WestSideRailways
New member
Will Auran be making a version of trainz that will handle the above CPU's.
Duo & Quad CPU
- Thread starter WestSideRailways
- Start date
I am currently running Trainz 2006 on a Quad core CPU. Trainz, like most programs, was not written specifically for multi core CPUs.
I have installed a Windows SideBar gadget which monitors the activity levels of all 4 cores and it seems to indicate the Trainz runs exclusively in just one of the cores, as you would expect, but the other cores are not idle while Trainz is running.
I don't know if it would be a major advantage to rewite Trainz for multicore processors as most of the grunt work seems to be performed by the graphics card, not the CPU - maybe a multicore GPU (or dual graphics cards) would offer a speed improvement. Either way writing efficient code for parallel or multicore processors is a major headache for programmers.
As a way of comparison, I recently upgraded my computer from a 5 year old single core Pentium 4 with 512MB RAM and a slow 128MB graphics card to a Quad core unit with 4GB RAM and a fast 512MB graphics card. This has made a significant difference to Trainz and probably more of a difference than a multicore code rewrite would make.
Peter Ware
I have installed a Windows SideBar gadget which monitors the activity levels of all 4 cores and it seems to indicate the Trainz runs exclusively in just one of the cores, as you would expect, but the other cores are not idle while Trainz is running.
I don't know if it would be a major advantage to rewite Trainz for multicore processors as most of the grunt work seems to be performed by the graphics card, not the CPU - maybe a multicore GPU (or dual graphics cards) would offer a speed improvement. Either way writing efficient code for parallel or multicore processors is a major headache for programmers.
As a way of comparison, I recently upgraded my computer from a 5 year old single core Pentium 4 with 512MB RAM and a slow 128MB graphics card to a Quad core unit with 4GB RAM and a fast 512MB graphics card. This has made a significant difference to Trainz and probably more of a difference than a multicore code rewrite would make.
Peter Ware
PetraEllel
New member
I use a quad core processor also, and it doesn't just use one of the cores does trainz on my set up, it spreads evenly through-out the four cores. If it only used one core then it would run extremely slowly on some of the routes, but doesn't. In all when running even the most poly intensive route. I just downloaded a beautiful Russian route and the max cpu load is ever is 5% on all four cores.
Ian.
Ian.
johnwhelan
Well-known member
PetraEllel
New member
I just check on the windows task manager/perfomance screen and resource monitor that came with Vistae as to how my cpu is being used, and cpu load rarely goes above 5%. How honest that figure is I don't know when I tab out of Trainz. All I know is that trainz runs flawlessly.
Ian
Ian
The Dell XPS 420.
Compared to my older computer, a Dell Dimension 2250 which I am still using, it runs like a rocket!!!
Incidently, now that I have had a chance to use it, I cannot agree with all the negative comments I have been hearing about Vista - yes it has a few issues but so did XP when it was released. I would not abandon XP on a new computer just to upgrade to Vista but if you are upgrading your computer then it is a different story.
The All CPU Meter at http://addgadget.com/
It gives a graphical display of CPU (duo and quad core) activity over time as well as RAM usage.
AussieNightcrawler
Trainz Everywhere...
Sorry but no actually your wrong, the AMD 6000+ only runs at 3GHz, just because it has 6000 in the name doesn't mean that it runs at 6GHz.
Agree I have the same CPU 3GHz usually around 3022 GHZ & Trainz only uses ! cpu
Dave
AussieNightcrawler
Trainz Everywhere...
Hi,
No disrespect intended, but the problem that you have is that if the combined speed of each core gives you 6GHz in total that means that a CPU like the Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 that runs at 2.4GHz would have a combined speed of 9.6GHz.
That is a lot of power and I think you will find that breaks the speed of what motherboards can handle at present.
No disrespect intended, but the problem that you have is that if the combined speed of each core gives you 6GHz in total that means that a CPU like the Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 that runs at 2.4GHz would have a combined speed of 9.6GHz.
That is a lot of power and I think you will find that breaks the speed of what motherboards can handle at present.
I see your point.
Anyways, trainz is more of a strain on the graphics card, especially if you have a dual/quad core, as the driver may well route the flow kind of evenly between the multiple cores.
Anyone interested in lobbying for a multi-core graphics card? I certainly am.
Anyways, trainz is more of a strain on the graphics card, especially if you have a dual/quad core, as the driver may well route the flow kind of evenly between the multiple cores.
Anyone interested in lobbying for a multi-core graphics card? I certainly am.
johnwhelan
Well-known member
Hopefully it doesn't some software switches between cores but the overall performance drops as it has to decide which core to run on.
There is a new ATI dual core graphics card floating around that is supposed to have the speed record this week.
Cheerio John
AussieNightcrawler
Trainz Everywhere...
I believe both companies, nVidia and ATi are working on multi-core GPU's now, the closest thing that we had was the 7950 GX2 which had 2x 7950 GT chips (GPU's) on the one graphics card. From memory this was released just before SLi, which killed the idea.
Not really, its differently...
