External monitor issue

[davidino77]

Hi guys,
I'm using my MBA to watch movies on my fullhd TV.
I use the dvi interface to connect to it at 1920 x 1080.
The problem is about the frame rate that after 10 / 15 minutes of flawless palying, drops consistently. I've tried VLC and QT with Perian but the problem is the same.

The only way I can use it, is activate the mirroring function and keep the resolution to 1280 x 800.

The strange fact is that the cpu is quite free and the temperature never goes more than 62 celsius.
I think that the problem could be an overheting of the video adapter. The fan, while I watch movies, is stick to 6200 rpm.

Ideas?
Does it happen only to me?

 

[davidino77]

no one?
Should I ask to Genius Bar?

 

[malone]

Howdy there.

No, you're not the only person with this issue. I (and others) have had it too. The MBA can handle it at high resolutions when it's running at full performance (e.g., 1.6/1.8 GHz), but it can't maintain heat dissipation at a full load on full performance. To compensate, it scales down its processor when it gets too hot, which is why the temperatures look fine, but your video starts to stutter.

I have mine connected to a 24" 1920x1200 display. Whenever I play movies on it, I just lower the resolution to something more manageable for the MBA (800x500), while keeping the MBA display on (if I need to do work).

 

[davidino77]

Ok, so it's quite usual. That's a pity because I love this computer but heating issues are really frustrating.
Thank you Malone

Howdy there.

No, you're not the only person with this issue. I (and others) have had it too. The MBA can handle it at high resolutions when it's running at full performance (e.g., 1.6/1.8 GHz), but it can't maintain heat dissipation at a full load on full performance. To compensate, it scales down its processor when it gets too hot, which is why the temperatures look fine, but your video starts to stutter.

I have mine connected to a 24" 1920x1200 display. Whenever I play movies on it, I just lower the resolution to something more manageable for the MBA (800x500), while keeping the MBA display on (if I need to do work).