New drivers add performance-boosting memory-access feature to older AMD GPUs

GPU driver releases usually aren’t very newsworthy; they normally repair bugs, enhance efficiency in some video games, and add assist for brand spanking new GPUs. However homeowners of last-generation AMD Radeon RX 5000-series graphics playing cards ought to pay attention to in the present day’s Adrenalin 21.9.1 launch. This replace provides assist for AMD’s “Sensible Entry Reminiscence” (SAM) function for older GPUs. AMD says the function can enhance sport efficiency by as much as 15 % in some video games.

SAM assist was beforehand restricted to the Radeon RX 6800 collection (and Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 3000 collection, which assist a largely similar function that Nvidia calls Resizable BAR). Along with the appropriate GPU and the appropriate drivers, you may additionally should be operating a supported processor on a supported chipset: both a Tenth- or Eleventh-generation Intel Core CPU in a 400- or 500-series motherboard or a Ryzen 3000 or 5000-series CPU in a 400- or 500-series motherboard.

Whether or not you are speaking about SAM or Resizable BAR, the totally different names all check with the identical PCI Categorical performance. Usually, your laptop’s processor can solely immediately entry 256MB of your GPU’s video reminiscence at a time, and the reminiscence requires bigger belongings to be damaged up into smaller chunks for switch. Resizable BAR removes that restrict and noticeably improves efficiency in some video games. A TechSpot take a look at of 36 video games utilizing an RX 6800 GPU and Ryzen 5950X processor noticed an enchancment of as much as 20 % relying on the sport and the settings. For many video games, although, efficiency improved by a a lot smaller quantity or did not enhance in any respect. A number of video games even confirmed efficiency decreases with SAM enabled, although by no means by sufficient to make any video games unplayable.

Even with the brand new drivers and supported {hardware}, customers of current PCs might want to leap by just a few hoops to make sure they’re benefiting from Sensible Entry Reminiscence. Begin by putting in your motherboard’s newest BIOS replace (motherboard makers began including assist for Resizable BAR and SAM in late 2020 and early 2021). Then enter your BIOS settings and allow the function; relying in your motherboard, it is likely to be referred to as “Resizable BAR” or “Sensible Entry Reminiscence.” Or your motherboard producer would possibly name it one thing bizarre and GPU-agnostic like ASRock’s “Intelligent Entry Reminiscence.” You might also must allow a separate however associated function referred to as “Above 4G Decoding.”

AMD says that the Adrenalin 21.9.1 driver launch can be its first to formally assist Home windows 11 and that it provides assist for auto-overclocking Ryzen 5000-series CPUs once they’re paired with an RX 6000-series GPU. Overclocking Ryzen processors inside Home windows usually requires the separate “Ryzen Grasp” utility, which helps a wider vary of processors and would not care what GPU you are utilizing.