A new AMD graphics feature massively increases framerates with AI tech for smoother gameplay, but there’s a catch

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What you need to know

  • AMD released Fluid Motion Frames 2 support for Ryzen AI 300 mobile processors.
  • The new feature, using a combination of manual and AI-optimized tweaks, can significantly boost frame rates when playing games on integrated Ryzen AI 300 Radeon graphics chips.
  • Fluid Motion Frames 2 is still in a technical preview phase, but it can be easily downloaded through the Adrenalin Edition app for free, available for integrated Radeon 700M/800M graphics, as well as Radeon RX 6000/7000 desktop graphics cards.

As someone who has spent countless hours gaming on various devices throughout my life, I must admit that this latest development from AMD is truly intriguing. The ability to boost frame rates for laptops with integrated graphics is something I never thought I’d see.

It’s unusual, but it’s possible to enhance frame rates on a laptop with integrated graphics by using AMD’s latest development, Fluid Motion Frames 2 (AFMF 2). This technology has been extended to Ryzen AI 300 mobile processors (CPU). To take advantage of this, simply download an update for the AMD Adrenalin Edition app.

For some time now, Fluid Motion Frames has been in existence, but its next-generation upgrade brings AI enhancements for reducing latency, improving quality, and boosting performance. AMD asserts that you might experience “up to 78% more frames per second (FPS) with AFMF 2” when utilizing a Ryzen 9 HX 370 CPU, equipped with Radeon 890M integrated graphics, in Cyberpunk 2077. This significant enhancement should excite anyone who enjoys gaming on their laptop even without a separate dedicated GPU.

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I, being an ardent admirer of technology, had the pleasure of reading Ben Wilson’s review on Windows Central about the ASUS Zenbook S 16. The CPU at its heart left me thoroughly impressed, despite it not having AFMF 2. Remarkably, this chip’s GPU outperformed AMD’s previous-gen Radeon 780M and even surpassed the Z1 Extreme chip used in gaming handhelds such as ASUS’ ROG Ally and Lenovo’s Legion Go.

Wilson pointed out that at that moment, Intel was leading the way with its Intel Arc integrated graphics in Lunar Lake processors, but this position might shift due to AFMF 2. However, it’s important to note a potential limitation when using AFMF 2 alongside Ryzen AI 300 chips.

How AMD Fluid Motion Frames 2 works with Variable Graphics Memory

With AFMF 2 set up, it comes equipped with AMD’s Radeon Anti-Lag technology, which activates automatically once you engage the AFMF 2 feature. This isn’t the only way to boost your performance; additional enhancements can be achieved as well.

As an analyst, I’d rephrase it as: For AMD’s Ryzen AI 300 series chips, I’ve noticed a new addition called Variable Graphics Memory (VGM). This feature enables users to dynamically allocate up to 75% of the system’s main memory to serve as Video Random Access Memory (VRAM) specifically for the integrated GPU, which typically has only 512MB.

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Absolutely, it’s not possible to grab all the system memory for the GPU without leaving some for the CPU. AMD advises keeping at least 16GB for the CPU, which seems reasonable. However, if your laptop only comes with 16GB of RAM in total, you may run into issues as you won’t have much left for other tasks.

In simpler terms, if you choose the mid-range graphics setting on the Zenbook S 16 I previously mentioned, it will utilize an additional 8GB from your laptop’s total RAM for the integrated GPU. This is significantly more than the usual 512MB of VRAM available by default.

For the Zenbook S 16’s less expensive model, it comes equipped with 24GB of RAM, allowing some room for the integrated graphics card to function effectively. If you’re planning to purchase an AMD-driven Windows laptop boasting a Ryzen AI 300 processor and aim for a superior gaming experience, I would advise considering a factory-installed RAM of over 16GB.

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With more games demanding higher minimum Video Random Access Memory (VRAM) specifications, it’s clear that this feature will grow in importance. AMD uses Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy as an illustration; without Variable Rate Shading (VRS), the game won’t run at all because of its VRAM needs. Yet, when both Adaptive Anti-Aliasing Multi-Frame (AFMF 2) and VRS (with AMD FSR set to Quality) are activated, an AMD Ryzen 9 HX 370 can achieve up to 90 frames per second (FPS) at a resolution of 1080p.

1080p performance improvements are evident in both Far Cry 6 and F1 2023 when Advanced Frame Rate Mode 2 (AFMF 2), Variable Gamma (VGM), and Frame Scaling (FSR) Quality settings are activated, taking their frames per second (FPS) from around 60 to triple digits. This enhancement occurs when the game’s settings are set to “High” preset.

Instead of considering lower resolutions, let’s talk about the potential performance at higher resolutions. For instance, the ASUS Zenbook S 16 sports a 16-inch OLED screen with a 2880×1800 resolution and a swift 120Hz refresh rate. In another demonstration by AMD, they exhibit 2.8K gaming results using a medium in-game setting with FSR (Balanced mode enabled). Technologies like AFMF 2 and VGM can elevate gaming performance from the mid-50s to approximately 80 frames per second, which is quite remarkable at such high resolutions.

How to enable AFMF 2 and VGM on your AMD PC

The latest version of AMD’s Fluid Motion Frames (AFMF 2) can be obtained as a preliminary download through their Adrenalin Edition software. It’s anticipated to roll out officially in an upcoming app update. To use it, simply download the technical preview, start the Adrenalin Edition application, navigate to the Gaming tab at the app’s top interface, and toggle on the switch next to AMD Fluid Motion Frames 2 section. This action will automatically activate Radeon Anti-Lag as well.

To activate VGM too, simply navigate to the Performance tab at the top of your application’s window. After that, look for the dropdown menu beside Variable Graphics Memory. Here, you’ll find options such as Medium and High. These choices will show you the amount of memory being used by the GPU, along with the remaining memory for the system.

AMD advises adjusting game preferences (where applicable) to keep your laptop running at approximately 50 frames per second, with Auto Frame Rate Management 2 (AFMF 2) and Vertical Sync (VSync) disabled.

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2024-09-16 17:39