Considering New System - looking for feedback

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Paul_Bert

Train Enthusiast
I currently have a Dell system running Windows XP SP3. This system has an Intel Core 2 Quad Processor @2.678 Ghz which is overclocked. The graphics board is an NVidia GeForce 8800 GTX. I also have 4G of RAM installed.

This system runs most of the Trainz routes very well but on some of the larger ones the fps count suffers. I run versions 2004, and 2009. Both perform pretty well using the 5000m draw distance using a 1920x1200 screen resolution.

I would like to get a new system running Windows 7 64 bit. One variation I am looking at would have an Intel Core i7 - 950 quad 3.06 Ghz cores. I am looking at 12GB DDR3 RAM. The video card I am thinking about is a 2 x 1792 NVidia GeForce GTX 295 Plus in SLI. Another variation for video card would be 2 x 896MB NVida GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 in SLI. I understand the cost implications between these two graphics cards.

My questions are: First would either of these two systems give me a noticeable improvement in fps for Trainz, and secondly would the NVidia 295 duo give me a noticeable improvement over the NVidia 260?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.
 
Most of your questions can be answered here www.tomshardware.com I would think that more than 4GB ram is a waste since most apps can't access more than 2GB. I also feel that Quad core cpu is a waste since most apps don't even use more than one core. With the video card I'd be on the fence, I'm still waiting to see what nvidia next release brings. Either way the cards you want would become cheaper or the new cards would smoke those listed.
 
May I suggest buying a new computer from http://www.pugetsystems.com/ ? I bought my desktop computer with ASUS P6T Deluxe motherboard, Intel I7 920 CPU, 3 GB of system memory (upgraded to 6 GB), two HDDs, DVD drive, and GeForce 9800 GT card from them on January of this year. At that time, Windows 7 was not yet available so I ordered my computer with Windows XP Pro. About three months ago, I ran Windows 7 RC, then Windows 7 RTM, and finally Windows 7 Home Edition, all 64-bit. My computer ran very well after installing Windows 7 Home Edition. Trainz 2004 and 2009 ran very well and I'm waiting for Trainz 2010 to be released. Dell doesn't make good computers any more.
 
My thoughts?
I wish I had your current system.:o

12Gig? I may be getting a new computer in a couple of months, Windows 7 64bit. I don't know why I would want more than 6 gig of RAM.
 
your quad should work fine -- mine's a 2.8 running oc'd at 3.9 on air -- no problems. i'd just get a new graphics card -- i've got an ATI 4890, on a 650 watt PC power & cooling supply. my frame rates are way up in 'harlem line', my test route, with good draw distance, full-leafed trees and no staggering.

probably, though, were i to, and i will this year sometime, upgrade, i'd get a middle-grade I-7, one of the recent released ATI's and win 7. right now, i'm ok though, and am waiting, really, on win 7 updates and corrections -- i don't need my pc to look like a mac... i've got one, and it's a piece of crap as hardware.

yeah, your video card is the ruling grade in your system. tunnel.

Paul_Bert said:
I currently have a Dell system running Windows XP SP3. This system has an Intel Core 2 Quad Processor @2.678 Ghz which is overclocked. The graphics board is an NVidia GeForce 8800 GTX. I also have 4G of RAM installed.

This system runs most of the Trainz routes very well but on some of the larger ones the fps count suffers. I run versions 2004, and 2009. Both perform pretty well using the 5000m draw distance using a 1920x1200 screen resolution.

I would like to get a new system running Windows 7 64 bit. One variation I am looking at would have an Intel Core i7 - 950 quad 3.06 Ghz cores. I am looking at 12GB DDR3 RAM. The video card I am thinking about is a 2 x 1792 NVidia GeForce GTX 295 Plus in SLI. Another variation for video card would be 2 x 896MB NVida GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 in SLI. I understand the cost implications between these two graphics cards.

My questions are: First would either of these two systems give me a noticeable improvement in fps for Trainz, and secondly would the NVidia 295 duo give me a noticeable improvement over the NVidia 260?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
 
Looks like a solid system consideration, except for the fact that SLI (along with ATI Crossfire) will do very little for Trainz right now (and probably for the considerable future), so unless other graphically demanding games are involved, then I wouldn't consider SLI and just go for a cheaper route with something like a GTX 275, 285, or even an ATI HD 5850 or 5870. Also, 12 GB of RAM might be a little overkill, but if you feel you really want it, all the more power to you. I would settle for 6-9 GB for normal games anyways. The Intel i7 should be a suitable processor to get great Trainz performance.

Just my thoughts on your new system.
 
Paul_Bert said:
I currently have a Dell system running Windows XP SP3. This system has an Intel Core 2 Quad Processor @2.678 Ghz which is overclocked. The graphics board is an NVidia GeForce 8800 GTX. I also have 4G of RAM installed.

This system runs most of the Trainz routes very well but on some of the larger ones the fps count suffers. I run versions 2004, and 2009. Both perform pretty well using the 5000m draw distance using a 1920x1200 screen resolution.

I would like to get a new system running Windows 7 64 bit. One variation I am looking at would have an Intel Core i7 - 950 quad 3.06 Ghz cores. I am looking at 12GB DDR3 RAM. The video card I am thinking about is a 2 x 1792 NVidia GeForce GTX 295 Plus in SLI. Another variation for video card would be 2 x 896MB NVida GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 in SLI. I understand the cost implications between these two graphics cards.

My questions are: First would either of these two systems give me a noticeable improvement in fps for Trainz, and secondly would the NVidia 295 duo give me a noticeable improvement over the NVidia 260?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Click to expand...

TS2009 / TS2010 can use upto 4 gigs of memory under a 64 bit operating system. Win 7 is happy with 2 gigs, that leaves you 6 gigs of memory sitting idle apart from driving up your electricity bill that is, needing a larger power supply and adding to the heat in the case. Your choice but there will no performance difference between 6 and 12 gigs of memory. i7 920 performs nearly as well as a i7 950 but there is a cost difference.

nVidia does not have a DirectX 11 solution yet. Most games will be using it so if you go nVidia expect to have to upgrade. SLI needs some sort of driver and as far as I am aware for Trainz one doesn't exist so only one card will be used, the other will sit in the case adding heat and pushing up your electricity bill in the same way as the extra memory.

You might want to go ATI 5970 or possibly wait until nVidia comes out with DirectX 11.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-graphics-card,2464-8.html

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-5970,2474.html

Will Trainz go Directx 11? Very interesting question, we've been asking for a 4 gig Trainz under 64 bit operating systems for a couple of years now, last week Windwalkr just happened to mention they were having memory problems on TS2010 on big layouts under 32 bit operating systems but not 64 bit, they had implemented 4 gig Trainz on both TS2010 and TS2009 with virtually no advanced warning so they may go the same way with DirectX 11.

Cheerio John
 
Last edited:
Solid state hard drives on at least the operating system should give you a major performance boost by the way and aren't that expensive at the moment.

Cheerio John
 
DX11 will not be needed for at lest a year as only one card is out now and most games are not yet using DX10.
 
Thank you for all your responses and discussion.

I try to update my main system every three or four years and in the process try to anticipate what types of things may be supported by Trainz during that time.

My next system will have a 1200 watt power supply so I can accommodate most of the next generation graphics cards, whatever they may be.

The big question however, is whether Trainz in the next two or three years will actually make use of the increased memory capability available with the 64 bit operating system, and if so how much? Also will they support SLI/cross fire in graphics cards.

My sense is that Trainz seems to do better with NVIDIA graphics cards then with ATI Radeon, but that may be bad information. For sure I have noticed that in version 2009 my NVidia card does much better using OpenGL than DirectX. So if I want state of the art graphics performance today should I install the ATI Radeon HD 5970?

So my real question is trying to look into the crystal ball and design a system that Trainz will support in version 2011. We are seeing indications that people with 64 bit systems may get a small boost when running version 2010. Where is it headed? Maybe they will release in the future two versions, one optimized for 32 bit and one for 64 bit systems? That will really then decide the question of how much RAM can be used.

Every new enhancement Auran makes, increased draw distance, Speed-Trees, layers, etc, take their toll on fps. So just to keep even on the fps requires a more powerful system. I am trying to get ahead in the fps race, not just keep even.
 
I'm currently considering a set-up with a Core i7 860 and Radeon HD5870 and in a motherboard with an extra slot available for another HD5870 should a Xfire solution ever be available in Trainz (or whatever new train sim comes along in the next few years).

I believe the HD 5970 is now the 'fastest' graphics card in the world and offers more than the GTX 295, including DirectX 11, so, great, if you can afford it! Actually, I thought all the HD 5xxxx series offered DirectX 11 not just the 5970?

There is a view that Trainz is more nVidia 'friendly', but the ATI cards seem to be so much better at the moment that it's difficult to resist them.

Another issue for us in the UK - if we're buying PCs, we need to do it before VAT goes back up in January!

Paul
 
Paulsw2 said:
I believe the HD 5970 is now the 'fastest' graphics card in the world and offers more than the GTX 295, including DirectX 11, so, great, if you can afford it! Actually, I thought all the HD 5xxxx series offered DirectX 11 not just the 5970?

Paul
Click to expand...

See the Nvidia announment today about their new GPU. Twice as fast at the GTX 295 and a tad bit faster than the 5970.

From what I've seen Trainz runs slightly better with SLI turned off. This is easy to do from the control panel.

Other than perhaps waiting for the new GPU to become available your system sounds good. Make sure system memory and GPU memory is at least DDR3 and your HD is as fast as possible. A Raid0 is a fast HD solution if you don't go with a SSD system.

William
 
I would be interested in knowing the timing of the new Nvidia card as well. The HD 5970 has gotten good reviews in most cases but my sense is that Nvidia cards have worked better with Trainz.

I am planning on getting a new system the first of the year, but it may be worth waiting a few months if this new card is to be released shortly.
 
What do ya think?
Skip that second video card and put that money into a Solid State Drive (SSD)? 64G for about $270 or so.
 
SuperFudd said:
What do ya think?
Skip that second video card and put that money into a Solid State Drive (SSD)? 64G for about $270 or so.
Click to expand...

Trouble is my TS2009 folder is 73 gigs by itself and I've been more selective about what I have in TS2009.

I think you need to think in terms of a 200 gig drive for TS2009.

Cheerio John
 
Wouldn't putting 2-4 64Gig SSD's together in some RAID setting, like RAID0? 4 of them 64 Gigs give you 256Gig of disk space. I think it would be a good investment.

Cheers,
Adam
 
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