AMD Smart Access Memory is also activated for the 400 series control circuits

One of the big news introduced in connection with the unveiling of the Radeon RX 6000 series is a technology AMD calls Smart Access Memory (SAM). This is a solution where the processor is given the opportunity to use larger parts of the graphics memory when calling the graphics card, something that is made possible by a function in the PCI Express specification.

According to the unveiling, Smart Access Memory can be used with Ryzen 5000 series processors and Radeon RX 6000 series graphics cards, but only when the two are shared on a motherboard with 500 series control circuits. The restriction has also been confirmed to SweClockers in talks with AMD. Now, however, information is emerging that a new microcode, the so-called AGESA software, adds support for both Ryzen 5000 processors and Smart Access Memory on the 400 series motherboard, reports German Computerbase.de.

That the new technology is supported on the 400 series appears in a test of Asrock’s motherboard B450 Steel Legend, where the AGESA version ComboAm4v2PI 1.1.0.0 has been installed. On this, the Ryzen 9 5950X processor has been installed together with the Radeon RX 6800 graphics card. With the new microcode in place, Ryzen 5000 processors can be used and in the motherboard BIOS, Smart Access Memory can be activated for use between processor and graphics card.

Although the test only mentions Asrock’s B450 motherboards, the support most likely also applies to X470 variants. Asrock is not alone in providing support for older control circuits, as MSI is also releasing beta versions of AGESA code that provide support for Smart Access Memory and adaptive undervoltage for Ryzen 5000 processors via Precision Boost Overdrive 2. However, Smart Access Memory has continued for the time being limited to Ryzen 5000 processors and Radeon RX 6000 graphics cards, unless future microcode changes this fact as well.

AMD has previously confirmed that the company is working to provide support for Smart Access Memory for graphics cards from competitors Nvidia and Intel. Nvidia has also announced that the company will activate support for a corresponding solution via a future software update. As AMD does not seem to be reluctant to make Smart Access Memory available to more people, and the fact that the technology is based on part of the PCI Express specification, means that there is still a chance that even older AMD hardware can become SAM-capable in the future.

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