A New Computer for MSTS - What Specification?

dforrest · Post by **dforrest** » Fri Dec 24, 2004 7:32 pm

With all of the high-powered routes now available, I need a new computer system to replace my old underpowered system.

I use it as a home office computer but mainly to run MSTS.

I am prepared to spend what is necessary to get the best possible system for running MSTS (it will the have to last me for a few years!) but do not want to go overboard and get such a high-end system that MSTS cannot take advantage of the features it contains.

Can anyone offer any advice or suggestions? They would be gratefully received.

As an afterthought, should I be taking account of the requirements of TMTS, which it appears will be the next train sim on the market?

.

bravedan · Post by **bravedan** » Fri Dec 24, 2004 8:11 pm

Yup, I'd wait for the clones to appear unless absolutely forced....most of MSTS issues cannot be PC specced out...............

Dave

MikeandDi · Post by **MikeandDi** » Fri Dec 24, 2004 8:26 pm

I am in the same position as dforrest, and will be looking to replace my present 1.7Ghz Pentium 4 computer early in the new year.

My present set up just will not run Severn Valley Railway at an acceptable level, and I am having similar problems with Thames Mersey and London and South East.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Happy Christmas to all

Mike Sexton

dforrest · Post by **dforrest** » Fri Dec 24, 2004 8:39 pm

bravedan wrote:Yup, I'd wait for the clones to appear unless absolutely forced....most of MSTS issues cannot be PC specced out...............

Dave

Sounds sensible but my need is more urgent. My 1.0Ghz system is giving me low single-digit frame rates on TM (when it does not crash!).

.

kreader · Post by **kreader** » Fri Dec 24, 2004 8:41 pm

I bought a new computer last August and I based my specification on the PC specs suggested by Matt on the site home page.

I looked at the Express version and my machine is similar but not exactly the same. I am very pleased with the result I can now see things on routes that were not showing before. I suppose that is the graphics card.

It runs Thames Mersey with no problems with frame rates but nevertheless I am still having problems with this route locking up. I have hardly completed any activitities yet due to the problem. Just have to go back to turning all the display attributes down some more.

harveype · Post by **harveype** » Fri Dec 24, 2004 9:29 pm

Hi

I have a Pentium 2.6ghz

512mb 333mhz ddr ram

and a 256mb nivida graphics card 5600.

These items are the three main things that you would have to concentrate on

this system runs well with MSTS

If you where to get a Pentium 4, 3ghz or greater, Front side bus FSB bigger the better , I believe there up to 800mhz, make sure that the mother board is capable of supporting an FSB of 800mhz.

Maybe get ddr ram at 400mhz or greater with at the least 512mb, more is better.

And the graphics card the bigger the better Nivida 6800 or ati. Although the processor and the ram probably will help more than the graphics card, I believe a game needs to be written to use the full functionality of a graphics card and lets not forget 8mb and 16mb where the latest and greatest at the time MSTS was released. But having said that the powerful graphics card will not go astray on any new software product in the future.

This is not a precise brand name suggestion.
Just a rough guide.

be warned though there are routes out there that no matter how powerful your PC, MSTS is incapable of processing the data quick enough and jerking will still occur.

I dont think a gray super computer could run MSTS smooth all the time.

Peter

lateagain · Post by **lateagain** » Fri Dec 24, 2004 9:36 pm

If you're very rich there's probably an optimum spec for Train Sim, but is it really all you play? Is it really all you use your computer for?

Software writers have demonstrated a pretty lazy attitude to their craft over the past few years. As machines got faster, HDD's got bigger, Memory got cheaper etc.

Bottom line is you should always buy or build the best "state of the art" box that you can afford. If you don't it will be struggling to perform with something or other before you've had it a year. If you build you must look at the "upgradability" of your components. Graphics cards have the worst shelf life of all. They make the depreciation on new cars look good

! Todays "must have" will be on sale for less than 20% of it's current price within the year.

Read up some independant review sites like http://www.a1-electronics.net/. At least your looking at reviews from the same source when comparing bits of kit.

Don't go for the "best" CPU in its class. The price goes up by lunatic amounts for little extra performance. The "4.0" might cost Â£120, the "4.2" Â£150 and the "state of the art" "4.5" Â£290. Yeah right! Line up suckers!

You can never have too big a HDD. Most "Bargain" ready made machines have really high processor/memory specs and a HDD size that would have looked poor in a two year old laptop. Like any storage space as soon as you get more you'll fill it up.

Don't take any notice of manufactured machine reviews in magazines. The chances of getting a machine with the same spec as the review model is pretty slim. You may have noticed that Car brochures always feature shots of the top of the range model with ALL of the extras... like they were standard fittings!

Also remember that M$T$ is now an ancient piece of software. Almost any new machine with a decent spec should run it as well as can be expected. My advice is look at what else you'll be doing with the machine when you make your choice.

Geoff

Lad491 · Post by **Lad491** » Fri Dec 24, 2004 10:08 pm

The best performance setup is an SATA hard disk (or two in a raid set) for speed of loading tiles to cut down on the jerkies. At least 512mb ram, 1GB is better although the performance improvement between 512 and 1gb is less than 3% on average as MSTS doesnt utilise memory very efficiently. 128mb graphics cards seem to perform better than 256mb ones which are too sophisticated for mSTS's dated graphic engine. The P4 3 ghz, or the AMD 64bit processors are probably good enough. Again there is little improvement in performance between a 3ghz and a 3.6 ghz processor and the 3ghz will be a lot cheaper. But beware overheating problems with AMD, make sure you have a big case and lots of cooling.

Timcourt1 · Post by **Timcourt1** » Fri Dec 24, 2004 10:09 pm

Good graphics card and plenty of Ram will give you good TMTS performance- same as any other game really!

Merry Christmas

Tim C

stephenholmes · Post by **stephenholmes** » Sat Dec 25, 2004 1:38 pm

Hi everyone Happy Christmas to All
Speaking of computers I am perfectly happy with my setup
I have a Pentium 4 3Ghz processor a Radeon 9600pro 128mb graphics card topped up with 1.5gig of RAM
My Pc will happily run Severn Valley and East Lancashire Railway etc
Hope this info is of some use.
Regards Stephen

unionpacific · Post by **unionpacific** » Sun Dec 26, 2004 1:00 am

I have a Pentium 3 with a 900 Ghz processor with 256 Ram & 128 graphics card,never had a problem running MSTS,ever!

Upgraded the origional 20G HDD to two 200G Hard Drives only so I can fit on all my routes/add-ons.(80 route add-ons so far)

This just goes to show you DONT have to spend $$$ on a computer,
just get it set up right!

Total,total rubbish that you need a high end pc for old MSTS!

dforrest · Post by **dforrest** » Sun Dec 26, 2004 1:32 am

unionpacific wrote:>>>>>>> 900 Ghz processor <<<<<<<<

Total,total rubbish that you need a high end pc for old MSTS!

Oh yes?

.

bravedan · Post by **bravedan** » Sun Dec 26, 2004 8:09 am

I have three systems:-

P3 600, 256, 32 TNTVanta
Athlon 1.4, 512, GeForce 3
P4 3GHz, 1024, Radeon 9800 Pro (and lots of other very high spec components, best data transfer rate memory available, striped SATA drives, etc, etc)

The P3 runs MSTS reasonably smoothly only with low graphics settings, the poor graphics card and lack of RAM being the killer............the difference between the other two is less pronounced, as while frame rates are much better on the P4 than with the Athlon system (not at all unusual to see 30 - 40 fps even with complex routes and stock and with all sliders at max) , the infamous MSTS update stutter is still evident, proving you can't keep a dated graphics engine down with New Technology.............

dforrest · Post by **dforrest** » Mon Dec 27, 2004 4:12 pm

Well, this seems to summarise to:

Get the bast CPU that you can afford but over 4.0 GHz is probably overkill.

Get as much quality RAM as you can afford, but at least 1 GB.

Get the fastest, biggest hard drive you can afford.

Get the best video card you can afford.

Any comments?

.

SCOTTLOWES · Post by **SCOTTLOWES** » Mon Dec 27, 2004 4:39 pm

I have got this and it runs NWE 2,Mideast UK,ELR,SVR fine

AMD 2200 SEMPRON

M/BOARD ASROCK
512 MB DDR MEMORY
MIDI TOWER ATX 350WATT
40 GB HARD DISK DRIVE
UP TO 32 MB VIDEO ON BOARD
56K MODEM
1.44 FLOPPY DISK DRIVE
52X CD WRITER
SOUND CARD ON BOARD

and this only cost me 199 pound (Well cost my dad

)