What are the CPU requirements for TANE ie does it really need a quad core CPU?

J

johnwhelan

Well-known member
The user (a content creator) has a dual core and directx 10 and feels its not worth upgrading the GPU to run TANE as he only has a dual core CPU.

Yes it was posted on the TANE hardware discussion but got no replies.

Thanks John
 
Not quite 2 core or 4 core but I had it working on an AthlonII X3 albeit on low settings when testing my route to see if a bottom end PC would run it at all. With a GTS450 it just about ran, changed the 450 for a GTX460 and it was far better, this was a long time ago though with just 4GB of DDR2 and an IDE HDD and just after TANE was released, so would hopefully run a bit better still now. Can't test now as the PC, surplus to requirements has been dismantled.
 
Interesting question, John. I'm searching for a PC for T:ANE for some time now, but I don't really feel like dropping two grand on a laptop capable of T:ANE. If anyone knows of a decently priced laptop capable of running T:ANE please speak.

Matt
 
epa said:
Interesting question, John. I'm searching for a PC for T:ANE for some time now, but I don't really feel like dropping two grand on a laptop capable of T:ANE. If anyone knows of a decently priced laptop capable of running T:ANE please speak.

Matt
Click to expand...

Aside from the Asus ROG G751/G752 series, here's a bunch of laptops, most under $1400, that should run T:ANE fine.

http://bfy.tw/6yvb
 
Analyzing T:ANE CPU utilization during gameplay and Surveyor editing on my quad core Devil's Canyon i7 shows that the program really only uses one or two cores (and multiple threads) most of the time.
It is rare to see 3 cores used concurrently and 4 cores hardly ever.
Note that those cores are operating at 4.6Ghz however, so that might preclude some duo-core CPUs running at frequencies lower than 3.0Ghz - but apart from that, I cannot see why T:ANE wouldn't run ok on just two cores as long as the GPU is substantial enough.
The better the GPU, the smoother and better T:ANE's performance will be, particularly with the graphics settings wick turned up.
T:ANE is much more forgiving on CPU performance/ specs.
 
Last edited:
PC_Ace said:
Analyzing T:ANE CPU utilization during gameplay and Surveyor editing on my quad core Devil's Canyon i7 shows that the program really only uses one or two cores (and multiple threads) most of the time.
It is rare to see 3 cores used concurrently and 4 cores hardly ever.
Note that those cores are operating at 4.6Ghz however, so that might preclude some duo-core CPUs running at frequencies lower than 3.0Ghz - but apart from that, I cannot see why T:ANE wouldn't run ok on just two cores as long as the GPU is substantial enough.
The better the GPU, the smoother and better T:ANE's performance will be, particularly with the graphics settings wick turned up.
T:ANE is much more forgiving on CPU performance/ specs.
Click to expand...

Thanks John
 
I've had some additional feedback if you run maximum viewing distances then it appears there is a much heavier load on the CPU so a quad is more useful in those circumstances.

Cheerio John
 
While I am surely no guru blessed with the knowledge of '1's' and '0's' I think most of us who have been intimately involved with these machines can draw some simple conclusions.
I say that if you want the proper performance for which T:aNE was created, then a 4-core cpu is mandatory.
My reasoning is that in any simple Trainz session I am running at the minimum:
Windows 10....
T:aNE....in which I am running the program from one disk, while accessing assets from another
An anti-virus program....
A higher end video card
Audio
Come, come, laddies! If you want to run T:aNE as TS12, then you just go ahead and keep that 2-core relic.
 
steamboateng said:
While I am surely no guru blessed with the knowledge of '1's' and '0's' I think most of us who have been intimately involved with these machines can draw some simple conclusions.
I say that if you want the proper performance for which T:aNE was created, then a 4-core cpu is mandatory.
My reasoning is that in any simple Trainz session I am running at the minimum:
Windows 10....
T:aNE....in which I am running the program from one disk, while accessing assets from another
An anti-virus program....
A higher end video card
Audio
Come, come, laddies! If you want to run T:aNE as TS12, then you just go ahead and keep that 2-core relic.
Click to expand...

But what options does that leave for someone with a dual core processor? Shelling out a minimum of $1,000 for a new machine? Realistically $1,400.

Not everyone has that kind of cash lying around.

Cheerio John
 
John, with all due respect, some of us realized a while ago what T:aNE would mean when applied to our physical (machine) computing assets.
On a personal level I applaud N3V's efforts. The differences 'tween TS12 and T:aNE are dramatic. While it's true, one can get a bit more bang from T:aNE on a lower end machine, it's also true that one cannot appreciate the program's possibilities unless played on a higher end machine.
WE, Trainzer's all over, asked for that! But such performance comes with a price. In all honesty, it's an unavoidable consequence. Common sense tells us that high-end gaming demands high-end machines.
 
johnwhelan said:
But what options does that leave for someone with a dual core processor? Shelling out a minimum of $1,000 for a new machine? Realistically $1,400.

Not everyone has that kind of cash lying around.

Cheerio John
Click to expand...


Dear John,

Not to be rude or demeaning, did you really want me to hold your hand, do a more detailed search, and find you something cheaper? What exactly are you going to be "shelling out" as a minimum? What kind of cash is lying around? You could save over time, not try spend your current savings all in one shot...

Paul
 
My own machine is a xeon with a GTX 980 so I'm fine. The conversation was with a content creator who has a dual core whatever and directx 10 so currently is unable to test content in TANE.

Cheerio John
 
steamboateng said:
John, are you 'sandbagging' on us? :)
Click to expand...

Sorry I don't understand the term. As I understand it TANE will run on a dual core but works better on a quad. So a botched approach is drop in a directx11 GPU but realistically a new motherboard, CPU, 8 gigs of DDR3 memory and a moderately expensive GPU are required if shadows are desired and sliders are to be kept off minimum which implies a new copy of win 10 as well. The problem is TANE scripting, you can't test them with TS12.

Cheerio John
 
OK guys lets make this a bit clearer.
The problem is a skilled Creator simply does not have the funds to upgrade any time soon, effectively a new PC required. So currently is unable to test his assets in TANE, basically it's more a case of what is the minimum CPU needed to just enable him to run TANE primarily for asset creation, testing scripts and such, rather than have to get others to do it for him. It's not about expecting good performance. Personally I think he can get away with the 3GHz Core Duo he has at the moment and just concentrate on a DX11 Graphics card.
 
Yes, let's............
Content creation in itself needs only the machine capable of doing it!
To see that creation in the environment it was meant for, undoubtedly requires a machine that can create that environment.
T:aNE is a challenge to all.
I read the Trainz Dev Forums every now and then and see the challenge presented.
To create an asset on any particular machine is one matter.
To see that asset in its environment on any particular machine is another.

Sorry John, I guess 'sandbagging' is a term more familiar to us south of the border. In general, it means building a defense, quietly! The connotation is not so much 'sneaky' as it is 'wise' in the defensive sense.
 
It seems to me the whole question is moot. The dog chases its tail because it moves, not realizing it's him central to the action. What is 'good enough' or even satisfactory, ls a matter of practical considerations. There is simply no answer because T:aNE as a program, can yield such a variance in results depending on the system presenting it. I know you know that. So how can such a question be answered. A strait forward answer is that the question is nonsense!
Tack on a good video card to the system and hope for the best. Meanwhile, acquaint yourself with the household piggy bank and start saving for the next 'puter!

best regards
mike
 
Maybe if these kinds of threads for folks that want something they haven't funds for, I should just stay out of it. Waste my time, waste their time. Simple.
 
pdkoester said:
Maybe if these kinds of threads for folks that want something they haven't funds for, I should just stay out of it. Waste my time, waste their time. Simple.
Click to expand...

But then TANE loses the content they create. You might not be interested in their work but judging from the download counts a few thousand people are. Scripting is an important part of TANE and not being able to test in TANE is a problem.

What we were trying to identify was how much to budget for the minimum upgrade given that N3V have stated a quad is required, and I think we have an answer.

Cheerio John
 
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