Intel
AMD’sFidelityFX Super Resolution ( FSR)and Intel’sXe Super Sampling ( XeSS)are two of the most prominent upscaling options you ’ll find in microcomputer games , and for one simple ground : They work with any of thebest graphics circuit board . opt between them is n’t dewy-eyed , however . There are some grownup conflict in persona character and performance , even with the same graphics scorecard and the same game .
We ’ve been quiz AMD FSR and Intel XeSS for calendar month across various games , but it ’s sentence to liken them breaker point for point . If you ’re take care for a dim-witted solvent on which is best , you w0n’t find it here . However , we ’ll still moil into the shade between FSR and XeSS and what you need to know about the two upscaling feature .
Intel
AMD FSR vs. Intel XeSS: how they work
FSR and XeSS accomplish the same end , but they go about it in very different ways . At their core , XeSS and FSR are both upscaling pecker . They render your plot at a lower resolve and then use an algorithm to upscale the games to the resolve of your monitor , improving your public presentation . For example , you might be playing a game at 4 grand , but with XeSS or FSR , your graphics card only take to render the pixels call for for 1080p . These tool fulfill in the relief of the detail .
AMD come on this with a complex algorithmic program . Instead of doing the upscaling work on the graphics card itself , it happens in the game . Because of that , you may apply FSR with any nontextual matter plug-in . Something like Nvidia’sDeep Learning Super Sampling ( DLSS)accomplishes the same goal with AI , and it requires dedicated AI gas on Nvidia RTX GPUs to work .
The current version of FSR — either FSR 2.x or FSR 3.x — is fundamentally a build of Temporal Anti - Aliasing ( TAA ) . The key contingent is the secular aspect of FSR , which takes into account previous frames to generate detail for succeeding frames . After taking several inputs from the plot locomotive engine , FSR can prey these detail back through the system to achieve better effigy lineament than what we saw with FSR 1 .
XeSS work in a similar way , but Intel leverages AI . Just like FSR , XeSS takes details from the game engine like motor vectors and combines them with details from previous frames to perform the upscaling . or else of being feed into a motionless algorithm , however , XeSS feeds the details into an AI model .
You might suspect that signify XeSS requires dedicated computer hardware like DLSS does , but that ’s not the case . Intel essentially built two track through its AI model to support a spacious range of GPUs . If you ’re using an Intel GPU like theArc A770 or A750 , XeSS will leverage the dedicated XMX cores on those graphics cards to execute the AI model . For other GPUs , XeSS rather uses the mutual DP4a instruction .
XeSS essentially uses whatever computer hardware it has accession to , so you do n’t get a alternative between the two different way . There are some difference between them , too . Overall , the course with DP4a instruction has slightly lower performance and image calibre .
AMD FSR vs. Intel XeSS: scaling modes
Both FSR and XeSS have several different carrying out modes that determine the resolution the game will render at . The more demanding operation modes — meaning the unity that interpret at a lower resolution — will come with the largest performance encouragement , but the biggest cost to trope timbre . In most cases , you require to go for the high - calibre mode while still attain the performance you ’re after .
you’re able to see how the grading breaks down above . There are three core modes you ’ll encounter in all game that support these feature : Quality , Balanced , and Performance . Ultra Performance is optional in both XeSS and FSR , as is the Ultra Quality manner for XeSS . mention that for the later version of XeSS , Intel uses different grading constituent than FSR , even with the same name for certain calibre mode . Previous execution lined up with the grading factor of FSR .
More recently , AMD and Intel have added the Native Anti - Aliasing mode to FSR and XeSS , respectively . These modes do n’t render your biz at a lower resolution . Instead , they use the algorithm to perform TAA on a native resolution image . This form ofanti - aliasing , flux with the sharpening built into each tool , generally acquire a unspoiled figure than the anti - aliasing built into biz .
Unfortunately , the Native Anti - Aliasing modes are n’t widely useable . At the clock time of written material , AMD only has the feature in a smattering of game , and Intel has n’t added the feature film to any game .
AMD FSR vs. Intel XeSS: frame generation
A late trend with upscaling characteristic is frame generation — or more accurately , frame interpolation . AMD offers frame interpolation withFSR 3 . Like the upscaling component , this work with any GPU . AMD strike two frames and compares the difference between them . That ’s then feed into an algorithm that generates a frame to go in between .
Intel does n’t have a frame generation feature of speech in XeSS yet , though I suspect it ’s on the docket . Both AMD and Nvidia have their own frame generation features now , so I suspect Intel is work on something similar . Some early research document suggest Intel willuse frame of reference extrapolation , getting around the issue withlatency that we ’ve seenwith frame interpolation .
AMD FSR vs. Intel XeSS: performance
At launch , Intel ’s XeSS was much obtuse than FSR , but that ’s commute with more late updates . The two upscaling tool are very near in term of operation , with both provide a solid increment in frame rate in demanding statute title . FSR still comes out ahead overall , however .
I confine my examination here to two games , ReturnalandCyberpunk 2077,to see how the performance modality and resolution interacted with each other . I also opted for an RTX 3060 GPU , not only because it ’s the most popular GPU on Steam , but also because it wo n’t receive any trade name - specific limited treatment . In addition , the XeSS version I tested use the old naming for the quality modes — each of the lineament mode has the same scaling factor across FSR and XeSS for these tests .
start at 1080p withCyberpunk 2077,it ’s clear that FSR is ahead . What ’s interesting is how the two tools scale with their quality modes . In the Quality mode , XeSS provided around a 15 % hike , while FSR was closemouthed to 20 % . In the more extreme Performance way , XeSS go steady a 48 % cost increase while FSR went past a 58 % boost . At 1080p in this manner , FSR can meet the challenge well .
The same is true at 1440p . FSR handle the Performance mode better , while the two upscaling pick are within a few frames of each other at the Balanced and Quality modes . The percentages are really interesting here , though . In the functioning mode , FSR provided an 83 % uplift compare to native resolution . It ’s a reminder that down output signal resolve like 1080p generally see less of a performance gain than high resolution .
Looking at 4 cat valium drives that indicate home . The moral force between FSR and XeSS stay the same , with FSR maintaining a steady Pb throughout the tone mood . With the Performance mode at 4 K , however , both dick essentially double the frame pace of native solution .
cyber-terrorist 2077is a good foundation , but the quality of the implementation of XeSS and FSR get down to the case-by-case game . Returnalis a peachy example of that . you’re able to see at 1080p how FSR maintains a consistent lead over XeSS in Quality to Performance fashion . This illustrates that upscaling feature like XeSS and FSR do n’t always interact with a plot in the same agency .
While 1440p present similar grading , 4 kB is where there ’s a massive deviation . Here , XeSS falls off a drop while FSR is capable to wield large jumps in performance , nearly doubling the native bod pace with its carrying out modal value .
There ’s no doubt that FSR is the way of life to go if you need to get peak performance from a biz . As I ’ll dig into next , however , it trades quite a piece of image quality away to accomplish such top .
AMD FSR vs. Intel XeSS: image quality
One of the liberal event facing upscaling dick like FSR and XeSS is image quality . Take a still mental image , and both see excellent . Intel and AMD have the algorithms tune to reproduce a low - resolution icon well . It ’s the secular nature of these prick where there ’s an issuing . Recycling previous data point leads to a slew of artifact , and they ’re much more present with FSR than they are with XeSS .
you could see that in action inReturnalabove . search at the paries leading to the big blue beam in the eye . With both XeSS and FSR , there ’s a faint flickering on this wall . This instability is a vulgar thread with worldly upscaling pecker . FSR and XeSS both show it , but XeSS is n’t as disquiet .
In some game , XeSS does n’t have unstableness issue at all . The most prominent exemplar of that is inCyberpunk 2077.Under the walk bridge , you could see how FSR fight to identify the trace as the photographic camera bobs up and down , while XeSS handles these fine item accurately .
Similarly , inMarvel ’s Spider - Man , you could see how FSR can sum up insult to accidental injury with instability in a normal TAA implementation . Even the stuffy detail in Spider - Man ’s causa show flickering , while ground details like the distant tress sputter all over the place . XeSS does n’t have any of those issues .
Another common problem with FSR is ghosting , which you’re able to see in action inHorizon Forbidden Westabove . If you look at Aloy ’s capitulum patch in FSR , you could see a firm efflorescence event each time it pulses . It ’s far strong than what you see with XeSS and aboriginal resolving power , which is an example of FSR struggling to fill in details when there are double-dyed , sudden changes in light and color .
FSR is faster than XeSS , but it makes some clear trade - offs in image timbre . No upscaling tool is perfect , but specially at the more demanding functioning modes , FSR suffers from instability and ghosting far more than XeSS does .
AMD FSR vs. Intel XeSS: the verdict
In an increasing number of games , you ’ll have the choice between XeSS and FSR , and there ’s no ripe answer between the two . FSR offers high peak performance if you need it , but it switch double quality in the process . Meanwhile , XeSS has more inconsistent performance , but it offers an image that ’s much closer to aboriginal resolution .
The one you should go with depends on how much extra performance you need . If you stick to the higher - timber style , FSR works well . It offer better performance , and the artifacts are less enunciate . However , if you find yourself going down to the more demanding performance modes , I ’d shift over to XeSS . It ’s not as tight , but it ’s better to sell a few frames for a better overall image .
