TSX or Legacy Which do you prefer?

[msey0002]

Depends on the route for me. If it's not demanding, I turn on TSX on the lowest settings, which is still better than Legacy at decent settings. But I don't mind legacy at all when running, say, the WCML. I still think both need to be optimised further though.

But to be perfectly honest, while it's a nice update, to me, I would take good physics and realistic features over these flashy raindrops any day of the week. With the releases such as the 57 (and yet to be made even more realistic if the live stream a while back is anything to go by!) then we're getting there

[kevmt]

Definately TSX.

I had basically given up on trainsimming, but the new graphics engine is rather nice and it has inspired me to go back to doing a bit more modelling.

Kevin

[darkdj]

Due to the specs of my machine, im staying with Legacy mode for the time being for basic operations and filming of TDRS.

However, for screenshots and the immersion factor, it's gotta be TSX mode, which I can run but with rubbish framerates!

[chrisiveson]

Legacy on my spare test PC's where I can build scenarios in the most part.
Then transfer them to my main PC and it's wow, TSX all the way.
Main PC downstairs in the living room, 2 of the test PC's upstairs in the railway/computer room. ( those 2 won't run TSX properly anyway. )
It's upstairs where I work/play into the wee small hours. ( have to be quiet though, SWMBO is only in the next room and she hears everything, and I mean everything )

Chris.

[ihavenonamenoreallyidont]

TSX still has the ability to look utterly abysmal even on high-end rigs due to the woeful implementation of anti-aliasing. There are times when, because of that, legacy actually looks better. NEC is a fine example of that.

However, TSX also has the ability to create moments where you think, "wow, that's gorgeous!".

Consider mine a hung vote.

[alexedwin]

TSX

[mjoliver1]

I also have never tried 'Legacy' mode, and I see little point in doing so since there's no way I would want to do without the depth of TSX. I find it difficult to understand that anyone would want to use 'Legacy' if their machine is capable of running TSX. I think the majority of users would have enjoyed the progress all the way from RS, despite teething troubles in each successive upgrade. And, TSX is an upgrade. So, Why go back to to what is essentially RW2?

Mike

[USRailFan]

I _prefer_ TSX mode, since it simply looks better, and offers the new headlites etc. Although since it is next to impossible to get any real performance combined with sensible settings on this laptop, I'm kinda stuck with legacy mode...

[Acorncomputer]

Hi all

I have just set up my new desktop computer that has amazing specs.

I can run TS2012 with just about everything on and to max (AA at high) but even so, the visual effect is not perfect.
With shadows on there is a definite reduction in frame rates with a rapid jerky movement of the background plus some rubberbanding at times. Whilst shadows look great, the performance cost, even on a super computer is too great.
I also notice that scenery objects distort as you move along, particularly trees, a bit like looking through heated air.
Telegraph poles appear from the distance but keep changing shape as you get nearer. Possibly to do with AA but a high setting should sort that out.
The overall appearance is blurred and the colours washed out.

Now switch to legacy mode with all settings at highest with shadows on (AA at high).
I get a much more pleasing colour with all scenery crisp and sharp. (Brown tint on distant landscape as already known about).
A super smooth performance with NO jerkyness, NO distortion, NO rubberbanding and telegraph poles stay rock steady as you get nearer to them.

The TSX lighting effects are great, the shadows are great but I have to be honest and say that having had a chance to compare both TSX and Legacy Modes on a good spec computer, Legacy Mode gives a far superior performance to TSX as far as playability is concerned.

We all pay our money and take our choice but at the moment I think I prefer to play scenarios in Legacy Mode even though I can use TSX mode quite well and just use TSX where the additional features are important to the scenario.

I see that there is probably a core update due next week with perhaps more before Christmas so let us see what improvements these make.

Legacy Mode -

[166Driver]

Currently using Legacy mode, as I get reasonable performance on high settings. Haven't been bothered to tweak the settings yet so I can use TSX smoothly.

I don't like the odd shadows in legacy, some wagons still cast weird shadows around the wheels. When going into a tunnel the loco and carriages are so well lit from outside it just looks odd. And the running numbers in legacy mode, particularly on the 166 and HST, don't look white, they're dark silver and only the outline is barely visible. But in TSX everything looks perfect, even the running numbers. It looks so much more realistic, but I don't enjoy the slideshow.

If I can get higher framerates from TSX, I'll go to that.

[Acorncomputer]

If I can get higher framerates from TSX, I'll go to that.

From my experience, frame rates are not necessarily a good indicator of performance. I can limit TSX to a steady 29 fps but the visual effect is not automatically improved. There needs to be experimentation with the settings of all options to get a good result and that might mean having frame rates in the range 16 to 24, but that is OK.

EDIT - I think I have to add that on my laptop with a 17" screen, the image is very sharp and clear although there are still performance issues. My observations are based on my 24" monitor at home which is bound to look less sharp at close quarters but nevertheless, I am able to compare images on the same screen to arrive at my conclusions.

[quickthorn]

TSX for me.

I've only tried legacy a few times, and never had RW2. I find I can get a much better image in legacy, because I can use full AA (which I can't with TSX without killing framerates), so things like catenary wires don't shimmer. However, I find the colours a bit overexposed, and now I've seen lights, and especially cab sway etc, TSX feels a little bit more real to me, even with no AA.

[theokus]

If I can get higher framerates from TSX, I'll go to that.

From my experience, frame rates are not necessarily a good indicator of performance. I can limit TSX to a steady 29 fps but the visual effect is not automatically improved. There needs to be experimentation with the settings of all options to get a good result and that might mean having frame rates in the range 16 to 24, but that is OK.

EDIT - I think I have to add that on my laptop with a 17" screen, the image is very sharp and clear although there are still performance issues. My observations are based on my 24" monitor at home which is bound to look less sharp at close quarters but nevertheless, I am able to compare images on the same screen to arrive at my conclusions.

Same here for a 19" Samsung (LCD) monitor.
I would like to see the game on a HD-monitor and high res. > 22"

[Acorncomputer]

and especially cab sway etc,

Can sway works just the same in Legacy Mode as it does in TSX mode

[johnrossetti]

Hi, there is no doubt that TSX is the way to go, but not on my pc. I'm lucky as I have a pretty good self built pc with dual boot. WXP 32bit and W7 64bit. Railworks on both, except one I didnt update with 2012 and one I did, so I can run RW2 as before 12th Oct and TSX/Legacy after the 12th. I have the same scenery on both apert from Horseshoe Curve. Most of my own (intensive Scenery) such as TableTop will not even load under TSX or Legacy, but are fine under RW2 and the frame rates are much better in RW2 than even the same scenery under legacy.
So... make of that what you will, I cant afford a new pc for at least a year, so I just use what ever mode I can that works best for the scenario I want to run.
Shame really but TSX was a jump to far for me.