Frame rates

ianmacmillan · Post by **ianmacmillan** » Sun Jun 29, 2003 10:47 pm

I've just stuck in 512m on memory and got an increase of 8 to 10

If I stop in a tunnel and cancel the cabview with shift 1, I get 59fps.

I'm wondering what is the highest anyone has got on normal settings.

(Incidentally, cancelling the cabview is a good way to increase the rate. MSTS must be redrawing the dials a lot.)

mikesimpson · Post by **mikesimpson** » Sun Jun 29, 2003 11:18 pm

I think you will find that the program is locked at a max of 58-59 fps. I have never seen anyone report anything higher than that.

LucaZone · Post by **LucaZone** » Mon Jun 30, 2003 6:42 am

Some people claim 60fps, but ive only ever seen 59

Fodda · Post by **Fodda** » Mon Jun 30, 2003 1:24 pm

PAH! With the system I have and because I have to have max detail on, I'm lucky if I see 5.9 fps maximum.

Usually I get about 10fps, down to 4-6 fps with AI around. Goes as low as 1 though on some busy tiles.

Worst is around Manchester in Woodhead with a lot of AI. Then it's more a case of seconds per frame than fps! But it's such a cracking route, it seems criminal to turn down the detail settings.

ianmacmillan · Post by **ianmacmillan** » Mon Jun 30, 2003 1:33 pm

Get yourself some more memory then.

I've been trying various combinations and more memory beats faster processor every time. (and its cheeper).

mdanie · Post by **mdanie** » Mon Jun 30, 2003 3:44 pm

Treated myself to a new PC recently to get one of the new GeForce FX cards. Processor is ~2 GHz, memory 1 GHz (not bragging - it was one of Time Computer's deals) and I still find that fps are reasonable, not spectacular. Any screen res above 1024x768 or 16-bit colour is a no-no, and I still get that jerkiness in high detail areas (ie fps OK but the train seems to jerk / slow / jerk /slow in some views). I think, as has been discussed before, that the game engine is poorly optimised - probably to allow the many views

.
It's a shame John Carmack isn't into train sims

LucaZone · Post by **LucaZone** » Mon Jun 30, 2003 5:26 pm

A machine like that shouldnt see low FPS or jerkiness. Theres something either wrong with the system setup or the game setup.

Also i think you mean 1Gb of RAM.....

Personally i wouldnt touch Time or Tiny with a barge pole......

mdanie · Post by **mdanie** » Tue Jul 01, 2003 9:07 am

Oops, yes 1 Gb memory.
I was a little surprised to see a lack of smoothness at the higher resolutions - even with graphics settings ramped to the max. But I suspect that any optimisation the game engine had was for direct X (6 ??) at the time of release, so later graphic card/direct X combinations will have only minimal effects on the efficiency of that engine unless the game gets patched again (zero chance).

I used to share your views re. Time due to their extremely poor customer support, but I was happy to use their buying power to get these components for less than half what I've paid for PCs before. I might do some fps tests when I get time.

cheers
mdanie

LucaZone · Post by **LucaZone** » Tue Jul 01, 2003 10:08 am

No the game was written for DX7. Though DX8 and 9 will have incorporated DX7 and so optimisation will be better on higher version of DirectX. Upgrading to a better version of DX wont cause degrading graphical issues. Or it would be pointless getting the newer version.

ianmacmillan · Post by **ianmacmillan** » Tue Jul 01, 2003 10:46 am

I read somewhere that MSTS loads as much as it can into ram when the game starts. Thats why you should back up your routes and trains folder and have only the route and trains you need in the game.

With more ram it just fills it up a little later, then when you hit a new item the hard disk whirrs and you get the stutters again.

I find that after a few miles it settles down with all the stuff it needs.

saddletank · Post by **saddletank** » Wed Jul 02, 2003 3:41 pm

Ian, I used to think this was how MSTS works, but I am no longer sure. I have only 1 route in the routes folder, and few consists/1 small set of stock in the trains folder, *and* a Gig of memory and my route still gives me monster jitters if I approach the busy part of it (after 30 seconds of driving). So it looks like not very much at all is loaded into memory when starting (probably just the terrain mesh and textures of the tile you are in, plus the s files of those scenery objects that are within draw distance of your locomotive), so if you start an activity in a very densely populated area you should be OK but if you approach one you will always still get stutter no matter how much RAM you have.

neilbooth · Post by **neilbooth** » Wed Jul 02, 2003 6:20 pm

I have just brought the just released "PRO TRAIN 3" , which is loaded!!! with scenery ..however because of this, my frame rate on this game drops lower than any other so if i want it to perform properly, i have to lower the graphics quality..i have a frame rating of around 30 per sec then it will drop to 10 for a second or two which cause's it to stutter quite badly.