TITLE: Enable FSR 4 on Radeon RX 6000 GPUs With Simple File Swap Method
Unlock FSR 4 on Older Radeon GPUs Without Performance Loss
AMD‘s latest FSR 4 upscaling technology, previously thought to be exclusive to newer graphics cards, can now be enabled on Radeon RX 6000 series GPUs through a surprisingly simple method. What makes this discovery particularly valuable is that it achieves this activation without the performance penalties that plagued earlier attempts.
The Breakthrough That Changed Everything
Earlier experiments with FSR 4 on RX 6000 GPUs showed promising results but came with significant drawbacks. Users reported performance drops of 10-20%, making games feel choppy and unresponsive. This performance regression made the feature impractical for actual gaming use, despite the visual improvements FSR 4 could offer.
The turning point came when a member of the Computer Base community discovered a straightforward file-swapping technique that bypasses these performance issues entirely. Unlike previous methods that required specialized tools like OptiScaler and custom modified DLL files, this approach uses existing driver components in a clever way.
How the File Swap Method Works
The process involves replacing two specific files in AMD’s latest Adrenalin drivers with versions from older driver releases. Here’s what users need to do:
- Obtain two driver versions: Download both the latest Adrenalin driver and an older version like 23.9.1
- Extract the necessary files: Unpack both driver packages to access their contents
- Perform the file swap: Replace “amdxd32.dll” and “amdxc64.dll” in the new driver with the corresponding files from the older version
This method cleverly combines components from different driver generations to enable FSR 4 functionality while maintaining the stability and performance characteristics of the older files.
Visual Quality Matches Official Implementation
The community member who pioneered this technique demonstrated its effectiveness through comprehensive testing and video comparisons. Using an RX 6800 GPU, they showcased FSR 4 running at various presets including Native, Quality, and Performance modes.
Most impressively, when compared side-by-side with an RX 9070 (which natively supports FSR 4), the image quality was nearly identical. The FSR 4 Native and Quality presets on the modified RX 6000 GPU produced results that were visually comparable to both the official implementation and native rendering, but without any measurable performance impact.
A Significant Development for GPU Enthusiasts
This discovery represents more than just a technical curiosity—it extends the functional lifespan of Radeon RX 6000 series graphics cards by giving them access to AMD’s latest upscaling technology. The original reporting on this breakthrough, which first brought this method to public attention, provided detailed analysis of both the technical implementation and real-world results.
For gamers still using RX 6000 series GPUs, this file-swap method offers a way to experience improved image quality through FSR 4 without upgrading their hardware. The fact that it achieves this without performance compromises makes it particularly valuable for those looking to maximize their current gaming setup.
As with any driver modification, users should exercise caution and create system backups before attempting this procedure. While the method has shown promising results in testing, individual experiences may vary depending on specific hardware configurations and game titles.
