I`m running trs 2006, but also have 2009 ,and I`m just looking for some advice on upgrading my laptop. I have a Dell Inspiron 1720 with windows vista premium, Intel core 2 duo T5750 (2.0 GHZ/667 mhz FSB/ 2MB cache) processor, 3 GB of ram, 320 GB of memory and an Intel GMA X3100 graphics card and DirectX 10. I`ve noticed that sometimes the graphics a jerky and I want to avoid this. I want my computer to run TRS smoothly but also be more than enough so that I don`t need to upgrade it I get a newer version of TRS in the next couple years. I`m thinking of getting at least a 2.5 GHZ processor or above 3GHZ depending on cost as well as an Nvidia Ge Force or ATI graphics card but don`t know which one. I check the net and theres a lot to choose from and I don`t really know alot about this kinda thing. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, I figure who better to ask than people that use TRS.
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Upgrades???
- Thread starter rjw1975
- Start date
poppins122325
TC1/TC2/TRS 09,06,04/UTC
hi there
I currently use a Nvidia Geforce 9600 GSO 768mb card and i too find the graphics to be a tad jerky too at times, i assume you looking for a card for a desktop pc. I myself are looking at a Nvidia GTX 285 or 290. When the next set of GTX cards are released (GTX 300 ect) prices will hopefully drop and make these cards a little more affordable.
Hope that helped
Nathan
I currently use a Nvidia Geforce 9600 GSO 768mb card and i too find the graphics to be a tad jerky too at times, i assume you looking for a card for a desktop pc. I myself are looking at a Nvidia GTX 285 or 290. When the next set of GTX cards are released (GTX 300 ect) prices will hopefully drop and make these cards a little more affordable.
Hope that helped
Nathan
johnwhelan
Well-known member
I`m running trs 2006, but also have 2009 ,and I`m just looking for some advice on upgrading my laptop. I have a Dell Inspiron 1720 with windows vista premium, Intel core 2 duo T5750 (2.0 GHZ/667 mhz FSB/ 2MB cache) processor, 3 GB of ram, 320 GB of memory and an Intel GMA X3100 graphics card and DirectX 10. I`ve noticed that sometimes the graphics a jerky and I want to avoid this. I want my computer to run TRS smoothly but also be more than enough so that I don`t need to upgrade it I get a newer version of TRS in the next couple years. I`m thinking of getting at least a 2.5 GHZ processor or above 3GHZ depending on cost as well as an Nvidia Ge Force or ATI graphics card but don`t know which one. I check the net and theres a lot to choose from and I don`t really know alot about this kinda thing. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, I figure who better to ask than people that use TRS.
Basically laptops are optimised for battery life, desktops are much better price performance wise and can be upgraded more easily.
Which way would you like to go?
Cheerio John
Battery life doesn`t matter since I either use it at my place ,or my girlfriends, or my parents place when I go home at xmas and I usually plug it in. So at least for now I want to upgrade my laptop, maybe I`ll buy a desktop sometime in the future. I`ve seen new dell laptops that have alot faster processors than mine and since mine is a 17 inch I know that I can upgrade to a certain point since theres more room in the case.
Last edited:
poppins122325
TC1/TC2/TRS 09,06,04/UTC
It may be worth having a Pc shop install the parts as laptop upgrades can be very tricky at times (from my limited experience). The biggest factors you have to consider when upgrading is space inside the case and heat, battery life isnt a concern for you as you have it plugged in all the time so that would be the only factors i could see being a problem.
I went to a pc shop a couple days ago and it turns out that my video card is built in to the motherboard so it can`t be changed and they said that upgrading just the processor wouldn`t make enough of a difference to make it worth the money. So, I figure I`ll just tough it out and get a new one in the future. They have ones out that are more for gaming that have nvidia video cards and way faster processors.
Driver_Col
Well-known member
So, I figure I`ll just tough it out and get a new one in the future. They have ones out that are more for gaming that have nvidia video cards and way faster processors.
Given that you are now going to wait, please seriously consider John Whelan's comments re Desktop abilities. I bought a "high end" Dell laptop a couple of years ago and it was great on fairly simple routes.... but there is always that more complex route you want to try and/or create. Maybe you want to include loco sheds with multiple locos in them. I soon outgrew the laptop and had to invest in a desktop in order to satisfy my need for good graphics and smooth operations when in complex scenarios.
Regards. Colin.
I priced some on dell`s website last night. I could go nuts and spend $3000 for one of their alienware desktops that are made for gaming, but I checked out a studio series one with a 3.06 ghz processor,500 mb hard drive, 8 or 12 mb of ram, nvidia geforce 240 gtx, sound blaster and 20" moniter for $1250. I made sure to only check out ones without an integrated video card. That`s pretty close to the specs for the alienware one.
johnwhelan
Well-known member
I priced some on dell`s website last night. I could go nuts and spend $3000 for one of their alienware desktops that are made for gaming, but I checked out a studio series one with a 3.06 ghz processor,500 mb hard drive, 8 or 12 mb of ram, nvidia geforce 240 gtx, sound blaster and 20" moniter for $1250. I made sure to only check out ones without an integrated video card. That`s pretty close to the specs for the alienware one.
Sounds about right. Quad core, 64 bit operating system?
Cheerio John
johnwhelan
Well-known member
Honestly I don`t really know the difference between duo and quad core, but for the computer I`m looking at I`m pretty sure it says the duo core is faster. I think the quad is around 2.8 ghz. Is a quad core worth the extra money?
The major problem for computers is heat and how to get rid of it. Dual core was an attempt to create the heat over a larger area so each individual core ran cooler. Quad or more cores attempts to do more of the same. If you can only use a single thread then a single core is the best design as the cpu can cool on all sides, on a dual the side where the two cores meet doesn't cool as well. The problem is compounded on a quad etc.
You can compensate for putting more cores together by running them at a lower speed. So yes the dual is normally faster than a quad.
Now you get into the real world. First what sort of software are you running? TRS2004? this can only make use of a single core so it is probably faster on the dual processor. Note probably, on some quads it can actually tell only one core is in use and it knows that the cooling system is designed to cool all four cores so it will actually raise the clock speed so it may in fact now be running faster than the dual.
Are you still sitting comfortably. TS2009/10 has been designed to run on multiple cores. It spawns threads or tells a bit of code go off and do something. It's been observed to spawn half a dozen threads to do things in parallel. The operating system makes decisions about where to run the threads and where to run itself. If its a small undemanding layout then it may run all the threads on the same core. If its more demanding it will spread them out over as many cores as are available. So although the speed of the individual cores is slower because the work is divided up work work gets done ie you get faster frame rates.
So the ideal cpu for TS2009/10 probably has six or seven cores, six for Trainz and one for the operating system to do house keeping on without interrupting Trainz. Intel has noted this and will shortly be announcing a six core cpu design in 32 nm which takes advantage of TS2010 thread design.
Cheerio John
Ok, thanks, I think I get it. So even though the specs for the quad core say it`s slower than the dual core it will actually run things faster. Currently I`m using TRS2006 and have TRS2009 but don`t use it because my laptop isn`t quite up to spec for it. When I get the new computer I want to be able to run the TRS versions I have now and not have to upgrade my computer if I get newer versions of TRS a couple years from now. I`m happy with TRS2006 but don`t want my graphics to be jerky even if there`s 2 or 3 trains on the screen at once or high poly count items. Something else I thought of is are dual core processors going to become a thing of the past since quads have been out for a bit? From the sounds of it quad core is the way to go anyway. Thanks for the info.