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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesAMD’s 2022 Adrenalin Edition update introduced Radeon Super Resolution (RSR), a driver-level upscaler that could work without game-specific integration, alongside laptop features called SmartShift Max, SmartShift Eco and SmartAccess Graphics. RSR was aimed at supported RDNA-based Radeon discrete graphics and exclusive-full-screen games; the laptop features depended on specific AMD Ryzen/Radeon designs and manufacturer support.
What AMD announced for Adrenalin in 2022
AMD previewed the features at CES in January 2022, then launched Adrenalin Edition software on March 17. The update’s headline additions were RSR, three laptop power or graphics-routing features, Privacy View and AMD Link 5.0. AMD also expanded Radeon Image Sharpening to video playback and web applications.
AMD said the software could deliver up to 15% more gaming performance compared with the prior year’s software release. That is an AMD claim, not an independent benchmark, and it describes a comparison with prior software rather than a guaranteed uplift for every game or system.
What Radeon Super Resolution does
RSR is a spatial upscaler applied by the graphics driver. A game renders at a lower resolution, and the driver scales the resulting image toward the display resolution. AMD based RSR on the algorithm used by FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR), but unlike game-integrated FSR, RSR does not require the game developer to add a specific implementation. AMD described it as compatible with thousands of games.
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What the image-quality trade-off means
Because RSR scales the completed frame, it processes the entire image—including interface elements such as text, menus and the HUD. By contrast, a game that implements FSR can handle its interface separately, which may produce a cleaner result for those elements. RSR is therefore a convenient option where a game lacks integrated FSR, but it is not automatically the best-looking upscaling method in every title.
Which Radeon cards can use RSR?
AMD’s stated compatibility is for supported RDNA discrete Radeon graphics; it is not a feature to assume will work on every Radeon card. The Radeon RX 6000 series is a relevant hardware family to check, but the exact card, driver, operating system and game display mode matter. AMD’s product documentation should be checked for the requirements that apply to a particular setup.
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RSR targets exclusive-full-screen play. If it is unavailable or does not activate, check that the game is using exclusive full-screen rather than a borderless or windowed mode, and verify the GPU and driver requirements for the exact model.
How the SmartShift features differ
| Feature | What it does | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|
| SmartShift Max | Dynamically shifts a laptop’s thermal and power budget toward the CPU or GPU, depending on which is the performance bottleneck. | Selected AMD Ryzen and Radeon laptop designs with OEM support. |
| SmartShift Eco | Is designed to reduce battery consumption when the notebook is unplugged. | Supported laptop platforms; it is not a universal Radeon setting. |
| SmartAccess Graphics | Can switch display routing so a discrete GPU drives the laptop panel or outputs directly, avoiding the overhead of sending frames through integrated graphics. | Selected AMD laptop configurations with manufacturer enablement. |
SmartShift Max is about allocating a laptop’s available power and thermal headroom between processor and graphics workloads; it does not mean that every system receives more power or a fixed performance increase. AMD cited up to 15% performance uplift from SmartAccess Graphics in its CES material. That is a vendor figure, not a result guaranteed across supported laptops.
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- AMD RDNA 3 Architecture with AI & Ray Tracing Acceleration: Powered by 32 RDNA 3 Compute Units featuring 3rd Gen Ray Tracing Accelerators and 2nd Gen AI Accelerators, delivering lifelike lighting, shadows, and superior machine learning performance for enhanced gaming and content creation.
- Powerful 1080p & 1440p Gaming Engine: Features a max boost clock of up to 2695 MHz, a game clock of 2280 MHz, and 2048 stream processors, ensuring outstanding frame rates in the latest titles.
- 8GB High‑Speed GDDR6 Memory: Equipped with 8GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128‑bit interface running at 18 Gbps, delivering up to 288 GB/s bandwidth for high‑resolution textures and demanding game workloads.
These capabilities depend on the notebook’s platform and OEM implementation. A Radeon GPU in a desktop PC, or even a different AMD laptop, does not by itself establish support. Check the laptop maker’s specifications for the exact model.
Other Adrenalin announcements from the same period
- AMD Link 5.0: Updates were intended to let users connect devices for local multiplayer and remote-play scenarios.
- Privacy View: Listed among the CES 2022 announcements.
- Radeon Image Sharpening: Expanded beyond games to video playback and web applications.
- FidelityFX Super Resolution 2.0: Announced as a later temporal-upscaling technology using temporal data and optimized anti-aliasing. AMD said it would not require dedicated machine-learning hardware; it was a separate technology from the driver-level RSR launch.
How to choose between RSR and game-integrated upscaling
- Check whether the game offers FSR or another built-in upscaler. Integration can allow the game to preserve interface elements more effectively.
- If the game lacks an integrated option, RSR may provide a driver-level alternative, provided the GPU, driver and display mode meet AMD’s requirements.
- Compare the image at your intended output resolution, paying particular attention to small text and HUD elements, rather than judging performance alone.
- For a laptop, confirm that SmartShift or SmartAccess Graphics is listed for the specific system; the names do not indicate universal Radeon support.
How to read AMD’s performance figures
AMD’s product page documented an RSR example reporting up to 78% faster performance and 54% lower latency. Those figures came from AMD’s test setup published for a February 8, 2022 test and a later page revision; they are vendor results for that example, not general performance guarantees. The available description does not establish that the figures apply to a reader’s game, graphics card or settings.
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