Experience Stunning Visual Enhancements with AMD’s FSR 4 on the Radeon RX 9070 XT GPU, Though Lower FPS May Be Required

AMD has introduced FSR 4, an innovative upscaling technology that boasts numerous features. However, there is a crucial aspect that gamers often overlook: the significant computational demand associated with its implementation.

AMD’s FSR 4: High Computational Costs Linked to AI Techniques

AMD has recently enhanced its FidelityFX suite with the release of version 2.0, which facilitates seamless integration of FSR technology into gaming environments. This update allows developers to harness the potential of FSR 4 effectively. In an interesting turn of events, a user on X, @opinali, conducted tests using the Radeon RX 9070 XT and the latest FSR technology via the FFX SDK 2.0. The findings reveal some surprising insights into the performance and resource usage of FSR 4.

In the sample I can pick the FSR version. With FG off, vsync off: 9070 XT, FSR 3.1.5: 290fps 9070 XT, FSR 4.0.2: 276fps RTX 5080, FSR 3.1.5: 356fps Upscale time is FSR3.1=0.51ms, FSR4=0.70ms. FSR4 costs +37% GPU; still a small fraction of total frame even for this simple demo.🔚

— Osvaldo Pinali Doederlein (@opinali) August 23, 2025

During the tests, the RX 9070 XT achieved 276 FPS while running FSR 4.0.2 without Frame Generation and V-Sync. Comparatively, it managed 290 FPS with FSR 3.1.5 under identical conditions, indicating that the latest upscaling version does not provide a significant performance boost. The testing also highlighted a notable increase in upscale time, with FSR 4 requiring 37% more GPU resources, clearly illustrating that adopting AMD’s current upscaling technology can impact frame rates.

AMD RX 9070 XT performance in Space Marine 2 with 4K and FSR 4, showing FPS comparison. — Image Credits: AMD

The underlying reason for this performance change lies in the image upscaling methods used in different FSR versions. FSR 3 primarily leveraged DP4a instructions, which are less demanding on GPU resources but result in less intricate image reconstruction. On the other hand, FSR 4 employs advanced AI-driven techniques, including motion vectors and temporal data, which are computationally intensive. This transition explains the observed decline in performance during the testing phase.

Interestingly, the decrease in FPS represents only a small segment of the total rendering workload, suggesting that for most gamers, this drop may not significantly affect their gaming experience. For those who prioritize visual fidelity, FSR 4 undoubtedly offers superior image quality. However, competitive gamers might prefer to steer clear of intricate upscaling technologies to maintain optimal frame rates.

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