dual monitor = crazy overheating?

[fluffmonster]

So here's a problem I've never seen mentioned. It doesn't seem to be something immediately obvious to Google either.

I attached a second monitor to my rig for dual-monitor extended desktop, and it sent my vid card temps through the roof. Without the second monitor, idle temps are <40C (with an apparent auto-underclock?), load temps are 65C or so (20C ambient). With the second monitor attached, idle temps are 57C or so and load shoots up to 95C+! The second monitor is a 15" Eizo that looks to be first-generation lcd.

I haven't tried a different monitor yet as a second, but has anyone heard about anything like this before, or better yet why it happens?

 

[Billb2]

Originally posted by: fluffmonster
better yet why it happens?

Because the video card has to do twice the work.

You could check the card for "dust bunnies", add more case cooling, etc., as 95°c is pretty high.

 

[VirtualLarry]

It's because your BIOS doesn't have proper "powerplay" settings embedded into it, and it is running full-speed/full-voltage all the time now, when you have both monitors plugged in. Otherwise, it was throttling down.

 

[fluffmonster]

The card is new and the case has ample airflow. It is not an airflow problem.

VL, do you know where I can find more information on the bios problem? The card doesn't have any such heat problems running at full load with one monitor (when it would presumably not throttle-down), and I didn't have the heat problem on my previous 8800GTS.

 

[fluffmonster]

Solved! I think. Turns out it was due to use of a dvi->hdmi cable on the main monitor. I wonder why that would cause such overheating. Switched to dvi, single and dual monitor setups now have same temps.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

fyi, i've had single/dual monitors for years (on each) and never noticed a single degree of increase from going from 1monitor to dual monitor.