AMD FSR 4 is no longer a future feature. It launched on February 28, 2025, as AMD’s machine-learning upscaler for Radeon RX 9000 graphics cards. By 2026, AMD’s terminology has evolved: the upscaling component is now called FSR Upscaling within the broader FSR Redstone platform, and version 4.1 extends ML-based upscaling to Radeon RX 7000 as well as RX 9000 GPUs.
It is a meaningful upgrade over older FSR versions, but it is not a universal replacement for native rendering or Nvidia DLSS. Support depends on the GPU, game integration, driver, rendering mode, and the particular Redstone feature being used.
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What is AMD FSR 4?
FidelityFX Super Resolution is AMD’s image-reconstruction technology. Instead of rendering every pixel at the monitor’s output resolution, a game renders internally at a lower resolution. FSR then uses the current frame, motion information, and previous frames to reconstruct a higher-resolution image.
FSR 4’s major change is the move from AMD’s earlier analytical and temporal upscaling approach to an ML-accelerated reconstruction model. AMD says the model was trained on high-quality game data using AMD Instinct accelerators, while runtime inference uses RDNA 4’s FP8 Wave Matrix Multiply Accumulate hardware. The intended result is better fine-detail retention, improved temporal stability, and less ghosting, particularly around foliage, particles, thin geometry, and moving objects. See AMD’s FSR 4 and RDNA 4 announcement.
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Machine learning does not mean the upscaler invents reliable detail from nothing. It reconstructs an image from lower-resolution pixels and temporal data. Difficult scenes can still produce blur, shimmer, ghosting, or detail that looks incorrect. Results also vary with the game’s motion vectors, anti-aliasing implementation, internal resolution, quality preset, and integration quality.
FSR Upscaling is not the same as frame generation
AMD’s current FSR Redstone branding covers multiple technologies:
- FSR Upscaling: reconstructs the current rendered frame at a higher output resolution.
- FSR Frame Generation: creates intermediate frames between traditionally rendered frames.
- Ray-regeneration technologies: use ML-assisted techniques for certain ray-traced effects.
A game may support upscaling, frame generation, both, or neither. Upscaling can improve performance by reducing the internal rendering resolution. Frame generation can increase the displayed frame rate, but it does not replace the need for a reasonably strong base frame and can introduce latency or artifacts.
Which Radeon GPUs support FSR 4?
AMD’s current documentation lists ML-based FSR Upscaling support for Radeon RX 7000 and RX 9000 series graphics cards. AMD lists RX 6000 support as planned for 2027, so owners of older Radeon cards should not assume that current FSR Upscaling 4.1 support is available today.
| GPU family | Current FSR Upscaling status |
|---|---|
| Radeon RX 9000 | Supported; this was the original FSR 4 platform. |
| Radeon RX 7000 | Supported under the newer FSR Upscaling 4.1 model. |
| Radeon RX 6000 | AMD lists support as planned for 2027. |
| Older Radeon GPUs | May support earlier FSR versions, but not current ML-based FSR Upscaling according to AMD’s current matrix. |
GPU eligibility is only one requirement. The game must also have a compatible FSR integration or be recognized by an AMD driver profile. An AMD graphics card alone does not make FSR 4 available in every game.
What hardware was FSR 4 designed for?
The original implementation was built around the Radeon RX 9000 series and RDNA 4’s AI acceleration. AMD’s launch specifications listed the Radeon RX 9070 XT with 128 AI accelerators, 16GB of GDDR6 memory, 64 compute units, and a 304W board-power rating. The RX 9070 was listed with 112 AI accelerators, 16GB of GDDR6, and 220W board power.
AMD announced launch SEPs of $599 for the RX 9070 XT and $549 for the RX 9070 in February 2025. Those are historical launch prices, not verified retail prices for 2026. Consult the RX 9070 XT product page for specifications rather than treating launch pricing as a current buying quote.
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FSR 4 is intended to improve the weaknesses that can appear in conventional temporal upscaling, especially unstable fine detail and trails behind moving objects. AMD’s stated goals include:
- More stable detail during camera movement.
- Improved reconstruction of foliage, wires, hair, particles, and other thin features.
- Reduced ghosting in difficult motion scenes.
- Sharper motion reconstruction than earlier FSR implementations.
FSR Upscaling 4.1 is described by AMD as a further image-quality update, particularly during motion. AMD’s developer documentation lists FSR Upscaling 4.1 as a March 2026 release and identifies Crimson Desert as an early title using newer FSR 4.1 and ray-regeneration features. These are design goals and vendor-described improvements, not a guarantee that every game will look better in every preset.
There is also a performance cost. AMD reports approximately 1.3 milliseconds for FSR Upscaling in Performance mode at 4K on an RX 9070 XT, but that is an AMD measurement under a specific test setup. Actual overhead varies by GPU, resolution, quality mode, game, and implementation.
How to enable FSR 4 or FSR Upscaling
The exact Adrenalin labels can change between driver releases, but the general process is:
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- Install the current official AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition driver for your specific Radeon model.
- Launch a game with a compatible FSR integration, commonly an eligible title with built-in FSR 3.1 support.
- Open the game’s graphics or upscaling settings and select its FSR option.
- Open AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition and locate the game profile or FSR upgrade setting.
- Enable the FSR 4 or FSR Upscaling upgrade option if the title and GPU are eligible.
- Restart the game if Adrenalin requests it.
- Compare the result with the upgrade disabled, checking both a static scene and camera movement.
AMD’s Adrenalin 25.3.1 release notes documented the initial driver-level upgrade toggle for supported games with built-in FSR 3.1. A game may continue to display an FSR 3.1 label even when the driver is replacing the underlying upscaler, so the menu text is not conclusive proof of which implementation is running.
If the option is missing
- Check the GPU: Current ML-based support is for RX 7000 and RX 9000; RX 6000 support is listed for 2027.
- Update the driver: Verify the driver release notes for your exact GPU.
- Check the game: Driver support is limited to eligible titles and integrations.
- Restart after changing the profile: Some driver-level replacements require a game restart.
- Do not confuse FSR versions: A game supporting FSR 2 or FSR 3 does not automatically receive FSR 4.
What happens when FSR 4 is unavailable?
You can still use the game’s native renderer, an earlier FSR version, or another supported reconstruction method. Native rendering usually provides the cleanest reference image but requires substantially more GPU work at high resolutions. FSR 3.1 may deliver a useful performance increase on a wider range of hardware, even if its motion stability differs from FSR Upscaling 4.1.
AMD Radeon Super Resolution is a separate driver-level spatial upscaling option that operates outside the same game-integrated FSR path. It should not be treated as identical to native FSR 4 or FSR Upscaling 4.1. Game-specific alternatives may also exist, depending on the title and GPU.
How should FSR 4 be compared with Nvidia DLSS?
There is no responsible universal answer to whether FSR 4 is “better than DLSS.” Compare them under matching conditions:
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- Compare native rendering, FSR 3.1, FSR 4 or 4.1, and DLSS where available.
- Inspect both still images and camera movement.
- Look closely at foliage, wires, hair, reflections, particles, subtitles, HUD elements, and fast-moving objects.
- Record base frame rate, generated frame rate separately, frame-time consistency, and latency.
- Note the GPU model, driver version, game version, and whether the solution is native or driver-injected.
FSR’s cross-vendor history and AMD’s hardware ecosystem are important advantages. Nvidia’s DLSS remains the comparison point for reconstruction quality because of its established game support and image-quality reputation. The result can vary by title, preset, and implementation; claims that FSR 4 universally matches or beats DLSS are too broad without named games and controlled testing.
Is FSR 4 a reason to buy an RX 9000-series GPU?
FSR 4 is a valuable part of the RX 9000 feature set, particularly for gamers targeting 1440p or 4K, ray tracing, and high refresh rates. It can make demanding games more practical when native rendering is too expensive. But it should not be the only reason to choose a graphics card.
Existing RX 7000 owners
The arrival of FSR Upscaling 4.1 makes the software upgrade more relevant than the original RX 9000-only launch suggested. If your games are supported, you may gain access to newer ML-based upscaling without replacing the GPU. Actual benefit still depends on game support and the performance of your existing card.
RX 9000 buyers
The RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 were the original FSR 4 platform. The RX 9070 XT offers 16GB of GDDR6 and RDNA 4’s AI acceleration, while lower-tier RX 9000 models may suit 1440p-focused systems. Choose based on total raster and ray-tracing performance, VRAM, power use, monitor resolution, and your game library—not one upscaling feature.
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Do not buy or keep a card on the assumption that current FSR Upscaling support already exists. AMD’s current documentation lists RX 6000 support for 2027. Earlier FSR versions may remain available, but that is a different capability.
Bottom line
FSR 4 was a substantial step for AMD because it brought machine-learning reconstruction to Radeon gaming, but the accurate 2026 story is its evolution into FSR Upscaling 4.1 within FSR Redstone. It offers a stronger alternative to FSR 3.1 on supported RX 7000 and RX 9000 systems, yet support remains game- and driver-dependent. It is a reason to value a compatible Radeon GPU, not a reason by itself to ignore price, native performance, ray tracing, VRAM, latency, and the games you actually play.
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