144Hz desktop - high gpu idle temps

[WalderX]

I wasn't sure whether to start this thread in monitors or graphics but I think here makes more sense.

I have recently got a new 144Hz screen (specs in sig). I am stunned with the difference in smoothness when playing games (mostly BF4 for me), will certainly not be able to go back to 60Hz again!

One thing I have noticed though is that when on the desktop just idling by doing nothing my GPU temp is at around 46-48 degrees which I thought was definitely higher than it used to be. I twigged straight away that the only thing that had changed is I was running the desktop at 144Hz rather than 60Hz. I dopped it down to 60Hz and immediately saw my gpu temp drop a degree every 10 seconds or so down to around 38-40. Set 144Hz again and saw it creep back up to 47 or so.

I have tested this a few times with the same results. I appreciate that the card is churning out more than double the frames over 60Hz so perhaps this is normal? Although a difference of nearly 10 degrees seems quite a lot?

Funny thing is though I also tested at 120Hz and seemed to have near same temps as at 60Hz (will have to test this again to confirm) so perhaps it is a driver issue?

Anyone else share in their experiences on this? I like to run the desktop and BF4 at same Hz so I can quickly alt-tab etc without the delay of monitor switching back and forth between refresh rates, and I find BF4 often doesn't apply it's own refresh rate properly if desktop is running at a different level.

TIA

 

[LtMatt]

Yes this is normal Walder as to run 144hz the card has to go into a slightly more aggressive clock state. However do not worry too much as the power usage does not increase by much at all.

 

[WalderX]

Yes this is normal Walder as to run 144hz the card has to go into a slightly more aggressive clock state. However do not worry too much as the power usage does not increase by much at all.

Lovely, cheers. I did notice that my gpu vcore is still around 0.9v so, yes, power draw seems to be mostly unaffected.

Is it strange that 120Hz gives me almost same temps as 60Hz? 144Hz is at least 5 degrees warmer... I will have to test this a few times to confirm though as I have only tested once.

 

[LtMatt]

Lovely, cheers. I did notice that my gpu vcore is still around 0.9v so, yes, power draw seems to be mostly unaffected.

Is it strange that 120Hz gives me almost same temps as 60Hz? 144Hz is at least 5 degrees warmer... I will have to test this a few times to confirm though as I have only tested once.

That's because 120hz still uses normal idle clocks. 144hz uses a slightly higher core clock and memory runs at full speed i believe. Thankfully memory uses almost no power at all.

 

[WalderX]

That's because 120hz still uses normal idle clocks. 144hz uses a slightly higher core clock and memory runs at full speed i believe. Thankfully memory uses almost no power at all.

Ahha - this makes complete sense and answers my next question in that my vmem is stuck at 1400Mhz, whilst running at a lower refresh rate it drops to 150.

Many thanks for you help on this.

 

[LtMatt]

Ahha - this makes complete sense and answers my next question in that my vmem is stuck at 1400Mhz, whilst running at a lower refresh rate it drops to 150.

Many thanks for you help on this.

Nay bother lad.

 

[Calneon]

Can you actually benefit from the 144Hz in BF4? I also have a 144Hz monitor and a 290X but I limit BF4 to 85Hz. Sometimes it can go over 85FPS but most of the times in big fights (48-64 player servers) it's between 60 and 80.

 

[andrewohare]

i have a 144hz Monitor (asus) but never noticed my GPU having to work harder, the only issue i do have is that some games don't like 144hz and have to drop it down to 60hhz

Skyrim is the worst offender and sometimes BF4 will crash unless i drop it to 120 or 100

 

[neil pettitt]

hi Walder, i too recently bought an asus 144 hz screen and i aswell could not believe the difference between 60hz and 144hz. Now ive got a small problem a bit different to yours but when i set my screen to 144hz and try to play bf4 in 144hz it just gives me a bsod but if i set my desktop to 120 hz bf4 plays fine and mighty fins it does....strange isnt it..