Introduction

Speculation surrounding AMD's FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) technology continues, with recent rumors focusing on a leaked INT8 version of FSR4. Details regarding its performance and image quality characteristics have begun to circulate, prompting analysis within the tech community. The information, primarily sourced from early testing, suggests potential implications for users of RDNA2 and RDNA3-based graphics cards.

Leaked Performance Metrics

According to preliminary reports, the leaked FSR4 INT8 version demonstrates a performance reduction when compared to its FP8 counterpart. A performance dip ranging from 9% to 13% has been indicated in early tests. The impact of this performance difference on real-world gaming scenarios remains to be fully evaluated, pending official release and comprehensive benchmarking.

Image Quality Assessment

Beyond performance, image quality is a critical aspect of any upscaling technology. The leaked information suggests that the FSR4 INT8 version produces image quality that falls between FSR 3.1 and the FP8 version of FSR4. While an improvement over FSR 3.1 is noted, the INT8 version seemingly does not achieve the visual fidelity of the FP8 implementation. Further investigation is needed to determine the subjective impact of these differences on the user experience.

RDNA2 and RDNA3 Compatibility

One notable aspect of the leaked information is the reported compatibility of the FSR4 INT8 version with AMD's RDNA2 and RDNA3 architectures. This suggests a broader range of hardware support for the technology, potentially extending its availability to a larger user base. However, the specific performance characteristics on different hardware configurations require further scrutiny.

Understanding INT8 and FP8

The terms INT8 and FP8 refer to different numerical formats used in computation, particularly within machine learning and image processing. Understanding the difference is key to understanding the performance and quality trade-offs.

INT8

INT8, or 8-bit integer, is a data type that uses 8 bits to represent integer values. It's often used for its computational efficiency, especially in tasks like inference where full precision is not always necessary.

FP8

FP8, or 8-bit floating point, is a data type that uses 8 bits to represent floating-point numbers. It offers a wider dynamic range than INT8, allowing it to represent a broader range of values, but it may be slightly less computationally efficient.

Caveats and Considerations

It is important to emphasize that the information presented is based on leaked data and should be treated with caution. The final performance and image quality of the official FSR4 release may differ significantly. Official statements from AMD are awaited to confirm these details and provide a comprehensive overview of the technology.