MSTS does respond to brute force

Old system:Gateway ? mobo
1.3 GHz CPU
384 MB RAM
20GB 5400 rpm HD (dedicated to MSTS)
GeForce 4 Ti4600 video
Audigy SB Live! audio
18in LCD display, 25?ms response timeframerates in "Marias benchmark" - 19-42fps
framerates looking back along trains in opener to Cajon "BNSF Eastbound Q-train" - 6fps (down to 4 when westbound UP goes by).
framerates looking back along trains in opener to Cajon "Barstow to Mojave" - 7fps.New system:ASUS P4C800 Deluxe mobo
3.0 GHz CPU
2 GB RAM
two 37 GB 10,000 rpm HD in RAID 0 array
ATI AIW 9700 Pro video
Audigy 2 Platinum audio
17in Hitachi display, 16ms response timeframesrates in Marias - 50-60fps
Eastbound Q - 16fps
Barstw - 26fpsAll sliders maxed, only specular lighting turned off.Now if Kuju improves the pathetic sounds, there's hope for the sim!

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RE: MSTS does respond to brute force ...., obo, Jun-14-03, 04:12 PM, (1) RE: MSTS does respond to brute force ...., krswen, Jun-14-03, 09:26 PM, (2) RE: MSTS does respond to brute force ...., americanflag9190, Jun-25-03, 12:23 PM, (3) RE: MSTS does respond to brute force ...., AJW, Jun-25-03, 03:08 PM, (4) RE: MSTS does respond to brute force ...., Bing, Jun-28-03, 01:30 PM, (5) RE: MSTS does respond to brute force ...., AJW, Jun-28-03, 01:44 PM, (6) RE: MSTS does respond to brute force ...., Bing, Jun-28-03, 07:25 PM, (7) RE: MSTS does respond to brute force ...., IcyFire, Jun-28-03, 07:41 PM, (8) RE: MSTS does respond to brute force ...., Bing, Jun-29-03, 00:27 AM, (9) RE: MSTS does respond to brute force ...., IcyFire, Jun-29-03, 00:49 AM, (10) RE: MSTS does respond to brute force ...., Bing, Jun-29-03, 08:56 AM, (11) RE: MSTS does respond to brute force ...., chucksc, Jun-29-03, 10:49 AM, (12) RE: MSTS does respond to brute force ...., AJW, Jun-29-03, 10:54 AM, (13) RE: MSTS does respond to brute force ...., heffed, Jun-30-03, 03:33 AM, (14)

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> two 37 GB 10,000 rpm HD in RAID 0 arraySeeing this makes me wonder: how much is the loading stutter reduced?Very nice rig. Too bad you'll have to buy a new one to run MSTS 2.(Kidding)Rob.

Obo's MSTS Locomotive Catalog: http://msts.banal.net

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it's almost imperceptable, but still there. Kuju needs to rewrite the graphics engine.krswen

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Can you get the system requirements for MSTS2 yet or is it too soon to tell?

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>Can you get the system requirements for MSTS2 yet or is it
>too soon to tell?System requirements as posted by MSFT are a complete joke. Usually if you double them, you'll still be underpowered if you want fine performance.Anthony

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"MSTS does respond to brute force ...."I sure hope so. I just ordered an Area 51 rig from Alienware. Intel P4 3.0 GHz 800MHz FSB w/ 512KB Cache, 1 GIG RAM, GeForce™ FX 5600 256MB 8x AGP, 80 Gig Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 Serial ATA 8MB Cache and assorted goodies. Excellent pricing, free shipping (from Miami to northenr MIchigan that is a good savings), their sales rep spent a lot of time with me. More than any other I have dealt with. From what I see, Alienware knows how to treat their customers. We'll see how it goes.If this rig doesn't do better with the heavy stuff in MSTs, I really AM going to get a hand grenade. BTW, Alienware do not lock their customers into using graphics drivers only from them, a la Dell. You go to the nVidia website, the way you ought to be able to do. Bing

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>Alienware knows how to treat their customers. We'll see how
>it goes.
>
>If this rig doesn't do better with the heavy stuff in MSTs,
>I really AM going to get a hand grenade. BTW, Alienware do
>not lock their customers into using graphics drivers only
>from them, a la Dell. You go to the nVidia website, the way
>you ought to be able to do.
>
>Bing Bing:What software does Alienware include with the PC, does the software come with the CDs, and did you get a comprenhensive owner's manual?Anthony

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YOu can get all kinds of software - visit their website, go into any of the configuration sequences. Didn't ask about manuals, they would be specific to the manufacturer such as Intel for the mobo, which would give you the poop on BIOS settings choices, et al. Am sure they will come with the system.As to a WinXP manual, you have to buy your own. Not for nothing is one of the third party guides titled "The Manual Microsoft Should Have Included With Windows XP". MS hasn't put out anything that could be called a manual since WIndows 3.1 - which really WAS a nice publication, but still we had to go elsewhere for information on memory management and other critical issues. I am not trying to be smartie or cute, but aside from manufacturer's literature - which every system vendor provides in one way or another - what would you be looking for? Alienware has some monitoring software available, but I am already using Sandra 2003, don't need anything more. They wouldn't be distributing RivaTuner, HardPage, MRUBlaster, Cacheman, registry editors, that sort of software. Area 51 is Alienware's pitch to the hardcore gamer: You get a bangup system at a good price, full vendor warranty - a component goes south you call Alienware, they replace it, not the manufacturer - they also advertise "on site" tech support, however the sales rep agrees that being three hours north of Detroit and nearly as far from Grand Rapids, I cannot expect "next day" service in my home. Nor do I need it; when you're as far from the city as I am you get used to solving problems on your own. That doesn't make me smarter, just used to doing as much on my own as I can. More detailed info, I suggest you try the Alienware website, it is well organized, much more so than most. We'll see, can't say much more until the system is delivered, which will be about three weeks.The important item, aside from the CPU speed, is the FSB, because that is what makes the gizomos go faster and better. The large L2 Cache can't hurt, either. Bing

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Alienware isn't nothing that that the educated do-it-yourself couldn't do. IMHO alienwares are grossly overpriced

Shawn Kenselaar, shawnssk@yahoo.com
Screen Shot Forum Mod; Repainter for TKW & YLW
The NYO&W is Gone, But never forgotten!!!

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Suit yourself. The other vendors were anywhere from a hundred up to four hundred more than Alienware. Those who want to buld their own are often not the same people who prefer to have a vendor do so, which includes testing and a warranty which avoids having to deal with the manufacturers.Fortunately, we are not all alike. If you are comparing a pile of parts to a fully assembled, tested and warrantied system, sure you come out less money for the pile of parts. I'm not the kid I used to be, messing around under the hood doesn't have the appeal it once did. Whoever wants to do that, more power to them. Come on over to my place and build one for me. Course, you have to guarantee it works the way it oughter, plus if anything goes wrong you have to come fix it, and if a component fails you have to ship a replacement right away. If you can do all that, for less money, you're my man. P.S. I live three hundred miles north of Detroit. Climb on I-75, get off at the Gaylord exit. Watch yourself around Waters, the Stadt Polezei hang out there. Bring the parts with you; you can't buy them here. You can't buy much of anything besides a snowmobile around here. Let me know when you're coming, I'll leave a light on for you. Bing

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No prob Bing, $100 bucks and i'll build you a custom rig. Done it for other people, Done it for my self, And I've also taken A+ certification classes. Gimme your CC #, i'll order all the parts at www.newegg.com, next day fedex delivery, After it's built, Leave 3dmark03 running for 24 hours, no errors, She's good. fails the test, I'll replace parts systematicallyBut seriously, I wont argue that alienware is the best pre-fab, it's just more cost effective to build it yourself.P.S. My p4 2.66 1gig DDR pc2700, 120 & 40GB HD's, ATi radeon 9700 pro was built for less then $2000, all by myselfP.S.S. May take me a while to get there, I don't have a vehicle (great economy isn't it? Been looking for a job for 2 years with no success)

Shawn Kenselaar, shawnssk@yahoo.com
Screen Shot Forum Mod; Repainter for TKW & YLW
The NYO&W is Gone, But never forgotten!!!

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Alienware commpetes with your price. Seriously. They do.I don't have a car either, nor a truck, not even a handtruck. Sure saves money, I use Enterprise when I want to visit friends and family in Chicago. Also produces a lot of exercise I wouldn't otherwise be geting. The UPS and FedEx drivers have become friends. Great service up here, as is the USPO. Just got a regular Air Mail with three CD's in it from England to here in less than four days. If I still lived in Chicago, I would be lucky to get the package, period. (Pardon the clumsy sentence construction, just got up, haven't had first cuppa coffee.)Bing

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OK Bing I think the point Shawn is missing, him being a youngster (VBSEG), is that most people cannot "roll their own" either due to a lack of motivation or technical skills or techno-phobia... Guys like us, Shawn and I and others on here, are a statistically insignificant minority in the users of computers community... Most of us Nerds/Dweebs forget that from time to time since we usually don't interact, or at least interact well, with "normal" people! LOL!
I've heard and seen nothing but good about Alienware...
Pricey but excellent!Chuck Schneider
(Virtual) CEO
North American (Virtual) Locomotive Works

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Not everyone views the purchase of a new PC the same way. Different strokes, etc.... However, before springing, it would be wise to first go to Dell's website and check out their new Dimension XPS gaming machine. You can configure it onlne any way you want, then compare the price with comparable APPLE-TO-APPLE machines. I bought one, loaded, six weeks ago, and am very satisfied with the performance. I had considered similar machines; however, I liked the fact that the CDs come with ALL the software (and OS) included in the purchase price, and Dell provides 24/7 tech support. Dell will still be around if a component fails within the next three years. That's important to me.Anthony

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>Alienware isn't nothing that that the educated
>do-it-yourself couldn't do. IMHO alienwares are grossly
>overpriced But Alienware does things nobody else does. Like installs all the very latest drivers before shipping your system. Configures the OS so you get the best performance right out of the box. Will not ship a system that doesn't meet their benchmark expectations. And much more.Congrats on the system Bing. I've owned an Alienware for over 3 years. Alienware is second to none.
-Jeff

Union Pacific is my drug.

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