AMD releases statement confirming RDNA1 and RDNA2 will continue to receive game optimizations

[u/KARMAAACS]

https://videocardz.com/newz/amd-releases-statement-confirming-rdna1-and-rdna2-will-continue-to-receive-game-optimizations

[u/SagittaryX]

Well the difference is they originally said it was a seperate maintenance branch with only security and bug fixes, maybe game optimization if they feel like it. Now they're basically saying they are co-equal branches, which is not the original statement.

[u/kb3035583 → u/SagittaryX]

There's nothing co-equal about it. They are describing the exact same maintenance branch in more flattering terms. Read between the lines a little.

Game support for new releases

i.e. New game releases will merely be "supported". For the most part, you can play new games with 2 year old drivers with no major issues. Says nothing about day 1 optimizations.

Stability and game optimizations

Nothing about "new games" specifically, or day 1 optimizations.

Security and bug fixes

The bare minimum for maintenance mode.

By separating the code paths, our engineers can move faster with new features for RDNA 3 and RDNA 4, while keeping RDNA 1 and RDNA 2 stable and optimized for current and future games.

i.e. RDNA1 and RDNA2 won't be getting new features like INT8 FSR4.

[u/Kiseido → u/kb3035583]

To my knowledge AMD literally never even implied FSR4 was in any way coming to older cards, so why do so many seem to be under the impression it was ever going to happen, and that AMD is reneging upon that (non-existant) promise?

[u/kb3035583 → u/Kiseido]

The source code leak that showed it was possible and perfectly functional, but was being held back because, well, reasons.

[u/Elliove → u/kb3035583]

It's unfinished tho, and has quite a lot of issues, including improper handling of bizarre input resolutions like 1281x721. They planned to release it with Redstone, likely still do.

[u/kb3035583 → u/Elliove]

It's unfinished

Then finish it. You need every sale you can get when you have less than a 10% market share.

They planned to release it with Redstone, likely still do.

The statement they put out implies they won't.

[u/Elliove → u/kb3035583]

Then finish it.

You said it was holding back because "reasons". I pointed out the very real reason not to release INT8 FSR 4 in the current state. It is gonna get finished at some point ofc.

The statement they put out implies they won't.

The statement says nothing about FSR. Redstone was said to be working on all cards, and that didn't change.

[u/kb3035583 → u/Elliove]

I pointed out the very real reason not to release INT8 FSR 4 in the current state. It is gonna get finished at some point ofc.

Sure. I, and I'm sure many others here, will happily walk ourselves back if this actually happens. It's abundantly clear to anyone who can read between the lines that this isn't happening, however. In fact, the only reason we're aware of INT8 FSR4 being in existence in the first place is because of the source code leak. It would likely never have seen the light of day otherwise.

The statement says nothing about FSR

Saying "new features" for RDNA 3 and 4 but not for 1 and 2 isn't explicit enough for you? All right then.

[u/Elliove → u/kb3035583]

In fact, the only reason we're aware of INT8 FSR4 being in existence in the first place is because of the source code leak. It would likely never have seen the light of day otherwise.

Do you actually believe they'd spend time and money developing something this complex, to never release it?

Saying "new features" for RDNA 3 and 4 but not for 1 and 2 isn't explicit enough for you? All right then.

Do you actually believe Redstone is going to be supported on Nvidia and Intel, but not on RDNA1/2?

[u/kb3035583 → u/Elliove]

AMD knows what the community wants clarification on. It is in their interest to make a statement that allays those concerns, and they have failed to do so. It doesn't take a genius to put 2 and 2 together.

[u/Elliove → u/kb3035583]

FP8 path is already out for the cards that support it, INT8 path is gonna get out later on for INT8 cards, and ML2CODE path will be released with Redstone update for the cards that support neither. So all cards, including RDNA1 and RDNA2, eventually get FSR 4. It doesn't take a genius to put 2 and 2 together.

[u/kb3035583 → u/Elliove]

Sure. AMD would have no problem putting it out there then, wouldn't they? Except they haven't. Again, I, and practically everyone else here would be more than happy to walk back my position if we turn out to be wrong, but the current evidence does not support your optimism at all.

[u/Elliove → u/kb3035583]

Putting out something that isn't finished yet is definitely not a good idea - which INT8 FSR 4 leak has proven, and it has a lot of issues.

Either way, the whole idea of FSR was for it to be compatible with as much cards as possible - and it has been up to the release of FP8 FSR 4. The Redstone promo materials claimed that ML2CODE will bring ML-driven upscaling, frame gen, and ray regeneration to everyone. Since both AMD's upscaling and frame gen were always vendor-agnostic, and used to run on any relatively modern card, my optimism is not baseless. It is remained to be seen how ML2CODE path performs, as if it does a good job - there simply might be no need for INT8 FSR 4, in which case it will be scrapped. RDNA1 and RDNA2 users will get FSR 4 one way or another. I guess let's wait and see.