AMD FSR Redstone pushes the FidelityFX Super Resolution package for upscaling and frame generation into the machine learning era. Enhanced upscaling, frame generation, Ray Regeneration, and Radiance Caching all utilize ML on Radeon RX 9000 cards with the RDNA 4 architecture. We’ll look at what FSR Redstone adds compared to previous FSR 1–3 generations, how it works, what its limitations are, and how PC game support will shape up.
From time to time, both AMD and Nvidia have managed to boost performance in multiple games with major driver updates. Nowadays, optimizations are made continuously and mostly for newly released titles, and we no longer see any broad, across-the-board performance uplift. To be sure, I re-tested performance across a set of benchmarks and settings, and it doesn’t look like performance with the FSR Redstone drivers differs in any of them by more than normal measurement error. Of course, this doesn’t rule out the possibility that performance has changed in other titles or tests.
The tests were run on the same platform I use for graphics card reviews. For this, I used the Radeon RX 9060 XT Gaming OC ICE, which I reviewed recently.
The tests were carried out on a press build of the drivers that we received from AMD in advance. The 15.12.1 version is now available on AMD’s support website, where you can download it as well. You can find a detailed description of the new features and changes in the release notes.
| Gigabyte RX 9060 XT GOC ICE, 16 GB, driver 25.11.1 | Gigabyte RX 9060 XT GOC ICE, 16 GB, driver 25.12.1 (FSR Redstone) | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyberpunk 2077, Ultra, scaling off, 1920 × 1080 | 117.6 | 117.7 | 0.1 % |
| Cyberpunk 2077, Ultra, FSR3 nat. AA, 1920 × 1080 | 82.4 | 82.3 | -0.1 % |
| Cyberpunk 2077, Ultra, FSR3 bal., 1920 × 1080 | 154.4 | 154.8 | 0.3 % |
| Cyberpunk 2077, Ultra, FSR3 bal., fg 2×, 1920 × 1080 | 289.3 | 288.8 | -0.2 % |
| Cyberpunk 2077, RT Ultra, scaling off, 1920 × 1080 | 48.7 | 48.5 | -0.4 % |
| Cyberpunk 2077, RT Ultra, FSR3 nat. AA, 1920 × 1080 | 47.0 | 46.9 | -0.2 % |
| Cyberpunk 2077, RT Ultra, FSR3 bal., 1920 × 1080 | 96.5 | 96.4 | -0.1 % |
| Cyberpunk 2077, RT Ultra, FSR3 bal., fg 2×, 1920 × 1080 | 184.5 | 184.4 | -0.1 % |
| Cyberpunk 2077, RT Overdrive, scaling off, 1920 × 1080 | 22.7 | 22.7 | 0.0 % |
| Cyberpunk 2077, RT Overdrive, FSR3 nat. AA, 1920 × 1080 | 22.3 | 22.2 | -0.4 % |
| Cyberpunk 2077, RT Overdrive, FSR3 perf., 1920 × 1080 | 63.2 | 63.0 | -0.3 % |
| Cyberpunk 2077, RT Overdrive, FSR3 perf., fg 2×, 1920 × 1080 | 123.0 | 123.0 | 0.0 % |
| Cyberpunk 2077, Ultra, scaling off, 2560 × 1440 | 75.2 | 75.2 | 0.0 % |
| Cyberpunk 2077, Ultra, FSR3 nat. AA, 2560 × 1440 | 48.5 | 48.4 | -0.2 % |
| Cyberpunk 2077, Ultra, FSR3 bal., 2560 × 1440 | 106.5 | 106.5 | 0.0 % |
| Cyberpunk 2077, Ultra, FSR3 bal., fg 2×, 2560 × 1440 | 191.5 | 190.7 | -0.4 % |
| Cyberpunk 2077, RT Ultra, scaling off, 2560 × 1440 | 29.9 | 29.8 | -0.3 % |
| Cyberpunk 2077, RT Ultra, FSR3 nat. AA, 2560 × 1440 | 28.7 | 28.7 | 0.0 % |
| Cyberpunk 2077, RT Ultra, FSR3 bal., 2560 × 1440 | 64.2 | 64.1 | -0.2 % |
| Cyberpunk 2077, RT Ultra, FSR3 bal., fg 2×, 2560 × 1440 | 120.4 | 120.2 | -0.2 % |
| Cyberpunk 2077, RT Overdrive, scaling off, 2560 × 1440 | 13.4 | 13.4 | 0.0 % |
| Cyberpunk 2077, RT Overdrive, FSR3 nat. AA, 2560 × 1440 | 13.2 | 13.2 | 0.0 % |
| Cyberpunk 2077, RT Overdrive, FSR3 perf., 2560 × 1440 | 41.7 | 41.6 | -0.2 % |
| Cyberpunk 2077, RT Overdrive, FSR3 perf., fg 2×, 2560 × 1440 | 80.1 | 80.0 | -0.1 % |
| Cyberpunk 2077, Ultra, scaling off, 3840 × 2160 | 32.5 | 32.6 | 0.3 % |
| Cyberpunk 2077, Ultra, FSR3 nat. AA, 3840 × 2160 | 20.5 | 20.5 | 0.0 % |
| Cyberpunk 2077, Ultra, FSR3 bal., 3840 × 2160 | 52.8 | 52.8 | 0.0 % |
| Cyberpunk 2077, Ultra, FSR3 bal., fg 2×, 3840 × 2160 | 91.7 | 91.3 | -0.4 % |
| Cyberpunk 2077, RT Ultra, scaling off, 3840 × 2160 | 14.0 | 14.0 | 0.0 % |
| Cyberpunk 2077, RT Ultra, FSR3 nat. AA, 3840 × 2160 | 13.5 | 13.4 | -0.7 % |
| Cyberpunk 2077, RT Ultra, FSR3 bal., 3840 × 2160 | 32.5 | 32.4 | -0.3 % |
| Cyberpunk 2077, RT Ultra, FSR3 bal., fg 2×, 3840 × 2160 | 59.4 | 59.2 | -0.3 % |
| Cyberpunk 2077, RT Overdrive, scaling off, 3840 × 2160 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 0.0 % |
| Cyberpunk 2077, RT Overdrive, FSR3 nat. AA, 3840 × 2160 | 6.2 | 6.2 | 0.0 % |
| Cyberpunk 2077, RT Overdrive, FSR3 perf., 3840 × 2160 | 20.9 | 20.9 | 0.0 % |
| Cyberpunk 2077, RT Overdrive, FSR3 perf., fg 2×, 3840 × 2160 | 39.5 | 39.5 | 0.0 % |
| F1 24, high, TAA, 1920 × 1080 | 191.3 | 190.3 | -0.5 % |
| F1 24, high, TAA, 2560 × 1440 | 146.7 | 147.0 | 0.2 % |
| F1 24, high, TAA, 3480 × 2160 | 86.0 | 85.0 | -1.2 % |
| F1 24, ultra high, TAA, 1920 × 1080 | 73.0 | 72.3 | -1.0 % |
| F1 24, ultra high, TAA, 2560 × 1440 | 53.3 | 54.0 | 1.3 % |
| F1 24, ultra high, TAA, 3480 × 2160 | 29.0 | 29.0 | 0.0 % |
| F1 24, ultra high, FSR bal., 1920 × 1080 | 100.3 | 100.0 | -0.3 % |
| F1 24, ultra high, FSR bal., 2560 × 1440 | 81.3 | 82.0 | 0.9 % |
| F1 24, ultra high, FSR bal., 3480 × 2160 | 52.0 | 53.7 | 3.3 % |
| F1 24, ultra high, FSR bal. + frame gen. 2×, 1920 × 1080 | 196.3 | 195.7 | -0.3 % |
| F1 24, ultra high, FSR bal. + frame gen. 2×, 2560 × 1440 | 160.0 | 159.7 | -0.2 % |
| F1 24, ultra high, FSR bal. + frame gen. 2×, 3480 × 2160 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 0.0 % |
| Metro Exodus EE, Extreme, 1920 × 1080 | 62.8 | 62.5 | -0.5 % |
| Metro Exodus EE, Extreme, 2560 × 1440 | 47.6 | 47.7 | 0.2 % |
| Metro Exodus EE, Extreme, 3840 × 2160 | 27.1 | 27.0 | -0.4 % |
| Satisfactory, Ultra, FSR, no downscaling, 1920 × 1080 | 74.0 | 73.9 | -0.1 % |
| Satisfactory, Ultra, FSR bal., 1920 × 1080 | 91.6 | 91.2 | -0.4 % |
| Satisfactory, Ultra, FSR bal. + frame gen., 1920 × 1080 | 169.3 | 168.5 | -0.5 % |
| Satisfactory, Ultra, FSR, no downscaling, 2560 × 1440 | 52.9 | 52.9 | 0.0 % |
| Satisfactory, Ultra, FSR bal., 2560 × 1440 | 71.9 | 71.8 | -0.1 % |
| Satisfactory, Ultra, FSR bal. + frame gen., 2560 × 1440 | 127.4 | 127.4 | 0.0 % |
| Satisfactory, Ultra, FSR, no downscaling 3840 × 2160 | 28.8 | 28.7 | -0.3 % |
| Satisfactory, Ultra, FSR bal., 3840 × 2160 | 42.8 | 42.9 | 0.2 % |
| Satisfactory, Ultra, FSR bal. + frame gen., 3840 × 2160 | 71.8 | 71.8 | 0.0 % |
| Satisfactory, Ultra, TSR, no downscaling, 1920 × 1080 | 71.8 | 71.7 | -0.1 % |
| Satisfactory, Ultra, TSR, no downscaling, 2560 × 1440 | 51.1 | 51.0 | -0.2 % |
| Satisfactory, Ultra, TSR, no downscaling, 3840 × 2160 | 27.4 | 27.4 | 0.0 % |
| Port Royal Score | 9,830.0 | 9,756.0 | -0.8 % |
| Graphics test | 45.5 | 45.2 | -0.7 % |
| Blender benchmark 4.5.0, monster | 874.2 | 871.5 | -0.3 % |
| Blender benchmark 4.5.0, junkshop | 448.7 | 448.5 | 0.0 % |
| Blender benchmark 4.5.0, classroom | 412.1 | 414.8 | 0.7 % |
| Blender benchmark 4.4.0, monster | 851.9 | 851.8 | 0.0 % |
| Blender benchmark 4.4.0, junkshop | 436.9 | 431.2 | -1.3 % |
| Blender benchmark 4.4.0, classroom | 407.0 | 404.6 | -0.6 % |
| Fire Strike Score | 36,316.0 | 36,185.0 | -0.4 % |
| Fire Strike Graphics score | 39,574.0 | 39,435.0 | -0.4 % |
| Fire Strike Graphics test 1 [fps] | 200.6 | 199.9 | -0.3 % |
| Fire Strike Graphics test 2 [fps] | 150.6 | 150.1 | -0.3 % |
| Fire Strike Extreme Score | 18,682.5 | 18,568.5 | -0.6 % |
| Fire Strike Extreme Graphics score | 18,981.0 | 18,874.0 | -0.6 % |
| Fire Strike Extreme Graphics test 1 [fps] | 101.0 | 100.0 | -1.0 % |
| Fire Strike Extreme Graphics test 2 [fps] | 69.7 | 69.7 | 0.0 % |
| Time Spy Score | 16,649.0 | 16,474.0 | -1.1 % |
| Time Spy Graphics score | 16,644.0 | 16,465.0 | -1.1 % |
| Time Spy Graphics test 1 [fps] | 109.3 | 107.9 | -1.3 % |
| Time Spy Graphics test 2 [fps] | 94.8 | 93.9 | -0.9 % |
| Time Spy Extreme Score | 7,591.0 | 7,526.0 | -0.9 % |
| Time Spy Extreme Graphics score | 7,620.0 | 7,538.0 | -1.1 % |
| Time Spy Extreme Graphics test 1 [fps] | 48.9 | 48.5 | -0.8 % |
| Time Spy Extreme Graphics test 2 [fps] | 44.3 | 43.7 | -1.4 % |
| Speed Way Score | 2,990.0 | 2,970.0 | -0.7 % |
| Speed Way Graphics test [fps] | 30.0 | 30.0 | 0.0 % |
| Port Royal Score | 9,830.0 | 9,756.0 | -0.8 % |
| Port Royal Graphics test [fps] | 45.5 | 45.2 | -0.7 % |
| Steel Nomad Score (DX12) | 3,797.0 | 3,746.0 | -1.3 % |
| Steel Nomad Graphics test (DX12) [fps] | 38.0 | 37.5 | -1.3 % |
| Steel Nomad Light Score (DX12) | 14,211.0 | 14,069.0 | -1.0 % |
| Steel Nomad Light Graphics test (DX12)[fps] | 105.3 | 104.2 | -1.0 % |
| Steel Nomad Light Unlimited Score (DX12) | 14,158.0 | 14,064.0 | -0.7 % |
| Steel Nomad Light Unlimited Graphics test (DX12) [fps] | 104.9 | 104.2 | -0.7 % |
| Steel Nomad Score (Vulkan) | 3,929.0 | 3,883.0 | -1.2 % |
| Steel Nomad Graphics test (Vulkan) [fps] | 39.3 | 38.8 | -1.3 % |
| Steel Nomad Light Score (Vulkan) | 14,491.0 | 14,339.0 | -1.0 % |
| Steel Nomad Light Graphics test (Vulkan) [fps] | 107.3 | 106.2 | -1.0 % |
| Steel Nomad Light Unlimited Score (Vulkan) | 14,499.0 | 14,416.0 | -0.6 % |
| Steel Nomad Light Unlimited Score Graphics test (Vulkan) [fps] | 107.4 | 106.8 | -0.6 % |
| Solar Bay Score | 67,230.0 | 66,349.0 | -1.3 % |
| Solar Bay Graphics test [fps] | 255.6 | 252.3 | -1.3 % |
| Solar Bay Unlimited Score | 68,600.0 | 68,220.0 | -0.6 % |
| Solar Bay Unlimited Graphics test [fps] | 260.8 | 259.4 | -0.5 % |
| Wild Life Score | 89,946.0 | 87,292.0 | -3.0 % |
| Wild Life Graphics test [fps] | 538.6 | 522.7 | -3.0 % |
| Wild Life Extreme Score | 28,660.0 | 28,311.0 | -1.2 % |
| Wild Life Extreme Graphics test [fps] | 171.6 | 169.5 | -1.2 % |
| Wild Life Unlimited Score | 88,473.0 | 88,770.0 | 0.3 % |
| Wild Life Unlimited Graphics test [fps] | 529.8 | 531.6 | 0.3 % |
| Wild Life Extreme Unlimited Score [fps] | 28,295.5 | 28,011.5 | -1.0 % |
| Wild Life Extreme Unlimited Graphics test [fps] | 169.0 | 168.0 | -0.6 % |
| DirectX Raytracing feature test Score [fps] | 34.0 | 34.0 | 0.0 % |
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