When HDMI TV plugged, games run terrible

Hi dudes,

I've been having the strangest thing for some time now and I've tried a lot of thing, but can't seem to find the solution. First of my config is:

CPU: i7 920XM
RAM: 2x2 GB DDR3 1333
Video: 5870 CF
HDD: 2xVertex 2

Drivers: 11.9

Usually I play Crysis 2 on Extreme at 1200p and it runs ok - 30+ FPS
Starcraft runs 60+ FPS on Ultra, 1200p

When I plug the TV through HDMI 2 things happen:
1. The laptop display is turned off, don't know why. When not in a game it is duplicating the image with the TV
2. The games perform terribly.
- Starcraft 2 at those settings starts at 40 FPS and lowers as the game progresses
- Crysis 2 has to be lowered to 720p and High settings and still doesn't run well.
- Some movies even have problems smoothly

Any help would be appreciated.

 

Okay, so you're telling us that the performance is dropping by time?
- Have you checked your temps?

Anyway, playing through HDMI on a larger screen will drop your performance i think, because the GFX card need to "generate an larger area of image". I could be wrong, but that's what i think.


1. Answer;
This could be because you have set your TV as the primary monitor, and that the game won't stream to the secondary one which would be your laptop? You can see which one is the primary desktop through your catalyst control center. Change them up, and see what happens..Does the TV-screen then go dark?
- Scott.

 

Nah your off the mark with that.

His laptop display has a higher resolution than his tv will. I think temps might be the issue on this too though.

 

It's not the screen size that stressess our gpu; it's the resolution.

 

try to use just your HDMI (single monitor), 2 screens definitely reduces the performance (not as much as you are saying though) + increases the temperatures (this was a big plus with my old laptop, around 10C). With my previous laptop I had a similar issue when I was outputing to HDMI for games (asus monitor) and skype in my laptop, definitely both 1080p and takes resources..

 

Running two screens it will default to a single gpu unless you turn off thru notebook screen and set it to only use the external screen.

 

The temps are around 60-70 degrees max.

DR650SE you are saying that CF doesn't work with 2 screens working duplicating the image?

The TV never turns off, only the display of the laptop turns off when the game starts. The res of the TV is 1080p.

The primary monitor always stays the laptop one, because it is under build in display and this cannot be removed. Primary and secondary could be switched if this was a desktop with 2 monitors attached

 

Really? I am switching primary monitor to ASUS with my HP, and within CCC

 

Yea, Im pretty sure it works that way. Choose ti run the external only and check your FPS. Or run it the way you are and monitor the gpu load on both cards. Im confident your only running on the primary.

 

OK here are some results:

Scenario 1 (my current situation and problem)
1. Screen Resolution settings -> Duplicate displays, Multiple monitors
2. Catalyst Control Center -> both displays are recognized as number 1
3. Preferred display in CCC is set for the TV (I can switch to laptop)

Result - low FPS in games and such. The preferred display is the one shown in games, other one is blacked out

Scenario 2
1. Resolution settings -> Show only 1 or 2nd display -> after chosen, only 1 display is shown, other one is blacked out
2. CCC identifies both displays but only one has a number (1 in this case) -> other one has options /Extend, Duplicate, Replace/
3. Result with this scenario and only 1 display working -> games are OK now

In the end I still can't make everything work with both displays showing one and the same thing. This really aggravates me, because with my previous laptop MSI GX660R (with only 1 5870) I didn't have this issue and it worked great.

...help....

UPDATE:
When I turned off the Crossfire in CCC, all worked and everything was duplicated even in games, no display was blacked out. The performance was on the level as with 1 normal 5870, worse than normal CF, but way better than in Scenario 1