[Hobo]

You fellas are all talkin' about high end stuff but you can run OR and MSTS - quite comfortably without spending a whole lot of money . I've built quite a few very good machines that run all Train Simulators and are very acceptable for everyday use and The guys don't need to win the lottery .
All depends on the Users finances - we don't all have a couple of grand to blow on a PC .
Think about AMD with integrated GPU .
Just a thought !

[Lindsayts]

nyc01, on 04 October 2012 - 05:51 AM, said:

Linux is my first choice also and for running office programs, email and internet it's what I primarily use, it's fast, cheap and secure. I only use Windows for running sims/games with the exception of X-Plane which I run on 64-bit Linux. With the exception of X-Plane I don't have any applications that come any where close to taxing a system like some of the sims/games I run on Windows.

What exactly are you using for performance testing in Linux?

A compile of the Linux kernel, I have tried a good number of ways and a kernel compile is as good a stress test of the CPU and MB as one can get.
This test is best described as a relative performance test as the kernel and the config used on ones PC's will change over time (Note , I configure and compile my own kernels). Due to the relative nature one MUST do before and after tests using the same kernel config.

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As it should because it sells. There's no reason why a simulation game can't have good graphics. I've used professional training simulators at work and smooth/fluid game play with good eye candy is just as important as accurate physics if you want an immersive experience.

I also know of at least two simulation game titles that are focusing on very accurate physics along with up to date DirectX 11 graphics, so yes it can be done if you have the resources.

Eye candy V good game play is a subjective issue, I way prefer in a train sim accurate routes and performing equipment much more than fancy looking items that behave incorrectly.

Just an opinion mind one.

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I didn't think train sims were heading anywhere, that's why we are here talking about OpenRails isn't, lol. It's also the reason why we've become used to train games with poor performance and lousy graphics. They only appeal to a very small audience, hence the reason why they've always been low-budget productions based on grossly outdated rendering/game engines.

A small audience is not the real reason for low budgets on train sims. The major problem with train sims is that the majority of the people using them wish for a real railway. Train sims, well MSTS anyway is one of the only PC "games" that have a good number of professionals from the field using them. As a consequence most are looking for something that looks and behaves correctly. Unfortunately railways are VERY diffcult to simulate to this level or accuracy, requiring for the development a wide ranging understanding of enginneering, physics, railway operation, signalling and safe working AS WELL as being able to write a decent program. A combination of disiplines that is EXTREMELY rare in this day and age. This is one of the major reasons why trainsims have behaved realtively poorly.

Another reason for small audiences is the difficulty of developing any material for it, routes being a particular problem. It will NEVER be easy to do a route, one is effectivly constructing a whole world single handed. An indication of the scale of this issue is my favorite route is the late Alan Landsbourgh's "Adelaide hills and SE". This route contains something like 600 miles of main line including the entire 305 mile run from Adelaide to Mt Gambier. The level of accuracy in this route is amazing although the object count id not particularly high, Alan stated he spent 6000 hours on this route including making something over 1000 custom models for it.
While Alans route is an extreme example it does show the amount of drive and dedication is required in building items for a train sim. In this "ready made" world to few have the patience and possible shear pig headedness for such tasks.

Lindsay