DMA Card vs DMA Fuser: What's the Difference?
DMA Card vs DMA Fuser: What's the Difference?
Two of the most common questions from people building a DMA hardware setup are: what is a DMA fuser, and do I need one alongside a DMA card? This guide explains both components, how they work together, and when you need each one.
What is a PCIe DMA Card?
A PCIe DMA card is an FPGA-based expansion board that installs directly into your motherboard's PCIe slot. It enables direct memory access — high-speed communication between the card and your system's RAM — without routing every operation through the CPU.
DMA cards are the core hardware component of any DMA setup. Common models include the Artix-7 35T and Artix-7 75T — the latter being the most popular choice for professional configurations due to its greater FPGA logic capacity.
What is a DMA Fuser?
A DMA fuser is a separate hardware device that manages and combines HDMI or DisplayPort video signals in a dual-PC DMA configuration. In a dual-PC setup, one PC runs the game and one PC runs monitoring software — the fuser allows both systems to share a single monitor by routing video signals from both machines to one display output.
Without a fuser, a dual-PC DMA setup would require two separate monitors. A fuser reduces hardware requirements and simplifies the setup by acting as a video signal combiner.
DMA Card vs Fuser: Key Differences
| Feature | DMA Card | DMA Fuser |
|---|---|---|
| Function | Direct memory access via PCIe | Video signal routing & combining |
| Installation | PCIe slot (inside PC) | External HDMI/DP connection |
| Required? | Yes — core component | Yes in dual-PC setups |
| Connection | PCIe motherboard slot | HDMI / DisplayPort / USB-C |
| Examples | Artix-7 35T, 75T | Dichen, Baan, DC500 |
Do You Need Both a DMA Card and a Fuser?
For a standard dual-PC DMA setup: yes. The DMA card handles memory communication between PCs, while the fuser handles video signal routing so both systems can operate through a single display.
If you are using a single-PC configuration or your setup doesn't require video signal combining, a fuser may not be necessary. If you're unsure what your specific setup requires, our team is available in our Discord server to advise before purchase.
Which DMA Fuser Should You Buy?
FTW DMA stocks several professional fuser models:
- Dichen fuser — reliable entry-level HDMI fuser for standard setups
- Baan fuser — mid-range option with good compatibility across configurations
- DC500 — high-performance fuser with 4K capability, recommended for demanding dual-PC setups
All fusers ship tested, with worldwide tracked delivery and Discord setup support included.
Complete DMA Hardware Bundles
The easiest way to get everything you need is our DMA Hardware Bundles — pre-matched sets of DMA card, fuser, and input device chosen for guaranteed compatibility, shipped as a complete ready-to-configure package.