Multiple monitors = big temperature spike, any way to stop/reduce this?

[chickadee]

I guess this isn't possible but I was wondering if there was a way to reduce temperature on my gfx card when running 3 screens.

With 1 screen (1680x1050) my idle is 26c, 2 screens (1680x1050 x 2) about 28c but 3 screens(1680x1050 x 2 + 1600x1200) it jumps to nearly 40c.

Is there anyway to stop this or is it just par for the course because of the extra strain on the card?

 

[orbitalwalsh]

not sure if youv'e set Maximum Performance in the Nvidia control panel under power management over adaptive?

Might help a little.

Found 1440p screen need a bit more juice non gaming then 1080p, that was with my 960 4GB anyways

 

[tommybhoy]

It's running higher idle clocks?

You could experiment lowering 2D clocks with MSI Afterburner, but it might not be stable.

 

[Confused Stu]

On the AMD side of the fence, the GPU will raise it's idle clocks if you're running multiple monitors with different resolutions/refresh rates as it needs to manage multiple timings to run the different screens. If you can find another screen running 1680x1050 and replace your 1600x1200 monitor, you SHOULD find the idle clocks and temperature go back down to normal. It's not an exact science though, as sometimes they also need to be the same panel size, or even same make & model, before the GPU can run them all with identical timings and hence lower temperatures.

I presume from your description that the same issue affects Nvidia, but I haven't used multi-monitor on Nvidia personally, so may be wrong.

Even if your card does run higher idle clocks and temperatures, I never found it worth worrying about as the extra energy costs are minimal (just spend 30 seconds less on your PC each day and it'll probably balance out). Certainly it wasn't worth me spending out on a different monitor, I just got lucky and got offered a straight swap for a screen that allowed my idle clocks to drop back to normal.

 

[Flying_Hellfish]

Higher idle clocks with multiple monitors definitely used to be a thing with NV as well. When I had a 480 the difference in fan noise was distinct!

 

[snips86x]

I've noticed that running 2x1440p monitors on my 980Ti, the fans never switch off and it was noticeable.

 

[james.miller]

I wouldnt worry about it tbh. yes it's warmer but it's not like 40c is anything to be concerned about. most (all?) cards need to increase their clocks to cope with 3 monitors, just the way it is. the temperature increase is probably a result of the card still prioritizing quietness over cooling. You could probably lower it with a more agressive fan profile and/or play around with the 2d clocks in afterburner as suggested above.

Really though, it wouldnt bother me.

 

[Jamesyboyjim]

As far as amd cards are concerned, running multi monitors means the vram doesn't down clock, as it is needed, this will mean that it will get hotter. I can only assume NVidia cards are the same.

 

[arc@css]

I wouldnt worry about it tbh. yes it's warmer but it's not like 40c is anything to be concerned about. most (all?) cards need to increase their clocks to cope with 3 monitors, just the way it is. the temperature increase is probably a result of the card still prioritizing quietness over cooling. You could probably lower it with a more agressive fan profile and/or play around with the 2d clocks in afterburner as suggested above.

Really though, it wouldnt bother me.

+1

 

[chickadee]

I wouldnt worry about it tbh. yes it's warmer but it's not like 40c is anything to be concerned about. most (all?) cards need to increase their clocks to cope with 3 monitors, just the way it is. the temperature increase is probably a result of the card still prioritizing quietness over cooling. You could probably lower it with a more agressive fan profile and/or play around with the 2d clocks in afterburner as suggested above.

Really though, it wouldnt bother me.

I have my card set on a custom fan curve already thats running the fans at the maximum i can that i cant hear (40%) below 40c. Its weird when i plug the third screen in the GPU core utilisation doesnt increase at all but the temperature shoots up.