Running trains in MSTS

Whenever I run a train I find that the fps (Frames Per Second) vary from 12 -15 which is OK down to 1 or 2 fps which is awful slow. The problem has existed ever since I bought and installed MSTS. I have installed a new video card and also have 256mb RAM to try and fix the problem without much success.
Any advise to an old train enthusiast would be very much appreciated.

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Running trains in MSTS [View All], Boris, 08:19 PM, Mar-26-03, (0) RE: Running trains in MSTS, BNSF4723, Mar-26-03, 08:21 PM, (1) RE: Running trains in MSTS, Boris, Mar-26-03, 08:47 PM, (2) RE: Running trains in MSTS, Vince, Mar-26-03, 09:01 PM, (3) RE: Running trains in MSTS, Boris, Mar-26-03, 09:18 PM, (4) RE: Running trains in MSTS, Vince, Mar-27-03, 01:40 AM, (5) RE: Running trains in MSTS, Paul1953, Mar-27-03, 01:55 AM, (6) RE: Running trains in MSTS, JonN, Mar-27-03, 10:26 AM, (7) RE: Running trains in MSTS, John 136 6000 GO, Mar-28-03, 09:30 AM, (10) RE: Running trains in MSTS, Boris, Mar-30-03, 07:14 AM, (11) RE: Running trains in MSTS, heffed, Mar-27-03, 10:41 AM, (8) RE: Running trains in MSTS, Motley24Crue2, Mar-27-03, 08:21 PM, (9) RE: Running trains in MSTS, shadowr434, Mar-30-03, 03:25 PM, (12) RE: Running trains in MSTS, Boris, Mar-31-03, 00:44 AM, (13)

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What is your processor type and speed? Also the video card model would help and your Operating System.CHARTER MEMBER - Since August 2001 Looks Like a Pony, RUNS LIKE A STALLION

September 11th, 2001: I stand united! Peace to those who perished... R.I.P

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The processor is an AMD Duron900, video card 3D Prophet 4000xt 64MB and I am running Windows ME.

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You probably have programs running in the background that you don't even know were there.Boot your system, then press CTL+ALT+DEL once. This will bring up the close program dialog box.
Everything listed there is a program running on your machine.
You don't need any of them except, if you have an open internet connection (DSL or cable), Explorer and a firewall program.
Everything else, virus checkers included can be highlighted one at a time then select End Task.
After you end each program press CTL+ALT+DEL again and repeat the process until nothing except Explorer is running.
NOW start up the Sim.
BTW what frame rates you get also depend on what route you are running and what consist you are driving.

Regards,
Vince Cockeram
NEC Track Team
Author of the NECv4 Route
http://hometown.aol.com/nectrackteam/main.html
E-Mail me at vcockeram@lvcm.com

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Thank you, Vince. I had noticed that a consist with say 6 to 10 wagons seemed to run faster than a loaded coal train with say 42 to 50 wagons. Would you recommend that I increase my RAM to 512 and if so would this improve the overall operation??? Regards Boris

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More RAM=better performance, yes but getting rid of the running background stuff will do it cheaper...Unless of course you like having programs you know nothing about eating your system.

Regards,
Vince Cockeram
NEC Track Team
Author of the NECv4 Route
http://hometown.aol.com/nectrackteam/main.html
E-Mail me at vcockeram@lvcm.com

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Also check your settings on the "Options" page. If they are maxed out, you might have to adjust downward to lighten the load for your computer. Other than water, textured sky, and precipitation, everything else really is an option for lower and midrange machines. If the route you are running is graphics-intensive, this will also have an adverse effect on frame rates.

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To avoid having to do CRTL+ALT+DEL every time you start your machine, click on the run icon in your start menu and type 'msconfig' on the the command line the click on OK. Once in, click on the startup tab. In this page, you can choose what programs you want running when the computer starts. Ideally, you should turn off everything except the operaiting system, the mouse program (if you have one, this program is usuall called pointer or point 32), and your internet security programs. I did this to my system, and it greatly reduced starup times and improved MSTS performance noticeably. Jonathan Nikiforovs.
Milepost 180, CP Belleville Sub.

Repainter for Yonder Locomotive Works.

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An alternative to MSConfig (which is not very good at providing info about how and when various programs and services are started) is the StartUp Cop utility from Ziff Davis. This not only provides very detailed information about how and when programs and services are started (current user/all user; start from registry/branch, startup folder, etc. and exact command line), it also provides for creating profiles - so you can easily have different start up configurations via this utility. M$Config has the advantage of being already there on the machine whereas Startup Cop has to be downloaded. But once download, it's a better gadget - but don not try to use both at once, that will cause some confusion.Another approach is to have more than one user set up on the computer, so that you can log in as different users with different setups when required.As examples, withing my StartupCop I have profiles named "Standard" (my most commonly used configuration), "Everything", "Installer", and "Minimum". The names are fairly obvious. I can also log onto my computer as "John & Margaret" (our normal login) or various "test" configurations, and one I use for running Viewlet Builder.If anyone is interested in a detailed description of the various ways Windows can start things automatically, you can find a write-up on http://www.XpertSS.com You want the "Products Working Together" section, and follow theTroubleshooting Ideas" link. Then look for the article "Starting things Automatically in Windows". The article was written in Feb, 2000, but I think most of the info is still valid. Possibly the newer versions of Windows have some more ways of autostarting stuff. You will have to register to use XpertSS.com, there is no guest access (with the software used, it was found that bots crawling around the web were get tangled up and causing problems).CheersJohn

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My thanks to John and others for you assistance. As an old retiree self taught on computers, I have learnt much from your collective advice. thanks again, Boris

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>Boot your system, then press CTL+ALT+DEL once. An easier way is to download the "End it all" utility. I don't have a link, but a search will turn it up.It's a utility that will shut down all unnecesary processes with the click of a button.-Jeff

Union Pacific is my drug.

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if you decide to upgrade, LIKE all upgrades make sure your Computer can handle it Robert Steskal
Philadelphia, Pa

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You should reside yourself to the fact that your processor and video card are on the low end of the spectrum. You definitely need more ram also. Win ME uses a very large chunk of that 256 so another 256 might help you. The Duron processor is a lot like the low end intel. Good for internet and basic processing but not super in the graphics dept. I have a high end system I built recently and even mine drops frame rates every once in a while.Frank Roberts
Fed Ex Freight
P&D Driver

"Sometimes I dream about being carried off by a big giant squirrel. Does that make me a nut?"

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Hi Frank, Thanks for the information. I have a much better understanding of what I need to do. MSTS has been very frustrating aver since I bought it, but now that I know what must be done, I will do some upgrading forthwith. Much obliged........Boris

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