Multi Monitor setup question

[Tweak155]

Right now I have my main display 2560x1440 and my TV (720P) hooked to my dedicated graphics card which is a 670.

I have a 3570k so I could use the built in video card if I wanted, right? Any advantage to hooking the TV to the built-in gpu of the proc? I just use the TV to watch Netflix / I.E streams.

Thanks.

 

[KingFatty]

I'm not sure if this is relevant to your 670. However, one issue with AMD's 5XXX line of video cards (and perhaps others?) is that when you connect more than one display to that video card, the video card will increase its core and memory speeds.

So, even at idle, you'd be burning more electricity with dual monitors because the video card is not able to go down to very low clocks. But, if you only connect one monitor to the video card, and connect the 2nd monitor to a separate video card, your main card can use a lot less power.

The question is perhaps using the integrated video might consume just as much power as letting your discrete card run at faster clocks. I haven't actually checked this with my kill-a-watt.

But if you have a watt meter, please run this test and see if you save more power by activating your integrated video. I guess make sure your 670 actually runs at lower clocks when only one display is connected compared to dual displays being connected (even at idle).

 

[Tweak155]

I'm not sure if this is relevant to your 670. However, one issue with AMD's 5XXX line of video cards (and perhaps others?) is that when you connect more than one display to that video card, the video card will increase its core and memory speeds.

So, even at idle, you'd be burning more electricity with dual monitors because the video card is not able to go down to very low clocks. But, if you only connect one monitor to the video card, and connect the 2nd monitor to a separate video card, your main card can use a lot less power.

The question is perhaps using the integrated video might consume just as much power as letting your discrete card run at faster clocks. I haven't actually checked this with my kill-a-watt.

But if you have a watt meter, please run this test and see if you save more power by activating your integrated video. I guess make sure your 670 actually runs at lower clocks when only one display is connected compared to dual displays being connected (even at idle).

Don't have a meter unfortunately. I'm not too concerned with power consumption, mainly performance, but this is good to know. Thanks.