How to make TS 2010 EE graphics more free-flowing?

[KingPhoenicia]

I just bought and installed TS 2010 EE on my Windows Vista operating system computer. Turned off firewalls and virus protection while I installed it, and also installed the latest NVIDIA graphics driver update before I installed it.

The graphics are nevertheless "jumpy", i.e., they seem to jump from one frame to the next, rather than to flow, like I see them flowing when I go on Youtube.com and view some of the various Trainz uploads there.

Also, the control boxes and mode buttons are slow to react, i.e., slow to appear, slow to minimize, slow to effectuate a command or to close. I'm playing the program in DCC mode for now, rather than Cab mode, until I get more accustomed to it. Still, I can't seem to get past the basic route scenarios and those are just plain slow. Any thoughts on a fix? Thanks.

 

[bchester]

Performance is heavily dependent on you're hardware and what else is running in the background.

Without knowing what you have for hardware, it is hard to say where the bottle neck is.

Click on start, click on run - enter DXdiag and press enter. let us know what processor you have, the amount of memory installed and free, the actual video card and amount of ram on the video card.

Other factors which will affect performance somewhat is the access speed of the hard drive and whether it has been defragmented. Fragments cause "thrashing" sometimes called "hunting" as the operating system jumps all over the disk to get the data needed for an application.

Another factor is the detail on the map and train you using. A map with a lot of detail needs more processing power (both cpu and video) than a map with few scenery items. A highly details train will require more processing power than a less detailed one. Also, running in native mode versus compatablility mode makes a difference.

You can start to change the behaviour of trainz by adjusting settings by reducing draw distance, train detail etc. Start the trainz launcher and select settings, (I don't have trainz on this machine so going by memory which isn't that great) adjust all the sliders to the lowest setting and gradually change things to see what works best for your system

Hope this helps

Bricey

 

[aardvark1]

I just bought and installed TS 2010 EE on my Windows Vista operating system computer. Turned off firewalls and virus protection while I installed it, and also installed the latest NVIDIA graphics driver update before I installed it.

The graphics are nevertheless "jumpy", i.e., they seem to jump from one frame to the next, rather than to flow, like I see them flowing when I go on Youtube.com and view some of the various Trainz uploads there.

Also, the control boxes and mode buttons are slow to react, i.e., slow to appear, slow to minimize, slow to effectuate a command or to close. I'm playing the program in DCC mode for now, rather than Cab mode, until I get more accustomed to it. Still, I can't seem to get past the basic route scenarios and those are just plain slow. Any thoughts on a fix? Thanks.

You may want to read this thread for some information:

http://forums.auran.com/trainz/showthread.php?t=71238

Post number 8 in the link by Dermmy may help you.

What...bchester...says is correct.

Regards,

 

[fran1]

Try using DX instead of OG under display options.

 

[KingPhoenicia]

Here is the system info>

Hope this is what you suggested I provide. Thanks.

Operating System: Windows Vista™ Home Premium (6.0, Build 6002) Service Pack 2 (6002.vistasp2_gdr.101014-0432)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: eMachines
System Model: ET1161-07
BIOS: )Phoenix - Award WorkstationBIOS v6.00PG
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) Dual Core Processor 4050e (2 CPUs), ~2.1GHz
Memory: 2942MB RAM
Page File: 1454MB used, 4647MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 7.00.6002.18107 32bit Unicode

Display Devices
---------------
Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 6150SE nForce 430
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce 6150SE nForce 430
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_03D0&SUBSYS_26061019&REV_A2
Display Memory: 1336 MB
Dedicated Memory: 121 MB
Shared Memory: 1215 MB
Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Generic PnP Monitor
Driver Name: nvd3dum.dll
Driver Version: 8.17.0012.6099 (English)
DDI Version: 9Ex
BGRA Supported: Yes
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 10/16/2010 14:55:00, 10023528 bytes

 

[JCitron]

Overall your system is ai bit "thin" on the processor and video card. You don't specify if this is a laptop or desktop.

If thisi s a desktop, see if you can upgrade the video card. Integrated video does not work well with graphics-intensive programs such as Trainz.

John

 

[shaneturner12]

I see you have DirectX 11 installed. Do you also have an up-to-date version of DirectX 9 installed?

Also, it may be worth turning the sliders down on the Video Settings page (you can reach this by clicking Main Menu, then Options whilst in-game)

I also noticed you have not yet registered your copy of Trainz - this is essential if you install patches (speaking of patches, what build number is your version - found at the bottom right of the Launcher screen?)

Shane

 

[edu]

Unusable performance - unexplained as yet by other posts

I experience a 6 secs or more response lag on doing anything in the Surveyor - let alone in a scenario. Ill select an extrusion icon - click and hold, and then 6 - 7 secs later the land will change.

Just to get into Surveyor took minutes of waiting at each menu option step. So this is not a graphic detail issue as there were no graphics to handle. In fact Ive run a scenario - and altho it was no pixar experience - it ran OK. All the way - it's the menus and clicking on buttons and stuff that is taking ages.

I used to love the rapidity with which you could shape topology in an older version of this game - What the dickens have they done to it?

Running on a dual core laptop with 4 gig of memory. Nothing else running.
And yes, I've tried switching Direct Xfrom Open GL....

Help !!?

 

[JCitron]

I experience a 6 secs or more response lag on doing anything in the Surveyor - let alone in a scenario. Ill select an extrusion icon - click and hold, and then 6 - 7 secs later the land will change.

Just to get into Surveyor took minutes of waiting at each menu option step. So this is not a graphic detail issue as there were no graphics to handle. In fact Ive run a scenario - and altho it was no pixar experience - it ran OK. All the way - it's the menus and clicking on buttons and stuff that is taking ages.

I used to love the rapidity with which you could shape topology in an older version of this game - What the dickens have they done to it?

Running on a dual core laptop with 4 gig of memory. Nothing else running.
And yes, I've tried switching Direct Xfrom Open GL....

Help !!?

The menu switching issue is a documented bug. Apparently the latest patches haven't solved that problem, and was introduced or made more apparent after SP2. I have 8GB in my machines and the problem still exists.

John

 

[shaneturner12]

The only (potential) solution I have to the menu issue is to add -fastmenus to your trainzoptions.txt file.

Shane

 

[fran1]

Edo,
Unless it's a top end laptop you will strugglle with trainz. Really its a desktop you need with a decent spec.

 

[edu]

Edo,
Unless it's a top end laptop you will strugglle with trainz. Really its a desktop you need with a decent spec.

Strange. I play far more graphically/ processor intense games on same platform. Plus the surveyor is a grey flat grid. There are no graphics to manage. Im an IT architect - and assure you there is no good reason for a 7 sec lag as I have described. I played an earlier version of same game on a spec machine that was 20 times less powerful - with no issues in Surveyor.

If I was playing a scenario - I'd understand this more...

 

[shaneturner12]

If it's the menus being slow, did you try my suggestion given further up the thread (the -fastmenus one)?

Shane

 

[edu]

If it's the menus being slow, did you try my suggestion given further up the thread (the -fastmenus one)?

Shane

Yes - thanks for the tip. But didnt make any difference im afraid. In fact - just moving thru menu options can take minutes - or T will simply hang and not do anything.

Got any other things worth pursuing ? Since Im not enaging with anything graphically intense - I do not think this a G-card issue. With the 4 gig of mem I have - if it is a mem issue I have then the SW has been designed v. poorly.

 

[shaneturner12]

What are your system specs? That may help identify the problem.

Also, what is your Trainz version number (the 5 digit number at the bottom right of the Launcher)

Shane

 

[edu]

What are your system specs? That may help identify the problem.

Also, what is your Trainz version number (the 5 digit number at the bottom right of the Launcher)

Shane

Toshiba notebook.
Intel i5 dual core 2.26 ghz
4 gig mem (2.99 only usuable tho....)
Win 7 (32 bit)
44088 - and I downloaded and installed the latest service pack yesterday -

and thanks for the assistance. I've run TrainDiag - all green ticks...

 

[fran1]

Toshiba notebook.
Intel i5 dual core 2.26 ghz
4 gig mem (2.99 only usuable tho....)
Win 7 (32 bit)
44088 - and I downloaded and installed the latest service pack yesterday -

and thanks for the assistance. I've run TrainDiag - all green ticks...

Edu,
Onboard or integrated graphics card. What happened with the RAM?
For single (non multiplayer the latest build is 44088).

 

[edu]

[what happened to the memory] - Sorry -not sure what you mean? Why is it down to 2.99 from 4 gig ? If so - no idea.

I'd like to know why Auran include a platform spec checker that comes up green - when things are patently not Green...

 

[mrscsi]

Strange. I play far more graphically/ processor intense games on same platform. Plus the surveyor is a grey flat grid. There are no graphics to manage. Im an IT architect - and assure you there is no good reason for a 7 sec lag as I have described. I played an earlier version of same game on a spec machine that was 20 times less powerful - with no issues in Surveyor.

If I was playing a scenario - I'd understand this more...

Yeah there are no graphics to manage, but I'll guarantee you in surveyor with a blank map your graphics card will be at 99% load. Why? Because there's no graphics to manage and since Trainz isn't throttled with no assets your video card Is actually working harder (from its perspective) than it does running Avery Drexel…

Don't believe me go Into windowed mode and look at your frame rate in surveyor versus frame rate in a route.

What I suspect is happening with your jerkiness is your built in graphics just don't like to run 99% and when they do being that it uses shared RAM it's having a bit of a problem keeping up with 99% load…

One (retired) IT professional to another, build a desktop with a dedicated video card and you'll be fine…

 

[NSWGR_46Class]

Strange. I play far more graphically/ processor intense games on same platform. Plus the surveyor is a grey flat grid. There are no graphics to manage.

This is a common misconception but the grey grid, due to the way it uses it base texture is more graphics intense than a route with a base texture covering the grey grid.