Microsoft Brings Windows 11 Auto SR to Intel Core Ultra Series 3-Based PCs

Microsoft is expanding the availability of Auto SR (Super Resolution) to Copilot+ PCs based on Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors.

“Auto SR is designed to help games that struggle to hit playable frame rates at higher resolutions by allowing the game to render at a lower resolution, then using NPU-based upscaling to reach a higher effective resolution,” Microsoft product manager Stefan Bojanic explains. “By rendering at a lower resolution and then using AI to upscale the image, Auto SR can deliver smoother frame rates while maintaining visuals consistent with the developer’s original artistic vision.”

Auto SR debuted as one of several ways to improve the gaming experience on Snapdragon X-based Copilot+ PCs, and it does a great job of running games at lower resolutions, which improves performance, but without harming the visual quality. But I’ve always wondered why it was limited to just Snapdragon X, given that any PC would benefit from this technology.

Today, availability is expanding to the first x86 chipsets, the Intel Core Ultra Series 3 “Panther Lake” processors. I assume this will be available directly in Windows 11 at some point, but for now, you can download the Auto Super Resolution Package app from the Microsoft Store to add this functionality to your PC.

According to Bojanic, Auto SR is optimized to work well at 800p, but it supports up to 1080p on Core Ultra Series 3-based PCs. It delivers higher in-game graphics settings, high frame rates (generally about 15 percent higher than normal), and works on a wide variety of games without requiring explicit game maker or driver support. And you can determine whether to optimize for quality or performance, or disable it on a game-by-game basis.

Microsoft recommends testing this capability with Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, Assetto Corsa, Avowed, Control, DOOM: The Dark Ages, Far Cry 6, Frostpunk 2, Grounded 2, Psychonauts 2, Rise of the Tomb Raider, The Outer Worlds 2, or Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege, and notes that you’ll see the best results on texture-heavy games at higher resolutions and graphics settings.

And while there are no explicit promises, Microsoft’s note about “expanding high-quality super resolution coverage and continuing to improve visual fidelity and performance for a better gaming experience” suggests this will come to other chipsets, including, hopefully, those made by AMD.