Share Your MSTS Settings!

[simon3747]

eBay is the place for timetables, search under "working timetable" and it will locate about 300 or so, well it did last time I looked and all different periods and regions as well.

Good luck,

Simon3747

[gswindale]

Or
http://britishrailwaybooks.co.uk/wtt/wtt.php

is a reasonable site to get them from.

[45002]

Or
http://britishrailwaybooks.co.uk/wtt/wtt.php

is a reasonable site to get them from.

Or

http://www.transportstore.com/index.cfm ... m/catid/75

MARTIN

[dkightley]

Back on original topic....

However I will save up and go Dual Core or even Quad Core by Xmas.

This won't make any difference to the running of MSTS! MSTS (and in fact almost all but the newest games) only runs off a single cpu.....and you're likely to find that multiple cpus tend to run at slower clock speeds. Don't do the thing the marketing ploys try to get you to do...think that a quad core 1.6 is four times faster than a single core 1.6 cpu!!! Its NOT! There's one chip the same speed....and three sitting idle - unless your OS AND application software are specifically designed to utilise multi-cpus.

[Sector95]

Thank's for the tip. There's a 2.7GHz AMD Sempron at PC World will that do it any justice since its single core?

[dennisat]

Thank's for the tip. There's a 2.7GHz AMD Sempron at PC World will that do it any justice since its single core?

Hi, you may have to shut down any background tasks that you possibly can to get best results. I've found that an AMD Athlon X2 5600 runs MSTS very well. It will load one of the 2.8GHz cores to a max of 90% which leaves the other core to deal with any background tasks. This means I can leave my internet connection open, Virus Checker running, etc, and run MSTS with no problems at the same time. Despite MSTS being a single thread application, I've noted that often both cores will take the load when MSTS is running. Sometimes they even balance out at 50% each. I presume this is because system functions called by MSTS will sometimes, if you're lucky, start on the core that the MSTS application is not using.

Has the PC you mention got a dedicated graphics card? Although MSTS is not heavy on graphics processing as modern games go, it will always show up better with a reasonable (top of the range definitely not needed) graphics card.

If you search these forums you'll find loads of advice and examples of the configurations people use. MSTS does not need a top of the range gaming machine. Its performance is often not noticeably better on one of these super machines than on one costing half the price.

Dennis

[Sector95]

Hi I don't have many background processes running. I'm saving for a new processor now thats something similar to yours. One question though, if it's 2.8GHz does that mean it has two 2.8GHz cores or is it the combined total? I have a Nvidia 210 GPU thats 512MB which is pretty much mid range but it will run MSTS well if the CPU didn't act like a bottle neck.

James.

[dennisat]

if it's 2.8GHz does that mean it has two 2.8GHz cores or is it the combined total?
James.

You have to check the detailed spec of the processor you're interested in. An AMD Sempron is, I think, a single core. An AMD Athlon X2 for instance is dual core and this range reflected the clock speed in the name; ie an Athlon X2 5600 is 2 x 2,800GHz cores. Many other ranges of processor, including the newer AMD processors, often give no obvious indication in the name of the number of cores and/or their clock speed. Also check your motherboard spec; will it support the processor you're considering? Even if it does you may need a BIOS upgrade. This isn't difficult but you have to hold your breath while it proceeds because if it fails midway (very unlikely) you may have an inoperable PC.

Dennis

[Sector95]

Hi,

Is the processor I've got my eyes on: http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/amd-athlo ... 5-pdt.html
I know it's the cheapest Dual Core processor PC World have but I'm on a budget and the specs look decent.
It should be compatible with my motherboard as AM3 Socket CPU's are backwards compatible with AM2 Socket motherboards with a BIOS update.
Will it be able to run MSTS well with the settings maxed?
If you have any better processor suggestions plese let me know as my budget can vary!

James.

[slipperman12]

Hi James,
Just a note of caution! Make sure that you can get a BIOS upgrade for your motherboard; since it is an OEM model it may be difficult.
If you need to determine which motherboard you have, get PC Wizard from here :
http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/pc-wizard.html
It gives you a deal more info as well, so is a useful utility - I have no commercial connection with them!!

Regards,
Ged