Graphics problem with TS2009

[Beamplate]

Hi - I have a graphics rendering problem which someone may be able to help with? I'm running TC3 (Build 3529) and TS2009 (Build 40040) on Windows7 64 bit dual core with 3GBs RAM. Graphics card is an ATI 3850 with up-to-date driver. Resolution is the monitor native 1680x1050. TC3 runs well and looks terrific, even if the frame rate suffers a bit on heavily loaded sections. But on TS2009 some scenery objects fail to render - trees, some cars, signal semaphores for eg will display as mesh or half-formed blocks. I've tweaked all the settings I understand, including older content compatibility, to no avail. And, no, my ATI card doesn't run better on DirectX. Previously, on XP with the same kit both apps ran well and the TS2009 problem was not present. Apart from the OS, the only relevant difference I can think of is an older graphics driver. But surely not? Any ideas or suggestions, please?
Thanks.
Beamplate

 

[DennR]

The same problem

Hi, I have a similar set up as you but with an Nvidia graphics card and I have the same problem in TS2009, I have tried all the tweaks you have and I have run everything through the CMP to make sure nothing is missing. I am at work at the moment but my last attempt to get TS2009 working properly this evening will be to download Dx9.0c REDIST to see if it some components of Dx 9 that are missing from the Windows 7 x64 install with Dx10/11.

If that fails then I will uninstall TS2009 and check the Graphics for each upgrade in turn to see which one is causing the problem. I suspect it is the Treez compliant upgrade that might be causing the problem.

My installation of TS2009 worked well in Vista x64 so I am not convinced it is a problem with Windows 7

Best Regards
DennR

 

[Beamplate]

Thanks DennR - I'll be pleased to hear how you fare with your attempts to crack the problem. I have to say that I really am beginning to wonder if it is a driver problem, but not in the usual direction! Maybe I'll search the ATI site for an earlier driver to see if it makes any difference - but I'm a bit reluctant to risk messing up my shiny new W7 set up ...

Best regards

Beamplate

 

[JCitron]

I don't think this has anything to do with your graphics cards. This is due to the changes in how the alpha-channel is rendered in TS2009 and up.

Try setting your render option to compatilbity mode (where the sliders are). This will allow the program to display the older content without missing surfaces. There's also a configuration file change that can be made, but I've lost my notes on what they are.

John

 

[321]

Hi,

I also have a problem in regards to graphics rendering, and I have a screen-shot to prove it:


nVidia GeForce GTX260, Windows 7E 32-bit, 6Gb RAM (3.5 GB available).

 

[Paul_Bert]

Hi,

I also have a problem in regards to graphics rendering, and I have a screen-shot to prove it:

nVidia GeForce GTX260, Windows 7E 32-bit, 6Gb RAM (3.5 GB available).

First thing I would try is to switch to native mode and see if at least you see the landscape instead of just the blue.

If you do, then you can fix many of the track, road, and scenery splines so that you will get good visual rendition in compatibility mode. The necessary spline fixes along with the discussion are well documented in other parts of this forum.

If you are seeing blue in native mode then you probably have other issues.

 

[321]

I was in compatibility mode and it works okay in Native mode, but my trains do not show up. Is the 40040 patch to blame?

 

[Paul_Bert]

I was in compatibility mode and it works okay in Native mode, but my trains do not show up. Is the 40040 patch to blame?

Yes and no.

Yes
The patch 40040 introduced an issue with draw distances which need to be corrected with modifications to certain splines. (adding the line uncached_alphas 1 will fix most of the problems with track and road splines so that they don't adversely affect the draw distance in compatibility mode. See the extensive documentation of this issue in other parts of this forum)

No
Certain assets, including some locomotives and cars will not be visible in native mode due to changes that were introduced in version 2009. The reason you probably did not notice this before in prior versions of 2009 is that you were operating in compatibility mode, which is the default mode in this version.

 

[dougtrain]

White out

Hi Paul - and others on the post. I read about something similar the other week and the suggestion to overcome the tranparent ground surface was to include this line ---***" -uncached_alphas=1 "--- into the trainzoptions file. I was getting something similar to what you describe and mine is now fixed.

It may help or make a difference...

Regards doug

 

[Paul_Bert]

Hi Paul - and others on the post. I read about something similar the other week and the suggestion to overcome the tranparent ground surface was to include this line ---***" -uncached_alphas=1 "--- into the trainzoptions file. I was getting something similar to what you describe and mine is now fixed.

It may help or make a difference...

Regards doug

A minor point here. There is no '=' sign. It should be uncached_alphas 1

 

[clam1952]

A minor point here. There is no '=' sign. It should be uncached_alphas 1

Another minor point is it is inserted into the assets config file.

 

[DennR]

Problem Resolved

Hi All, Last evening I updated to the latest Nvidia driver with no effect, I then installed the Dx9.0c REDIST package again with no effect, based on some of the comments in this thread I revisited many of the options in TS2009, also with no effect.

Finally I uninstalled TS2009 and reinstalled version 37625 and the rendering was fine. I then upgraded to 38017 and again the graphics rendering was fine. I then tried the upgrade from 38017 to 38285 and this upgrade installer corrupted the 38017 installation and it would not run. I had created restore points between each step so I restored back to 37625 and upgraded directly to 38285 and the rendering was again fine. I tested it with the default routes and scenarios and I installed my archive files (which were not displaying properly in 40040) and all was well.

My conclusion is as stated by Paul_Bert the issue was introduced by 40040 and I am not planning to take my version of TS2009 any further I will leave it at 38285.

I hope that helps some folk avoid the same trap it seems many of us have been caught by.

Best Regards
DennR

 

[Beamplate]

Hi all
I'm glad DennR's solution has worked for him - but it hasn't sorted my problem, I'm afraid. I'd better explore some of the earlier threads that folk have referred to - but I don't really rate having to mess with the architecture of software. I'm lazy and I prefer stuff to work out of the box and to go on doing so! Thanks for all the interest and suggestions.
Cheers
Beamplate

 

[321]

I have changed the options text file to read this:

-DepthBits=24
-StencilBits=8
-Jet=bin
-cabinfov=45
-driverfov=45
-DefaultAutoMip=none
-uncached_alphas=1
-intro=disable
-allownoctrlrightclick
-debug

These have resolved the problem, the bug appears to be traced down to the "-ResourceMemory" switch.

Thanks anyway.

 

[Maccabeus]

Graphics Card Identification

I just Updated to Windows7,Trainz 2009 installed fine and even ran on my ATI radeon 9200 card. I was having systems problems so I updated my card to a XFX Radeon HD 4650. Now Trainz can niether identify my card nor recognize DX1.1 or OGL2.0 that the card carries. And I still Have the latest DX9 installed.

Any ideas? PLEASE!

 

[ics]

Best Trainz Ever...what a joke

Who else is sick and tired of parting with their hard earned cash for products that dont work out of the box.:'(

We have heard it all before .... so many different configuration of hardware etc etc..... but hang on... ive got all the bells and whitsles .... but no game

So you load another patch {40040 took longer than mans trip to the moon to install ,,,, understandable at 58MB :hehe: }

AND the result is ......]

Still no game

So now one hopes that some end user has a soultion ,,,, more time wasted trolling through forums ..... and as for the developers ....no help at all as usual ..... we've got your money .... u sort it out

SPecs:
Win 7 Ultimate 64 bit
8gb ram
ATi 4870
SB X-fi
Quad core CPU

AS a final note ..... I have supported the Trainz franchise since their release and have had no regrets ... but my patience is wearing thin...
Might be time to jump ship .... think i'll check out railworks

 

[elgato]

hi, ics

You seem to be running in Native mode, you should try switching to Compatibility mode as you are running a route which was made prior to TS2009. This can be done in the Options menu after you click on the Start button in the Launcher.
Good luck
Gilles

 

[Beamplate]

Graphics Problem with TS2009

Sorry, elgato, but I'll be surprised if ics isn't as familiar with the compatability button on the Options page as am I - but in my experience it makes no difference to the problem we both seem to be facing. I'm back to thinking that Trainz may have an issue with current ATI drivers ... now I notice that there is an admitted incompatibility between Speedtree and ATI drivers and that the team is hustling to produce a service pack for EE2010 to crack it. I'm now awaiting the arrival of my EE2010 DVD with some trepidation, wondering how it will run on my kit ... Ho hum ...

Beamplate

 

[elgato]

Hi, Beamplate
ics is running TS2009. I am also running TS2009 with a Sapphire Radeon HD 4890 1 Gb Vapor-X card using the latest Catalyst drivers, version 9.11 for Windows 7 64bit and I do not have the problems described. If I run an older route in compatibility mode, there are no problems. However, running the same route in native mode gives me the same types of artifacts as seen in ics post.
Cheers
Gilles

 

[ics]

Call a Preist

Hi Guys,

Yes your right Beamplate .... after installing the beta patch i tried it in open GL and DirectX and in both Native and compatibily mode ..... but the alpha problem persisted .... although i noticed that the degree varied depending on the route.

So I thought I would post up some images of how it looks in compatability mode and jumping bejesus all is working as it should:udrool:

Whats more ive tried to break it .... to try identifiy what was causing the issue .... and its remained stable.....

Time to call the local priest and get him to come over and throw some holy
water around

I'll keep testing over the next few nights and get back to you with how I got on.

Current Settings:
Direct X
Anistrophic x2
1920x1080
Ati v9.11
Compatibility Mode