AMD FSR Frame Generation still has issues
AMD’s FSR Frame Generation tech still has frame pacing issues
AMD launched FSR Frame Generation in 2024, and now, over two years later, the technology still has issues. Hardware Unboxed retested AMD’s Frame Generation technology to see whether it still has frame pacing issues, a problem that has been present since the beginning.
What is Frame Pacing?
When we discuss Frame Pacing, what we are referring to is the consistency of frametimes. If new frames are delivered within consistent timeframes, games will appear smoother. If the time between frames is inconsistent, games will appear stuttery.
With FSR Frame Generation, frame pacing is inconsistent. Generated frames can appear quickly after real frames, giving a game two frames within a fast timeframe and another frame after a longer wait. While average framerates appear high, this issue prevents games from looking as smooth as they should. If generated frames aren’t shown at the right time, they won’t help a game look smoother.
Hardware Unboxed has found that AMD’s frame pacing is inconsistent with FSR Frame Generation. In some areas of games, frame pacing is fine, while in others frame pacing is completely wrong. This implies that this issue isn’t a game integration issue, but an issue with AMD’s Frame Generation technology itself.
FSR Frame Generation is pointless without good frame pacing
Frame Generation exists to make games appear smoother. By placing generated frames between traditionally rendered frames, movement in games can look more fluid. This can make games look much better than before, provided these generated frames are shown at the right time.
AMD’s FSR Frame Generation technology isn’t providing good frame pacing, undermining the technology’s usefulness. Yes, frames are being generated, but if they’re shown at the wrong time, they won’t make games appear any smoother.
AMD has plans to change its Frame Generation technology
References to a new AMD Frame Generation technology have appeared within AMD’s drivers. Up to 8x FSR Multi Frame Generation appears to be in development. With this new technology, AMD could update FSR’s frame pacing, potentially addressing this longstanding issue.
If AMD fails to implement proper frame pacing with this new version of FSR Frame Generation, AMD’s multi-frame generation technology will be pointless. If AMD can’t pace a single generated frame correctly, doing the same with several generated frames will only make matters worse.
Hopefully, AMD can address this issue with new AMD Software (driver) updates. If not, many games with FSR Frame Generation may never have good frame pacing.
You can join the discussion on FSR Frame Generation’s persistent frametime issues on the OC3D Forums.
