Quad core Vs Dual Core Processors

[KenGreen]

Is an i7 quad core processor always better than a faster i7 dual core processor to run Trainz.

 

[RRSignal]

I'll take the faster CPU with fewer cores; Trainz can only use 2.

 

[Gandalf0444]

I'll take the faster CPU with fewer cores; Trainz can only use 2.

True enough, but a lot of quad cores have a just as fast clock speed, not to mention future proof. For trainz it will only use 2 cores, however all the other crap running in the background or other games you may play would spread across the other 2 cores, or the 4 cores total.

 

[npr284]

FWIW, I have both dual and quad AMD units running both TRS2004 and TS2010 with ATI cards. Noticed frame-rates increased dramatically after turning all the sliders down in the video card utility settings, in my case the "Cataylst Control Center". The dual core has an ATI HD 6750 card and the quad an ATI HD 6770. Truth is, I can't tell the difference between the two, speed wise. I could have gone with the cheaper ATI 6750 card in the quad, but "thought" the faster card might just be worth it. I was wrong. The dual core runs TS2010 with speedtreez enabled and looks just fine, but the speedtreez are all but wretched looking.

After installing the video cards "thought" my frame-rates would be smooth as silk, but actually were somewhat worse! What the heck!? Turning down ALL the sliders in the CCC utility solved the matter on both computers. But with TS2010 do have most of the sliders in the "settings" panel set to "normal", so as to not push things too much.

 

[pware]

Moving from 2010 to TS12 on the same machine, a quad core, I noticed a definite improvement in the frame rate and the graphic quality. It was not simply a case of the improvements caused by moving from "compatibility mode" on 2010 to "native mode" on TS12 as I stopped using compatibility mode when I moved to 2010.

 

[NikkiA]

Is an i7 quad core processor always better than a faster i7 dual core processor to run Trainz.

There are no dual core i7s, they're all 4 or 6 cores (or with hyper threading enabled virtually 8 or 12 core). The i3 and i5 have dual and quad core versions.

The i7 will perform better than a similar spec'ed i3 or i5 because it has other features beyond just more cores and also have more cache than their lower priced counterparts.

Would a i5 at a higher clock speed than the same cost i7 perform better for trainz? Possibly. I don't know of any way to find out other than test it though - sure you could ask people here, but there are too many other variables.

What about Sandybridge vs socket 1156 or socket 1366 ? Well, Sandybridge brings some advantages that will result in like-for-like better performance from a sandybridge setup than an older i7 (that's to say, a 3.0Ghz sandybridge i7 will perform better than a 3.0Ghz 1156 or 1366 i7).

Of course, what kind of difference you see between all models of Core i3/i5/i7 chips will depend a lot on the motherboard chipset and brand too.

There's no simple answer I'm afraid, and if you're on a budget you'll just have to roll with hunches, my hunch being that IF trainz is all you're running, and you can't afford a sandybridge i7, then the highest spec dual core i5 will likely be slightly more performant, on trainz.

If you plan on doing anything else as well? All bets are off.

Edit:

Oh, and I'll back up pware on this, I see TS12 utilising 4-5 of my 8 virtual cores, although the usage on the 4th and 5th cores is still low enough that it would probably happily run in 4 cores and not max out the CPU (ie, I see 100% usage on cores 0 and 1, cores 2-3 are about 30% utilised each, and core 4 will be running at about 10%, core 5, 6 and 7 will be sat idle at about 0-2%)

 

[clam1952]

Oh, and I'll back up pware on this, I see TS12 utilising 4-5 of my 8 virtual cores, although the usage on the 4th and 5th cores is still low enough that it would probably happily run in 4 cores and not max out the CPU (ie, I see 100% usage on cores 0 and 1, cores 2-3 are about 30% utilised each, and core 4 will be running at about 10%, core 5, 6 and 7 will be sat idle at about 0-2%)

Likewise I'm seeing similar on a 6 core Phenom, where it does come into it's own, is I can leave 3ds and PSP running while testing in Trainz and it has zero effect on performance.

 

[CRO]

Interesting thread. I have never seen anything published before to say TS2012 utilised four (or more) cores. I have been debating wether to go to TS2012, and this info may just be the decider in favour.
Currently running a Core 2 Duo Quad Core 2.66Ghz with TS2010, and 1Gig graphics. With sliders around the normal mark I get avg 30fps, dropping to 15fps in dense scenery.
Cheers
Bo (CRO)

 

[Euphod]

Good information here from those that should know, thanks for the input on the dual -vs- quad core controversy!

 

[KenGreen]

There are no dual core i7s, they're all 4 or 6 cores (or with hyper threading enabled virtually 8 or 12 core). The i3 and i5 have dual and quad core versions.

http://ark.intel.com/products/53464/Intel-Core-i7-2640M-Processor-(4M-Cache-2_80-GHz)

Unfortunately for me there is, hence this thread to see how much of a mistake I have made.

A couple of years ago running Trainz on a laptop was a complete no go, it was frowned on by everybody and then a few months ago there seemed to be a change of opinion and gaming laptops were acceptable.
Good I thought, at last I can replace my 4 year old desktop PC with a decent laptop and be tidy and keep the missus happy.

So four weeks ago I started looking, at first I went to the Alienware site but at the prices they were charging I figured I was paying for the name and wouldn’t get value for money. I searched around the internet and found PC Specialists a company that build PCs to your specifications.
http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/

I knew I wanted a laptop with a large screen so that bit was easy,,18.4” screen, just the ticket.
Next what processor, hmm let me see, my old desktop pc has a Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4 GHz so do I choose a i7 2640m 2.8 GHz dual core or the i7 2670qm 2.2GHz quad core. Well I’ve seen on the forum that people have said Trainz only uses 2 cores therefore I might as well go for the faster processor as the other 2 cores will be idle, the fact that other processes are happening never even occurred to me. My desktop processor is 2.4 GHz so I need one faster than that.
Next memory, well I’ll have 8 GB but the Kingston as that is faster, I know Trainz only uses two, so I’ve heard, but just in case as I will be sorry if I’m wrong and after all it’s not that dear.
The Graphics card choice was the next, it was either one Nvidia 1.5GB GTX560 or two. Well Trainz can’t use two so that’s easy.
Hard drives, well I don’t know how much I’ll collect and I’ve seen that quite a lot of people have a second partition to run Trainz. I’ll go one better, I’ll have 2 drives one bog standard 500GB for normal use and a second drive for Trainz, a 500GB Seagate Momentus XT Hybrid Sata 3G/bs 32MB Cache 7200 rpm, what that all means goes over my head but it was £141 which seems a lot for a hard drive so it must be something special.

Well my new “dream machine” will be delivered tomorrow but it will probably take me until Christmas to load every thing on. I even have TS12 on DVD just delivered from N3V ready in the wings, it’s just a bit disconcerting to read that TS12 can use 4 or more cores.

Unless you understand all this technical stuff it is so difficult to choose what items are best to run Trainz as there seems to be so many opinions. I liked RRSignal’s response best, when I read this I thought perhaps I was right and then as further responses came in I thought perhaps not. At one time the Graphics card was the key but now this has now changed to being the processor, how is the normal user who just wants to watch the trains go by to decide what is the ideal set up.

I now know how most women feel when asked what car would they like and respond the red one.

Thanks for everybodys input. I hope this thread will help others are thinking of having their own Laptop built.

Ken

 

[NikkiA]

I now know how most women feel when asked what car would they like and respond the red one.

Ah, casual misogyny, always makes me feel like helping