AMD FSR 4 can offer better image reconstruction than FSR 3.1, but it is not a guaranteed win in every game or scene. The current FSR Upscaling 4.1.1 ML path supports discrete Radeon RX 9000 and RX 7000 Series GPUs; FSR 3.1.5 remains the broader-compatibility analytical option. A supported card still needs a game with the appropriate FSR integration.
What is the difference between FSR 4 and FSR 3?
FSR 4, now called AMD FSR Upscaling in current developer materials, uses machine learning to reconstruct an image rendered at a lower resolution. FSR 3.1 uses an earlier analytical upscaling path. These are upscaling technologies: they reconstruct the target image, and their cost and results depend on the game, hardware, mode, and resolution.
AMD says FSR 4 improves temporal stability, preserves detail better, and reduces ghosting compared with FSR 3.1. Those are AMD’s claims, not a promise that FSR 4 will look better in every title or setting. The specific FSR 3 revision matters, too: compare FSR Upscaling 4.1.1 with the version actually implemented in the game, rather than treating every FSR 3 release as identical. AMD’s February 2025 launch announcement describes the original FSR 4 positioning; AMD’s current FSR Upscaling documentation covers the newer path and versions.
Does FSR 4 look better than FSR 3.1?
It is designed to improve fine-detail retention and behavior over time, but the outcome depends on the game, scene, quality mode, input resolution, and implementation. A temporal upscaler can look different in motion than it does in a still screenshot, so a single crop is not enough to judge all image behavior.
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For a meaningful side-by-side, keep the game scene, output resolution, quality preset, frame-generation setting, and hardware constant. Check detail and texture retention, stability during motion, ghosting, particle handling, and artifacts around moving edges. GamersNexus has published an independent comparison of FSR 4 and FSR 3.1, but the available material does not establish a universal winner across games and settings. GamersNexus’ comparison is one reference; its existence alone is not evidence that every scene favors the same upscaler.
Does FSR 4 increase FPS?
Upscaling can reduce the amount of rendering work needed for a target output resolution, but the FPS change depends on the GPU, game, mode, resolution, and implementation. AMD’s published figures are approximate upscaling times in milliseconds—not whole-game frame rates or measured FSR 4-versus-FSR 3 FPS gains.
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| Performance mode target | GPU | Approximate upscaling time |
|---|---|---|
| 3840×2160 (4K) | Radeon RX 9070 XT | ~1.3 ms |
| 3840×2160 (4K) | Radeon RX 7900 XTX | ~3.1 ms |
| 2560×1440 | Radeon RX 7800 XT | ~2.1 ms |
| 1920×1080 | Radeon RX 7600 | ~2.0 ms |
| 1920×1080 | Radeon RX 9070 XT | ~0.35 ms |
These are AMD GPUOpen’s approximate Performance-mode timings for the named GPUs and target resolutions, accessed in 2026. They are not independent measurements, not complete-game benchmarks, and not a controlled comparison between FSR 4 and FSR 3. Do not use them to infer a universal FPS uplift or rank different GPUs by performance. AMD GPUOpen’s FSR Upscaling page provides the figures and their context.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What graphics cards support FSR 4?
As of October 7, 2026, AMD documents FSR Upscaling 4.1.1 support for discrete Radeon RX 9000 and RX 7000 Series GPUs. The requirements listed by AMD are Shader Model 6.6, DirectX 12, and Windows 10 or 11. That is a change from the original launch period: AMD’s February 2025 announcement described FSR 4 as exclusive to RX 9000, while an SDK 2.3 update in June 2026 added RX 7000 support. AMD’s SDK 2.3 announcement describes that addition.
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FSR 3.1.5 supports a wider range of hardware: AMD lists Radeon RX 500 Series and above, or equivalent GPUs from other vendors, with Shader Model 6.2, DirectX 12, and Windows 10 or 11. The game must still implement the relevant path; a compatible GPU by itself does not add an FSR option to a game. AMD’s SDK documentation says FSR 3.1.5 can be used automatically on hardware outside the supported FSR Upscaling 4.1.1 GPU set when the game or plugin uses the relevant SDK path. AMD FSR SDK documentation distinguishes these features and describes the fallback.
| Feature | Documented GPU support | Requirements and notes |
|---|---|---|
| FSR Upscaling 4.1.1 (ML path) | Discrete Radeon RX 9000 and RX 7000 Series GPUs | Shader Model 6.6; DirectX 12; Windows 10 or 11. Requires game or developer integration. |
| FSR 3.1.5 analytical upscaling | Radeon RX 500 Series and above, or equivalent GPUs from other vendors | Shader Model 6.2; DirectX 12; Windows 10 or 11. |
| ML FSR Frame Generation 4.0.1 | RX 9000 Series and above, according to current SDK documentation | Separate from upscaling; these GPU-support requirements should not be conflated with FSR Upscaling 4.1.1. |
For FSR 4.1.1 availability, check the game’s current graphics settings, release notes, or verified compatibility information. AMD’s launch announcement listed more than 30 games at launch and said 75 were expected later in 2025; those are historical figures, not a current supported-game count. A complete current game count is not established here.
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- AMD RDNA 4 Architecture: RX 9070 GPU with 56 CUs, 3584 stream processors, 3rd gen RT and 2nd gen AI accelerators – built for 1440p/4K gaming.
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How should you choose between FSR 4 and FSR 3?
- Use FSR Upscaling 4.x when your GPU and the game both support it, then judge the result in the scenes and modes you actually play.
- Use FSR 3.1 when you need its broader hardware compatibility or a game does not offer the newer path.
- Compare performance carefully: keep the GPU, scene, target resolution, quality mode, and frame-generation state the same, and distinguish upscaler processing time from whole-game FPS.
- Check exact versions: FSR 4.1.1 and the particular FSR 3 revision in a game are more useful labels than a broad FSR 4-versus-FSR 3 comparison.
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