AMD announced Radeon Smart Access Memory (SAM) alongside the RX 6800 series as a feature to increase video memory available to the CPU. SAM is AMD's implementation of the resizable BAR feature found in the PCI Express specification. AMD Smart Access Memory is only available when using an AMD Ryzen 5000 series process and AMD Radeon RX 6800 series graphics card on a compatible motherboard. The feature was initially advertised as a 500 series motherboard exclusive feature but AMD has recently released the new AGESA v2 1.1.0.0 update which should enable support for SAM on B450 and X470 motherboards with a BIOS update.
I have had SAM enabled on my system for awhile now, I have had 0 issues with it. Good stuff. I was worried I might have to toggle it on or off for like super old games or something, but nope everything works just fine. /shrug
dj-electricSeeing how NVIDIA will also make that feature a reality soon for all platforms... I wonder if the very little left who don't have it even care.
but but . . FIRST! :clap::rockout::pimp::respect::toast:o_O:peace:
dj-electricSeeing how NVIDIA will also make that feature a reality soon for all platforms... I wonder if the very little left who don't have it even care.
I'll wait to see Nvidia's implementation first given they talk out their ass 95% of the time.
There's no "implementation" of this, it's just exposing a not-new feature of the PCI-Express standard. You either limit your transfers to 256MB blocks, or to bigger blocks, up to the size of the total VRAM.
Emulators will love this.
evernessinceI'll wait to see Nvidia's implementation first given they talk out their ass 95% of the time.
I've yet to see nvidia not follow through on a claim like that, so yeah, going to bet on it happening unless you have some actual precedent of them "talking out of their ass"
R-T-BI've yet to see nvidia not follow through on a claim like that, so yeah, going to bet on it happening unless you have some actual precedent of them "talking out of their ass"
You mean like Ampere or turing's launch, both instances in which Nvidia make one or more false or misleading claims about either a technology or performanace?
evernessinceYou mean like Ampere or turing's launch, both instances in which Nvidia make one or more false or misleading claims about either a technology or performanace?
No, I think I'll wait for benchmarks.
Wait, we were talking feature claims, now you are talking benchmarks?
Both sides fudge benchmarks. That's par for the course in this industry.
When AMD made the initial announcement, it was written all over the stage, many slides, talk, buzzwords...
When Intel and NVIDIA implement it, there will be one line in the driver changelog - 'now supports AMD SAM on xxx model'. Not Intel SAM, not NVIDIA SAM.
Even if it's just 2% or a bit more, they've achieved the mission - made the technology, connected it to themselves and grab the 'marketing points'. Just look at titles - AMD SAM will work with NVIDIA cards too; Intel CPUs too.
lynx29I have had SAM enabled on my system for awhile now, I have had 0 issues with it. Good stuff. I was worried I might have to toggle it on or off for like super old games or something, but nope everything works just fine. /shrug
I will also test it soon on ASUS CROSSHAIR HERO VIII WIFI x570 with Ryzen 5800x.
My Radeon 6800XT is arriving today. :D
The problem for AMD is at the moment to make enough 6800 series cards available for people who want to buy them and use this feature. :shadedshu:
And according to www.techpowerup.com/274872/msi-releases-resizable-bar-support-bios-updates, my X370-based board already has the "Above 4G memory/Cryptomining" option...just need the BAR setting.
Not that it makes a world of difference on a 1000 series ryzen + RX 5500 card, but hey, actually using the technology as it is meant to is always a pro in my book, and I like to endorse, as opposed to only implementing half the features a whole technology standard was invented for.
dj-electricSeeing how NVIDIA will also make that feature a reality soon for all platforms... I wonder if the very little left who don't have it even care.
You care enough to post twice about it, are you OK
Mouth of SauronWhen AMD made the initial announcement, it was written all over the stage, many slides, talk, buzzwords...
When Intel and NVIDIA implement it, there will be one line in the driver changelog - 'now supports AMD SAM on xxx model'. Not Intel SAM, not NVIDIA SAM.
Even if it's just 2% or a bit more, they've achieved the mission - made the technology, connected it to themselves and grab the 'marketing points'. Just look at titles - AMD SAM will work with NVIDIA cards too; Intel CPUs too.
Well it was 'designed' by both AMD and HP if i'm correct. However done in an era where it woud'nt matter yet; GPU's did have 512MB / 1024MB large memory and not 16GB onto the PCB's.
This should be turned on for every card; regard of CPU/mobo since it's a tech that should work on any platform.
28 Comments on AMD Radeon Smart Access Memory Coming to 400 Series Motherboards
Emulators will love this.
No, I think I'll wait for benchmarks.
Both sides fudge benchmarks. That's par for the course in this industry.
No, Nvidia's made false claims about both. They lied about maxwell and pascal's support for Async-compute when in fact they only have software support (which provides 0 performance benefit) and people are still having issues to this day: www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/forums/game-ready-drivers/13/236511/async-compute-disabled-at-driver-level-for-maxwell/
When Intel and NVIDIA implement it, there will be one line in the driver changelog - 'now supports AMD SAM on xxx model'. Not Intel SAM, not NVIDIA SAM.
Even if it's just 2% or a bit more, they've achieved the mission - made the technology, connected it to themselves and grab the 'marketing points'. Just look at titles - AMD SAM will work with NVIDIA cards too; Intel CPUs too.
My Radeon 6800XT is arriving today. :D
The problem for AMD is at the moment to make enough 6800 series cards available for people who want to buy them and use this feature. :shadedshu:
Not that it makes a world of difference on a 1000 series ryzen + RX 5500 card, but hey, actually using the technology as it is meant to is always a pro in my book, and I like to endorse, as opposed to only implementing half the features a whole technology standard was invented for.
This should be turned on for every card; regard of CPU/mobo since it's a tech that should work on any platform.
:)