As a custom PC enthusiast, optimizing your system is essential for optimal performance. Enabling Above 4G Decoding in your motherboard’s BIOS is one way to achieve this. In this expert guide, we’ll explain what Above 4G Decoding is, its purpose and function in gaming PCs, and the benefits of enabling it. We’ll also provide step-by-step instructions on how to enable it in your BIOS. By the end of this article, you’ll have a comprehensive understanding of Above 4G Decoding and how it can improve your gaming PC’s performance.
1. What is Above 4G Decoding in Custom PC?
Above 4G Decoding is a feature found in modern motherboards that allows the system to access more than 4GB of memory space per PCI Express device. It is a BIOS setting that enables the system to address large amounts of memory beyond the traditional 4GB limit. This feature is particularly useful for high-performance applications such as gaming and cryptocurrency mining.
The purpose of Above 4G Decoding is to provide the operating system with a more comprehensive memory map of the system. This allows the system to allocate resources more efficiently and avoid potential conflicts with other devices. Enabling Above 4G Decoding can help improve system stability, reduce latency, and increase overall performance in a gaming PC.
Enabling Above 4G decoding in a custom PC gaming rig can help to avoid potential hardware compatibility issues and increase system stability, especially when using multiple high-end GPUs. However, it is important to note that not all motherboards support Above 4G decoding. If you do not see it in your BIOS setings, it means that you will require a BIOS update or that the mainboard simply doesn’t support it. The common understand is that above 4G decoding is not necessary for most gaming systems unless you are using multiple high-end GPUs or PCIe devices. As a matter of acts, enabling it doesn’t penalise the system performance, so it really doesn’t harm your PC to just try out the settings anyway.
Overall, Above 4G Decoding is a critical feature that enables custom gaming PCs to take advantage of the latest hardware and technologies. You should enable this feature to ensure that the system is optimized for maximum performance, stability, and compatibility. In fact, the latest hardware and software requires this setting to be enaled in order to function optimally.
2. Enabling Above 4G Decoding on Your Custom PC: Step-by-Step
Enabling Above 4G Decoding is a straightforward process that can be done in your motherboard’s BIOS. Here are the general steps to enable Above 4G Decoding:
- Power on your PC and enter the BIOS by pressing the designated key (usually F2 or Delete) during startup.
- Navigate to the “Advanced” or “Chipset” settings menu.
- Look for the “Above 4G Decoding” option and enable it.
- Save your changes and exit the BIOS.
Note that the exact steps to enable Above 4G Decoding may vary depending on your motherboard model and BIOS version. Refer to your motherboard’s manual or manufacturer’s website for more specific instructions.
It is important to note that enabling Above 4G Decoding can cause compatibility issues with some hardware and software. Therefore, it’s essential to test your system after enabling this feature to ensure it’s stable and compatible with your hardware and software.
3. Should you enable Above 4G Decoding in your custom PC?
The answer to this question depends on your specific system configuration and needs. Here are some factors to consider before enabling Above 4G Decoding:
- Do you have multiple PCIe devices installed in your system?
- Are you using high-performance applications that require more than 4GB of memory per device?
- Have you experienced stability issues with your system when running graphics-intensive applications?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, enabling Above 4G Decoding could potentially improve your system’s performance and stability. However, if your system does not meet any of these criteria, enabling this feature may not provide any significant benefits.
Additionally, it’s important to test your system after enabling Above 4G Decoding to ensure that it’s stable and compatible with your hardware and software. If you experience any compatibility issues, it’s recommended to disable this feature.
In summary, enabling Above 4G Decoding can improve the performance and stability of your custom gaming PC, but it’s essential to consider your specific needs and system configuration before enabling this feature.
4. Conclusion
Above 4G Decoding optimizes custom gaming PCs by accessing over 4GB memory per PCIe device. When the settings is enabled, it improves stability, reduces latency, and increases performance. However, compatibility and system configuration should be considered before and after enabling. Above 4G Decoding is a valuable tool for custom gaming PC optimization.
If you’re in Singapore and looking to build a custom PC tailored to your needs, don’t hesitate to visit Volta PC’s Custom PC Builder. Alternatively, you can reach out to VOLTA PC’s expert technicians for personalized advice on selecting the best components for your unique requirements. Get started on creating your dream custom PC today!
5. Follow up with 4G Decoding and Resizable Bar
A setting that almost goes hand in hand with 4G Decoding is the Resizable Bar setting.
Resizable Bar, also known as Smart Access Memory, is a technology that allows the CPU to access the entire graphics card memory at once. The CPU will automatically negotiate with the graphics card and settle for a block size that is compatible to both the CPU & the GPU. This is in contrast to traditional systems where the CPU is only allowed to access a small portion of the memory at a time, which creates a bottleneck and slows down performance. With Resizable Bar, the bottleneck is eliminated, and the transfer rates between the CPU and GPU are increased, resulting in faster performance and better gaming experiences.
You can read more about Resizable Bar here.