It’s time again, it’s time for an important update from AMD Radeon with the latest version of Radeon Software Adrenalin Edition 21.4.1 that comes with some tremendous quality of life improvements for Radeon users. A quick mention right in front is that there is no inclusion of the Radeon FidelityFX Super Resolution, so if you hope it’s time to shine, you’ll still have to wait, however, the Radeon Boost VRS is a plus from where I stand.
AMD has become accustomed to releasing very large updates in the past, with the release of a massive update to their software suite almost annually, with solid intervals between delivering more Day Zero drivers than ever before and the latest 21.4.1 driver improves many of these features , as well as bringing new changes to the table.
Radeon software updates
One of the most common complaints I received from friends when I told them about their experience with Radeon cards is that many of them even wanted to install “just the driver” and didn’t really want the supplement because they got lost looking for simple things. Well, it seems that the AMD team has listened to this and now allows a very controlled installation option, where you can go from very minimal, with nothing more than the display driver to every bell and whistle!
For a lot of people, this will be a very welcome feature for controlling the size of the installation, as well as setting up much easier navigation and control systems for novice users who are familiar with the PC ecosystem and can facilitate more complex options such as they will still be able to add them later.
But for those expert users who are ready to jump into the world of streaming, you will be greeted by an updated and improved streaming and recording user interface. I’m not a particularly good streamer, so I tend to avoid them, but I know a few people who will be particularly interested in getting these updates as they stream from an AMD-powered system and use the built-in streaming software. .
Radeon software performance
Monitoring performance in Radeon software is nothing new, as it has been around for some time and is a very nice feature that we have in the package, denying the need for additional third-party software to run all the time. But what’s new is the ability to pair and monitor the Ryzen processor, now that’s what I’m talking about!
This is a smart way for AMD to give their users a total package of experience when they decide to build a system around their entire hardware. Creating a cohesive ecosystem like this is a very good move for them as a company and they can see the appeal from the point of view of the builders and the end user, because it keeps everything quite streamlined.
AMD Link 4.0
AMD Link 4.0 is here now and brings with it a lot of great updates. Wait, aren’t you familiar with AMD Link? Think of it as hosting your own cloud-based gaming service. Of course, this is why you will need to consider connecting to your home network and using your own electricity and bandwidth to keep this service alive.
I’ve used AMD Link in the past and found it a pleasant experience for the most part, except for one key aspect, it ONLY worked on Android or iOS devices, which was a problem because it would have been a killer to set up in your own home on a small HTPC for in-house streaming, because I found it much better than Steam Link. The good news is, it’s running on Windows now. So if you have a weak little laptop, you can get access to your home-built brute to power your games on the go, as long as you have a good enough connection. It also allows you to control your computer when you are away from it, this could be quite useful for those who are away from their office but still need to access things quickly.
AMD has taken it a step further and is now offering it on AndroidTV and AppleTV, which can practically turn your ho-hum media streamer into a powerful state-of-the-art game console. All of these are absolutely solid choices and executions that have been made and with the ability to adjust the quality on the go my experience with AMD Link 4.0 has been overwhelmingly positive. Now to learn how to explain all the data I use in the 5G hotspot at my workplace …
AMD Radeon Boost VRS
AMD Radeon Boost was a rather interesting technique that AMD previously used to increase gaming performance during movement. Long and short, activate the function and set a minimum playback resolution for the game to hit, move the camera and the game dynamically adjusts the playback resolution on the go, this prevents the game from giving up performance while fast screen movements happen. But, it was noticed when you dropped frames and talked to some (especially when Motion Blur is turned off, because it normally masks a lot). Never be afraid! There was an absolute stellar update of the Boost algorithm and with the RX 6000 series, there is now the Radeon Boost VRS.
Radeon Boost VRS takes advantage of the variable rate shading that is capable with the DX12 Ultimate, so don’t expect to see it appear with support for older games. By taking advantage of Variable Rate Shading Boost, VRS is able to dynamically adjust from the edge inward, lowering the resolution on areas you are less likely to focus on, while maintaining a clear native image in the region where your eyes will be blocked. . This prevents the perception of resolution from falling. A huge advantage for Radeon Boost, now to see if it will be put in more titles.
Games that support Radeon Boost VRS:
- Shadow of the Tomb Raider
- Rise of the Tomb Raider
- Border countries 3
- Metro exodus
- Fortnite
- 2077. Cyberpunk
- Resident Evil 3
- CODE: Modern Warfare 2019 (also works in Warzone)
Install it already
Seriously, if you are a user of either the Radeon RX 5000 Series or the RX 6000 Series, I suggest you get this Radeon Software Adrenalin 21.4.1 update as fast as you can, it’s free after all, it’s just a driver update, but both much More. For those who wanted the minimum installation, you get it. For those who want more streaming features, you get it. For those who wanted FidelityFX Super Resolution, you have to wait. We hope that an update will come sooner rather than later.