Debunking myths about DMA cards, drivers, security settings, and detectability
"DMA cards are completely undetectable"
Anti-cheat systems can and do catch DMA use. They check your PCIe devices, watch for unusual memory access, and profile your hardware. Even if DMA runs "below" the OS, the device and behavior leave signals that can be detected—maybe not today, but with future updates.
"All capture cards are DMA devices"
Legitimate capture cards (Elgato, AVerMedia, etc.) do not have DMA capabilities for memory access. They're designed specifically for video capture with proper drivers and certifications. A real capture card cannot read system memory.
"DMA cards are legal to own and use"
Owning an FPGA board is typically legal. Using it to cheat breaks game rules and can get you permanently banned. In some places, bypassing protections may also break the law. The problem isn't the hardware—it's what you do with it.
"You need expensive hardware knowledge to use them"
Many DMA cards are sold with pre-configured firmware and "plug-and-play" tools, so even beginners can set them up. Some Discord sellers offer basic support—but that doesn’t make it safe. When the same build is sold to hundreds or thousands, detection risk and ban waves go up.
"If the seller supports it on Discord, it must be safe and undetected"
Seller support ≠ safety. Mass‑distributed firmware is easier for anti‑cheats to study and recognize (hardware profiles, behavior patterns, overlays, offsets). Detection is often delayed—today’s "undetected" can become tomorrow’s ban wave.
"A special driver is required for DMA cheating to work"
No special Windows driver is required for DMA. The device reads memory over PCIe outside the OS. Sellers talk about "drivers" to sound official—usually it’s just a control app talking to the device, not a magic kernel bypass.
"Secure Boot or TPM must be disabled for DMA to function"
Secure Boot and TPM protect boot integrity—they don’t stop external PCIe DMA by themselves. DMA is limited by IOMMU/VT‑d and BIOS/firmware settings. Some sellers ask you to disable features needlessly; that can make you less secure without helping you.
"DMA cards work on any game without configuration"
Games store data differently. DMA tools need game‑specific offsets, signatures, and constant updates after patches. There is no "one size fits all"—it needs ongoing maintenance and knowledge per game.
"FPGA boards advertised as capture cards are all legitimate"
Many sellers rebrand FPGA boards as "capture cards" to hide DMA use. Red flags: PCIe (not USB), unusually low price, sold via Discord/Telegram, no real specs. It’s likely a DMA device in disguise.
"You can only get banned if the anti-cheat detects the software"
Anti-cheats ban for more than software. They use hardware fingerprints, behavior and aim analysis, statistics, and manual reviews. Even if the device isn’t directly flagged, impossible gameplay patterns can still get you banned.
DMA technology is real and powerful, but sellers often spread misinformation to make sales. Understanding the facts helps you avoid scams and make informed decisions.
Don't believe everything sellers claim. Research, verify, and understand the risks and realities.