What should I focus on?

[conrail6373]

Yo,

I'm wondering, for those of you who run really high quality content, what part of your computer makes Trainz run so well? Is it a higher CPU speed, or more RAM. A higher graphics card maybe? What's your secret?

 

[Iced8383]

Focus on the graphics card. rrmods' content is high quality and needs a good graphics card.

 

[SuperFudd]

I am not the best Trainzer to answer this but I am the first.

Although it will run on 1/2 Gig of RAM, use at least 2G, 3G if using Vista, for best results.
About CPU and video card, the best of both is best. However there is no point in having the best video card and a not so good CPU and visa versa. The not so good will hold the other back.

Well, almost first.

 

[john259]

At least 1GB of ram. Many people say more is helpful but increasing to 3GB had almost no effect for me running XP. Vista almost certainly needs more though.

With the video card, the power of the graphics processor is critical. Don't just concentrate of the amount of graphics memory, that is only one factor. Tom's Hardware Guide has an extremely useful list of video boards in descending order of power - look for a "Best Graphics Card For The Money" article, and within that the Graphics Card Hierarchy Chart. In the Apr-09 edition it's on page 6 of the article.

John

 

[ZapperJet]

I've actually found that Trainz is more CPU intensive than video. In the past I've upgraded video substantially, while remaining with the same CPU, and received no impact to performance. However when the CPU was upgraded performance increased substantially.

Cheerio,
John

 

[Euphod]

I have found that in almost eight years of running every Trainz program made that the amount of RAM has made more difference than any other factor I have changed. After that I would recommend CPU and GPU last.

Your results may vary.

 

[illinoiscentral]

I run a standard Dell Inspiron 530.
I totally recommend the graphics card, why?
Because mine sucks, and only half of my route work using it.


Woody

 

[john259]

Upgrading my graphics board from an ATI Radeon 9800 128MB (tier 19 on Tom's Hardware Guide) to an nVidia XFX GeForce 7600 GT 256MB (tier 14) caused a huge improvement in performance. I don't know how much of that improvement was due to having more graphics memory and how much to the more powerful graphics processor.

It's the same old Trainz story yet again, two users, two totally different experiences!

John

 

[Euphod]

It's the same old Trainz story yet again, two users, two totally different experiences!

John

Well, it could easily be explained by the fact that we don't know what the starting parameters were for either of us. If I had a fairly fast CPU, and a fairly up to date GPU all along, then the addition of more RAM would make the most difference.

 

[john259]

Ed - agreed - too many variables - therefore it is not a science but an art - and probably a black one

 

[seat1ger]

Try updating your graphics driver.
I run an upgrade search once a month and there is always something to download from the Nvidia web page

 

[SuperFudd]

ZapperJet keyed:

I've actually found that Trainz is more CPU intensive than video. In the past I've upgraded video substantially, while remaining with the same CPU, and received no impact to performance. However when the CPU was upgraded performance increased substantially.

I suspect changing the video card first had little affect because it was held back by the old CPU. If you had upgraded the CPU first, Trainz would have been held back by the video card.

Could some one tell us how to tell what the choke point, CPU or video card, is in a computer?

 

[deeelare]

This is just a reminder -

The power supply unit is often overlooked , and although it has little to do with this discussion , as you add more power using components , one should check it to make certain it is up to par --

Just a reminder --- ,DLR

 

[john259]

Excellent point.

Also check the case ventilation fans are up to it. Powerful main and graphics processors give off a lot of heat.

John

 

[Dylanviey]

my answer will be D all of the above. CPU is basically how many trains u can have running at one time, RAM is the size of the route (and a little bit on how many trains u can run) and video card is for everything. If u focus on only 1 item it will bottle neck that item becsaue everything in interdependant. i would talk in to depth on why they are but i'm a little short on time right now.

 

[Euphod]

Even a dedicated sound card can take work load off the CPU!