Microsoft's Auto Super Resolution: A Comparative Analysis with DLSS and FSR

Similar to previous upscaling applications, ASR asserts that it enhances performance when gaming on Qualcomm-powered Windows laptops. Nonetheless, Microsoft has inadequately elucidated its new function, which is why we are here to assist.

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What is Auto Super Resolution?

Auto Super Resolution, referred to as Auto SR or ASR, is an AI-driven technology for frame creation and upscaling that Microsoft is introducing with its new Copilot+ PCs. Microsoft refers to it as the "first operating system-integrated AI-driven super-resolution for gaming." The reliance of Windows 11 on AI for the future renders this new feature unsurprising.

The feature originates from Super Resolution (SR), wherein games are displayed at a reduced resolution to increase framerates, thereafter employing sophisticated, often AI-driven algorithms to upscale and enhance the visuals. If executed correctly, the outcome is a game that appears and functions effectively.

The DirectX team at Microsoft has released a preview of its DirectSR API, enabling developers to incorporate SR technologies like Nvidia DLSS, AMD FSR, and Intel XeSS into their games. Nonetheless, these technologies are frequently applied on an individual game basis, which is where ASR excels.

As indicated by its designation, ASR is automatically applied and improves existing games, in contrast to other SR technologies that are executed on an individual game basis. While rivals concentrate on utilizing AI to enhance in-game FPS and graphics quality, ASR seeks to deliver equivalent advantages to your current game library without requiring human setting.

Photo: Microsoft

In principle, you ought to initiate your game and engage in it as normal, with ASR functioning in the background to augment your experience. Microsoft asserts that the images would exceed native 1080p quality, achieving "rapid frame rates typically observed at lower resolutions." ASR produces images with a minimum of 700 vertical lines, hence the disparity is comparable to that of games rendered at 720p and 1080p.

It is essential to recognize that Auto SR and DirectSR are distinct components that collaborate to provide an improved gaming experience. DirectSR targets next-generation games and developers, whereas Auto SR improves existing games by automatically enhancing the gaming experience.

What is the mechanism of Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR)?

Microsoft asserts that ASR employs a "sophisticated AI model—a convolutional neural network (CNN) meticulously trained on gaming content." The particulars of the AI model and its operational mechanisms remain undisclosed. The functionality utilizes the NPUs (neural processing units) in the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus and Elite processors within Microsoft's new Copilot+ PCs to execute its foundational AI model.

It initiates by automatically reducing the desktop resolution, resulting in games operating at a diminished resolution. ASR subsequently orchestrates data transfers among the NPU, CPU, and GPU to implement its AI upgrades to game images seamlessly, without disrupting gameplay. Microsoft asserts that ASR introduces, on average, merely one frame of latency.

Be aware that ASR's optimizations influence all visible items during gameplay, including any active applications. Nonetheless, these alterations should remain imperceptible, assuming you are in full-screen or windowed borderless viewing modes. Upon exiting the game, your desktop returns to its standard configuration.

ASR versus DLSS versus FSR versus XeSS

Directly comparing ASR with competitors like Nvidia's DLSS, AMD's FSR, and Intel's XeSS is challenging due to ASR's distinct functionality compared to other AI-driven upscaling solutions previously encountered.

Developers must incorporate DLSS, FSR, or XeSS into a game to obtain the advantages. ASR autonomously optimizes any game executing on your PC.

Furthermore, DLSS, FSR, and XeSS necessitate modifications to game rendering through techniques such as jitter and MIP bias to enhance detail precision. ASR may augment games without additional input, enhancing them in their current form by utilizing its foundational AI model and NPU for processing tasks. The nearest rival to this technique is AMD's FSR, which enhances game resolution on any GPU.

Although direct comparisons between Microsoft's magic upscaling technology and its competitors are not feasible, we have observed the enhancements provided by DLSS and similar technologies in gaming, and I anticipate that ASR will yield comparable improvements.

The primary distinction lies in Microsoft's assertions that ASR enhances existing games without necessitating any intervention from developers or players. Once ASR enters the market, it will significantly surpass the number of games that support DLSS, FSR, or XeSS, and will be universally accessible.

Should the enhancements be as substantial as Microsoft asserts, ASR might become the premier AI-upscaling technology in the field. Microsoft provides support for 11 titles at launch; however, it is also compatible with the majority of games that operate on DirectX 11 or DirectX 12 and function on either native Arm64 or emulated x64 platforms.

For an updated compilation of games that support ASR, please refer to the Windows on ARM Ready Software website, an open-source initiative to which Microsoft is providing compatibility information. The site additionally displays other programs that include native ARM support, serving as a useful reference for those considering a transition to Windows on ARM.

Is a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Chip Necessary for ASR Usage?

Microsoft has established specific hardware prerequisites for ASR, which include:

• A Snapdragon X series processor including a Hexagon NPU and an integrated GPU

• Windows 11 version 24H2 or later.

• The most recent iteration of the Auto Super Resolution Package

Although the specifications imply that ASR may be an exclusive function of Snapdragon X series processors, this is fortunately not accurate. The capability is exclusively available on Copilot+ PCs, making Qualcomm's Snapdragon X CPUs the sole compatible option as of this writing.

ASR is a Windows feature, indicating that as long as ARM-based CPUs from Intel and AMD meet the criteria for classification as Copilot+ PCs, ASR should be operable on nearly any Windows device. This indicates that Intel's forthcoming Lunar Lake and AMD's Strix Point CPUs are expected to support ASR.

Should You Evaluate ASR Prior to Your Upcoming PC Acquisition?

ASR will be evaluated after Copilot+ PCs are delivered to consumers. If the functionality meets expectations, it could contribute to the expanding reasons for transitioning to Windows on ARM.

If you are considering purchasing a new PC, it is advisable to wait a few months to evaluate the performance of ASR and Copilot+ PCs in real-world conditions. In conjunction with the additional advantages offered by Windows on ARM, ASR can serve as the ideal complement.

Consequently, any sufficiently robust PC should be capable of executing games adequately for the foreseeable future; thus, if you desire one promptly, ensure it possesses hardware that aligns with your specifications.