Lower in-game performance when running dual monitors

[fleshconsumed]

OK, here's the situation. I've been playing Enemy Territory (the original one, NOT the Quake Wars) for the past several years. The game is old but it's a blast to play. And in all these years I've been plagued with low FPS compared to what I should have had given my hardware. Couple of days ago I've read a post on AT that running dual monitors lowers FPS in 3D games. I couldn't believe it, but out of desperation I tried disabling second monitor and what do you know, my average fps jumped about 30 fps and my minimum now never dips below 76fps (which is what I capped it at). Go figure, huh?

I was happy for a day or so, but disabling the second monitor every time I want to run a game is just too inconvenient, plus this also means that I cannot have any icons on the second monitor because they all get moved to primary monitor when I disable it, so I added a second card in second PCIe slot. Now I have two video cards: 8500GT in the primary PCIe slot and 6200LE in the second PCIe slot. Two 24" soyo's that I have are now connected to a separate cards. One to 8500GT and one to 6200LE. The one on 8500GT is my primary monitor where all my games are running.

The problem is, it didn't help. Even though the second monitor is running on a separate video card, the games running on the first one are still affected. I still get significantly lower FPS if I run dual monitors.

Is there any solution to this? Anyone?



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Quick Config
WinXP 32bit
Abit IP35 Pro
4GB
C2D 4300 @2.4GHz
8500GT (in first PCIe slot, running primary display)
6200LE (in second PCIe slot)
nvidia drivers: 163.75 (don't think that matters, I've changed drivers numerous times over the years, the problem was always there)

 

[Billb2]

Originally posted by: fleshconsumed
There are two 24" soyo's connected to each card, the one on 8500GT is my primary monitor where all my games are running.

The problem is, it didn't help.
Is there any solution to this? Anyone?

So now you have 4 monitors? If so, you didn't change anything. Each card is still running two monitors.

..or am I missing something?

 

[fleshconsumed]

Bad wording on my part. I meant to say I have two Soyo's total, one connected to each card, one connected to 8500GT, second connected to 6200LE. Two cards, two monitors, each monitor has it's own card now.

 

[chizow]

Try toggling Hardware Acceleration to: "Single Display Performance Mode". Not sure it will help at all, I remember in the past a 2nd monitor wouldn't display a 3D or even video if you had it two monitors to independent displays. This might be the sacrifice for being able to run 3D/video on a 2nd panel, but it would certainly be nice if there was an option to make the 2nd panel 2D only with increased 3D performance.