Advanced Shader Delivery Reduces Game Load Times and Boosts Minimum FPS on Radeon RX 9070 XT

• May 24, 2026

Tom’s Hardware conducted an evaluation of AMD’s Advanced Shader Delivery (ASD) technology using the Radeon RX 9070 XT graphics card. The technology targets one of the key performance bottlenecks in gaming: the latency caused by shader compilation during initial game loading.

Reducing Load Times and Smoothing Gameplay

Shader compilation is a process that occurs when a game first prepares its graphics rendering instructions, often leading to noticeable pauses or stuttering at the start of gameplay. ASD is designed to mitigate this delay by optimizing how shaders are managed and delivered, effectively streamlining the startup sequence.

The tests confirmed that Advanced Shader Delivery significantly shortens the loading times experienced when launching games. Specifically, load durations were cut by approximately 95%, a dramatic improvement that allows players to dive into gameplay more quickly without waiting through extensive load screens.

Beyond just faster game starts, the feature also contributes to a more consistent frame rate experience. The minimum frames per second (FPS), a critical factor for smooth and responsive gaming especially during graphically intense scenes, saw a meaningful increase with ASD enabled. This suggests that the technology not only improves initial load performance but can also positively impact ongoing gameplay stability.

While the findings centered around the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT, details regarding ASD’s implementation across other AMD hardware or broader software compatibility were not specified. Similarly, no information was provided on potential resource overhead or trade-offs associated with utilizing the feature.

Advanced Shader Delivery represents a notable step forward in addressing shader-related delays, a common issue in PC gaming that affects both performance perception and user experience. As games grow more complex and shaders become increasingly sophisticated, such technologies may become essential to maintaining fluid gameplay and reducing interruptions.

Further evaluations and real-world testing across diverse titles and system configurations will offer greater insight into the practical benefits and limitations of ASD, shaping its role in future AMD graphics solutions.

Tom’s Hardware finds AMD’s Advanced Shader Delivery cuts game load times by 95% and enhances minimum FPS on Radeon RX 9070 XT.