Resizable BAR can be turned on for GTX 16 and RTX 20 series graphics cards

Since AMD introduced the Smart Access Memory (SAM) feature, NVIDIA swiftly followed suit by leveraging the PCI Express technology standard to offer a similar capability known as Resizable BAR, which is now supported by many motherboard BIOSes. As a novel performance optimization feature in recent years, it allows the CPU to access the GPU memory directly, eliminating bottlenecks and thus potentially increasing gaming frame rates by approximately 10%. However, this improvement is contingent upon the use of GeForce RTX 30 series graphics cards based on the Ampere architecture.

Recently, third-party developers released a UEFI MOD named “NvStrapsReBar,” bringing the Resizable BAR solution to GeForce GTX 16 series and RTX 20 series graphics cards based on the Turing architecture. This is particularly beneficial for players still utilizing these older cards.

By enabling Resizable BAR, the GPU can negotiate the size of the Base Address Registers (BAR) with the motherboard. This tool offers both automatic setup and manual verification options. Although it appears straightforward and user-friendly, the process involves patching the motherboard’s UEFI firmware, requiring users to fully understand the associated risks before proceeding. As NVIDIA does not provide Resizable BAR support for GeForce GTX 16 series and RTX 20 series graphics cards, this remains the sole solution for enhancing the performance of these older models.

Currently, most graphics cards on the market support Resizable BAR, with Intel even stating that activating Resizable BAR is essential for achieving optimal performance with its Alchemist A-series cards. The corresponding platform requires a 10th generation (Comet Lake) Core processor or newer.