Trainz 2010 keeps on crashing and a graphics card question

[BryanMar3046]

Hi there,
so a few days ago, I have BOTH updated an old graphics card (ATI HD 4200) and downloaded a jointed rail High Detail Track. So I finished building a 315° track intersection with switches, (using the HDT) but when I finished, I wanted to place a train there.
it crashes...
later on, I had a Camelback at one end, but then there's a siding that has a switch close to the intersection track. tried switching it..
crashes.
But I placed 6 CSX switches on the branch line, and used the switch. It's perfectly fine and ok.
So I decided to build a 3 track yard FAR from the location, (using the std track) and I had no problem at all.
I was left with no choice but to ask you guys if it's any of the following possibilities below:
A.) It's the "outdated" graphics card.
B.) The jointed rail track
C.) Some file I have to delete just like what trainz 06 had when I asked, and reboot the game

I'm also asking about a graphics card question. I ordered Trainz 12, and it's coming in a few weeks. will the ATI HD 4200 card survive running the highly detailed game? Or do I need a new one like AMD?

 

[shaneturner12]

From memory, the ATI 4200 card is an integrated model, so if possible, upgrade to a dedicated graphics card. It may be that the JR asset you are using is too much for your current graphics card.

Shane

 

[Falcus]

A Couple things.

1: In this day and age, you can actually run TS12 without a Vid Card (NOT RECOMMENDED). TO do this you need something closer to a high end comp then further away. So what are the stats of the rest of your computer? Dual Core? Quad Core? CPU speed? Ram? OS? The Vid Card works in Concert with the rest of the computer, and they can both make up for each others deficencies, but a certain level of ability must be reached for any system to accomplish running TS12. So we need a bigger picture then just your vid card to fathom a guess as to how your system will fare.

2: You mentioned dropping a switch down, as well as (Presumably the JR) Camelback. Did you drop anything else down? Some assets are known to crash Trainz under certain circumstances (Incorrect use of some signals for instance), did You check to see how much of the JR items were TS12 only? (Some are, some aren't, they DO list on each products Page I believe what it is known to work in).

Answer these, and perhaps we can come to some kind of coherent conclusion.

Falcus

 

[BryanMar3046]

From memory, the ATI 4200 card is an integrated model, so if possible, upgrade to a dedicated graphics card. It may be that the JR asset you are using is too much for your current graphics card.

Shane

Hmm..mkay I was thinking about buying a AMD Graphics card

 

[BryanMar3046]

A Couple things.

1: In this day and age, you can actually run TS12 without a Vid Card (NOT RECOMMENDED). TO do this you need something closer to a high end comp then further away. So what are the stats of the rest of your computer? Dual Core? Quad Core? CPU speed? Ram? OS? The Vid Card works in Concert with the rest of the computer, and they can both make up for each others deficencies, but a certain level of ability must be reached for any system to accomplish running TS12. So we need a bigger picture then just your vid card to fathom a guess as to how your system will fare.

2: You mentioned dropping a switch down, as well as (Presumably the JR) Camelback. Did you drop anything else down? Some assets are known to crash Trainz under certain circumstances (Incorrect use of some signals for instance), did You check to see how much of the JR items were TS12 only? (Some are, some aren't, they DO list on each products Page I believe what it is known to work in).

Answer these, and perhaps we can come to some kind of coherent conclusion.

Falcus

To Answer your question, the camelback was located around the 3 track yard I recently added.
I deleted a express passenger but that didn't do anything (a reskinned SP 4-6-0, with 3-4 Amtrak Viewliners)
The JR track was made for 2.9 and up. But I can clearly see that Shane mentioned it could be my graphics card.

Stats of my computer?
Windows 7 32 bit.
Processer: AMD Phenom (tm) X3 715 Processor 2.80 GHz
RAM: 4.00 GB (3.25 GB usable)
Funny thing is that the graphics subscore is 3.6
while gaming is 5.2

 

[JCitron]

The AMD 4200/4300 series is a lower end video card that was/is great for not-too graphic intensive programs. Since you already have an ATI/AMD graphics card installed, I would recommend staying with that brand as mixing AMD and NVidia is like putting gasoline and water together! You'll have odd crashes if you put an NVidia card after you used an AMD before or vice a versa.


Having said that, you might want to look at their 7xxxx or 8xxxx series cards, which are the newer of their breed. There are a couple of things to watch out for, however. Your current power supply may not be adequate for your video card as these newer cards draw a lot more power than the older ones, and a new power supply may not fit in your computer's case should this be a proprietary design such as one by Dell, or HP as examples.

John

 

[BryanMar3046]

The AMD 4200/4300 series is a lower end video card that was/is great for not-too graphic intensive programs. Since you already have an ATI/AMD graphics card installed, I would recommend staying with that brand as mixing AMD and NVidia is like putting gasoline and water together! You'll have odd crashes if you put an NVidia card after you used an AMD before or vice a versa.


Having said that, you might want to look at their 7xxxx or 8xxxx series cards, which are the newer of their breed. There are a couple of things to watch out for, however. Your current power supply may not be adequate for your video card as these newer cards draw a lot more power than the older ones, and a new power supply may not fit in your computer's case should this be a proprietary design such as one by Dell, or HP as examples.

John

I understand that changing graphics card (that is not ATI/AMD) will screw up my computer. But is there like something that will help me? Or try upgrading to an AMD Radeon (TM) HD 6520G? I have one on my laptop that works well and fine.
Well.. Can you link that for me? Interested to see where you got this source

 

[BryanMar3046]

Now that's very weird.. The switch n stuff works fine, but now, the trains can't be spawned on the JR Tracks..
Looks to me I found the only thing crashing my game..

 

[JCitron]

I understand that changing graphics card (that is not ATI/AMD) will screw up my computer. But is there like something that will help me? Or try upgrading to an AMD Radeon (TM) HD 6520G? I have one on my laptop that works well and fine.
Well.. Can you link that for me? Interested to see where you got this source

The easiest method would be to update. It can be done, however, you need to run a driver sweeper program afterwards to clean up the bits otherwise things get funky. There used to be a program called Nasty File Remover which did just that. There is plenty of discussions about this and it has been the case for ages.

https://forums.geforce.com/default/topic/495037/geforce-basics/switching-from-ati-to-nvidia/

However, the 6520 isn't that bad a card, although quite older now. I have a 6950 which runs Trainz TS12 quite well. It was an expensive card 4 years ago, so I'm sure you can get it for quite a bit less.

The one in your laptop is actually a built-in chipset, that is, unless it's an Alienware computer where it is a separate, discrete is the proper word for it, video card that plugs into the motherboard. Those are quite expensive and can only be used on a specific model laptop. For desktops, they use the same chipset, however, the video cards don't need to burden the full computer with extra processing since this is done on the video card by its self, making everything run faster.