Another laptop thread.... hmm, I wish we could consolidate these into one thread.
Hi does anyone know if TRS09 will run on a Toshiba laptop with the following specs.
PROCESSOR : Mobile Intel Core 2 Duo T5870 Processor, 2.0GHz, 800MHz FSB, 2MB L2 cache
MEMORY : 4GB(2 x 2 GB) DDR2 800
CHIPSET : Mobile Intel GM45 Express Chipset
STORAGE : 250 GB 5400rpm 2.5 inch SATA hard disk,
DISPLAY : 15.6 inch Widescreen TFT Active Matrix XGA 200NIT CSV
RESOLUTION : 1366 x 768;
Integrated Intel 802.11 a/g/n
GRAPHICS : Intel Graphics Media Accelerator GM45
AUDIO : Intel High Definition Audio Sound, Stereo Speakers
OS : Microsoft Windows 7 32/64bit Business
Thanks Ray
Yes, but it maybe a pain, I only have one laptop with an IGP (Intergrated Graphics Processor) as apposed to a 'Discreet GPU' (Graphics Processing Unit). Since the gap is narrowing between the 2, there are differences, apart from the fact that the IGP doesn't have its own dedicated RAM (it steals some of the system ram, so the amount available to the programs is not 4GB, but much less. However, graphics sharing is becomming true of all laptops now by the looks of things, although some cards still have dedicated memory.).
IGPs I believe, still rely a lot of CPU time in order to process some 3D graphics, I know that shaders on Intel GMA950s are "software controlled" (a fast way to appauling performance as it relies on the GPU in order to run.), and also, I think IGP have to use the same bus as everything else. After all, the IGP is a small area of the chip that does a mass of other things.
So, IGPs may have comparable clock speeds on the chip, but in reality, they are extremely limited. I have sucessfully however, got TS2009 to work reasonbly (open to interpretation) on an eeePC 901. It uses I think, the one thats 2-3 generations behind your own chip (Intel 945GCE chipset - very crippled chip, because it is used in conjunction with the Intel Atom - 166mhz clock!!), I needed to use Windows 7 and it doesn't do a whole lot without stuttering, in fact, most of my computers have problems running 7 fully timetabled services, the eeePC wouldn't manage any, let alone 7.
To get it to work, I think I had to use Open GL mode (a safe bet, due to the way OpenGL is implimented), which isn't recommended, as OpenGL mode is often appauling on IGPs as it is. Disable Transform and Lighting and did some tweaks in the intel graphics settings.
(Start > Control Panel > Intel Graphics Media Accelerator > 3D Settings > Open GL options I think)
I also had to say "goodbye" to the power saving schemes, which at best, are hopeless. They are also very crude, they scale badly and well, all I think they do is just modify the clock speed. Great if you want a cooler PC, but crap when you play games. Bearing in mind, I was on battery when I did all this.
Now I ran it, if it didn't run in either mode, I downloaded the latest drivers on the Intel website for the appropiate OS. (In my case, Windows 7 and yes, I am happily using Windows 7 on an eeePC.)
Now if, it runs, good.
Try putting a load of track down and some scenery.... oh dear, new notebook time?
Really, if you are on a budget and want to run Trainz on a laptop, ebay is rather useful. I got a second hand laptop with a Radeon GPU for about £400 4 years ago and the PC was only a year old, it was the best one I had really.
(This advice also works for some otehr chipsets, the dreaded SiS chipsets, I've got Trainz UTC to work on a SiS630T chipset. I regretted doing it though, TRS2004 was a disaster however, it wouldn't work at all in DX mode, it did in Open GL mode, but as soon as I added a train, it choked.)
Mods, is it ok if we make this sticky? Theres lots of questions many other users have with laptops and intergrated/discreet chipsets that they all ask and its best if we have an FAQ about laptops
