MSI offers Re-Size BAR function ( SAM ) that works cross platform Nvidia / AMD 5000 chipset

Nexus18 · 2 Jan 2021 at 11:23

Looks like it works with my msi m450 tomahawk, ryzen 2600 and vega 56, although not really much difference, slight improvement overall but nothing to write home about and most likely could just be down to a reboot.

Will be interesting to see what AMD say about this as from reading on reddit, it seems like there is no reason why this can't work on the vast majority of hardware (especially since linux has been utilising this for years now) and also seen that some motherboard manufacturers are removing the 4g memory option etc. so potentially trying to lock this down to limited hardware?!

SaBBz · 2 Jan 2021 at 12:37

Nexus18 said:
Looks like it works with my msi m450 tomahawk, ryzen 2600 and vega 56, although not really much difference, slight improvement overall but nothing to write home about and most likely could just be down to a reboot

What kind of improvement have you had?

Nexus18 · 2 Jan 2021 at 12:52

SaBBz said:
What kind of improvement have you had?

Like 1-2 FPS increase in hzd, gears 5, GTA 5. 1-2 FPS decrease in rdr 2 and div 2.

Shadow of the tomb raider CPU frame had 10 FPS improvement but overall FPS only improved by 2.

As mentioned, most likely just reboot differences.

Grim5 · 2 Jan 2021 at 18:57

Try assassins creed Valhalla

that's supposed to be the one game that shows some reasonable difference, zen3 + rx6000 combos were seeing 10%+ more performance

Nexus18 · 2 Jan 2021 at 19:06

I don't own vahalla.

Doubt I'll see any/much difference anyway with a 2600 and vega 56, at least not until/if there are some drivers focussing on them.....

Dirkscooby · 2 Jan 2021 at 20:14

This is also available on Z490 Intel motherboards(well Asus ones, Haven't checked other)

Sgt_Pepper · 2 Jan 2021 at 20:43

Not really sure what this is supposed to do, but i enabled it on my B450 with 3600 & rx6800 and the PC wont boot, had to short the bios jumpers to get it to reboot. Will leave it alone until i get a 5000 series CPU.

Nexus18 · 2 Jan 2021 at 21:07

If you're enabling it, make sure you have UEFI set and not CSM in the bios.

Sgt_Pepper · 2 Jan 2021 at 21:58

Nexus18 said:
If you're enabling it, make sure you have UEFI set and not CSM in the bios.

That’s opened up a whole new can of worms, i’m just gonna forget I ever read this thread.

Nexus18 · 2 Jan 2021 at 22:21

Sgt_Pepper said:
That’s opened up a whole new can of worms, i’m just gonna forget I ever read this thread.

varkanoid · 2 Jan 2021 at 22:45

Just out of interest what section of the BIOS are you seeing the option ?

Nexus18 · 2 Jan 2021 at 22:48

Mine was under PCI settings on my msi b450 tomahawk.

varkanoid · 2 Jan 2021 at 23:16

Nexus18 said:
Mine was under PCI settings on my msi b450 tomahawk.

Bit weird on my TUF I could not find the option then it mentioned a shortcut and saw this -

then the option appearted under PCI

Hotwired · 2 Jan 2021 at 23:59

Nexus18 said:
Looks like it works with my msi m450 tomahawk, ryzen 2600 and vega 56, although not really much difference, slight improvement overall but nothing to write home about and most likely could just be down to a reboot.

Will be interesting to see what AMD say about this as from reading on reddit, it seems like there is no reason why this can't work on the vast majority of hardware (especially since linux has been utilising this for years now) and also seen that some motherboard manufacturers are removing the 4g memory option etc. so potentially trying to lock this down to limited hardware?!

*nvm you had a amd card

As can be found, without driver support you get interesting things happening: https://old.reddit.com/r/Amd/comments/kop3bd/resizeable_bar_actually_does_something_on_ryzen/

I have also yet to see a single person demonstrate linux (without AMD driver support) having anything other than the option available. Not performance gains, just having an option available.

These motherboard makers are just making the option available imo.

Chuk_Chuk · 3 Jan 2021 at 00:19

Maybe I missed something but isn't SAM slightly different from vanilla resizeable bar.

Mesai · 3 Jan 2021 at 00:29

Chuk_Chuk said:
Maybe I missed something but isn't SAM slightly different from vanilla resizeable bar.

Resizable BAR is part of the PCI technology and SAM is AMDs implementation of it i.e. the code in the drivers that tells the hardware how to use the technology. They just named it because these flashy anagrams help with marketing.

Grim5 · 3 Jan 2021 at 03:17

Chuk_Chuk said:
Maybe I missed something but isn't SAM slightly different from vanilla resizeable bar.[/QUOTEk]

nope, same thing

varkanoid · 3 Jan 2021 at 15:51

Thats true I read up about it and Resize BAR is its original name AMD have just called it SAM.

henson0115 · 3 Jan 2021 at 21:24

Driver support is required, whilst it can be enabled on cards like Vega, we won't see any benefit until we are added at the driver level..

nvidiamd · 3 Jan 2021 at 21:39

The question is if the new games will be able to take advantage of this feature or it is something that gives you extra FPS sometimes if the game wants that.
I also noticed it improves the min FPS in some games so that is even better.