- Microsoft plans to launch a preview of its Automatic Super Resolution (Auto SR) for the ROG Ally X in April.
- Unlike other upscaling methods, this feature operates at the system level and does not require developers to manually add support for their games.
- Users can expect performance gains of roughly 30%, though actual results depend on the specific game and its settings.
Good news for gamers using the ROG Xbox Ally X controller: Microsoft will release an update that adds its Automatic Super Resolution (Auto SR). Next April, Microsoft will offer a preview of its Auto Super Resolution for the Xbox Ally X.
This update is notable because it adds AI-powered upscaling functionality built into Windows 11, previously available only in the Copilot+ PC ecosystem. The goal is to improve performance (smoothness) without sacrificing visual sharpness. As a result, it’s particularly useful in a portable, console-based computer.
The fundamentals of this technology are similar to those of any other image upscaling solution. Auto SR is equivalent to AMD FSR, Intel XeSS, and Microsoft’s NVIDIA DLSS. It merely reduces the game’s internal resolution to lessen the GPU’s workload before reconstructing the image with an AI model running on the NPU.
This improves performance when running the game at a lower resolution; the NPU also upscales the image back to its original resolution, improving visual appearance.
To use AMD FSR, Intel XeSS, or NVIDIA DLSS, the game developer must include support for the appropriate technology. In the case of Microsoft, Automatic Super Resolution (Auto SR) is implemented automatically in any game without the developer’s involvement.
In reality, the Xbox Ally X is a natural choice to premiere this Auto SR extension because it has an AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme with a dedicated NPU, whereas the standard ROG Xbox Ally lacks this NPU.
Automatic Super Resolution (Auto SR) upscaling technique promises to significantly increase Xbox One X performance. According to Microsoft documentation, the performance improvement depends heavily on the game, the resolution used, and even whether the game is well-suited to the Auto SR profile. This results in a performance gain of approximately 30%.
Microsoft warns that its Automatic Super Resolution (Auto SR) technology has limitations in its functionality. It specifically focuses on games that use the DirectX 11 and DirectX 12 APIs. This means it won’t function with older games, but the system has more than enough hardware to run DirectX 9 games, so that’s not a big deal.
Of course, this excludes the OpenGL API, but it also excludes Vulkan. However, it has been stated that it will be compatible with select x64 emulator titles and native Arm64 games. This makes perfect sense for Microsoft Surface devices that use the Snapdragon X Elite and Plus SoCs with integrated NPU.
Furthermore, it lacks HDR support. It may also provide softness to the text and interface. It is also mentioned that it runs best when the game starts at resolutions with fewer than 900 vertical lines, such as 1280 x 800, which is not an issue. It’s a system designed to boost performance in areas where the game might otherwise suffer, so it’s a tiny price to pay.
The most noticeable aspect in terms of context is that Microsoft’s general support page lists Auto SR as a function of Copilot+ PCs equipped with Snapdragon X/X2 SoCs and associated Hexagon NPU.
The official Windows blog and the official ROG Xbox Ally X product page have previously confirmed a special preview of Auto SR with the Ryzen AI NPU. This definitely indicates that Microsoft is expanding Auto SR beyond its first deployment on Snapdragon, and the Ally X serves as a showcase for this growth.
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[Editor-in-Chief]
Sajjad Hussain is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Tech4Gamers.com. Apart from the Tech and Gaming scene, Sajjad is a Seasonal banker who has delivered multi-million dollar projects as an IT Project Manager and works as a freelancer to provide professional services to corporate giants and emerging startups in the IT space.
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