New Computer to run RW, what do I need?

[arizonachris]

It's not any one game the PSU has an effect on, it's the components that PSU powers. With onboard graphics, 430 watts is fine. Add in that graphics card, the power needed to run it has to be figured in, hence the 600 watts. And it is always to have a little "overhead" as far as wattage goes. You have to figure how much the CPU draws, the RAM, the video card, hard drive, optical drive, CPU cooling fan, all the case cooling fans. And, certain games will push a video card harder than just Internetting, so your power needs go up. The extra "overhead" takes care of that.

[Antwerp]

It's not any one game the PSU has an effect on, it's the components that PSU powers. With onboard graphics, 430 watts is fine. Add in that graphics card, the power needed to run it has to be figured in, hence the 600 watts. And it is always to have a little "overhead" as far as wattage goes. You have to figure how much the CPU draws, the RAM, the video card, hard drive, optical drive, CPU cooling fan, all the case cooling fans. And, certain games will push a video card harder than just Internetting, so your power needs go up. The extra "overhead" takes care of that.

Got it.

[Antwerp]

At the moment I would like to know, will TSX run with the specs that are there? I say that if I can run RW with the same graphics as before but with TSX and no lag I will be happy.

[peterhayes]

Antwerp
Get your Dad to read this - it explains the ins and outs of choosing a psu. : http://www.pcworld.com/article/2025425/ ... upply.html.
You need a good reliable psu so that your pc runs optimally and doesn't struggle to keep all the components working at the correct voltages. Usually the wattage depends on your video card and cpu as they draw most of the power. 430w may be OK for a lower/mid end cpu and video card but if you have a powerful cpu and a high end video card then something around 600w+ is best. Choose carefully and go for one of the 80+ rated psu's (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/80_Plus) and buy a silver or gold version if you can afford it. If the psu is rated at say 600 watts it doesn't mean that it is constantly running at 600w but just that it can maintain that sort of power if ands when needed.

Buy the best psu you can afford - you won't regret it.

PeterH

[Antwerp]

Antwerp
Get your Dad to read this - it explains the ins and outs of choosing a psu. : http://www.pcworld.com/article/2025425/ ... upply.html.
You need a good reliable psu so that your pc runs optimally and doesn't struggle to keep all the components working at the correct voltages. Usually the wattage depends on your video card and cpu as they draw most of the power. 430w may be OK for a lower/mid end cpu and video card but if you have a powerful cpu and a high end video card then something around 600w+ is best. Choose carefully and go for one of the 80+ rated psu's (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/80_Plus) and buy a silver or gold version if you can afford it. If the psu is rated at say 600 watts it doesn't mean that it is constantly running at 600w but just that it can maintain that sort of power if ands when needed.

Buy the best psu you can afford - you won't regret it.

PeterH

Alright, But I'm a bit irritated we need to spend about another $200 just to run RW properly, Why can't they tell you what PSU is recommended and that using a graphics card that is built into the CPU is not recommended. All I want is to be able to use the TSX with Medium-High detail (scenery detail set to 10) with no lag. maybe a bit of anti-aliasing.

[peterhayes]

Antwerp
You said:

and that using a graphics card that is built into the CPU is not recommended.

They do indirectly, on the RSC web site where they give details of the minimum specs, and built in graphics don't meet those minima.

You also said:

Why can't they tell you what PSU is recommended

Unfortunately they can't do that as it is dependant on what components you choose where 430w is OK for the system that you are contemplating buying ie with on board graphics, but you will need a larger psu if you add a reasonable video card.

It is hard knowing what to get, but these forums have some excellent simmers who can give good advice. I should tell you I have a i7 2600K o/c to 4.6GHz with a 2GB GTX 670 and even that struggles to maintain say 30fps on some routes with TSX on - TS 2013 is quite demanding. So buy wisely and ensure that you get value for money.

Good Luck
pH

[Antwerp]

Well, the fact that the Power Supply I supposedly need is $50 and the Graphics card I supposedly need is $150! This means we spend about another $200 on a CPU we only built for $200 from a class my dad took, this is becoming more expensive then it began. that is supposed to run the game but they don't put the (On-board graphics card not recommended) on Steam where I go to check the specs, I apparently instead needed to go searching on their site where I've never been to before to find it. We don't why PSU needs to be upgraded it has a built in fan and is able to run all my other sims but apparently not RW. Also why can't the on-board graphics work the game? I'm sure looking through the internet and opening folders doesn't take the whole graphics card to do and i don't have anything open but RW when playing it. (This constant fight to get a CPU which I already have sitting in my living room is one of the few reasons I left the Trainz community. These games are getting way out of had when it comes to graphics, and if you are on anything but highest the Cars and locomotives look crappy and all the lighting is in TSX which not everybody can use and makes a lot of RSC's scenarios difficult to use because of the fact they can't make the lighting happen unless you dish out $200 to buy a half decent graphics card and a PSU that will hold together. I'm getting kind of tired of this considering all I want is to be able to see in scenarios that are at night which come with RSC's DLC while also keeping the same specs I had before, which was set between Medium and High (Custom) I could care less about the rain I want lighting on the locomotives and cabs to complete scenarios that take place at night).