The most important AMD Radeon settings for gaming are: Anti-Lag ON (reduces input lag by 10-20ms), Radeon Super Resolution ON for older games without FSR support, Enhanced Sync ON as V-Sync replacement, and Shader Cache set to AMD Optimized. These four changes in AMD Adrenalin Software improve your gaming experience immediately. Everything else is situational – this guide explains every setting so you know what to enable, what to disable, and what to leave alone. See our gaming PC fix guide for deeper context.
AMD’s Adrenalin software is the equivalent of NVIDIA Control Panel but with more features built in. This guide covers the 2026 version with all current features including Anti-Lag+, FSR 3, HYPR-RX, and automatic GPU tuning.
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AMD Anti-Lag and Anti-Lag+ (Input Lag Reduction)
Anti-Lag is AMD’s equivalent to NVIDIA Reflex. It reduces the GPU render queue to minimize the delay between your input and the frame appearing on screen.
Anti-Lag vs Anti-Lag+
- Anti-Lag (Driver-level): Works with any game. Enabled in Adrenalin > Gaming > Graphics > Anti-Lag. Reduces input lag by 10-15ms by managing the render queue at the driver level.
- Anti-Lag+ (Game-level integration): Works only in supported games (Fortnite, CS2, Starfield, others). Provides deeper integration with the game engine for 15-25ms latency reduction. Enabled per-game in the game’s own settings (if supported) alongside the driver-level Anti-Lag.
Recommendation: Enable Anti-Lag globally (Adrenalin > Gaming > Graphics). For supported games, also enable Anti-Lag+ in the game’s settings. There is no downside – Anti-Lag does not reduce FPS.
Important note from 2024: Anti-Lag+ was temporarily removed from Adrenalin in late 2024 because it triggered anti-cheat bans in CS2. AMD and Valve resolved this. In 2026, Anti-Lag+ is safe to use in all supported games without ban risk.
FSR vs RSR: Two Different Upscaling Options
AMD has two upscaling technologies and they work at different levels:
FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution) – In-Game
FSR is built into the game itself. When a game has “FSR” or “AMD FSR 3” in its graphics settings, enable it there. FSR renders the game at a lower internal resolution and upscales using the game’s own rendering pipeline, producing higher quality upscaling because it has access to game-specific data (motion vectors, depth buffer).
When to use FSR: Whenever the game supports it. Always prefer in-game FSR over driver-level RSR. FSR Quality mode gives 25-40% more FPS with minimal visual quality loss.
RSR (Radeon Super Resolution) – Driver-Level
RSR is enabled in Adrenalin and works with ANY game, even those without built-in FSR support. It renders the game at a lower resolution (set in the game’s resolution settings) and Adrenalin upscales the output to your monitor’s native resolution.
When to use RSR: Only for older games that do not have FSR support built in. RSR quality is lower than in-game FSR because it only sees the final rendered frame, not the internal game data.
How to Enable RSR
- Open AMD Adrenalin > Gaming > Display
- Toggle “Radeon Super Resolution” to ON
- In the game, set the resolution to a value BELOW your monitor’s native resolution (e.g., 1080p on a 1440p monitor)
- RSR automatically upscales the lower resolution to your display’s native resolution
HYPR-RX: One-Click Performance Boost
HYPR-RX is AMD’s bundled feature that enables Anti-Lag, Radeon Boost, and RSR simultaneously with a single toggle. It is designed for users who do not want to configure individual settings.
Where to find it: Adrenalin > Gaming > per-game profile > HYPR-RX toggle
What it enables:
- Anti-Lag (input lag reduction)
- Radeon Boost (dynamically lowers resolution during fast camera movement when you cannot see detail anyway)
- RSR (upscaling)
Recommendation: HYPR-RX is fine for casual gamers who want a quick performance boost. For competitive gamers or users who want precise control, configure each feature individually instead of using the one-click toggle.
Per-Game vs Global Profiles
Adrenalin lets you set different graphics settings for each game. This is powerful because different games benefit from different configurations.
How to Create Per-Game Profiles
- Open AMD Adrenalin > Gaming tab
- Your installed games appear automatically. If a game is missing, click “Add a Game” and browse to its .exe file.
- Click on a game to open its profile
- Configure settings specific to that game – these override the global defaults
- Settings are saved automatically
Recommended Profile: Competitive FPS
- Anti-Lag: ON
- Anti-Lag+ (if supported): ON
- Enhanced Sync: ON
- Radeon Chill: OFF (you want maximum FPS at all times)
- Radeon Boost: OFF (lowered resolution during flicks is bad for competitive aim)
- Texture Filtering Quality: Performance
- FRTC: Set to monitor Hz
Recommended Profile: Casual / Single-Player
- Anti-Lag: ON
- Enhanced Sync: ON
- Radeon Chill: ON (saves power during menus and cutscenes)
- Radeon Boost: ON (acceptable quality tradeoff for casual play)
- Texture Filtering Quality: Standard or High
- FSR (in-game): Quality mode for FPS-demanding titles
GPU Tuning: Automatic Overclock and Undervolt
Adrenalin includes built-in GPU tuning that automates overclocking and undervolting. These features are exclusive to AMD – NVIDIA does not offer automatic undervolting in their driver.
Automatic Undervolt GPU
- Open Adrenalin > Performance > Tuning
- Click “Undervolt GPU”
- Adrenalin runs a stability test and finds the lowest safe voltage for your GPU’s clock speed
- Result: same gaming FPS, 5-15C lower temperature, 20-40W less power draw
This is the safest and most beneficial tuning option. Zero performance loss, lower temps, quieter fans. Every AMD GPU owner should run this.
Automatic Overclock GPU
- Same location: Performance > Tuning > “Overclock GPU”
- Adrenalin stress-tests and finds the maximum stable clock speed for your cooling solution
- Result: 3-8% more FPS with increased temperature and power draw
Recommendation: Undervolt first (free performance from lower temps). Only overclock after undervolting if you want more FPS and your temperatures allow it.
Display Settings
Navigate to Adrenalin > Gaming > Display:
- FreeSync: ON (if your monitor supports it). Eliminates screen tearing without input lag.
- GPU Scaling: ON if you play games at non-native resolutions. Keeps scaling on the GPU (sharper) instead of the monitor (blurrier).
- Scaling Mode: “Full panel” for stretched, “Center” for black bars, “Preserve aspect ratio” for maintaining the correct width-to-height ratio at non-native resolutions.
- Integer Scaling: ON for retro/pixel games at low resolutions (240p, 480p). Scales pixels by whole numbers for crisp, blocky retro graphics without blur.
- Custom Color: Leave default unless you have calibrated your monitor with a colorimeter. The default sRGB profile is correct for gaming.
Built-In Recording and Streaming
Adrenalin includes screen recording without needing OBS. Navigate to Adrenalin > Recording and Streaming:
- Instant Replay: Continuously records the last X minutes (configurable). Press a hotkey to save a clip when something cool happens. Similar to NVIDIA ShadowPlay’s Instant Replay.
- Desktop Recording: Records your entire screen including non-game content.
- In-Game Replay: Records only while a game is running.
- Streaming: Built-in streaming to Twitch, YouTube, etc. Basic but functional.
Performance impact: AMD’s recording uses the GPU’s hardware encoder (VCE/VCN), adding 1-3% FPS overhead. Negligible for most systems. If every frame matters in competitive gaming, disable recording.
Decision Framework
Quick Settings for Your Situation
- Just want optimal defaults: Anti-Lag ON, FreeSync ON, Enhanced Sync ON, V-Sync OFF, Shader Cache AMD Optimized, run Automatic Undervolt once. Done.
- Competitive gaming (Valorant, CS2): Anti-Lag ON + Anti-Lag+ if supported, Radeon Boost OFF, Radeon Chill OFF, FRTC at monitor Hz, texture filtering Performance.
- Single-player immersion: Anti-Lag ON, Radeon Chill ON, FSR Quality in-game, texture filtering High/Standard.
- Older game without FSR: Enable RSR in Display settings, set game to a resolution below native, RSR upscales automatically.
- Laptop gaming: Enable Radeon Chill (saves battery and reduces heat), run Automatic Undervolt (cooler temps), use FSR Quality in demanding games.
- Want more FPS but temps are fine: Run Automatic Overclock in Tuning. 3-8% more FPS at the cost of higher temps and power.
Related: mouse guide, keyboard guide, GPU guide, monitor guide.
2026 update: Gaming hardware evolves quickly. For the latest recommendations across mice, keyboards, monitors, and more, browse our interactive tools and hardware databases which are updated regularly with new releases and price changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use AMD Adrenalin or just install the driver?
Install the full Adrenalin package. The “driver-only” option misses Anti-Lag, RSR, per-game profiles, recording, and auto-tuning features. Adrenalin uses minimal system resources when not actively open – it runs a small background service for Anti-Lag and shader cache management. The features it provides are worth the negligible overhead. You can hide the overlay and minimize the app if you do not want it visible.
What is the difference between RSR and FSR?
FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution) is built INTO the game by the developer. It runs within the game engine with access to motion data and depth buffers, producing higher quality upscaling. RSR (Radeon Super Resolution) runs at the driver level outside the game. It only sees the final rendered frame, so quality is lower. Always use in-game FSR when available. Use RSR only for older games that do not support FSR.
Does AMD Anti-Lag reduce FPS?
No. Anti-Lag reduces the GPU render queue depth, which decreases input lag without reducing frame output. Your FPS stays the same while your input-to-display latency drops by 10-20ms. There is no performance cost. Anti-Lag+ (in supported games) provides even deeper integration with the game engine for up to 25ms latency reduction, also without FPS cost.
Is automatic undervolt safe for my AMD GPU?
Yes. AMD’s automatic undervolt runs a stability test to find the lowest safe voltage for your GPU. It cannot set a voltage that damages hardware – the GPU has hardware protections that prevent dangerous voltage levels. The worst outcome is a crash during the stability test (which means the voltage was too low), after which Adrenalin adjusts to a stable value. The result is typically 5-15C cooler temperatures with identical gaming performance.
Should I update AMD Adrenalin every time there is a new version?
Update when: a new game you play gets driver optimization (check release notes), you experience driver bugs, or a major new feature launches. Do not update blindly every time – new drivers occasionally introduce regressions. Check community feedback (r/AMD, AMD forums) before installing. The “Recommended” driver channel is more stable than “Optional.” Use Recommended for daily gaming and Optional only if it includes specific optimizations for your games.
Can I use Adrenalin with a FreeSync monitor and NVIDIA GPU?
No. Adrenalin is AMD’s GPU driver and only works with AMD Radeon GPUs. If you have an NVIDIA GPU, use the NVIDIA App or NVIDIA Control Panel instead. FreeSync monitors work with both AMD and NVIDIA GPUs (NVIDIA calls it “G-Sync Compatible”), but the driver software is different – AMD uses Adrenalin, NVIDIA uses the NVIDIA App. See our NVIDIA Control Panel guide for NVIDIA GPU settings.
Research Sources
- AMD: Customize Graphics Settings with Adrenalin – Official AMD documentation for all Adrenalin gaming features
- GadgetMates: AMD Radeon Adrenalin Best Settings 2026 – Settings recommendations and feature explanations referenced for the optimization guide
- XDA: Complete Guide to AMD Software Adrenalin Edition – Full feature walkthrough referenced for recording and display settings
