GTX 670 GPU speed never drops even in idle?

[poohbear]

Hey all, switching from a 5870 to a gtx 670, i noticed in GPUz that the GPU is almost always running @ ~980mhz (& VRAM @ 1500mhz), even when im idling in the desktop. My RADEON 5870 would always drop to ~150mhz and only fully rev up when in games or 3d apps. I'm using the latest Nvidia WHQL drivers, am i doing something wrong or is that just the way Nvidia does things?

thanks in advance.

EDIT: ok noticed when i closed the Steam overlay it dropped down in speed to 324mhz GPU /165mhz (VRAM). Steam uses 3d rendering?!? my 5870 would never rev up just for Steam! Is this normal?

EDIT #2: is the "adaptive" setting under "power management" in the Nvidia CP important for insuring it doesn't go all out on a simple 3d app like Steam? I enabled it and it seems that Steam doesnt make it go full on when just using Steam. Does the "adaptive" power management setting have any negative effect when playing games?(ie spiking or stuttering?)

 

[ShintaiDK]

Flash is the main idle killer. You see the same in certain websites or certain ads.

 

[Ferzerp]

Does the "adaptive" power management setting have any negative effect when playing games?(ie spiking or stuttering?)

Every now and then, yes, but you can set that particular game to trigger full power mode and override the adaptive setting in your nvidia control panel on any game that you see it on.

 

[GotNoRice]

Are you using more than one monitor? That seems to preclude it from dropping to 2d speeds.

 

[ShintaiDK]

Are you using more than one monitor? That seems to preclude it from dropping to 2d speeds.

Using 2 screens is not the problem. I got both GTX680 and GTX670. Both idles fine with 2 1920*1200 at 384Mhz. Hell even with 3 screens they idle fine if we use the TV as a 3rd.
The problem is always a browser with a heavy flash of some sort. Same issue for AMD for that matter.