Frame rate killer and booster

[OpenRailer90]

I thought I need to post this so I will know which payware/freeware addons are frame rate killers. By my personal knowledge the M8 is the only one that kills frame rates in scenarios, according to forum posts. Who knows which other DLC addons will not do good as AI traffic?

Edit: I tried the German routes, and it runs mostly around the 30-40 fps range. NEC and NY/NH usually around the 20's. I have a Radeon 68##. What graphics cards are best for 60fps gameplay?

[Ericmopar]

This would be best in Geek Speak.

[arizonachris]

60fps? In this sim????? Not very often, if at all. I have a fairly high end GTX670 2Gb card (about the same as a GTX770 2Gb) and I still get frame rate drops into the 20's and teens in spots on some routes. Depends a lot on how well optimized the route is. Stevens Pass is a frame rate killer, as is one of the DDX40A's w/ TSX and headlights on. VNHRR is wonderful, as are many other third party routes including freeware ones.

High poly count assets and AI trains will choke a card when the next "tiles" (scenery/ assets) load. This is not only affected by the graphics card, but hard drive performance as well, and even the CPU speed and type. Settings in the graphics card's driver, and the in-game Settings, will also make a big difference in frame rates. There doesn't seem to be one rule for what these settings should be, either.

(disclaimer: the previous is from my humble experience )

[Antwerp]

I average 75-100 fps.

DDA40X 6936 with lights on drops me to about 60 fps.

[buzz456]

Dude?

[Antwerp]

Dude?

I Messaged him the info. Only thing that has changed on my CPU since this time last year was the Graphics Card.

[Ericmopar]

I can top 180 fps depending on the route and what settings.
I stay over 60fps 90% of the time with 2x2SSAA turned on. I don't usually drop below 50fps and sometimes drop to the high 30s when on Sherman hill and lots of AI are around in certain Workshop scenarios.

The 180 plus frame rates come along, if I drop my AA to 4xMSAA and turn off V-Sync.
The highest FPS I get are on Cajon Pass. It may not look as good as some of the newer routes, but it's easier on the graphics.
I haven't checked lately, but I think I might be able to top 200 fps on parts of Cajon ow, with the GTX 780.
Most of my in game settings are on high, with shadows on medium.