FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution) is AMD's spatial upscaling technology available in many games. Understanding when to use it and at what quality level helps you find the right FPS/quality balance.
How FSR works
FSR renders the game at a lower internal resolution, then upscales it to your display resolution using a spatial algorithm. It's not AI-based (unlike DLSS) — it's a shader that runs on any GPU, not just AMD.
FSR quality modes
| Mode | Internal resolution (at 1080p) | GPU savings |
|---|---|---|
| Ultra Quality | 1478x831 | ~15% |
| Quality | 1280x720 | ~25% |
| Balanced | 1129x635 | ~35% |
| Performance | 960x540 | ~50% |
| Ultra Performance | 720x405 | ~65% |
When to use FSR
Competitive games (CS2, Valorant, Apex): generally don't use FSR. Image quality affects target visibility, and native resolution is preferable if you can hit your target FPS.
Open world, single-player titles: FSR Quality or Ultra Quality can give significant FPS gains with minimal visible quality loss at typical viewing distances.
FSR vs native + Windows optimization
If you're below your target FPS, fix Windows optimization first before enabling FSR. Getting 20 extra FPS from system configuration at native resolution is better than getting 20 extra FPS from FSR at lower resolution.
If you've optimized Windows and still need more FPS, then FSR Quality is a reasonable option.
Sharpening
FSR includes a sharpening pass. Adjust the sharpness slider to taste — too high causes haloing artifacts, too low loses the upscaling benefit.
System optimization before FSR: https://terweb.lt/
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