How to Enable Resizable BAR for Better GPU Performance
If you’re looking to squeeze out more performance from your graphics card without spending a dime on hardware upgrades, enabling Resizable BAR might be exactly what you need. This technology has become increasingly popular among PC gamers and enthusiasts, offering measurable performance improvements in modern games. Whether you’re running an NVIDIA or AMD GPU, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to get Resizable BAR working on your system.
What is Resizable BAR?
Before diving into the technical setup, it’s important to understand what Resizable BAR actually is and why it matters for your gaming performance. Traditionally, GPUs could only access a limited amount of CPU memory at once, typically 256MB. This limitation meant that large textures and game assets had to be broken into smaller chunks, which required additional processing overhead and could cause performance stutters.
Resizable BAR (Base Address Register) is a PCIe feature that expands the GPU’s access to system memory. Instead of being limited to a small window, your graphics card can now access the entire GPU memory space at once. This reduces the number of times data needs to be shuffled around and allows for more efficient memory management. NVIDIA calls their implementation “Smart Access Memory,” while AMD uses the term “Resizable BAR.” The technology is essentially the same, just with different branding.
In real-world gaming, this can translate to performance gains ranging from 5% to 15%, depending on the game and GPU configuration. Some games see even larger improvements, making it a worthwhile optimization to implement.
Check Your Hardware Compatibility
Before you start making changes to your system, you need to verify that your hardware supports Resizable BAR. Not all GPUs and motherboards have this capability, so it’s crucial to check your components first.
For NVIDIA graphics cards, you’ll need an RTX 30-series or newer GPU to use Smart Access Memory. This includes cards like the RTX 3060, 3070, 3080, and 3090, as well as the newer RTX 40-series cards.
AMD’s Resizable BAR support is available on RDNA and RDNA 2 architecture cards. This includes the Radeon RX 5600 XT, 5700 XT, and all newer models in the RX 6000 series.
On the motherboard side, you need a relatively recent platform. Intel users should have a B460, H470, Z490 chipset or newer. AMD users need an X570, B550, or newer motherboard. If you have an older motherboard, Resizable BAR likely isn’t supported, and no amount of software configuration will enable it.
Step-by-Step Setup Guide
Step 1: Update Your BIOS
The first thing you should do is update your motherboard’s BIOS to the latest version. Resizable BAR support was added through BIOS updates on many older motherboards, so a fresh BIOS version is essential. Visit your motherboard manufacturer’s website, download the latest BIOS file, and follow their specific instructions for flashing. The process varies between manufacturers, so consult your manual for detailed guidance.
Step 2: Enable Resizable BAR in BIOS
Once your BIOS is updated, restart your computer and enter the BIOS menu during startup. For most systems, you can do this by pressing Delete, F2, or F12 during the boot sequence. The exact key depends on your motherboard manufacturer.
Navigate to the Advanced Settings or Integrated Peripherals section. Look for an option labeled “Above 4G Decoding,” “Resizable BAR,” “Smart Access Memory,” or something similar. The naming varies by manufacturer, but it should be clearly labeled in the advanced settings menu. Enable this option and save your changes. Your computer will restart automatically.
Step 3: Update Your GPU Drivers
With BIOS changes complete, the next crucial step is updating your GPU drivers. Resizable BAR requires recent driver support, so outdated drivers won’t work properly.
For NVIDIA users, download the latest GeForce driver from NVIDIA’s official website. For AMD users, grab the latest Radeon driver from AMD’s driver download page. Install the drivers and restart your computer when prompted. These driver versions include the necessary software support to enable Smart Access Memory or Resizable BAR functionality.
Step 4: Verify Resizable BAR is Enabled
After restarting, you’ll want to confirm that Resizable BAR is actually enabled on your system. For NVIDIA GPUs, you can check this through NVIDIA Control Panel. Right-click on your desktop and select “NVIDIA Control Panel.” Navigate to “View” in the menu and look for information about Smart Access Memory status. Some driver versions also display this information directly in the system tray.
AMD users can check the Radeon Settings application. Open Radeon Settings and look for system information or driver details that confirm Resizable BAR is active. You can also download GPU-Z, a third-party monitoring tool that clearly displays whether Resizable BAR is enabled.
Best Practices and Optimization Tips
Once you’ve enabled Resizable BAR, there are a few additional steps to maximize the benefits. First, make sure your power supply is adequate for your GPU. Resizable BAR can increase power draw slightly, so ensure your PSU has sufficient headroom. Check your GPU’s official power recommendations and add about 20% overhead for safety.
Second, update your games. While Resizable BAR works with most titles, newer games are optimized to take better advantage of the technology. Games like Cyberpunk 2077, Control, and Fortnite show significant performance improvements with Resizable BAR enabled.
Third, monitor your temperatures. Some users report slightly higher GPU temperatures with Resizable BAR enabled due to increased memory bandwidth usage. Ensure your case ventilation is adequate, and consider cleaning your GPU fans if they’re dusty.
Troubleshooting Issues
If you experience crashes or instability after enabling Resizable BAR, disable it and update your drivers again. Sometimes driver conflicts can cause problems. If issues persist, update your motherboard BIOS to the absolute latest version and check that your power supply can handle the demands.
For comprehensive information about your GPU’s capabilities and driver features, visit NVIDIA’s official driver page or AMD’s equivalent support resources.
Conclusion
Enabling Resizable BAR is a straightforward optimization that can deliver meaningful performance improvements for free. While the process requires some BIOS tweaking and driver updates, it’s accessible to most PC gamers with compatible hardware. The performance gains justify the relatively small amount of effort required, especially if you’re already exploring other optimization techniques.
Take your time with the installation process, verify each step, and enjoy the performance boost in your favorite games.