AMD FSR 4 Frame Generation Exposed for Severe Stuttering: 120fps Feels Like 60fps

Summary

Hardware Unboxed recently conducted frame pacing tests on AMD's FSR 4 frame generation technology using a slow-motion camera, revealing severe stuttering issues. Frame generation works by inserting AI-generated intermediate frames between real rendered frames to double the frame rate, e.g., from 60fps to 120fps. However, for a smooth experience, real and generated frames must alternate evenly with consistent display times. The tests showed that when enabling FSR 4 on the RX 9070 XT, some frames stayed on screen abnormally long, causing visible judder. This issue is particularly noticeable during fast motion and scene changes, making the 120fps output feel like 60fps, severely undermining the technology's practical value. These findings directly impact gamers considering AMD graphics cards and using FSR 4, and highlight the need for AMD to optimize its algorithm and drivers. The results also remind the industry that frame generation should focus not only on raw frame rates but also on frame pacing stability. In the competitive landscape, NVIDIA's DLSS frame generation has faced similar challenges, and FSR 4's performance may affect consumer confidence in AMD, pushing the company to deliver a more polished experience.