How to Set Up DMA Hardware: Step-by-Step Guide
How to Set Up DMA Hardware: Step-by-Step Guide
Setting up a PCIe DMA card for the first time can seem technical, but with the right hardware and support, most users complete their setup within a few hours. This guide walks you through what you need, how to install it, and where to get help.
What You Need for a Complete DMA Setup
Before you begin, make sure you have the following components:
- Two PCs — one gaming PC (target) and one monitoring PC (host)
- PCIe DMA card — Artix-7 35T or 75T installed in the gaming PC
- DMA fuser — for video signal routing between both PCs and your monitor
- Input device — KM Box, Makcu, or Ferrum for keyboard/mouse passthrough
- Custom DMA firmware — configured for your specific PCIe hardware
- PCIe riser cable (optional) — if your PCIe slot is difficult to access
Step 1: Install the DMA Card
Power off your gaming PC completely and unplug it from mains power. Open the case and locate an available PCIe x1, x4, x8, or x16 slot on your motherboard. Insert the DMA card firmly into the slot and secure it with the mounting bracket screw. Close the case and reconnect power.
Important: The PCIe slot must be enabled in your BIOS. After installation, boot into BIOS and confirm the slot is active. Some motherboards require IOMMU or Above 4G Decoding to be enabled for DMA hardware to operate correctly.
Step 2: Connect Your DMA Fuser
Connect your DMA fuser between your gaming PC's GPU output and your monitor using the appropriate HDMI or DisplayPort cables. The fuser sits inline between the video source and display, combining signals from both the gaming PC and monitoring PC into a single output.
Follow the connection diagram included with your fuser, or refer to the setup guide in our Discord server.
Step 3: Connect Your Input Device
Connect your KM Box, Makcu, or Ferrum input device via USB. These devices sit between your keyboard/mouse and your PCs, allowing input signals to be routed to the correct system. Follow the device-specific setup guide available in our Discord.
Step 4: Install DMA Firmware
Once the hardware is physically installed, you need to load custom DMA firmware onto your card. Firmware is not pre-installed — it must be generated specifically for your hardware configuration.
If you purchased firmware from FTW DMA:
- Open a support ticket in our Discord server
- Provide your motherboard model, CPU, and DMA card details
- Our team generates your firmware and provides the file along with flashing instructions
- Follow the step-by-step flashing guide with live support from our team
Step 5: Test Your Setup
Once firmware is loaded, boot both PCs and verify communication between them. Your monitoring PC should be able to read memory from the gaming PC via the DMA card. Common first-time issues include BIOS settings, driver conflicts, or firmware mismatches — all of which our support team can diagnose quickly.
Getting Setup Support
Every purchase from FTW DMA includes access to our Discord support community where our experienced team provides guided setup assistance. We support:
- Firmware generation and flashing
- BIOS configuration for DMA hardware
- Fuser and input device connection
- Troubleshooting hardware detection issues
- Upgrade and compatibility advice
Most customers complete their full setup within 1–3 hours with our team's guidance.