Guide

Resizable BAR: what it is, should you turn it on, and how in the BIOS

Normally the CPU talks to the graphics card's memory through a small 256 MB window. Resizable BAR opens that window to the card's full memory. Some games get more FPS, others get slower, so it is not a value that helps every game.

Updated 24 Oct 2026

Which cards can use it

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 and newer
AMD Radeon RX 6000 and newer (AMD calls it Smart Access Memory)
Every Intel Arc card
The CPU and the board must support it too. Many boards need a BIOS update before the option shows.

See if it is on

On NVIDIA open NVIDIA Control Panel, press System Information at the bottom left and look at the Resizable BAR line. Yes means it is on. On AMD check in AMD Software whether Smart Access Memory is on.

Turn it on in the BIOS

Windows must boot in UEFI mode first (press Win + R, type msinfo32, BIOS Mode must say UEFI).
Enter the BIOS and turn CSM off.
Turn on Above 4G Decoding.
Turn on Re Size BAR Support (some brands call it Resizable BAR or Smart Access Memory).
Save and Exit, then check again in Windows.

If BIOS Mode says Legacy, do not turn CSM off: the PC will not boot. Windows has to be installed again in UEFI mode first.

Which games gain

NVIDIA's driver does not use Resizable BAR for every game, it turns it on game by game. On the PCs Savenz tested, VALORANT got 13 % more average FPS and 23 % more 1% low, but GTA V got slower with it on. So FiveM players should not force it on for every game. Measure FPS in the game you really play, before and after.

Let Savenz Optimizer check it

The All graphics cards page of Savenz Optimizer says whether your card can use Resizable BAR, whether it is on, and which BIOS switches turn it on. The Savenz VALORANT profile turns Resizable BAR on for VALORANT only, and Result Card measures FPS before and after. Questions about your board's BIOS? Ask in the Discord.

Which cards can use it

See if it is on

Turn it on in the BIOS

Which games gain

Let Savenz Optimizer check it

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