If you've been reading about hardware for a while, you've probably seen the term Resizable BAR and you wonder when it's worth activating itIt's a relatively new feature in the world of PC gaming that, when properly configured, can give you a few extra FPS and improve smoothness in modern titles... but it can also cause problems on older or poorly configured systems.
In recent years NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel have been adding support for this technology, but It's not enough to just activate a box in the BIOS and that's itYou need a specific combination of CPU, motherboard, GPU, firmware, and drivers. Furthermore, not all games react the same way, and that's where the big question arises: When should you activate Resizable BAR and when is it better to leave it disabled or control it per game??
What is Resizable BAR and what problem does it solve?
Technology Resizable BAR (Resizable Base Address Register) It is an advanced feature of the PCI Express standard that allows the processor to see and manage all of the graphics card's memory (VRAM) at once, instead of accessing it in small blocks.
Out of the box, in a traditional configuration, the CPU can only address 256 MB of GPU memory per requestWhen a modern game needs to load huge textures, complex geometry, or tons of shaders, this limitation forces it to make many small requests in succession, creating bottlenecks and adding latency to the data flow.
With Resizable BAR enabled, that restriction disappears and the CPU can access the entire frame buffer and all available VRAM (for example, 8, 12 or even 24 GB on high-end cards) in a single operation, managing data much more efficiently.
This same idea is marketed under different names depending on the manufacturer: NVIDIA calls it Resizable BAR and AMD names it Smart Access Memory (SAM)But ultimately, both technologies rely on the same PCIe standard.
How the Resizable BAR improves performance in games and applications
In practice, allowing the CPU to have full and immediate access to VRAM This has a direct impact on how games load and process resources. Instead of "chopping" textures and models into 256 MB blocks, the system can request large amounts of data all at once.
This is especially noticeable in demanding titles, with open worlds and massive loads of high-resolution textures, where the operations of transferring textures, shaders, and geometry They are constant. By not accumulating so many requests in the queue, access latency is reduced and the lag caused by uneven resource loading is minimized.
NVIDIA talks about improvements of up to 12-15% in some games well optimized for Resizable BARHP, for its part, points to performance increases in gaming and creativity of up to approximately 15% in compatible titles, especially with regard to minimum FPS and frame rate stability.
In everyday life, this translates into Slightly faster loading times, less texture pop-in, better perceived quality, and more consistent smoothnessIt can also help in professional applications: smoother scrolling on video timelines, better response from 3D viewers, and fewer pauses when working with large files.
Smart Access Memory (AMD) and Resizable BAR (NVIDIA): same idea, different name
Both AMD and NVIDIA have embraced this feature of the PCIe standard, although Each one wraps it in their own marketingIn Radeon RX 6000 series cards and later, AMD calls it Smart Access Memory (SAM), while in GeForce RTX 30 series and later, NVIDIA refers to it simply as Resizable BAR.
From the technical point of view, SAM is nothing more than Resizable BAR, fine-tuned by AMD.The implementation differs slightly in how it is integrated into the driver and BIOS, but the principle is identical: to allow the CPU to fully map the video memory and break the classic 256 MB limit.
Intel has also joined in with their Intel Arc cardsThese systems natively support Resizable BAR and, in fact, rely heavily on this feature to perform at the expected level. In Arc, disabling Resizable BAR can result in significant performance drops.
What's important for the user is that, regardless of the name, All these implementations rely on the same PCIe optionTherefore, the basic requirements and potential compatibility issues are very similar across brands.
Hardware requirements to activate Resizable BAR with guarantees
Before thinking about activating it, you need to make sure that the equipment meets several requirements, because Having a modern GPU is not enough.It's a chain: if one link fails (CPU, motherboard, BIOS, VBIOS or drivers), the function will not be enabled correctly.
On the processor side, NVIDIA has confirmed that the AMD Ryzen 5000 (Zen 3) and the 10th and 11th generation Intel Core processors They are compatible. HP expands the range and speaks of general support in Intel Core 10th generation and later and AMD Ryzen 3000 and laterespecially in their OMEN desktop and laptop computers.
Regarding the GPU, the reasonable minimum is to have NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 series or higher, AMD Radeon RX 6000 series or newer, or any Intel ArcIn the case of NVIDIA, the desktop RTX 3060 came from the factory with a compatible VBIOS, while the RTX 3060 Ti, 3070, 3080 and 3090 usually require a firmware update.
The motherboard must include UEFI support and explicit compatibility with Resizable BARIn the AMD ecosystem, the 400 and 500 series chipsets are the norm; in Intel, motherboards with Z490, H470, B460, H410 chipsets are mentioned, as well as modern models for 11th generation CPUs or later, always with a prepared BIOS.
In addition to that, the platform should offer at least PCIe 3.0 (PCIe 4.0 is better) and an updated UEFI BIOS that includes the options “Above 4G Decoding” and “Resizable BAR” or equivalent. Without these components in place, the feature will not activate even if the GPU supports it.
Compatibility in pre-configured systems: the case of HP OMEN
Many gaming PC manufacturers already sell their systems fully equipped to take advantage of this feature. HP, for example, includes support for the Resizable Bar in its their OMEN 45L desktop models and other high-end models with powerful GPUs such as:
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090, 4080 SUPER, 4070 Ti and 4070
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16 GB GDDR6
- AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX and RX 7600
In the portable field, many HP OMEN laptops equipped with RTX 4090, 4080, 4070 or 4060 Laptop GPU They are also ready to use Resizable BAR, provided the BIOS and drivers are up to date. For older OMEN 16 models, HP recommends checking the specific BIOS documentation to confirm if support has been added.
In these pre-configured systems, the manufacturer usually delivers the equipment with BIOS, VBIOS and aligned driversSo the user only needs to verify that the option is active and that the system is running in UEFI mode with GPT partitions.
These types of PCs already come designed with Thermal management, airflow, and power supplies Designed to push high-end components to their limits, they are good candidates for activating Resizable BAR without fear of unexpected bottlenecks.
Check if your system is ready: UEFI, GPT and installation mode
One of the points that generates the most confusion is that Resizable BAR requires that Windows be installed in UEFI mode with GPT partitionsIf you built your PC years ago using Legacy mode (CSM) and an MBR table, you'll need to make significant changes if you want to use this feature.
To check what mode your Windows installation is in, you can use the system information tool:
- Press Windows + R, type “msinfo32” and hit Enter.
- In the window that opens, look for the field “BIOS Mode”.
- If you see “UEFI”, you're doing well; if “Legacy” or “Inherited” appears, your installation is not ready.
Next, it's a good idea to review the disk partition type where you have the system installed:
- Right click on the Start button and open “Disk Management”.
- Locate the disk that contains drive C: and Enter your properties (right-click on the disk number).
- On the “Volumes” tab, look at the field “Partition style”.
- You must specify “GUID Partition Table (GPT)” to be compatible with UEFI and Resizable BAR.
If your system is running Legacy/MBR, You can't just enable Resizable BAR in BIOS and be done with it.. You will need to Migrate to UEFI and GPTThis usually involves reinstalling Windows (or performing a careful conversion with specific tools), which discourages many users and delays the adoption of this feature.
How to enable Resizable BAR in the BIOS step by step
Once you have confirmed that your installation is UEFI/GPT and that your hardware supports it, the next step is Enable Resizable BAR in the motherboard BIOS or UEFIThe exact names of the options may vary depending on the manufacturer, but the general flow is very similar.
On modern motherboards (for example, an ASUS TUF GAMING X570-PLUS (WI-FI) or similar), the procedure is usually:
- Restart your PC and enter BIOS by pressing Delete, F2, F10 or the key indicated by the manufacturer.
- In EZ or advanced mode, locate the icon or menu for “Resizable BAR” or “Re-Size BAR Support”.
- Activate the (Enabled/On) option and, if it appears, also verify that “Above 4G Decoding” be enabled.
- Press F10, save the changes, and let the system restart.
Some OEM devices, such as HP OMEN, require you to navigate to the tab first. “Advanced” or “System Options/PCIe Settings”where you'll find the Resizable BAR options and, in the case of AMD GPUs, Smart Access Memory.
On ASUS, MSI, GIGABYTE or similar motherboards, if you don't see these options, it's very likely that You need to update the BIOS to a newer versionEach manufacturer details the procedure on their website, usually through their own utilities or an update from the UEFI menu itself.
Updating VBIOS and GPU drivers: the other key link
Even with the motherboard BIOS prepared, The graphics card needs compatible firmware (VBIOS). so that Resizable BAR can be activated. NVIDIA, for example, released specific updates for almost the entire GeForce RTX 30 series.
In the case of the Desktop RTX 3060, the stand comes pre-installedHowever, in models like the RTX 3060 Ti, 3070, 3080 or 3090, it is usually mandatory to flash a new VBIOS, either through official NVIDIA tools (for Founders Edition) or through utilities provided by assemblers such as ASUS, MSI, GIGABYTE, EVGA, Zotac, Palit, etc.
Each manufacturer maintains a section on their website for drivers and utilities where VBIOS updates are listedThe standard procedure is to select your specific GPU model and download a dedicated update tool. It is very important not to install VBIOS from another brand or model, nor to use Founders Edition firmware on a custom card.
In addition to the firmware, it is mandatory to have some relatively recent GPU driversNVIDIA, for example, requires at least GeForce Game Ready Driver version 465.89 WHQL or later to enable Resizable BAR on RTX 30. AMD and Intel follow a similar logic: if your drivers are a few years old, update them before changing anything.
The manufacturer ASUS, for example, points out that Resizable BAR compatibility requires the alignment of three elements: motherboard BIOS, GPU VBIOS, and driversIf any of the three fall behind, the feature will not be enabled even if the rest are up to date.
Check if Resizable BAR is enabled: NVIDIA, AMD, and GPU-Z
Once all the BIOS, VBIOS, and driver work is done, it's time to verify if the function is actually active. It's not enough to assume it "should be": it's best to check it with the appropriate tools, because A misconfigured detail can disable the function without you realizing it.
On NVIDIA cards you can use their own NVIDIA control panel to see:
- Right click on the desktop and open “NVIDIA Control Panel”.
- In the top menu, go to “Help” and tap on “System Information”.
- In the window that opens, look for the line “Resizable BAR” and check if it indicates “Yes” (or Enabled).
On AMD GPUs, control is exercised from the AMD software: Adrenalin Edition:
- Open AMD Software and click on the icon. Configuration (cogwheel).
- Go to the “Graphs” tab and locate the option Smart Access Memory.
- Check if it appears as enabled; if it is not, check the requirements or BIOS.
As a universal method, you can use the utility GPU-Z by TechPowerUp:
- Download and run GPU-Z as administrator.
- In the main window, look for the field “Resizable BAR”.
- If it is configured correctly, it should display “Enabled” or equivalent.
If any of these methods shows "No" or "Disabled", you need to check: There may be a missing BIOS, VBIOS, or driver update, or CSM may be enabled on the motherboard., which completely disables the function.
When is it worth activating Resizable BAR (and when is it not)
With the arrival of GPUs like the NVIDIA Blackwell 5000 and the latest AAA games of 2024-2025Many users wonder if it wouldn't be better to leave Resizable BAR enabled globally at all times. Recent benchmarks show something quite clear: in most modern titles, especially those that saturate VRAM and bandwidth, the 1% minimums improve significantly with the feature active.
In other words, even if the average FPS doesn't increase much, The abrupt drops are smoothed out and the overall experience feels more stableThis is key in competitive shooters, open worlds, and games with aggressive texture streaming, where those occasional frame rate drops can make all the difference.
However, there are still Older or poorly optimized titles that may perform somewhat worse With Resizable BAR enabled, it can even present minor compatibility issues. In these cases, some users choose to disable it for specific games using tools like NVIDIA Profile Inspector or through per-title settings in AMD Software.
From a practical point of view, most current mid-range and high-end configurations achieve a net positive benefit from having Resizable BAR active by defaultEspecially if you mainly play recent titles. If you maintain a large library of older games, it's best to test them one by one and, if you detect a clear degradation, disable it only for that game.
What is important is not to try to force this option on systems that clearly do not meet the requirements (legacy installations, old GPUs, unsupported motherboards), because You won't gain anything and you may end up with instability or a false sense of improvement..
Configure Resizable BAR per game using NVIDIA Profile Inspector
In advanced NVIDIA environments, you can further fine-tune the behavior of Resizable BAR using the tool NVIDIA Profile Inspector, very popular among enthusiasts for editing specific profiles for each title.
The typical process of adjustment per game It is usually the following:
- Download NVIDIA Profile Inspector from its official repository and run it as administrator.
- In the profile dropdown menu, select the specific game you want to modify.
- In the “Common” section, locate the options “rBAR Features” and “rBAR Options” and activate them or adjust them to the recommended profile.
- If “rBAR Size Limit” appears, you can leave the default value (for example, 0 x 0000000400000000) unless otherwise specified in an optimization guide.
- Save the changes and, if necessary, restart the system before testing the game.
This strategy allows you Keep Resizable BAR enabled globally, but limit or disable it for problematic titles...taking advantage of the benefit where it truly pays off. This is especially useful now that many players are testing enabling it "globally" to see how their entire game libraries behave.
In the case of AMD, a similar approach is taken from within the company itself. AMD Softwarecreating or editing profiles per game and activating or deactivating SAM depending on how well the title responds with the feature enabled.
Troubleshooting common problems when activating Resizable BAR
Like any advanced hardware feature, Resizable BAR can cause problems if Some element of the chain is outdated or misconfiguredManufacturers compile several frequently asked questions that are often repeated among users.
One of the most common problems is that, even though the motherboard and GPU declare support, Resizable BAR is not working or does not appear as enabled.In these cases, the basic recommendations are:
- Update the motherboard BIOS to the latest available version.
- Flash the GPU's VBIOS if the assembler has released a compatible version.
- Install the latest graphics drivers from the official NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel website.
Another frequently asked question concerns the option “Launch CSM” or “Start CSM” in BIOS. For Resizable BAR to work, CSM mode must be disabled; that is, the system must boot into pure UEFIIf CSM is enabled, the function is disabled.
It can also happen that, after enabling it, you notice some performance degradation or instability in specific games. In that case, it is advisable to:
- Check if there are any patches or updates for the game that improve compatibility.
- Disable it only for that title using NVIDIA Profile Inspector or the AMD panel.
- Verify that the power supply, the energy manager and the system temperatures are correct.
If the computer becomes generally unstable (screens crashing, frequent freezes), it is recommended Restore BIOS to default valuesCheck the stability without Resizable BAR and, once everything is back to normal, repeat the process step by step, carefully reviewing each change.
Resizable BAR beyond gaming: advantages in creative tasks
Although the marketing focuses on games, Resizable BAR also It provides benefits to creators and professionals. that work with applications that are highly dependent on the GPU. By improving the CPU-GPU data flow, certain tasks become more efficient.
Video editing users notice a smoother movement on the timeline in tools like Adobe Premiere Pro when working with multiple tracks and heavy effects, since the GPU can load and handle large blocks of data with less waiting.
In the 3D field, artists who use Blender, Maya, or Unreal Engine appreciate Improved viewport performance and fewer pauses when loading large scenes with lots of geometry, high-resolution textures, and complex effects.
For streamers and users who encode video in real time, the fact that the CPU can better coordinate data requests to the GPU helps to reduce small latencies and micro-cutsespecially in combinations where the same equipment is used to play and broadcast simultaneously.
Even in photo editing and handling very large RAW files, more direct access to VRAM can contribute to smoother zoom and panning on large imagesespecially when using tools that take advantage of GPU acceleration.
Best practices for squeezing a stable, resizable bar
To ensure Resizable BAR is an ally and not a headache, it's advisable to follow these steps. some maintenance and configuration guidelines that help avoid surprises over time.
The first is to maintain a reasonable update policy: GPU drivers up to date (at least monthly), motherboard BIOS at least periodically if the manufacturer fixes problems, and updated chipset drivers when the platform manufacturer (AMD, Intel) releases important versions.
In addition, it is advisable monitor temperatures and stability After any BIOS or firmware changes, a few minutes of stress testing or quick benchmarks after enabling Resizable BAR help detect problems before they appear in the middle of a game or an important project.
On systems that have had many years of driver updates, it's sometimes a good idea to perform a clean installation using tools like DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) before installing the latest GPU driver. You can also consult guides for optimize boot and maximize stability.
Finally, to maximize the real benefit of the function, it helps to accompany it with a fast storage (NVMe SSD), sufficient RAM (16 GB as a base, 32 GB ideal) and fast RAM modules (fast DDR4 or DDR5), in addition to keeping Windows reasonably up-to-date to take advantage of recent optimizations.
Activating Resizable BAR on a modern, well-configured computer usually becomes A free upgrade that provides smoother operation and better responsiveness In games and creative applications, provided the hardware requirements are met, BIOS, VBIOS, and drivers are updated, and its effect is monitored per game when necessary, it becomes one of those features that, once activated, is hard to give up. With a little care in the configuration, it becomes one of those features that, once enabled, you find hard to give up.
