What is amd ultra-high virtual resolution
amd Virtual Super Resolution is a special technology developed by AMD. The function of this resolution is to simulate over-sampling anti-aliasing in games that have little or no support for such technology. It is worth mentioning separately that such technology can also be used along with other samples of the same effect. Before installation, you just need to check how compatible they are with each other.
This ultra-high virtual resolution was created specifically for the purpose of maximum control over graphics parameters . Graphics control in this case means control of the detail of certain subjects or objects in a computer game, as well as their adequate operation during the launch of the game itself. It is thanks to this technology that games are rendered in the highest possible resolution . After the rendering process has taken place, the finished image is gradually scaled to the display resolution. In fact, amd resolution allows you to make the image in a computer game as comfortable as possible for a specific device, so you can adjust the image to the size of your monitor or display screen.
Driver Update
Often, you can increase the performance of a video card in the simplest way - simply update the drivers if you haven’t done this for a long time. New versions of Nvidia and Amd devices usually come with special software that monitors updates, but if it is not there, you can always go to Nvidia.ru or AMD.com, find your device in the list and update the drivers through the website.
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Another method for tracking the release of new drivers is to install on your PC a special driver update utility such as DriverPack Solution. We have a separate article about such applications.
What are the benefits of using amd Virtual Super Resolution?
It's worth noting that amd's ultra-high virtual resolution was launched relatively recently, but it can definitely show how its inclusion is more beneficial than previous resolutions. Therefore, there are several main advantages to using this resolution:
- Amd's resolution in PC games is 4K , especially when using 1080p . This means that the visual quality of the image in a computer game becomes higher , but at the same time the resources of the computer itself are practically not consumed.
- This resolution is very convenient to use on the latest generation , which are not installed using an installation disk, but are downloaded from the Internet. This can save installation time and also allow images to be rendered faster using this new technology.
- Thanks to the amd ultra-high virtual resolution technology, you can easily connect the graphics card to a laptop or ultrabook that is compatible with such a card.
- In addition to the fact that you can connect a card several times faster, this process has also become easier , since this can be done in exactly the same way as using a USB drive, which is very convenient.
- Thanks to amd's virtual ultra-high resolution, it also supports extended dynamic range , which is now a real boon not only for computer gamers, but also for fans of the film industry. In order to appreciate image quality at this level, it is necessary to use new technology, as it provides almost complete immersion in the action unfolding on the screen.
- Games that, in addition to amd's virtual ultra-high resolution, also have dynamic range, have very clear and bright images that are ready to please the eye. At moments when a character performs a large number of actions, the picture does not lose its quality, so this technology can be used for computer games with detailed elaboration of objects and subjects.
AMD StoreMI: Free SSD Caching for AMD Platforms
Enmotus FuzeDrive technology is available in several variants. If you have an AMD motherboard with X399 (Threadripper), B450 or X470 chipsets, you can download a free port of a program called AMD StoreMI. It supports SSD up to 256GB and 2GB RAM.
If you have an Intel system (6th generation Skylake) or a Ryzen computer with a Series 300 chipset, you're better off buying the Enmotus FuzeDrive software itself. The basic version (SSD up to 128 GB + 2 GB RAM) costs just under $20, the extended version (SSD up to 1 TB + 4 GB RAM) costs about $60.
The corresponding licenses can be purchased from the manufacturer's website. To use the program, Windows 10 must be installed. In addition, memory controllers must operate in AHCI mode - this is configured in the BIOS.
If your computer's SSD and hard drive are already full of data, one of them will be formatted to run the software. If you want to create a boot disk, the hard drive must be ready to go and the tool itself must be installed on the SSD.
An alternative is to create a data disk if, for example, you are using a second SSD in the system. The operating system will remain on the main SSD, which will not become part of the combined drive.
AMD StoreMI uses disk capabilities very flexibly. Photo: AMD
What are the disadvantages of using amd ultra high virtual resolution
As with any technology, amd also has its drawbacks, which are very important to consider. These include the following:
- Some games are not able to support this technology , especially if they were released quite a long time ago. For the full effect, you need to try amd's virtual ultra-high resolution in computer games created no more than a few years ago.
- Amd cannot be combined with all types of anti-aliasing , and sometimes it can even slightly damage the gameplay if the combination is unsuccessful. For this reason, it is necessary to check in advance how competent the combination of amd technology with one or another anti-aliasing method will be.
- Some types of amd technology allow for maximum immersion in the action on the screen, but before creating this effect, you need to make sure that the image on your device will not be blurry .
- For some types of amd technology to work, you need to use several video cards of a certain format , which can cost a pretty penny later. For adequate functioning of amd virtual ultra-high resolution, you will need a competent selection of video cards that will allow you to control the process of improving image quality to the desired level.
- To establish control over how to enable amd virtual ultra-high resolution, you must ensure that all necessary hardware is functioning well after purchasing all the necessary hardware. It happens that due to overloads an unexpected failure , so it is recommended to check everything carefully before turning it on.
Parameters that affect video card performance in games
Let's figure out what items in the graphics settings and how they affect the performance of the video card.
Screen resolution
One of the most important aspects for both game performance and picture quality. The selected resolution specifies the number of pixels per line horizontally and vertically. The higher this value, the more pixels make up the image on the screen - and the nicer it looks.
From the point of view of the impact on computer operation, resolution is perhaps the most “gluttonous” of all parameters. Therefore, if the video card is completely unable to produce at least 30 FPS in the selected game, you can try lowering this item . By the way, the newest engines are beginning to acquire a dynamic resolution function, changing it on the fly in order to maintain the desired level of frames per second.
Vertical Sync
The term is quite difficult to understand. Vertical sync is the ability of the graphics chip to “lower” the number of frames per second it sends to the monitor’s refresh rate. For example, if the monitor scan rate is 60 hertz, then this parameter will be responsible for ensuring that the game produces a stable 60 frames per second , so that there is no strange effect of skipping pieces. In general it does not greatly affect performance, but if the game allows you to “lock” the number of frames to the monitor’s scan rate, then it is better to do this - in this case, more computer resources will be spent on fewer frames, due to which the frame rate can increase significantly.
Anti-aliasing or "smoothing"
A pixel is essentially a triangle, and it is from pixels that any image in video games is created. Therefore, in order to smooth out the corners and make the image geometrically correct , there is a “smoothing” parameter. In general, there are many anti-aliasing technologies and they are all quite demanding on graphics adapter resources, so pay attention to what anti-aliasing is selected. If it is SSAA , then it is the most resource-hungry, if MSAA , then it is much less demanding with virtually no loss of quality, but FXAA or TXAA is the most undemanding option for setting anti-aliasing. Lowering the quality of anti-aliasing frees up a huge amount of video card resources.
Texture quality
Everything is simple here - the higher the quality of the textures, the clearer they look on the screen. If you lower it, then the image becomes more “soapy”. The selected texture quality value directly accesses the card's memory - and if there is enough of it (4 GB and above), this setting will not greatly affect overall performance. In modern games you can often find dynamic loading of textures on the go, which greatly facilitates the work of the PC.
Anisotropic filtering
An interesting point that “evens out” the clarity of the picture when viewing objects at an angle. This is most often noticeable when looking at distant objects. In general, this is not a power-hungry option that does not load the video card.
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Tessellation
Tessellation technology is the future; now much that is called tessellation is just its imitation. In general, this is a technology that gives objects in the game relief and volume . Have you noticed that before the walls in games seemed flat, but now we feel the bulge of every pebble? This is what tessellation is responsible for. In general, this is a rather power-hungry technology that can be turned off without any visible loss of image quality, but “honest” tessellation is not used everywhere.
Shadow quality
One of the most important settings for the beauty of the game. In fact, the same street at low and high shadow rendering settings can look completely different - due to the casting of different shades of colors, neon signs and other beauties of the play of light and shadow. This parameter seriously affects performance , so lowering the quality of shadows will significantly increase the number of frames.
Ambient Occlusion or global occlusion
Ambient Occlusion calculates the behavior of light in space - it correctly shades places, distributes lighting and, in general, physically calculates the correct illumination of the surrounding space. It appeared relatively recently (the founder of the technology is Crysis), but has already managed to split into SSAO and HBAO . Both technologies have a huge impact on performance and picture quality, so lowering the quality of global shading can significantly increase performance.
Depth of field
The essence of the effect is that perspective and focus are adjusted so as to concentrate on one object, “blurring” everything around. Our vision works on a similar principle, and therefore depth of field is an effect that affects the realism and perception of the picture. As a rule, this effect has a negligible effect on the operation of the device , but in some projects special attention is paid to depth of field - for example, in Destiny 2 this parameter is extremely important for both graphics and performance.
Bloom
Adjusting the brightness of light sources . Typically not configurable by the player, but can sometimes be removed. performance much
Surface format optimization
A special function for AMD that optimizes the rendering of objects' relief. The card hardly loads .
Virtual Super Resolution
Another AMD feature that simulates increased resolution even where it is not provided. Re-released old games were “stretched” using approximately this technology. On excellent monitors, the effect of this function is quite noticeable, but it also puts a significant load on .
Stream optimization
Graphics card technology that automatically adjusts the load on the cores. In some cases, you can turn it off and distribute the load for applications yourself.
Maximum number of pre-prepared frames
A simple FPS limiter that will not calculate more frames than the specified one. A parameter that can significantly increase the speed of the device.
Motion Blur
The effect of “blurring” surrounding objects when moving quickly is an imitation of exactly the same effect of vision, for example, when running. It has virtually no effect on the performance of the video card , but in itself it can be incredibly annoying.
Settings for AMD Radeon
First, install the drivers. After that, when you right-click on the desktop, the line “ Graphics Properties ” will appear in the list, which will launch the AMD Catalyst Control Center, which allows you to adjust performance in games.
We look for the “ Games ” section, here “ Setting up 3D applications/System settings ” and we see the settings lines that are already familiar to us. The importance of each of them for performance is described above, so carefully study and disable those that affect performance.
After settings, go to the “ Power ” menu and go to “ Power Play ”. Here, set the “ Maximum performance ” option in all windows. By the way, if you are working from a laptop, be sure to pay attention to how the power is set - when the “ battery ” operating mode is set, the operating speed decreases significantly!
Useful utilities to improve productivity
Nvidia Inspector
A popular program for overclocking Nvidia chips. The scheme of its operation is quite simple. You only need to look at 2 different menus.
Max inscription in the second screenshot is the maximum temperature value. If, when overclocking a video card using Nvidia Inspector, the temperature readings approach Max, it’s time to stop the procedure.
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In the first screenshot, notice the item Performance level and P0 . P0 is a required value, but Level can be any value.
GPU Clock, Memory Clock and Shader Clock are the parameters with which the video card is overclocked. Using the slider or buttons, we add values and watch the temperature - as soon as it approaches the maximum, we stop the process and save the results.
MSI Afterburner
Can be considered the best overclocking program. However, it is characterized by increased complexity . MSI Afterburner has a cool interface that displays all the parameters at once.
As you can see, the video card parameters , and the temperature and voltage .
Most often, the necessary checkboxes are already checked in the program properties, but just in case, check that it looks like this:
Pay attention to two parameters - “ Synchronize settings of identical GPUs ”, if suddenly the computer has two identical video cards and the voltage display, which in the screenshot is indicated as “ standard MSI ” - in some cases you can set advanced settings and see more different data on the interface if this is interesting.
The further process is clear - you need to move the Core Clock and Memory Clock to +50 Mhz and monitor the temperature - it is advisable that it does not exceed 85 degrees. As soon as the temperature begins to rise to a critical level, you should save the settings - the video card will be overclocked.
Note that for professionals, Msi Afterburner has simply gigantic functionality, and we have described only basic functions.
RivaTuner
RivaTuner is another program for fine overclocking of any device. It works on the same principle as the two described above: we look at the temperature, gradually increase the voltage on the video card and make sure that the temperature does not exceed critical parameters.
Razer Game Booster
A free utility from Razer and IOBit that monitors system operating parameters in real time, disabling currently unnecessary functions in order to free up system resources for comfortable gaming.
The application is extremely easy to use. You just need to select a game from those already installed on your computer, then click “ Speed up now ” - and the application will describe in detail, in tables, how and what it speeds up. For people with a deep understanding, there are more subtle settings modes, but in practice and in automatic mode, Razer Game Booster does an excellent job.
Game Gain
A utility similar to Razer Game Booster that optimizes the system for a comfortable gaming experience.
Game Gain consists of just one button, pressing which increases performance.
To summarize, I would like to say that even with the use of overclocking, fine tuning and special utilities, gamers today cannot live without regular “updates”. And the point here is technological progress. New cards support the latest versions of DirectX, innovative technologies and unique solutions that are simply impossible on older versions, so sometimes any operations with a video card may be meaningless in the face of a new hit game.
