Lag/Laggy animations with multiple displays (Extend desktop)

[Iamazn]

I have three of these monitors all connected to a single GTX 680. The center monitor is connected via HDMI and the two side monitors are connected via DVI. With only a single monitor enabled, there is no lag. When I enable a secondary or third monitor in Control Panel>Display>Extend desktop to this display, I get lag. FireFox scrolls unsmoothly and animations throughout Windows are sluggish. I have Minecraft opened on the center monitor. The ingame FPS counter always stays above 80 but "feels" like 40 FPS (it's not smooth). Any suggestions on what to do?

Enabling the secondary and third monitors with NVIDIA's Control Panel (Surround) doesn't give any lag but breaks window snapping so I'd really like to control the monitors with Windows Control Panel.

 

[andrew129260]

Its interesting that the nvidia control panel does not cause lag when setting it up, but windows control panel causes the issue.
I'm guessing you probably already checked for updated graphics drivers?
I would say you are running to much for the card to handle. Yes its possible. What resoloution do you have for each monitor? Even the best cards might stutter under three monitor loads and games.
You might need to do a dual card setup.
But again, it works fine under nvidia so this is puzzling.

2 possible causes for this(I think):

1)Try checking that this setting 'Multi-display/mixed GPU acceleration' is not set to 'Single display performance mode' in the nVidia control panel (it's under 'Manage 3D settings'). Might take a look at that.

2) I don't have transparency enabled. I do not think it adds anything to the user experience and it isn't particularly good looking either. Otherwise Aero is still enabled aside from transparency.

Try a fps test and see what results you get.
Also, check your temperatures. If the card is getting really warm pushing all those displays and a game, it could be causing this issue. Although you said you were running mine craft....not exactaly a amazingly graphical game

Hope these thoughts somehow help...

 

[Iamazn]

Its interesting that the nvidia control panel does not cause lag when setting it up, but windows control panel causes the issue.
I'm guessing you probably already checked for updated graphics drivers?
I would say you are running to much for the card to handle. Yes its possible. What resoloution do you have for each monitor? Even the best cards might stutter under three monitor loads and games.
You might need to do a dual card setup.
But again, it works fine under nvidia so this is puzzling.

2 possible causes for this(I think):

1)Try checking that this setting 'Multi-display/mixed GPU acceleration' is not set to 'Single display performance mode' in the nVidia control panel (it's under 'Manage 3D settings'). Might take a look at that.

2) I don't have transparency enabled. I do not think it adds anything to the user experience and it isn't particularly good looking either. Otherwise Aero is still enabled aside from transparency.

Try a fps test and see what results you get.
Also, check your temperatures. If the card is getting really warm pushing all those displays and a game, it could be causing this issue. Although you said you were running mine craft....not exactaly a amazingly graphical game

Hope these thoughts somehow help...

-All three monitors are running in 1080p.
-The lag happens even if the only program running is Firefox. Window animations aren't smooth and scrolling in Firefox is choppy.
-Multiple display performance mode is enabled.
-When I disable Aero transparency, the lag goes away. However, I actually do like the transparency effect and I'm having a really hard time believing that a GTX 680 cannot handle three monitors with only Firefox open...

 

[andrew129260]

Thank you for the information.
You didn't answer the question about the resolution. What is the monitors resolution settings?
Could you download a fps tool and see what fps you get before things start lagging?

 

[Iamazn]

Thank you for the information.
You didn't answer the question about the resolution. What is the monitors resolution settings?
Could you download a fps tool and see what fps you get before things start lagging?

All three monitors are running at 1920x1080
The lag I'm referring to isn't while ingame, it is throughout the entire system. Window animations are choppy and the computer just feels slow. ex: Firefox scrolls slowly instead of smoothly.

 

[andrew129260]

Thank you for the information.
You didn't answer the question about the resolution. What is the monitors resolution settings?
Could you download a fps tool and see what fps you get before things start lagging?

All three monitors are running at 1920x1080
The lag I'm referring to isn't while ingame, it is throughout the entire system. Window animations are choppy and the computer just feels slow. ex: Firefox scrolls slowly instead of smoothly.

How much ram does your GTX 680 have? 2GB? (There is a 4GB ram version)

You might not believe me here, but this is a very high resolution setting. For all 3 monitors to run this would be quite a challenge even with a decent card. Firefox (and most browsers now) uses gpu acceleration in order to make pages run smoothly and scroll down and up nicely. If your card is pushing out that resolution on ALL monitors and running Firefox, this could push it over the edge. It sounds silly, but trust me. That is a lot of resolution. Firefox sucks up a whole ton of memory as well.
Does the sites it seem laggy are on all websites? Or have you noticed it more on sites with flash or html5 and/or java content?

Question: How much Ram do you have in your system?


Ok so to recap:

1.) When using the nvidia tools to make all 3 monitors enabled, you see no lag or performance drop when playing games or browsing; doing things otherwise?
2.) You have checked the temperature of your system and made sure it is not running to hot?
3.) You have checked for viruses/spyware and the like?
4.) You have made sure all graphics drivers are up to date as well as the software that uses the drivers?
5.) When you use windows settings to enable the monitors, is when this lags?
6.) you have checked for all windows updates?


Just reconfirming things here.

By the way, I searched Google for your card and a three monitor setup problems. Seems like a lot of people are having issues with it right now, and are waiting on a driver update.

See here as well: http://www.geforce.com/whats-new/articles/nvidia-surround-on-the-geforce-gtx-680#1

 

[Iamazn]

How much ram does your GTX 680 have? 2GB? (There is a 4GB ram version)

You might not believe me here, but this is a very high resolution setting. For all 3 monitors to run this would be quite a challenge even with a decent card. Firefox (and most browsers now) uses gpu acceleration in order to make pages run smoothly and scroll down and up nicely. If your card is pushing out that resolution on ALL monitors and running Firefox, this could push it over the edge. It sounds silly, but trust me. That is a lot of resolution. Firefox sucks up a whole ton of memory as well.
Does the sites it seem laggy are on all websites? Or have you noticed it more on sites with flash or html5 and/or java content?

Question: How much Ram do you have in your system?

-4GB version
-Lag is there on all sites. Even if the only page open is a blank tab, window animations from minimizing and maximizing firefox seem slow.
-16GB RAM for the system.

Ok so to recap:

1.) When using the nvidia tools to make all 3 monitors enabled, you see no lag or performance drop when playing games or browsing; doing things otherwise?
2.) You have checked the temperature of your system and made sure it is not running to hot?
3.) You have checked for viruses/spyware and the like?
4.) You have made sure all graphics drivers are up to date as well as the software that uses the drivers?
5.) When you use windows settings to enable the monitors, is when this lags?
6.) you have checked for all windows updates?


Just reconfirming things here.

By the way, I searched Google for your card and a three monitor setup problems. Seems like a lot of people are having issues with it right now, and are waiting on a driver update.

See here as well: Three Times The Fun: Surround on the GeForce GTX 680 | GeForce

1. NVIDIA CP = no lag, Windows CP = lag. I've noticed that when using the NVIDIA CP, my resolution in Windows CP>Display is listed at 5760x1080. Using only Windows CP to control the monitors still shows my resolution (in Display) as 1920x1080.
2. Yes, temperatures are normal.
3. Yes
4. I've tried three different GeForce drivers. I forgot the version of the first one I tried but it was at least a few months old. I then updated to the latest beta and after that reverted to the latest nonbeta.
5. Yes
6. Yes, after updating GeForce drivers didn't fix anything, I updated Windows using Windows Update. All updates it found were installed but the lag was still there.

 

[andrew129260]

Unfortunately sir I am at a loss here. I will try to see if someone else can help you here. I have run out of ideas.

 

[Layback Bear]

Filling in you System Specs would help others help you. Be as complete as you can.
This should help.

From Brink.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/180324-system-info-see-your-system-specs.html

 

[x BlueRobot]

What is it like with one or two monitors?

 

[andrew129260]

Just to let you know

What is it like with one or two monitors?

"Enabling the secondary and third monitors with NVIDIA's Control Panel (Surround) doesn't give any lag but breaks window snapping so I'd really like to control the monitors with Windows Control Panel."

When he has more then 1 monitor connected, it lags when using the windows built in panel. But when he uses nvdia tools to enable all the monitors it works fine. Which is why this is so weird...

 

[x BlueRobot]

I know, he said it lags with Firefox too.

 

[Layback Bear]

I would recommend a different power supply.
I can't even find reviews on your Rosewill Stallion Series RD700 700W. Thats not a good sign.
Brands I use are Corsair, Seasonic and my new one is Ultra. All have very good reviews.
When you put that kind of a load on a video card you need a quality power supply.

 

[Iamazn]

I would recommend a different power supply.
I can't even find reviews on your Rosewill Stallion Series RD700 700W. Thats not a good sign.
Brands I use are Corsair, Seasonic and my new one is Ultra. All have very good reviews.
When you put that kind of a load on a video card you need a quality power supply.

I'm using a Corsair AX850.
More Specs:
i7 3770k/Maximus V Formula
GTX 680
256SSD for Windows
3TB HDD for storage

 

[x BlueRobot]

Could you boot into the BIOS, and then post the values for the 3.3V, 5V and 12V rails?

 

[Layback Bear]

Sorry I read the wrong specs.


System Info - See Your System Specs

 

[Faladu]

What's task manager performance tab showing while this is going on? | Put that up on one of the other monitors.

Are you an icon on the desktop disorganized mess, by chance? (and using high res wallpaper on all 3?)

General settings for Windows 7 set to PERFORMANCE?

The nvidia control panel set to max settings even when not gaming?

Questions with subtle hints, perhaps. muhahaha!

 

[Iamazn]

Could you boot into the BIOS, and then post the values for the 3.3V, 5V and 12V rails?

3.3V: 3.376
5V: 5.00
12V: 12.192

What's task manager performance tab showing while this is going on? | Put that up on one of the other monitors.

Are you an icon on the desktop disorganized mess, by chance? (and using high res wallpaper on all 3?)

General settings for Windows 7 set to PERFORMANCE?

The nvidia control panel set to max settings even when not gaming?

Questions with subtle hints, perhaps. muhahaha!

-There are two icons on my desktop.
-Lag is there even when I disable the wallpaper.
-Performance is set to "Let Windows choose what's best for my computer". I want to keep Aero so selecting "Adjust For Best Performance" wouldn't really help.
-NVIDIA Settings: Multiple Display Performance Mode/Adaptive power management. Setting to Prefer Maximum Performance doesn't stop the lag.
Task Manager with three monitors, Aero Transparency and Firefox open:

 

[x BlueRobot]

Your voltages seem fine, I would suggest using eXtreme Power Supply Calculator to give a general outline of what your PSU wattage should be.

 

[Iamazn]

Your voltages seem fine, I would suggest using eXtreme Power Supply Calculator to give a general outline of what your PSU wattage should be.

About 600w.