Intel Arc GPUs could raise the bar for gaming on Linux
Resizable BAR technology isn’t used by a lot of games, but it would still be a nice addition to Linux.
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What you need to know
Intel ARCgraphics cards look like they’ll have Resizable BAR (ReBAR) support at or near launch. ReBAR technology can boost the frame rate performance of games that support the feature. That list is rather short at the moment, but support for ReBAR would still be nice to see on Intel’s upcoming ARC GPUs.
A report byPhoronixexplains that Intel’s open-source developers are working on Linux driver support. ReBAR support is on the way, according to the notes for the most recent kernel patches (viaPC Gamer).
“Starting from DG2 we will have resizable BAR support for device local-memory, but in some cases the final BAR size might still be smaller than the total local-memory size,” explains the notes for the recent Linux patch. “In such cases only part of local-memory will be CPU accessible, while the remainder is only accessible via the GPU. This series adds the basic enablers needed to ensure that the entire local-memory range is usable.”
ReBAR allows the CPU and GPU of a PC to communicate with larger pieces of data.
Unlike some other methods of boosting frame rate performance, ReBAR is only supported by a small collection of games. Some of thebest PC gamessupport the feature, such as Red Dead Redemption 2, but it’s not as widespread as alternatives.
NVIDIA’s RTX 30 Series GPUs also support ReBar. NVIDIAexplains the feature in technical detail. AMD has a somewhat similar feature calledSmart Access Memory.
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Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He’s covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean’s journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.
