability.
We additionally discovered stability ranges between the High quality and Balanced modes to be related, or barely in favor of High quality mode – not like at 1440p, the place Balanced typically behaved higher. A number of the artifacts seen earlier, akin to aliasing on brick textures in The Final of Us, are both far much less noticeable or fully eradicated at 4K with FSR 4. This results in a visibly cleaner picture and improves competitiveness with DLSS.
This improved stability additionally advantages difficult parts like grates and meshes. FSR 4 performs fairly effectively right here, and we even noticed examples the place it dealt with these higher than DLSS 4. That is doubtless as a consequence of FSR 4 exhibiting fewer disocclusion artifacts – one thing we seen at 1440p that is additionally current at 4K.
Round transferring characters in third-person video games or close to mesh fences, FSR 4 exhibits much less scorching and graininess. In fact, how seen these results are will depend on the sport, the motion, and the standard settings used.
We have been additionally impressed with FSR 4’s Efficiency mode, which regularly gives better stability in movement than DLSS 3’s Efficiency mode, inserting it someplace between DLSS 3 and 4.
DLSS 4 nonetheless gives probably the most secure and highest-quality picture total, however the truth that FSR 4’s Efficiency mode is now extra usable than DLSS 3’s is a big achievement. Relying on the sport, it is easy to justify utilizing Balanced and even Efficiency mode with FSR 4 – one thing we completely could not say about FSR 3.
The principle draw back of the decrease FSR 4 modes is a lack of high quality element. These modes can clean or eradicate delicate textures in an effort to keep up stability, and that is most obvious when in comparison with DLSS 4, which retains each stability and high quality element. FSR 4 nonetheless performs fairly effectively in reconstructing high quality particulars at 4K, however for the cleanest picture, sticking to the upper high quality modes is really useful.
One of many greatest enhancements FSR 4 brings over FSR 3 is in rendering transparencies, and this holds true at 4K. FSR 4 now matches DLSS when dealing with results like holograms and fireplace – it is now not the garbled blurry mess seen in older variations.
Particle results and rain additionally maintain up effectively at this decision. As an illustration, snow in Horizon Zero Daybreak seems to be fairly good, even in Efficiency mode, when in comparison with DLSS 3 and 4. Scenes that beforehand seemed painful utilizing low FSR settings are actually way more nice to view.
FSR 4 vs DLSS: Foliage High quality
Lastly, we checked out foliage high quality. Similar to at 1440p, FSR 4 delivers wonderful grass high quality at 4K, falling between DLSS 3 and DLSS 4. In some video games like Ratchet & Clank and Hunt: Showdown, FSR 4 seems much less grainy than DLSS 3 when utilizing High quality mode. In others, like Horizon Zero Daybreak, the outcomes are very near DLSS 4.
For a greater illustration of picture high quality comparisons, try the HUB video beneath:
Beforehand, one criticism we had was that tree stability in FSR 4 might be worse than DLSS 3, regardless of providing a sharper picture. That difficulty is much less pronounced at 4K, the place total stability is improved. Within the worst-case eventualities, FSR 4’s tree rendering now usually matches DLSS 3, which is a stable end result – although DLSS 4 nonetheless delivers the most effective tree upscaling.
Even with the best particulars, like skinny, leafless branches, FSR 4 may be barely extra secure than DLSS 3, though this typically comes at the price of high quality element when stationary.
This holds true in each High quality and Efficiency modes, as soon as once more exhibiting that FSR 4 maintains stable efficiency even in decrease settings – one thing we could not have stated about earlier variations of the know-how.
Efficiency
By way of FPS efficiency, there’s actually nothing new right here that wasn’t already lined within the 1440p evaluation. We examined FSR on the RX 9070 XT and DLSS on the RTX 5070 Ti – each of which ship related efficiency, or not less than as shut as we will get with the present GPU lineups.
The identical 4 video games from the earlier comparability have been examined at similar settings, with this spherical specializing in the geometric imply of the outcomes.
At 4K, the efficiency developments carefully mirror these at 1440p: the efficiency uplift offered by FSR 4 is similar to what DLSS 4 delivers.
FSR 4 in High quality mode confirmed a 35% efficiency enchancment over native TAA on the 9070 XT, whereas DLSS 4 High quality mode delivered a 31% achieve on the 5070 Ti. Balanced modes have been almost similar in uplift, whereas Efficiency mode ran barely quicker on the DLSS 4 facet.
Each upscalers are barely extra demanding than their predecessors, however the added overhead is price it given the visible enhancements we’re seeing from FSR 4 and DLSS 4 over FSR 3 and DLSS 3.
What We Realized
As was to be anticipated, AMD’s FSR 4 is extra secure at 4K than it was at 1440p, permitting it to both match or outperform DLSS 3 in most eventualities. At 1440p, there have been a number of cases the place FSR 4 lagged behind Nvidia’s last-gen upscaler, however these are a lot much less doubtless at 4K.
By way of picture high quality, FSR 4 firmly slots between DLSS 3 and DLSS 4. Whereas DLSS 4 stays extra secure and detailed – with an excellent sharper presentation than at 1440p – FSR 4 is now very aggressive, particularly for individuals who beforehand thought of DLSS 3 “adequate.”
We additionally see a considerable improve from FSR 3.1 to FSR 4 at 4K. Picture element and stability is significantly better when utilizing the High quality modes, and it is a evening and day distinction utilizing the Efficiency mode. In truth, if you happen to beforehand discovered FSR 3.1 High quality mode acceptable for 4K gaming, you will doubtless discover FSR 4 Efficiency mode to be an improve – it is that significantly better.
For many gamers, FSR 4 High quality or Balanced modes will present a fantastic expertise throughout all kinds of video games. And whereas Efficiency mode would not get as sturdy a advice at 4K as DLSS 4’s equal, it is nonetheless acceptable for these in search of further FPS. The Balanced mode in FSR 4 is now a legit choice, and the High quality mode is clearly improved.
FSR Sport Help Nonetheless Lags Behind
Whereas AMD has carried out a fantastic job bringing FSR 4’s visible high quality as much as scratch, there’s nonetheless concern about sport help. AMD now must speed up adoption to match DLSS 4’s attain. At the very least for the foreseeable future, this may stay a key consideration when selecting between Radeon and GeForce GPUs. DLSS is solely supported in way more titles, and it is unreasonable to count on tons of of FSR 4 sport updates right away.
What’s been irritating, nevertheless, is the gradual rollout of FSR 4 updates for video games that ought to already help it. AMD should whitelist titles of their driver to allow the FSR 3.1 to FSR 4 improve toggle – and ideally, this could occur in day-one drivers. Sadly, that hasn’t been the case, leaving Radeon 9000 collection patrons with out instant FSR 4 help in main releases.
- For instance, Murderer’s Creed Shadows launched with FSR 3.1 and must be eligible for FSR 4, however help continues to be lacking. In the meantime, DLSS 4 was out there on day one through Nvidia’s driver override.
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance II was introduced as an FSR 4 title when AMD unveiled the characteristic, but it nonetheless lacks help – regardless of utilizing FSR 3.1. Once more, DLSS 4 is already supported in that sport.
- Indiana Jones and the Nice Circle cannot be upgraded to FSR 4 as a consequence of its use of Vulkan, which FSR 4 would not but help – however that limitation would not apply to DLSS 4.
AMD claims they validate FSR 4 high quality earlier than enabling it in drivers – however let’s be sincere, day-one help is essential. These checks must be accomplished earlier than launch, and driver updates ought to persistently add new titles. The latest driver, model 25.3.2, supposedly added help for AC Shadows, however that did not embody FSR 4 driver upgrades – a important characteristic.
If AMD can streamline sport help and begin releasing well timed driver updates that allow FSR 4 in 2025 releases, they’re going to be in a powerful place to compete within the upscaling panorama, particularly now that FSR 4 upscaling is superb at each 1440p and 4K at numerous high quality settings.
