Hello,
I just installed my new 280 card (replaced 9600GT-512MB). I have a 8400 Core2Duo 3.0Ghz CPU with 4GB RAM with 32 bit XP-Home OS. I forgot to check if my new computer supported PCI-E 2.0, it does not. So I have a new motherboard arriving in a few days. PCI-E 2.0 passes double the data compared to 1.0 . . . what that means with regards to Trainz performance is yet to be seen. I don't expect any great difference. The 280 card runs just fine in a 1.0 slot.
WARNING :
I have a very, very complex route (tons of trees, objects and ground textures). I was working on it in 2006 and ran into the 2GB size limit. When you hit this limit, the normal
SAVE function stops working and
you can only SAVE AS and overwrite the current route name. The only problem is . . . only the CURRENT session is saved with the route because when you use SAVE AS, Trainz generates a NEW KUID number for your route. Every time you save, your route KUID changes. All sessions you created before gets orphaned. Its a hassel !
I am still running 2009 Beta . . . Santa lost my boxed DVD set. I started "chopping up" my route into smaller pieces in 2009. So far I've been able to avoid the 2GB limit with each of my "pieces". Building in pieces is a MUST for large and complex route builders.
Here are some examples of my route that shows what I mean by "complex" :
(1366x768 - large images)
280GTX Improvement:
On MY ROUTE . . . due to the complexities, the improvement in video performance is not much. THIS IS
NOT the fault of the video card . . . rather, due to the complex nature of the route, the
CPU is NOT FAST ENOUGH to pass display information to the video card. The worst areas only saw a 1 fps improvement. But . . . I am averaging 18 fps in Tracking Camera mode and average of 22 fps in External and Cab mode. Now, its not "smooth" but much more tolerable.
Trainz, like most games is a SINGLE CORE software. In 2009 some steps were taken to take advantage of "dual core", but it is still a single core engine. Using 64 bit O/S with 8GB of RAM may allow you to SAVE a larger route but Trainz can only "claim" a maximum 2GB of RAM when launched through setting the "resource cache" to 2048 in the Options Menu. Its the Mhz that counts . . . A 3.0Ghz Core2 will probably outperform a 2.0Ghz Quad Core CPU, as far as Trainz is concerned.
I see great improvements on Built-in routes. Maria's Pass route never drops below 27 fps and average is around 35 to 40. An improvement of about 40% over my old card. So, for 95% of users, 280GTX should be a "dream" card. (Films are 24fps and Video standard is 30fs)
TS2009 Implications / what to avoid :
In 2009, the draw distance was increased. This can be a benefit or a curse. Farther distance means more 3D calculations for the CPU, a drop in fps performance. For a route like mine, I can only set the distance just a notch more than 2006.
The areas where I see a dramatic drop in fps performance are the the areas where I have a very large horseshoe curve an a very large loop-over. These types of features on your route will include immense area of coverage for 3D calculations. While these features are nice, it can kill fps performance on complex routes. Something to think about.
I like placing a lot of "Tracking Cameras" on my route. BUT . . . following your train with the Tracking Camera reduces fps performance by 10% to 20%. Each change in "point of view" requires a large amount of "re-calculation" and can dip the fps momentarily down to below 5 for a second or two. It looks like a video "stutter". Tracking Cameras are cool but be aware that it drops fps performance.
Even the External View's angle affects fps. When following my train, I try to keep the horizon up in the top 5~10% of the screen. If the horizon is lower, fps will drop.
In most cases, a 280GTX will eliminate issues that I still have to deal with on my route. If the route is a simple one like the 2006 built-in "City and Country", fps never drops below 30 and runs an average of 50. On routes like these, Tracking Camera, External Camera angle, loops and horseshoe curves are not an issue.
I like my 280GTX.
I will recommend it to anyone with higher Mhz CPU. This card is so fast, it will reveal inadequate CPU and bus speeds.
