Video summary

FSR 4.1 vs FSR 3.1 RX 7800 XT Day 1 Review- 1080p, 1440p, 4K, performance, balanced, quality, native

Main summary

Key takeaways

Technology

Summary of Tech Content (FSR 4.1 vs FSR 3.1 Review)

  • AMD released FSR 4 (targeting RDNA 3 / Radeon RX 7000-series) via a “shadow drop”—the reviewer received no early access.
  • The reviewer tested on an RX 7800 XT, using captured gameplay/benchmarks.
  • The review emphasizes performance, balanced, quality, and native AA modes across 1080p, 1440p, and 4K, with comparisons to FSR 3.1 (DLSS comparisons are handled in separate videos).

Matched Comparisons Approach

The reviewer uses two main “like-for-like” methods:

  • Same upscaling mode targets Example: performance-to-performance comparisons.

  • Matched internal rendering resolution This compares similar internal quality by aligning render resolution targets.

In Claire Obscur Expedition 33 at 1080p performance targeting, FSR 4 required a more aggressive upscaling setting than FSR 3 to reach similar frame rates. This suggests higher compute/frame-time cost in the newer pipeline.

Core Technical Distinction

  • FSR 3.x: non–machine learning upscaling, described as lighter-weight → enables higher internal rendering resolution at similar performance.

  • FSR 4: machine learning-based upscaling → costs more compute, but can reconstruct details more effectively.

Key Findings / Visual Quality Analysis

Biggest Improvement Over FSR 3

  • The reviewer’s largest complaint about FSR 3 was third-person character motion artifacts:
    • “garbling/fizzling” along edges
    • artifacts around occlusion/disocclusion (arms/legs/feet while moving)
  • FSR 4 improves character edge coherence, including during disocclusion, resulting in less distracting artifacts.

Fine Detail Reconstruction

  • Fence lines, tree/foliage edges, and other fine elements show more reconstructed detail with FSR 4.
  • Occasional minor tradeoffs may appear (e.g., extra flickering of tree leaves against bright sky), but overall the reviewer finds the result more usable.

Performance Results (RX 7800 XT)

General pattern: FSR 4 is usually slower than FSR 3, but often delivers noticeably better image quality—enough that the reviewer prefers it even when FPS is lower.

1080p (Key Examples)

Matched “Performance” Targets (internal-res-matched)

  • Performance mode: FSR 4 ~88 FPS vs FSR 3 ~93 FPS
  • Balanced: FSR 4 ~83 FPS vs FSR 3 ~88 FPS

The reviewer notes FSR 4 often reaches similar or somewhat lower performance, but looks better.

1080p Quality Mode

  • FSR 4 quality: described as acceptable
  • FSR 3 quality: only usable as a last resort

1080p Native AA

  • Performance close: FSR 4 ~63 FPS vs FSR 3 ~61 FPS
  • Reviewer still prefers FSR 4 for distant detail and disocclusion handling.

FSR 4 Native AA vs TSR (UE5 Default High-Quality AA)

  • Similar performance, both look good.
  • Differences are game-dependent and preference-based.

1440p (Key Examples)

  • Performance mode: FSR 3 ~79 FPS vs FSR 4 ~72 FPS (~91% of FSR 3), with better usability.
  • Balanced: FSR 3 ~72 FPS vs FSR 4 ~67 FPS (~93%), with:
    • fewer character disocclusion issues
    • clearer reconstruction (e.g., fountain details)
  • Quality mode: FSR 3 ~66 FPS vs FSR 4 ~62 FPS
  • Native 1440p AA: FSR 4 ~45 FPS vs FSR 3 ~43 FPS

FSR 4 Native AA vs TSR 1440p

  • Similar performance
  • TSR may be more stable on some thin-line features
  • FSR 4 may look sharper in other cases (e.g., flower petals)

4K (Key Examples)

  • Performance mode: FSR 3 ~56 FPS vs FSR 4 ~49 FPS (~88%)
    • Reviewer is more willing to use FSR 4 performance at 4K than FSR 3 performance
  • Balanced: FSR 3 ~48 FPS vs FSR 4 ~43 FPS
    • Reviewer still attributes improvements to reduced disocclusion artifacts and better detail
  • Quality: FSR 3 ~42 FPS vs FSR 4 ~38 FPS
  • Native 4K AA: FSR 3 ~25 FPS vs FSR 4 ~24 FPS
    • Both look pretty close, with FSR 4 slightly better on some ground/flower details

FSR 4 Native AA vs TSR 4K

  • Similar performance and close quality
  • Differences are preference-based, with possibly sharper ground details on FSR 4

Limitations / Planned Follow-ups

  • Testing is limited to one GPU: RX 7800 XT (no early access).
  • DLSS comparisons are postponed to separate videos.
  • Not yet tested: FSR 4 on RX 9000-series vs RX 7800 XT
    • AMD claims quality parity, but the reviewer notes:
      • RX 9000 likely uses INT8
      • RX 7800 XT uses FP8
    • So parity may not hold in practice.
  • Only one game was tested: Claire Obscur Expedition 33
    • Mentioned as representative, but still limited.

Practical Recommendation / Takeaway

If you’re using RDNA 3 (RX 7000), the reviewer recommends:

  • Use FSR 4
  • To match performance, choose an “extra-aggressive” upscaling notch compared to FSR 3
  • Even with FPS loss, the reviewer believes the quality gains—especially around character motion/occlusion stability—are worth it.

Support / Ecosystem Notes (RDNA 2, APUs, and Timing Speculation)

  • RDNA 2 support for FSR 4 is not yet available
    • AMD promised FSR 4 for RDNA 2 in 2027
  • For APUs (RDNA 3.5) and RDNA 2, AMD suggests a lighter-weight variant may be needed (e.g., “FSR 4 light”) due to different hardware acceleration assumptions.
  • The segment also mentions potential alignment with broader platform readiness:
    • Valve/Steam Machine reviewer influence
    • A related Proton update adding FSR 4 support on other GPUs
    • Suggesting upstream integration timing may be converging.

Sponsored Segment (Mentioned, Not Core Tech)

  • Sponsor: Playtracker
    • An app that consolidates game tracking across many platforms (Steam, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo, Epic, GOG, etc.)
    • Includes stats/graphs and a “Spotify Wrapped”-style recap called “PlayTrack Replay.”

Main Speakers / Sources

  • Single main reviewer/speaker (no named person provided in the provided subtitles)
  • AMD (source of FSR 4 release details/claims)
  • Games/platform mentioned: Claire Obscur Expedition 33, Unreal Engine 5, DLSS, TSR, Steam/Proton, Adrenalin (Radeon software)
  • Sponsor: Playtracker

Original video