Nvidia is working on alternatives to AMD Smart Access Memory

When AMD unveiled the technical features offered by the new graphics architecture RDNA 2, Smart Access Memory was undoubtedly one of the standouts. In short, Smart Access Memory means that the processor can reach larger parts of the graphics memory per call than has previously been possible. The technology is currently only supported when AMD’s Ryzen 5000 processors are accompanied by the upcoming graphics cards in the Radeon RX 6000 series.

Although AMD seems to link the feature to latest-cut hardware, the technology itself is not new or tied to the company’s technology. Smart Access Memory uses a part of the PCI Express specification that specifies how much of the graphics card’s graphics memory, or rather frame buffer, which is accessible to the processor via PCI Express. This is due to a legacy in compatibility with 32-bit operating systems, but the PCI Express specification supports an adjustable amount frame buffer-space.

Hard to fit in a tweet, but basically, they’re working on enabling the same feature as AMD Smart Access Memory (AMD GPU+CPU=Perf uplift) on both Intel and AMD. No ETA yet. Doesn’t look like it’ll be ready before RX 6000 launch, but we’ll keep an eye on development.

— GamersNexus (@GamersNexus) November 12, 2020

The part of the specification that concerns it is called “resizable BAR”, and since it is part of PCI Express, speculation has indicated that competitors such as Intel and Nvidia should be able to activate support for solutions similar to AMD’s Smart Access Memory. This is exactly what Nvidia confirms in conversations with Gamers Nexus, which in Twitter posts conveys that the support will be introduced for Nvidia’s graphics cards in the Ampere family in an upcoming software update.

Unlike Smart Access Memory, Nvidia believes that the company’s solution will not be linked to a specific processor manufacturer, and should thus be able to be used with both new and old processors from Intel and AMD. However, the comments do not mention the performance gains that Ampere-based graphics cards can be expected to receive from Nvidia’s application of adjustable frame buffer-space. AMD states that Smart Access Memory can provide between 5 to 11 percent performance improvement.

It remains to be seen when Nvidia will enable adjustable support frame bufferspace in the company’s graphics drivers. According to previous reports, Nvidia plans to launch upgraded models of the Geforce RTX 3000 series, starting in January 2021. Support for the better use of graphics memory can potentially be launched in connection with the unveiling of the new hardware.

Read more about Smart Access Memory: