To Speedtree or not to Speedtree, That is the Question

[jordon412]

I'm trying to decide whether or not to replace the billboard trees with Speedtreez on MSGSapper's Indiana Western route. I'm also trying to decide whether or not to add 'crop splines', which are used to replicate the rows and rows of crops planted on a farm. MSGSapper used a series of ground textures to create the look of rows of crops, I would just like to replace it with 'crop splines'. I'm reaching out to the Trainz community for your opinion.

 

[johnwhelan]

What's your video card?

The recommendation is different for a liquid nitrogen cooled Titian Xp or an Intel series 4000 integrated graphics.

Thanks John

 

[pware]

Certainly tree and crop splines are a quick and easy way to "fill" an area but the wisdom has always been that they can cause frame rate problems if overused on low to mid range systems. I use crop splines only when close to the track, otherwise I use textures.

Speedtrees (v6) have come a long way since they first appeared in Trainz but they can still have a performance penalty on lower end systems. Again it depends on how many you place and how many different types you use. I restrict my layouts to just a few different types of Speedtrees, but use lots of them.

Many billboards trees, particularly those with just two meshes crossing at right angles, look terrible close up and some still look terrible at a distance. So unless they are small, such as short bushes or grasses, I don't use them close to the track (or anywhere else really). But I do put a "speedtrees warning" on my layouts.

 

[philskene]

I'd support the above -- use a very limited number of different types of Speedtreees but use each type many times. On my latest narrow gauge layout, the "Cilie Oldphartz" I just used two types. One was a tree the other a cactus. The great feature of Speedtrees is that while they may be identical they all look different -- the height and girth of the Speedtree depends on its placement.

As for the splines, the conventional wisdom was that splines could cause a significant frame rate hit. Whether that is still the case I don't know.

Phil

 

[jordon412]

What's your video card?

The recommendation is different for a liquid nitrogen cooled Titian Xp or an Intel series 4000 integrated graphics.

Thanks John

If you mean my graphics card, it's a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 Ti.

 

[UnumProvident155]

I use the same graphics card for tane but it's the 2gb one

 

[pware]

If you mean my graphics card, it's a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 Ti.

I also have a 750 Ti and it performs very well with my use of Speedtrees and other trees as detailed above. Although, I am now considering getting a newer generation 10 series from NVidia that matches my power supply restrictions.