AMD HYPR-RX
We normally test using native resolution benchmarks, but for integrated graphics solutions, it can be beneficial to look at other tweaks that can boost performance. AMD HYPR-RX provides a quick way to boost performance across virtually every game, albeit with some quirks.
HYPR-RX enables four AMD features: Radeon Super Resolution (RSR), AMD Fluid Motion Frames (AFMF), Radeon Boost, and Radeon Anti-Lag. Anti-Lag is the only feature that shouldn’t reduce image quality, as it reduces the latency between when a frame finishes rendering and when it shows up on the monitor. The other three are a different matter.
RSR uses driver-level spatial upscaling. It’s basically FSR 1.0 (FidelityFX Super Resolution), except it doesn’t require game developers to integrate support. RSR can cause some noticeable artifacts, particularly at lower resolutions, but rendering fewer pixels and then doing a fast upscale will certainly improve performance.
AFMF also uses driverlevel enhancements that should work with most games, but instead of upscaling, it does frame generation. Frame generation doesn’t usually improve the feel and responsiveness of games, instead functioning as a form of frame smoothing. AFMF works best with games where you already have a high frame rate; in games running at closer to 30 fps, our experience so far is that it can often cause stuttering and frame pacing problems.
Like RSR, Radeon Boost also attempts to reduce the number of pixels rendered by rendering at a lower resolution. Instead of upscaling, it alters render resolution based on player movement. The idea is that with fast motion—ie. turning rapidly—fine details aren’t perceptible, and it’s more beneficial to increase frame rates and responsiveness by lowering (by up to 50 percent) the render resolution. Unlike RSR and AFMF, Radeon Boost is only supported in a limited number of games—28 at the time of writing.
Is HYPR-RX good? We feel it’s more of a mixed experience, but if you’re interested in getting higher FPS, regardless of whether it impacts visual quality, give it a shot. Alternatively, you can tweak games to only enable some of these features, which is less likely to create issues, in our experience.