Does the second gpu in crossfire run cooler than the first?

[jjolin]

I plan to get another 5870 for my rig, and i plan to run them in crossfire. The 5870 i have now gets nice and toasty due to the fact that its a reference model that i got when the video card first went on sale.

I have been thinking about what order i would put them in. put the reference one in first, it'll get better airflow than if it was right on top of my psu, but then it got me thinking, does the gpu that is in crossfire, that i dont hook my monitor up to, run cooler than the one that i hook my monitor up to? Or does it run at its max.

Both cards are stock clocked cards.

 

[USMCGrunt]

They both run the same as far as clock frequencies go but one of mine runs a bit cooler then the other one. Pulling up GPU-Z at idle 1 of my cards is reading 38C and the other one is around 46.5C

The temp. differences are most likely just do to heat rising from the lower card onto the top card. Given the way airflows in this case, I wouldnt be surprised if that is what is happening.

 

[zyzeast]

for me, the second card always runs at least a few degrees cooler, in my gtx 460 sli set up it's a few degrees, in my gtx 470 sli set up the second card is almost 20 degrees cooler than first.

 

[PrincessFrosty]

The bottom card tends to run cooler since it has less restriction to airflow, the top card is typically lower airflow because it's jammed right on top of the lower card blocking the intake. It's also drawing air from around the bottom card meaning the air is slightly warmer.

I think most people see fairly small differences of about 4-6 degrees, although when both running full pelt they tend to max out temp wise and that difference is just seen as a difference in fan speeds with the top card running the fan slightly faster to maintain operating temps.