AMD Smart Access Memory (SAM) is a feature that was released by AMD in 2020 to provide gamers an extra boost in performance by allowing the CPU to directly access the full memory bandwidth of the GPU.

What is AMD Smart Access Memory?

Traditional systems have limited the CPU’s access to the full memory bandwidth of the GPU, which can reduce the overall performance of the system. SAM addresses this limitation by enabling the CPU to access more of the GPU’s memory.

With SAM enabled, the system’s CPU can access all of the data stored in the GPU’s VRAM or video memory, instantly increasing the system’s performance. In simpler terms, this technology allows the CPU to access more of the resources required to run games, which results in an overall better gaming experience.

How Does SAM Work?

In a typical system, the CPU has to send request messages to the GPU to access its memory, and this introduces an additional communication overhead which can slow down the overall performance of the system. SAM eliminates this overhead by allowing more direct access from the CPU to the GPU’s memory.

When SAM is enabled, the CPU’s memory controller can directly access the VRAM in the GPU, making it possible for the CPU and GPU to work together more efficiently. By reducing the latency between the CPU and GPU, the system is able to process data and graphics faster, leading to faster load times, higher frame rates, and smoother gameplay.

Does SAM Make Gaming Better?

In short, yes. Enabling SAM can lead to a noticeable improvement in gaming performance. Benchmarks reveal that SAM can provide a performance boost of up to 10% on some games.

The exact amount of performance boost will depend on your system’s specifications and the games you’re playing. But if you have a compatible AMD GPU and Ryzen CPU, and you play a lot of modern games, then enabling SAM is definitely worth it.

Which Systems Support SAM?

SAM was initially launched alongside the AMD Radeon RX 6000 series of graphics cards and Ryzen 5000 series of CPUs. However, other Ryzen-based systems with a BIOS firmware update received support for SAM as well.

To enjoy the benefits of SAM, you need to have a compatible AMD CPU, motherboard, and GPU. You also need to turn on SAM in your BIOS settings. SAM is a software-based feature that can be enabled or disabled from the BIOS settings, and it’s supported by most gaming motherboards with firmware updates that are released regularly.

Conclusion

AMD Smart Access Memory is a technology that’s designed to improve the performance of gaming. With SAM, the CPU and GPU work together more efficiently to deliver a smoother gaming experience. If you have a compatible AMD CPU, motherboard, and GPU, then enabling SAM is definitely worth it, especially if you’re a serious gamer. While the performance increase may not be huge, with SAM, every little bit counts, and it can make a noticeable difference in the overall performance of your system.