I. Preface
In October 2020, AMD officially released the Radeon RX 6000 series graphics card, and also released a black technology called "Smart Access Memory" ("SAM").
In the past, graphics cards can usually only access data in video memory, not directly access data in system memory, but through intelligent memory access technology, graphics cards can use the data link between the processor and the motherboard to directly access the data stored in the system memory (similar to NVIDIA's Resizable BAR), which can greatly improve the data transmission efficiency between the processor and the graphics card, and the performance of graphics applications (especially games) can be significantly improved.
Now nearly three years have passed, during which AMD has been improving optimization, and it is now a fair time to test the actual effect of "intelligent memory access" technology, so what is the actual situation? This article will reveal the answer.
The idea of the test is simple, using two consoles with the same configuration to run the same game with the same picture quality, so that the leading range of the intelligent memory access technology platform in game performance is roughly equal to the actual effect of this technology.
2. Test platform configuration
The main configurations are as follows:
The processor is AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D, the motherboard is ASUS TUF GAMING B550 PLUS, the memory is 16GB DDR4 3600MHz, the graphics card is Radeon RX 6800, the hard disk is Kingston A400 SSD 120GB SATA (6Gb/s) plus 2T mechanical hard disk, and the operating system is Windows 10 Pro.
3. Game measurement
The following will test eight games separately, all using 1440P maximum quality mode, the left side of the following series of pictures represents disabling the SAM platform, and the right represents enabling the SAM platform.
The first game was Resident Evil 4 Remake.
The average frame rate of the disabled SAM platform is 90 FPS, the minimum instantaneous frame rate is 74 FPS, the frame time is 10.5ms, the CPU usage is 23%, the power consumption is 55.6W, the temperature is 65 degrees, the memory usage is 9.9GB, the GPU usage is 99%, the memory usage is 9.2GB, the power consumption is 209W, and the temperature is 55 degrees.
The average frame rate of the SAM platform is 93 FPS, the minimum instantaneous frame rate is 85 FPS, the frame time is 10.5ms, the CPU usage is 21%, the power consumption is 54.6W, the temperature is 60 degrees, the memory usage is 9.5GB, the GPU usage is 98%, the memory usage is 9.8GB, the power consumption is 210W, and the temperature is 53 degrees.
In this game, the GPU usage of the two platforms is basically equal, and the CPU usage of the SAM platform is 2% lower than that of the opponent, the memory usage is 0.4GB lower, and the memory usage is 0.6GB higher.
In the end, in terms of average frame rate, turning on the SAM platform is only 3 FPS higher than disabling the SAM platform, the frame time is equal, and the overall is a draw, basically no difference.
The second game is Spider-Man Remake.
The average frame rate of the disabled SAM platform is 132 FPS, the minimum instantaneous frame rate is 90 FPS, the frame time is 7.9ms, the CPU usage is 40%, the power consumption is 66.0W, the temperature is 66 degrees, the memory usage is 9.7GB, the GPU usage is 99%, the memory usage is 7.7GB, the power consumption is 175W, and the temperature is 53 degrees.
The average frame rate of the SAM platform is 136 FPS, the minimum instantaneous frame rate is 91 FPS, the frame time is 7.7ms, the CPU usage is 39%, the power consumption is 65.4W, the temperature is 65 degrees, the memory usage is 10.2GB, the GPU usage is 99%, the memory usage is 8.3GB, the power consumption is 177W, and the temperature is 52 degrees.
In this game, the GPU usage of the two platforms is equal, both are 99%, the firepower is fully turned on, the CPU usage is basically equal, the memory usage of the SAM platform is 0.5GB higher than that of the opponent, and the memory usage is 0.6GB higher.
In terms of average frame rate, turning on the SAM platform is 4 FPS higher than disabling the SAM platform, the frame time is basically the same, and the overall is still a tie, there is basically no big difference.
The third game is Forza Horizon 5.
The average frame rate of the disabled SAM platform is 103 FPS, the minimum instantaneous frame rate is 81 FPS, the frame time is 9.5ms, the CPU usage is 26%, the power consumption is 55.1W, the temperature is 64 degrees, the memory usage is 12.2GB, the GPU usage is 99%, the memory usage is 7.1GB, the power consumption is 140W, and the temperature is 51 degrees.
The average frame rate of the SAM platform is 129 FPS, the minimum instantaneous frame rate is 102 FPS, the frame time is 7.7ms, the CPU usage is 34%, the power consumption is 62.2W, the temperature is 65 degrees, the memory usage is 10.2GB, the GPU usage is 99%, the memory usage is 8.1GB, the power consumption is 162W, and the temperature is 52 degrees.
In this game, the GPU usage of the two platforms is still equal, running at full load, the CPU usage of the SAM platform is 8% higher than that of the opponent, the memory usage is 2GB lower, and the video memory usage is 1GB higher.
In terms of average frame rate, enabling the SAM platform is 16 FPS higher than disabling the SAM platform, and the frame time is 1.8ms lower, which is more obvious.
The fourth game is Hitman 3.
The average frame rate of the disabled SAM platform is 107 FPS, the minimum instantaneous frame rate is 90 FPS, the frame time is 9.8ms, the CPU usage is 29%, the power consumption is 55.0W, the temperature is 59 degrees, the memory usage is 8.7GB, the GPU usage is 98%, the memory usage is 4.6GB, the power consumption is 175W, and the temperature is 51 degrees.
The average frame rate of the SAM platform is 115 FPS, the minimum instantaneous frame rate is 97 FPS, the frame time is 8.6ms, the CPU usage is 30%, the power consumption is 57.1W, the temperature is 62 degrees, the memory usage is 8.8GB, the GPU usage is 98%, the memory usage is 5.4GB, the power consumption is 192W, and the temperature is 53 degrees.
In this game, the GPU usage of the two platforms is still equal, the CPU usage and memory usage are basically equal, and the memory usage of the SAM platform is 0.8GB higher than that of the opponent, which is the only big difference.
In terms of average frame rate, enabling the SAM platform is 8 FPS higher than disabling the SAM platform, and the frame time is nearly 1ms lower, which is a very weak advantage.
The fifth game is Watch Dogs Legion.
The average frame rate of the disabled SAM platform is 82 FPS, the minimum instantaneous frame rate is 68 FPS, the frame time is 14.4ms, the CPU usage is 39%, the power consumption is 61.9W, the temperature is 63 degrees, the memory usage is 10.6GB, the GPU usage is 99%, the video memory usage is 5.9GB, the power consumption is 178W, and the temperature is 53 degrees.
The average frame rate of the SAM platform is 89 FPS, the minimum instantaneous frame rate is 74 FPS, the frame time is 12.6ms, the CPU usage is 42%, the power consumption is 64.1W, the temperature is 63 degrees, the memory usage is 11.4GB, the GPU usage is 99%, the memory usage is 8.3GB, the power consumption is 184W, and the temperature is 53 degrees.
In this game, the GPU usage of both platforms is equal, both are running at full load, the CPU usage of the SAM platform is 3% higher than that of the opponent, the memory usage is 0.8GB higher, and the memory usage is 2.4GB higher, which is much higher.
In terms of average frame rate, turning on the SAM platform is 7 FPS higher than disabling the SAM platform, the frame time is nearly 2ms lower, the lead is very small, and the overall situation is very similar to the previous game.
The sixth game is Red Dead Redemption 2.
The average frame rate of the disabled SAM platform is 81 FPS, the minimum instantaneous frame rate is 63 FPS, the frame time is 12.6ms, the CPU usage is 32%, the power consumption is 62.2W, the temperature is 66 degrees, the memory usage is 10.1GB, the GPU usage is 94%, the memory usage is 8.2GB, the power consumption is 184W, and the temperature is 53 degrees.
The average frame rate of the SAM platform is 85 FPS, the minimum instantaneous frame rate is 68 FPS, the frame time is 12.5ms, the CPU usage is 24%, the power consumption is 54.6W, the temperature is 59 degrees, the memory usage is 11.7GB, the GPU usage is 95%, the memory usage is 13.4GB, the power consumption is 189W, and the temperature is 52 degrees.
In this game, the GPU usage of the two platforms is still basically equal, with the CPU usage of the SAM platform turned on 8% lower than that of the opponent, the memory usage is 1.6GB higher, and the memory usage is 5.2GB higher, which is much higher.
In terms of average frame rate, turning on the SAM platform is only 4 FPS higher than disabling the SAM platform, and the frame time is basically the same, which has no advantage in terms of performance, but it has lower CPU usage, greater memory and memory usage, and higher efficiency.
The seventh game is Hogwarts Relics.
The average frame rate of the disabled SAM platform is 68 FPS, the minimum instantaneous frame rate is 38 FPS, the frame time is 16.7ms, the CPU usage is 22%, the power consumption is 55.1W, the temperature is 62 degrees, the memory usage is 10.8GB, the GPU usage is 99%, the memory usage is 8.2GB, the power consumption is 186W, and the temperature is 54 degrees.
The average frame rate of the SAM platform is 75 FPS, the minimum instantaneous frame rate is 46 FPS, the frame time is 14.5ms, the CPU usage is 21%, the power consumption is 54.1W, the temperature is 62 degrees, the memory usage is 11.0GB, the GPU usage is 99%, the memory usage is 8.7GB, the power consumption is 189W, and the temperature is 54 degrees.
In this game, the GPU usage of the two platforms is equal, the firepower is fully turned on, the CPU usage and memory usage are basically equal, and the memory usage of the SAM platform is 0.5GB higher than that of the opponent, which is the only obvious difference.
In terms of average frame rate, turning on the SAM platform is 7 FPS higher than disabling the SAM platform, and the frame time is basically the same, still slightly ahead.
The eighth game is The Last of Us Part 1.
The average frame rate of the disabled SAM platform is 74 FPS, the minimum instantaneous frame rate is 58 FPS, the frame time is 17.1ms, the CPU usage is 52%, the power consumption is 66.1W, the temperature is 66 degrees, the memory usage is 12.1GB, the GPU usage is 99%, the memory usage is 9.8GB, the power consumption is 159W, and the temperature is 53 degrees.
The average frame rate of the SAM platform is 75 FPS, the minimum instantaneous frame rate is 59 FPS, the frame time is 16.4ms, the CPU usage is 54%, the power consumption is 66.0W, the temperature is 65 degrees, the memory usage is 12.2GB, the GPU usage is 99%, the memory usage is 10.3GB, the power consumption is 161W, and the temperature is 53 degrees.
In this game, the GPU usage of the two platforms is still equal, the CPU usage of the SAM platform is 2% higher than that of the opponent, the memory usage is basically equal, and the memory usage is 0.5GB higher than that of the opponent.
In terms of average frame rate, the results of the two platforms are basically equal, the frame time gap can also be ignored, the overall is a draw, and there is no difference in performance.
Fourth, comparative conclusions
The final conclusion is that if the final game performance is alone, after turning on intelligent memory access technology, there is not much advantage in most games, but it has a certain small advantage in a few games.
On the other hand, after turning on intelligent memory access technology, the overall platform memory and video memory usage is indeed more sufficient, and the power consumption of Radeon RX 6800 is also higher (more computation), which shows that the effect and role are still there.
Of course, a review is not enough to draw an objective conclusion, next time the author will arrange AMD's Ryzen 7000 series processor, with Radeon RX 7000 series graphics card and 600 series motherboard to continue the comparison, stay tuned.