How to Make Sure FSR is Running on Steam Deck

As a seasoned gamer and tech enthusiast who’s been through more controller joysticks than I care to remember, I can confidently say that the Steam Deck has been a game-changer for me. It’s like having a portable gaming PC that fits snugly in my backpack!


The Steam Deck is an exceptional portable gaming device capable of running most games you give it a try, from God of War Ragnarok to Red Dead Redemption 2. Yet, some games may not perform optimally. To address this issue, activating the FSR (Frame Scaling) feature can help, although some Steam Deck users might be unaware if it’s already running or how to enable it in the first place.

For those unaware, activating the FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution) on Steam Deck can be a breeze, but it’s often unclear if it’s actually functioning, which keeps users from optimizing their performance. This guide aims to clarify the steps required to ensure that FSR is active, thereby boosting your FPS when enjoying your preferred games.

How to Ensure FSR is Running for Maximum Performance on Steam Deck

The FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution) is a tech innovation by AMD, which enhances the Frame Per Second (FPS) rate on the Steam Deck through upscaling. This capability mirrors Nvidia’s DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) and could potentially yield noticeable improvements.

Although the Steam Deck delivers impressive performance initially, it still falls short in several areas. The integrated chipset has certain restrictions, yet you can boost performance by activating FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution) to enhance your gaming experience.

To enable FSR, here is what you need to do:

  1. Press the Quick Access Menu button.
  2. Select the Performance tab.
  3. Under Scaling Filter, select FSR.

To effectively utilize FSR, there are a few adjustments you’ll want to make:

  1. Access the game of your choice.
  2. Once you are in the game, access Settings.
  3. Change resolution to Windowed Borderless or Windowed mode.
  4. Change resolution to 720p or lower.

As a dedicated fan, I’d like to share a helpful tip: To check if FSR (Fast Stutter Reduction) is functioning correctly, you can utilize the Performance Overlay feature. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide:

  1. Press the Quick Access Menu button.
  2. Select the Performance tab.
  3. Change the Performance Overlay Level to 4.
  4. Now, play the game you made changes to.
  5. Pay attention to the Performance Overlay at the top left of the screen. If FSR is running, it will be “On”.

Once you’ve ensured that FSR (Frame Rate Smoothing) is functioning properly, you can fine-tune games to operate at smoother, faster frame rates. Keep in mind that this process involves a bit of adjustment, but it will significantly enhance the gaming experience on your Steam Deck if you seek optimal performance.

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2024-11-05 10:03