Can I improve performance by turning static consists into objects?

[Marc87dk]

While Open Rails mostly runs smoothly, I still have issues when I run bigger routes, where each yard has multiple static consists. I know that you can convert each engine and carriage into objects. I have done this before, but on a smaller scale. Now I wonder, would this actually improve the performance? If instead of static consists, I just had all my "dead" trains as objects. I mean sure, the textures for these still have to be loaded, but the game won't need to load any of the sounds or cab/interior views, and as a bonus I won't need to place consists anymore for my acitivities.

Has anyone experimented with this?

I thought I would ask first, because it's gonna be quite a pain to convert all my 700 freight carriages. Sadly there is no editor where you can convert a whole consist into an object (as far as I know)

[geepster775]

Sounds like a rationalization when the only real solution is get competent hardware. Either that, or adjust sliders and live with compromised world views because of incompetent hardware.

[slipperman]

Hi,
@geepster775 : That's a very kind way of saying what you really mean!

@marc87dk : It might help if you'd post your system specifications!

Cheers,
Ged

[Marc87dk]

Oh sure.

CPU: Intel Core i5 3350P @ 3.10GHz
RAM: 16,0GB Dual-Channel DDR3
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3GB
Drive: SSD 860 EVO

[scottb613]

While Open Rails mostly runs smoothly, I still have issues when I run bigger routes, where each yard has multiple static consists. I know that you can convert each engine and carriage into objects. I have done this before, but on a smaller scale. Now I wonder, would this actually improve the performance? If instead of static consists, I just had all my "dead" trains as objects. I mean sure, the textures for these still have to be loaded, but the game won't need to load any of the sounds or cab/interior views, and as a bonus I won't need to place consists anymore for my acitivities.

Has anyone experimented with this?

I thought I would ask first, because it's gonna be quite a pain to convert all my 700 freight carriages. Sadly there is no editor where you can convert a whole consist into an object (as far as I know)

Hi...

Yeah - if you want to test - Rick's Monon - IIRC - includes huge strings of low poly static freight cars used throughout the route. They combine multiple cars into a single shape. You could do some of your own testing.

As a modeler - I've done some pretty extensive testing on ORTS performance. The two biggest improvements you can make to a model - especially when there are a large number of them in a given scene - is to use LOD's and minimize DRAW CALLS. Draw Calls are the number of times a given texture is loaded into your video card - as it's a resource intensive process.

You can make efficient LOD transitions completely invisible - with a little care when modeling. We're not talking about LOD transitions that we saw back in 2001 when MSTS was released - where half the model vanished when 50 feet away.

To view the number of Draw Calls on any given shape - open the model in Shape Viewer and select [View Hierarchy] from the menu. Every little brown or orange cube is a new Draw Call. For a standard US 2 truck 4 axle US freight car - the best and what every modeler should be shooting for is 7 Draw Calls. Every Group left in the model hierarchy requires a new Draw Call - every animation requires a new Group. Every time you change the textures shine or brightness is a new Draw Call. Obviously - each and every texture sheet is a new Draw Call.

Hope this helps explain what is needed to improve a models performance.

Regards,
Scott

[eric]

All of your engines and carriages already exist as .s files, so you can post them as objects instead of in a train consist. The only advantages you won't have sounds being loaded.

[derekmorton]

>CPU: Intel Core i5 3350P @ 3.10GHz

That cpu and your system is 10 years old.
Its not going to last much longer.
Enjoy it while you can.

[geepster775]

Does the OP have Model Instancing checked under the video options tab? That holds down on draw calls. Somewhere between stable 1.4 and 1.5 the default setting changed