PC Performance Enhancement

[BigBoyFan4006]

I'm wanting to upgrade my computer so it will run TS12 smoothly, and be able to run Trainz: A New Era effectively. But I have a very small budget (about $215-220) and I'm wanting to upgrade my computer while only upgrading the least amount of the hardware as possible. If I only have to upgrade the GPU or CPU, great! But if I have to upgrade more than just a few components, what two or three components should be my priority to upgrade? Hope I wrote it all so ya'll can understand. Any help is appreciated!

 

[Robert3a0]

Phil, if you give us your current computer specs we might be able to point you in the right direction.
Regards
Bob

 

[BigBoyFan4006]

This is what I could find:

CPU: AMD Athlon 7550 Dual-Core Processor (two of them I believe)

CPU Clocktime: Around 2500 MHz

Video Adapter: ATI Radeon HD 3400 Series

OpenGL Version: 3.3.10317

If there's anything else needed that I didn't include, tell me and I'll try to find it.

 

[Robert3a0]

Hi Phil
Probably the best starting point is to find out which part of your current set-up provides the lowest your lowest overall performance. If you do not know how to do that, on your computer menu left click 'control panel', below the heading 'system and security' - on the bottom left side column you will see a link that says 'view performance information'. Click on that link and the page below will open. Once in there you will be able to run a performance rating check. The result of that check will give you an idea of where best to improve your system.
Regards
Bob

<img src="http://forums.auran.com/trainz/attachment.php?attachmentid=194&stc=1" attachmentid="194" alt="" id="vbattach_194" class="previewthumb align_0 size_fullsize" style="">[video][/video]

 

[johnwhelan]

This is what I could find:

CPU: AMD Athlon 7550 Dual-Core Processor (two of them I believe)

CPU Clocktime: Around 2500 MHz

Video Adapter: ATI Radeon HD 3400 Series

OpenGL Version: 3.3.10317

If there's anything else needed that I didn't include, tell me and I'll try to find it.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-cpu-review-overclock,3106-5.html your CPU isn't in the top ten, I can't spot your video card http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107-7.html but there is an HD 4200 floating around near the bottom.

Step one try Directx rather than OpenGL. Run Belarc from belarc.com that might give us a bit more information I suspect you may have an integrated video card rather than a separate one.

You'll need to see if we can sort out the motherboard Belarc might help there that will define what you can do. Is it a lap top by chance?

Thanks

Cheerio John

 

[BigBoyFan4006]

Hi Phil
Probably the best starting point is to find out which part of your current set-up provides the lowest your lowest overall performance. If you do not know how to do that, on your computer menu left click 'control panel', below the heading 'system and security' - on the bottom left side column you will see a link that says 'view performance information'. Click on that link and the page below will open. Once in there you will be able to run a performance rating check. The result of that check will give you an idea of where best to improve your system.
Regards
Bob

<img src="http://forums.auran.com/trainz/attachment.php?attachmentid=194&stc=1" attachmentid="194" alt="" id="vbattach_194" class="previewthumb align_0 size_fullsize" style="">[video][/video]

Thanks for the tip!

 

[BigBoyFan4006]

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-cpu-review-overclock,3106-5.html your CPU isn't in the top ten, I can't spot your video card http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107-7.html but there is an HD 4200 floating around near the bottom.

Step one try Directx rather than OpenGL. Run Belarc from belarc.com that might give us a bit more information I suspect you may have an integrated video card rather than a separate one.

You'll need to see if we can sort out the motherboard Belarc might help there that will define what you can do. Is it a lap top by chance?

Thanks

Cheerio John

It's a desktop. I've used OpenGL, but it renders text almost unreadable and Trainz lags like crazy. I'll use Belarc when I get the chance. Thanks for the tips.

 

[SuperFudd]

Should have at least 6 gig of RAM.
Don't know about Radion cards but upgrading to about $150 worth of new card Might be the thing to do.