CPU Temperature dependent on Video Card?

Just a little question to those that have more knowledge of computer systems than I do

My current video card (MSI Radeon 9800 Pro) is broken (can't play for more than 10 minutes without getting rebooted or having strange lines all over my screen, or some other graphical error), so I changed back to my old Geforce 4 MX 460. Everything is running fine now (although on lowest settings). Now I noticed that my CPU temperature while playing is considerably lower with the new card:

Radeon:
Motherboard temperature: 28°
CPU temperature: 54°

Geforce:
MB temperature: 26°
CPU temperature: 49°

The idle temperature is nearly the same (exactly the same for CPU (45°), and just a little bit higher idle temperature for the Motherboard if the Radeon is installed). Anyway, that's a difference of 5°, although I didn't change anything but the video card (I played on lowest settings with my Radeon before as well).

Anyone got any ideas and could give me some insight into hidden computer knowledge?

the higher end card generates more heat...it makes perfect sense that the lower end card would keep things cooler. There's no problem

Yeah, the newer card is definately generating more heat, which results in an overall higher system/case temp, directly affecting your CPU temp. I would consider several options, all of which can be well under $100.00:

1) Arctic (or other brand) VGA cooler for your ATI video card. Theres a wide variety of them out there. Basically, they attach to your card and draw/dissipate heat from it, reducing temps. The Arctic ones also blow the heated air directly out the back of the case on the slot below/above your card.

2)An aftermarket cooling solution for your CPU. There are TONS of them out there, some more affective than others. Be sure to look for compatability for your CPU and Motherboard. If you google "CPU coolers" you'll get a bunch of sites that have reviews and info, for sale sections or links to buy them.

3)Aftermarket case fans. Getting a more efficient case fan, adding another one or going from an 80mm to a 120mm can seriously cool things down. This is the simplest and easiest solution of the three I've offered here. Consider that you need to have equal inflow/outflow of air in the case (120mm in front + 80mm in back = pressure/heat build up inside case) and that modding your case to have side/top fans is an option as well. I've got six very quiet, very efficient fans going. Some fans have temperature sensors so that they apply more RPM based on temps, others can be manually adjusted.

There have been some serious advances in aftermarket air cooling products in the last 2 years. It is not typically very difficult to install these things if you do some research and follow the instructions. DO YOUR HOMEWORK.

I'm running a P4 3.6 LGA775 with an ATI X700 pro card, and with the addition of a CPU cooler (Thermaltake) I get idle 28C and load of 40-43C, with no video cooling at all.

Hope this helps. I can give you some site links if you PM me for more info.

Well, it doesn't make sense for me that the heat produced by the video card results in a higher temperature of the CPU.

The case temperature is only 2° higher, whereas the CPU temperature is 5° higher. Most of the heat produced by the video card goes downwards, but the processor is above the video card.

btw, I already got a pretty good case (at least I think so) ^^

http://www.arctic-cooling.com/pc_case2.php?idx=12