Activate FSR 4 on Radeon RX 6000 without performance loss
Gaming has become increasingly expensive, not just due to the cost of games themselves, but also because players need high-performance consoles or PCs to run them smoothly. Components like graphics cards, which are essential for an immersive gaming experience, have seen significant price increases in recent years. The requirements for modern games are also climbing, making it almost mandatory to invest in a graphics card capable of supporting upscaling technologies and frame generation. A graphics card like the RX 6000 series was supposed to fall behind without access to FSR 4, but a recent discovery has shown a way to enable this technology, and the best part is that it can be done without any loss in FPS.
The trend of AI-powered upscaling technologies was initiated by NVIDIA with its DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling). This technology, exclusive to NVIDIA's RTX graphics cards, was launched with the RTX 20 series. While it faced initial skepticism, its effectiveness improved dramatically, especially with DLSS 2, which offered a better alternative than native resolution gaming. As the technology progressed, DLSS 3 introduced frame generation, and DLSS 4 brought a new Transformer model for greater quality and enhanced frame generation capabilities.
How to activate FSR 4 on RX 6000 without sacrificing FPS
The introduction of FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution) by AMD was a direct response to NVIDIA's DLSS, but initial versions of FSR, particularly FSR 1, did not perform well, leading many to avoid its use. With FSR 2, AMD made significant improvements, yet it still struggled to compete with DLSS 2. FSR 3 represented another leap forward, but NVIDIA remained the preferred choice until the arrival of FSR 4. This new iteration aims to match the quality of DLSS 3 and DLSS 4 without requiring users to rely on NVIDIA GPUs.
At first, FSR 4 was designed exclusively for the RX 9000 series, but AMD later confirmed compatibility with the RX 7000 series. Interestingly, unofficial reports indicated the possibility of enabling FSR 4 on the RX 6000 series as well, although initial attempts resulted in a performance drop of up to 20% in FPS. Recently, a user from Computer Base uncovered a method to activate FSR 4 without using the OptiScaler, thus preventing any performance loss. This method exploits INT8 files that were leaked as part of AMD’s source code.
Copying files from AMD drivers to enable FSR 4
Activating FSR 4 on RX 6000 graphics cards can be achieved in two distinct ways. The first method is straightforward but requires using older drivers, specifically the Adrenalin 23.9.1 version from September 2023. However, this approach may cause issues in newer games, leading to bugs and performance drops. The second method allows users to utilize newer drivers while taking advantage of FSR 4, but requires a file compression program, such as WinRAR or the recommended 7-Zip.
To begin, download the outdated Adrenalin 23.9.1 drivers and extract their contents. Repeat the process with the newer drivers (Adrenalin 25.9.2). Once both sets of drivers are extracted, navigate to the folder structure of the older drivers to locate the amdxc32.dll and amdxc64.dll files. These can be found in the path: Packages - Drivers - Display - WT6A_INF - B395348. After copying these files, paste them into the corresponding folder of the new drivers, which should be found in the directory named "B419241". Finally, install the new driver by running the Setup.exe file.
Comparative tests have shown that using this method, the RX 6800 XT can achieve image quality comparable to the RX 9070 XT, which supports FSR 4 natively. This confirms that the method effectively works and delivers the promised enhancements.
Does the RX 6000 support FSR?
The RX 6000 series is indeed capable of supporting FSR technology, but the extent of its capabilities varies with different versions of FSR. While FSR 1 and FSR 2 were available, the introduction of FSR 3 and the recent FSR 4 has sparked renewed interest among users of this graphics card series.
Key points about FSR support in the RX 6000 series include:
- FSR 1: Basic upscaling that lacked significant improvements.
- FSR 2: Introduced better image quality but still fell short compared to NVIDIA's offerings.
- FSR 3: Marked a major advancement, although still not on par with DLSS.
- FSR 4: Brings features that can match NVIDIA's latest technologies, with unofficial methods available for RX 6000 users.
How to activate AMD FSR?
Activating AMD FSR is a relatively straightforward process, particularly for users with compatible hardware. Here’s a step-by-step guide to enable FSR:
- Ensure you have the latest drivers installed for your AMD graphics card.
- Launch the game you wish to play that supports FSR.
- Access the in-game settings menu.
- Locate the graphics settings section.
- Find the option for FSR and select the desired quality level (Quality, Balanced, Performance).
- Save the changes and restart the game if necessary.
Will FSR 4 be available for older graphics cards?
The future of FSR 4 support for older graphics cards remains uncertain. AMD has focused on newer architectures, leading to questions about backward compatibility.
Consider the following regarding FSR 4's potential availability for older models:
- AMD may prioritize newer architectures for the best performance.
- Older models may receive updates, but support could be limited.
- Community-driven efforts might emerge to unlock features for legacy hardware.
As technology advances, the gaming landscape continues to evolve, and keeping abreast of these developments is essential for gamers seeking the best performance. The RX 6000 series users stand to benefit significantly from the ability to activate FSR 4, providing an avenue to enhance their gaming experience without the need for immediate hardware upgrades.
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