Resizable Bar: What is it and how to activate the feature on video cards

O Resizable BAR It is a hardware feature that improves communication between the processor and video cardreleasing Total access to GPU memory. Technology can result in small performance gains in compatible games and is activated directly by the system BIOS – as long as all components are compatible.

What is the resizable bar?

Basically, the Resizable BAR (Redimnsible Address Base) is a specification feature PCI Express that allows the processor to access all Video card vram At once, instead of doing this in limited blocks of 256 MB.

Although technology has been present in PCIE standard for years, manufacturers have only enabled it from 2021 on recent models of GPUS, motherboards and processors.

In practice, the locking is capable of improve communication between CPU and GPUreducing the amount of transfers and allowing more agile loading of textures, geometries and other graphic actives.

The same concept is adopted by AMD under the name Smart Access Memory (SAM).

How does it work or resizable bar?

During the execution of a game, the CPU requests data stored in the memory of the video card (A VRAM) to process and assemble the images that will be displayed. By default, this access happens limitedly, with the CPU reading the Vram in small pieces. This can create bottlenecks, especially in heavier games and in much memory GPUS.

With the resizable bar activated, this limitation disappears. The processor can read the vram whole vram continuouslywhich improves loading speed and helps stabilize performance.

In testing of manufacturers such as AMD and NVIDIA, the gain can reach up to 12% in optimized gamesalthough in most cases the real increase is between 2% e 5%.

In the architecture of Intel Arc plates, the resizable bar is not only re -ons, but vital for the proper functioning. Leaving it disabled can cut the performance in half or even cause instability

In Nvidia GPus and AMDthe impact tends to be more subtle, and the feature is often activated from the factory, especially in gamer notebooks and pre-assembled desktops.

How to activate or disable the resizable bar

To use the lock, it is necessary that CPU, GPU and motherboard are compatible with technology. See the basic requirements:

NVIDIA:

• GPUS of the series RTX 30 or superior
• CPUs Intel 10th Generation or more recent, or Ryzen 3000/5000
• Motherboard with support and BIOS UPDATED

AMD (SAM):

• GPUs Radeon RX 6000 or superior
• CPUs Ryzen 5000 (or some 3000 series models)
• Chipsets AMD 500 or superior

Intel Arc:

• All GPUS ARC require to wrap
• Any compatible CPU (Intel or AMD)
• BIOS with updated support and firmware

Step by Step at Bios

1. Restart the PC and enter the setup da BIOS (usually pressing Del or F2 when starting).
2. Search for options “Resizable BAR” e “Above 4G Decoding” and activate both.
3. In some cases, it will be necessary to disable the CSM (Compatibility Support Module).
4. Save the changes and restart the system.

⚠️Attention: In Windows systems installed in MBR mode (not GPT), disable CSM can prevent system startup. Check the disk format before you follow!

Verification

After restarting, you can confirm if the lock is active:

• NVIDIA: Open the NVIDIA CONTROL PANELclick System Information (Lower left corner) and look for the “resentable bar: yes” line.
• Intel: use o app Intel Graphics Softwarepatch you Settings> System> Hardware Information.
• AMD: Access the Device Managerright -click on the GPU, go to “Properties”> ABA “Resources” and make sure there is a Large Memory Range.

Alternative via application

For NVIDIA users, another practical option is to activate or verify the burning using the NVIDIA App. The new interface facilitates adjustments and displays resource status directly on the performance tab.

Also read:

Activate, test and evaluate

The Resizable Bar is a simple, free technology and already widely supported in the latest hardware generations. Its impact varies a lot: In Intel Arc plates, it is indispensable, already in Nvidia and AMD GPUS, the gains are modest but safe.

For those who play compatible titles and already have the right components, it is worth checking if the feature is activated – even to ensure those extra frames that make a difference at critical times.

Source: Intel and Nvidia