AMD FSR 4 Tested with Borderlands 4
FSR 3 VS FSR 4 VS TSR – Image Quality
FSR 4 VS FSR 3 and TSR – Which upscaler delivers the best results for AMD users?
Borderlands 4 features a cell-shaded aesthetic in its visuals. This means that a lot of items have thick black outlines that give the game a comic-book-style aesthetic. This makes some visual comparisons challenging, as edge details are diminished when they are overlaid with black lines. Regardless, the image quality of each upscaling solution is easy to see when you know where to look.
Below is part of a 4K image captured on a Sapphire Radeon RX 9070 XT at High settings with AMD FSR 3 and AMD FSR 4. Sadly, the time of day is slightly different in these shots, as a full game reboot is required when moving between FSR 3 and FSR 4.
Below, we can see part of a weapon and a windmill built with scrap. With FSR 4, the weapon has sharper lines and is noticeably more detailed. The spinning turbine on the distant windmill is much sharper when FSR 4 is enabled. Moving objects retain their detail with FSR 4, giving the game a crisper presentation.
When comparing TSR (Unreal Engine 5 Temporal Super Resolution) with AMD FSR 4, we again see that FSR 4 deliver more detailed results. Examining the windmill, we also observe that FSR 4 provides greater temporal stability.
Overall, TSR delivers better results than FSR 3. However, FSR 4 delivers better results than FSR 3 and TSR.
FSR 3 VS FSR 4 in Borderland 4
One area where FSR 3 typically delivers poor results is when objects are semi-transparent. This often occurs when holograms are used in games, as shown below. Again, the time of day is different, as we require a game reboot when moving between FSR 3 and FSR 4. This change also resulted in different holograms in different locations. However, both images show the giant moth-like beast hologram.
With FSR 3, these holograms are a garbled mess in 4K Performance Mode. This is especially true when the holograms are moving. With FSR 4, much crisper results are achieved, and we can see greater definition in the wings of the moth-like hologram.
Below, we can also see much more detail in the posters on the wall. Writing is easier to read, and details are much sharper. Overall, FSR 4 delivers much higher levels of image quality.
