The HelixSR 1.9.0, an independent tool that runs the DLSS Model E super-resolution network on AMD GPUs, received on October 13, 2026 an experimental version with INT8 calculation and attempted support for Radeon Vega cards. The public package was made available by developer lonewolf0622, but the performance improvements and Vega compatibility have not yet been verified in independent tests.

According to the official 1.9.0 release notes, the tool runs the DLSS network via Direct3D 12 shaders, without requiring an NVIDIA GPU, CUDA, or Tensor Cores. It is DLSS Super Resolution, not DLSS 5 with Neural Rendering or a proprietary frame generation implementation.

HelixSR 1.9.0 tests INT8 on Radeons

The developer added an eight-bit integer (INT8) execution path for GPUs with appropriate operations, including Radeon RDNA 2 or later and Radeon VII. He estimates a gain of approximately 15% in part of the processing, but states that he did not test this gain directly on the mentioned GPUs.

In the author's test frames, the output difference compared to the conventional path was around 60 dB PSNR. This value is a developer image comparison, not a performance or quality guarantee in any game. The INT8 option can be disabled in the file helixsr.ini, in the section [Upscaling], with Int8 = off.

To illustrate the difference between super-resolution methods, see a community comparison made before version 1.9.0. The numbers do not measure the new INT8 path.

Previous version comparison made by the community and reproduced by TweakTown; it is not a 1.9.0 test.

Experimental support for Vega 56, Vega 64 and Radeon VII

The update also unlocks a 64-lane shader path for Radeon Vega 56/64, Radeon VII, and Vega graphics integrated into Ryzen processors. Previously, these GPUs were rejected. However, the developer states that he has not tested the new path on actual Vega hardware. Therefore, experimental support does not mean proven compatibility.

Additionally, version 1.9.0 claims improved sharpness and offers the FSR 1 EASU filter as an option in the final stage of Ultra Performance mode. The default remains Lanczos. The edition is marked as a pre-release; for issues, the author recommends reverting to the stable version 1.8.1 and submitting the log file.

The following table gathers measurements of the upscale stage on the AMD BC-250 released before this update. These times do not equate to the full game's frame rate nor do they prove the promised gains for Radeon Vega.

Measurements of the upscale stage on the AMD BC-250, released by the author and reproduced by TweakTown. Data prior to version 1.9.0.

How to download and install HelixSR 1.9.0

1. Verify that the game uses Direct3D 12 and has integration compatible with FSR 3.1 or the OptiScaler path described in the README.
2. Download the experimental public package HelixSR-1.9.0.2.zip for Windows or Linux/Proton.

3. Extract the ZIP into its own folder. On Windows, run helixsr-setup.bat; on Linux/Steam Deck, use ./helixsr-setup.sh.
4. Read the installer prompts. It obtains the official DLSS DLL from NVIDIA, with consent, and prepares the network locally.
5. Select the compatible games and the mode recommended by the installer. Then, enable FSR or DLSS in the game as per the guidance provided.

The button leads directly to the official ZIP of experimental version 1.9.0.2. As this address is version-specific, please check the releases page for future updates. We do not perform independent installation or security testing of the executable.

Limitations and differences from other projects

HelixSR does not redistribute NVIDIA weights in the ZIP; the installer prepares them locally. The software also does not offer its own Frame Generation and should not be confused with the project AMDNR for Neural Rendering for Radeon, which works with another technology.

As compatibility varies between games and GPUs, installation may fail or cause instability. In case of issues, the developer recommends checking the log and reverting to the previous version. The performance numbers released are not equivalent to an independent benchmark by Allves Games.

Sources: HelixSR v1.9.0 — official release from 10/13/2026; official repository and documentation.