Which version of Trainz should I buy?

[Starr_Man5]

Hello guys.

I ordered a new desktop PC on Monday. This is the first time I've had an unlimited budget and could (finally!) afford whatever I wanted.

Anyway, I went into the shop and asked what 'their best' PC was, and when it was pointed out to me I cheekily asked "could you make it better?" and so the specs are now:

Windows 7 Home Premium
Intel i3 core two duo @ 2.93GHz
4Gb DDR3 RAM
1Gb ATI Radion Graphics Card (or it could be nVidia GeForce - can't remember although it is modern)
I added some other things onto it but they don't affect the game

I intended on buying Trainz 2010 but I've been put off by some bad reviews, whereas 2009 garnered mostly positive reviews/critique. Seeing as (I assume) my PC will be able to play any version, which should I buy?

Thanks,
Rikki.

 

[steve123]

Hi,
i understand your worries on the right trainz ,but i have had most of them and id say to go 2010 ,for me its far cleaner version and will be around longer than the rest ,make sure you install SP1&2 ,2 does take time to install ,with your new computer it will run fine ,if you are overclocking your computer remember to always save your work weather it be in a game or other computer work save save save and always keep a copy of any trainz downloads on your hard drives ,it is wise to get another hard drive and keep it all on that one know matter what version you get.All version have had good and bad reviews far and wide.however it is still a very good game or hobby
regards steve

 

[rweber95]

Trainz performance depends alot on the video graphics card. You have an ATI but what is the model number?

Bob

 

[Mike10]

If that was their best PC you went to the wrong shop.

Mike.

 

[Rail4Pete]

If that was their best PC you went to the wrong shop.

Mike.

I agree. You should cancel it and get a better PC. Have a look here to see CPU performances http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_lookup.php?cpu=Intel+Core2+Quad+Q9550+@+2.83GHz
Rail4Pete

 

[Starr_Man5]

Thanks for the replies.

I realise it probably wasn't the best pc i could have got, but its streets ahead of anything i have ever had. My last computer was a ASUS of some sort with an Intel D220 @ 1.50GHz, so i am very happy.

ps - I think i will get TRS2010.

 

[Paulsw2]

Thanks for the replies.

I realise it probably wasn't the best pc i could have got, but its streets ahead of anything i have ever had. My last computer was a ASUS of some sort with an Intel D220 @ 1.50GHz, so i am very happy.

Well, that's the most important thing if you're happy, but please consider if, as you said earlier,

This is the first time I've had an unlimited budget and could (finally!) afford whatever I wanted.

then you can do a lot better than a core i3. You could go for a core i7, perhaps the 930, unless you really do have an 'unlimited' budget, in which case you could get an even more powerful processor.

In addition, you could go for more than 4GB of RAM (assuming you've got the 64bit version of Win 7.)

Finally, you don't tell us what ATI card you've got. Is it an HD 58xx series?

This issue here is the degree of 'future proofing' you want in a new PC. While I dare say the specs you've mentioned are OK for today, and should run TS10 OK, how many years do you want this PC to last and be able to keep pace with future developments? So building in a bit of overhead in terms of specs should keep your PC 'ahead of the game' for a bit longer. Anyway, that's what I'm hoping with the specs I got for my new PC at the beginning of this year! [Core i7 860, 8GB RAM, ATI HD 5870]

Paul

 

[Starr_Man5]

Well, that's the most important thing if you're happy, but please consider if, as you said earlier,
then you can do a lot better than a core i3. You could go for a core i7, perhaps the 930, unless you really do have an 'unlimited' budget, in which case you could get an even more powerful processor.

In addition, you could go for more than 4GB of RAM (assuming you've got the 64bit version of Win 7.)

Finally, you d on't tell us what ATI card you've got. Is it an HD 58xx series?

This issue here is the degree of 'future proofing' you want in a new PC. While I dare say the specs you've mentioned are OK for today, and should run TS10 OK, how many years do you want this PC to last and be able to keep pace with future developments? So building in a bit of overhead in terms of specs should keep your PC 'ahead of the game' for a bit longer. Anyway, that's what I'm hoping with the specs I got for my new PC at the beginning of this year! [Core i7 860, 8GB RAM, ATI HD 5870]

Paul

Thanks for your input Paul. To be honest its not too late to change processor, and it is something i thought about last night when i watched an advertisement for the new i3, i5 and i7 chips. It appears that i (unwittingly) chose the lesser of these new intel chips. My own fault as i don't think i fully explained that i had an unlimited budget. I will speak to them tomorrow about it.

Once again thank you,

Rikki.

 

[Mike10]

When you've spoken to them go here and do a compare: http://3xs.scan.co.uk/

They've just built a custom system for me;

i7 930 @ 4.0 Ghz
12GB Ram
ATI 5850 1GB
SSD system drive
Raid 1 mirror 1TB storage drives

I cannot recommend them highly enough.

I'd say that would be a start point if you have unlimited funds and want to have something that will still be considered quick in a few years.

Mike.

 

[Starr_Man5]

So being quite shy and introverted, I decided to stick with what I had ordered for now (don't flame me). The graphics card is inVidia GeForce 1Gb, and from what I remember of my PC's quick start-up screen, it might be model number 220 or D220? I'll make sure to read it properly next time I restart the system.

I have an old copy of Trainz Railways (the one with the 'Harlem Line'). I installed it to see what this machine is like in comparison with my previous Laptop, which crashed every time I so much as tried to play said game on the lowest of all detail settings. This new PC was able to play it on maximum detail 100% no problem, and when I moved around with 'free roam' camera, the fluidity of movement and clarity is just astonishing.

I have ordered TRS2010 and look forward to getting down to business with it. I know now that I could've had a better PC, but I'm delighted with the one I have now and that's the most important thing.

 

[rjhowie]

This is going to sound odd. I am presently on TRS2006 but bought 09 then 10 and they are still in a drawer! At them time I was building something in 2006 and doing the same now but musing on whether to go up to 09 or 10!

Decisions. decisions.

 

[kamran]

i think core i7 is fastest processor till date and if the shop has core i3 the fastest cpu then you had visited wrong shop

 

[Starr_Man5]

i think core i7 is fastest processor till date and if the shop has core i3 the fastest cpu then you had visited wrong shop

It's only after I had ordered the PC did I realise I had ordered a slower processor than what was available. I genuinely have an unlimited budget for buying a new PC but I don't think I made that explicitly clear at the time.
The one I am on now (the new one I just purchased) is MILES ahead of anything I've ever had and is running anything I throw at it without any problems whatsoever, so I'm sticking with it for now.
If indeed I need to upgrade, I will do so (as money is no issue). I'm still going to visit my computer shop tomorrow and explain my position - I have no doubt they will say that they weren't fully aware of my budget. In fact, I may give this PC to my missus and buy another, better, system (now I'm "in the know") for myself.

I'm wanting an Intel i7 processor with 8Gb RAM, the best graphics card I can buy; the rest is negligible.

 

[cascaderailroad]

My Desktop PC is a-HP Windows 7, AMD64 Dual Core 5600+, with 2.8Ghz processor speed-that has 3Gb ram, and a 1Tb Hard drive, with a Nvidia 8500 video card.

I will be purchasing either 09 or 10 soon.

I have heard much ado about 09 being superior to 10, as 10 is screwy, and visa-versa.

We should have a sticky, or keep a common thread that compares both 09 to 10 versions, and which Service Packs are suggested, or not suggested.

I am primarily interested in route building, rather than running built in routes.

When I purchased TRS2006 I was overjoyed that Build 3337 Trainz Railwayz required no service packs whatsoever, and was virtually error free, and ran great, right out of the box, with nothing else needed.

What is best 09, or 10 ?

Anyone who is dissatisfied with either version (09/10) and wishs to sell a boxed set of either 09, or 10 disks, I will purchase either of them from you, so that you can upgrade to the version of your choice.

 

[JCitron]

My Desktop is-HP Windows 7, AMD64 Dual Core 5600+, with 2.8Ghz processor speed-that has 3Gb ram, and a 1Tb Hard drive, with a Nvidia 8500 video card.

I will be purchasing either 09 or 10 soon.

I have heard much ado about 09 being superior to 10, and visa-versa.

We should have a sticky, or keep a common thread that compares both 09 to 10 versions, and which Service Packs are suggested, or not suggested.

I am primarily interested in route building, rather than running built in routes.

When I purchased TRS2006 I was overjoyed that Build 3337 Trainz Railwayz required no service packs whatsoever, and was virtually error free, and ran great, right out of the box, with nothing else needed.

What is best 09, or 10 ?

With the current version, and service pack, TS2010 is byfar the best version Auran has produced in a very long time.

So having said that, if you're going to upgrade, I would go directly to TS2010. The reason that this is essentially TS2009 EE with the bug fixes done. TS2010 is also the way that Auran is going with their products, and although people may still be running TS2009, I personally don't see why if you're upgrading from an older version as this would be an interim in between step.

The bug fixes in TS2010 include the infamous Alpha channel issue that plagued older content. Faster performance, "smarter" AI, and better content handling in Content Manager.

John

 

[nimec]

Which versi0opn of Trains should I buy

Hi
I purchased 2010 on advice of an 'old hand' instead of 2009 and glad I did
On a good PC you will not have trouble providing you buy the latest one with SP 1 & 2. To improve it and to make it even more interesting may I suggest you also buy Murchison 2009 as well and fold it into 2010.
While there is no 'surveyor' in Murchison it has been designed to fold into and combime with 2010. It has great scenery and a wider variety of locos and rolling stock and with it rolled into 2010 all can be used in the 2010 program either runing trains or using the resources for layout construction in surveyor.
Im only starting to find it all however it looks an exciting world