Well - so much for upgrading :(

[peterhayes]

Flier
There is quite a difference between multicore and multithreading This explains it well http://www.eetimes.com/design/automotiv ... multi-core. and of course Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thread_(computing). You can use both but in some cases it is better to use one or the other. AFAIK TS2012 has some multicore capabilities in some areas of its programming and I can't recall any game or app that is 100% multicore capable as it is a difficult programming exercise.

The .NET updates on start up is due to poor programming in TS2012 (on starting) it keeps wanting to install an older version of .NET FW - the solution just rename/delete your "installscript.vdf" in Railworks and the problem will go away. I have 2 PCs with TS2012 and on one it doesn't do this on the other running exactly the same version of Win 7 it does - go figure. The best solution I saw was here: http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/a ... 36892.html.
Regards
PeterH

[arizonachris]

PH, not to argue, but a lot of my newer games (not RW) use two cores natively. Win 7 uses another core. I was gonna go with a 6 core when I got the Bulldozer but stuck with a quad. I think it's enough for now. So at times, I have three cores running, and it does get warm. I have that FX4100 set at 4.2Ghz which it does with ease.

[TheFlier]

I think it comes down to hiring the right people - which is something MS might think of doing too. I cant believe they left core sharing and management down to the code-monkeys. usually CPU management is a function of the OS not poor app developers, its no wonder the thing is a shambles. At least the graphics people got it right and manage the sharing of GPUs themselves instead of leaving it to the doubtful skills of any old programmer that happened to come along. But then the gfx-people have got a vested interest - who'd want to spend a few thousand on multiple gfx-cards if the chance of them all being used was one-in-three?

Maybe one day MS will spot the problem and take things into their own hands, either that or maybe start-up some classes?

[peterhayes]

AC
Fair comment, but its wise to remember that Win 7 usually does a much better job in allocating cores (and threads) than most (gaming) software. As I say I still have to see a piece of software that is 100% Multicore Capable so at best the software uses some parts of MC function and the OS manages the rest nicely.
The one point that everyone forgets is that if the OS has a problem acessing the VAS then the number of cores, cpu speed, RAM speed and quantity, videocard, etc you have becomes inconsequential, that's where many of the stutter and low fps in modern games emanate from.
Run a 64-bit game in Win 7 64 and you'll see the difference!
Regards
PeterH

[arizonachris]

PH, you mean you have never heard of Folding @ Home? I run the GPU client on my video card (runs the card at 99%) and the SMP client on my Bulldozer and my other two Phenom quads (all 4 cores at 100%) Kinda warm inside today, running about 65c on the CPU and about 70C on the video card.

I have been running Folding for about 5 years now. Equipment failures leave me with only two PC's dedicated to Folding, plus my main PC which I can't run Folding full time. My other two PC's run Folding 24/ 7. Actually all my PC's run 24/7.

[TheFlier]

Flier
There is quite a difference between multicore and multithreading This explains it well http://www.eetimes.com/design/automotiv ... multi-core. and of course Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thread_(computing). You can use both but in some cases it is better to use one or the other. AFAIK TS2012 has some multicore capabilities in some areas of its programming and I can't recall any game or app that is 100% multicore capable as it is a difficult programming exercise.
Regards
PeterH

Sounds like I know multi-threading as multi-tasking, with time-slicing and self-interrupting processors. I thought that came as standard?

[peterhayes]

The Flier
AFAIK Multi-tasking means that the computer can run several processes at once without having to close any down and you can run more tasks than you have cores. Again the Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_multitasking
This article explains it better than I could: http://zone.ni.com/reference/en-XX/help ... ad_multip/.
Complicated ain't it! With all this going on its a wonder that we get the game to run at all!
Regards
PeterH

[TheFlier]

True

It's just a shame we're being sold such highly processor-intensive routes for this processing-challanged game.

[kin3]

This is a good tool for monitoring system. Do a search for "OpenHardwareMonitor", its free.

[miata54]

OTOH, one PITA is that now everytime I open RW Steam tries to "repair" .NET Framework 4 Client. Since it doesn't actually need repairing, I just click past it but reinstalling .NET 4, and reinstalling Steam haven't fixed the issue. I suppose it doesn't matter--it certainly doesn't affect playing the sim. [shrugs] If that's the price of the improvement I've seen, I'll pay it.

That generally happens when you let Windows update itself automatically, or you intentionally let Windows update Net 4 (which there's no reason to). When Steam sees a different version than what it installed, it thinks it has to repair, which it can't because the version it sees is newer than the one it installed.

I had the exact same scenario (not a RW scenario) happen to me. It was a PITA to see RW try and repair Net 4.0 every time you launched the sim. So I started to fiddle with files to see if I could get rid of that annoying occurrence and I managed to do it. Here is how.

1. Uninstall both Client & Extended versions from your Control Panel.
2. Go into the RW folder and delete any references to MS Net 4.0. It will say "Microsoft. Net Framework Setup 2012." Most likely will have an internet icon at the beginning or also can be a text file icon. Can be multiple entries. Delete them all.
3. Go to your Windows folder and find the folder Microsoft.Net. Open it.
4. Find the sub folder Framework. Open it and find the folder v4.0 30319. These last five numbers might be different for your install. These are what appeared on mine.
5. Delete folder v4.0,, but ONLY this folder.
6. Go back and start up RW and instead of saying it is "Repairing" Net 4.0, it should show that it is building it anew. You should now not get this "repairing" sequence the next time you start RW.

All I can say is that this worked for me. Try it at your own risk. You can always re-install Net 4.0 from a MS download if need be.

[nosloptrianman]

When upgrading my system, what has made a world of difference with this Sim was installing a SSD (Solid State Drive).
I now use a Crucial 128g SSD and so far the difference is very, very GOOD!
I have all but eliminated any stuttering and I have a constant SMOOTH frame rate.
It use to be when I crossed a tile in the Sim, I got a pause or a split second stoppage, then it would continue.
If I notice anything now, it is just a nano second pause, and the Sim runs smooth as butter.
I can, however, make it work hard, if I add a 75 car coal train and switch from the front to the rear views, but even then it is only pausing for less than a second.
So with MY rig, the new SSD has made all the difference for sure.
My only frustration now is that I paid nearly $170.00 for the 128g on the Crucial site and I see where Amazon is selling the same item for $128.00, I believe.
I won't go back now that I made the switch.
I am evening running the Norfolk Southern Atlanta North District and the new, TOTALLY AWESOME, Tennessee Pass route.
Thanks.