ArmA2, video card temperatures and an odd discovery (yes, more testing)

[datter 0]

I've been doing some temperature monitoring lately so isolate any related problems that might be causing the odd crash and found something strange. In ArmA2, just sitting in the multiplayer lobby (where I would select a mission to play) my video card temperatures rise dramatically to the point my system would freeze up. If I started a mission in time, these temps would actually go back down. Strikes me as odd that the menu screen would crank my temps up farther than actual game play does. If anyone is experiencing strange crashes I wonder if it's not due to menu screens and temps?

I wrote more about this over here for the sake of being thorough, including some other in-game testing and some links to temperature tracking apps.

Has anyone else been monitoring their temps, and found the same thing with the mp lobby menu screen?

[DaveG 0]

It might have somthing to do with the water shader which I beleive to be quite heavy. I run a 3870 which runs the game at near enough 30fps all the time but it really chugs as soon as the sea comes into view.

[GoOB 0]

Odd, my 4870x2 (which I run at 47% fan speed) never seems to run past 62 degrees celcius whilst running ARMA2.

[von_paulus 0]

Odd, my 4870x2 (which I run at 47% fan speed) never seems to run past 62 degrees celcius whilst running ARMA2.

I've the same feeling with my 4890.

[Bulldogs 10]

I have a feeling that a lot of it has to do with the power of the card.

I've noticed that people using older or less powerful cards (8800gt, 3870) notice overheating based issues.

I think it may be due to Arma 2 trying to push too much through a card that can't handle it. Lowering the settings (especially video memory size) may alleviate some issues.

[von_paulus 0]

I have a feeling that a lot of it has to do with the power of the card.

I've noticed that people using older or less powerful cards (8800gt, 3870) notice overheating based issues.

I think it may be due to Arma 2 trying to push too much through a card that can't handle it. Lowering the settings (especially video memory size) may alleviate some issues.

Before the 4890 I had a 8800GTS. And the temperatures in ARMA II were around 70/73. Which were quiet normal for that card. What I note with the 4890 is something around minus 10º. I'd say that fan management in ATI is better than the NVIDIA.

[wardog01 0]

see my post here :

http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?t=76908&page=4

[-=seany=- 5]

Remember the modern style of GFX card with the completely covered cooling system gets clogged by dust very easily. If your card is over 6 months old check for dust build up. Arma works your gfx card harder than even crysis, so while your card might seem like it does not need cleaning because your other GFX intensive games don't over heat it, Arma may be pushing it over the edge. I know this from experience. It will only take 15 minutes to check /half an hour to clean. I could play the game fairly ok when just moving around the map, but doing anything shader intensive (like looking at a bush for a while) would cause the gfx card to jump up to it's cut off temp of 105c before I cleaned it.

Edited July 2, 2009 by -=seany=-

[f2k sel 164]

Before the 4890 I had a 8800GTS. And the temperatures in ARMA II were around 70/73. Which were quiet normal for that card. What I note with the 4890 is something around minus 10º. I'd say that fan management in ATI is better than the NVIDIA.

Your correct about the 8800GT, I tested mine last night and it was 72deg so that isn't causing my problems.