TRS2019 Hardware Requirements

By Tony_Hilliam, June 08 2018

TRS2019 Hardware Requirements

Trainz Railroad Simulator 2019 provides users with a large range of optional features to enhance the graphics. With each enhancement, of course comes some performance penalty.


Click the image above then use the slider to compare the high and low settings in TRS2019.

Just as your old black and white telly didn't magically start showing colour pictures in the 70's, and your phone didn't take photographs in the 90's, your 2012 computer isn't going to allow you to turn on all the bells and whistles in 2018.

(Ok, technically you might hear some crossing bells and steam whistles but you won't actually see all the new graphical features ;)).

In the examples below, we've used "UserBenchmark" scores to indicate the level required for each performance setting. You can run your own hardware test here to find your UserBenchmark score and then compare this to the various options below.

In short, a score of 50% means that your system is capable of half the performance of a i7-7740X CPU matched with a GTX 1070 GPU. A UserBenchmark Score of 25% means your system is four times slower than the benchmark machine.

Lowest Settings

If you are running a low spec machine, then simply reduce all the settings to the minimum. If your machine runs TANE, it should also run TRS2019.

Performance Settings:
Shadows = OFF
Shaders = Standard
TurfFX = OFF
Draw Distance = 1500m
Scenery/Tree Detail = Low

Hardware:
Userbenchmark Gaming Score: 18%
CPU: 2Ghz 2 Cores
GPU: GTX 460 1GB
 

Click image to expand.

Low Settings

As your hardware improves, the first area to increase is your in-game draw distance and detail levels. Do this on a per route basis as some routes are much more performance-heavy than others.

Performance Settings:
Shadows = OFF
Shaders = Standard
TurfFX = OFF
Draw Distance = 3000m
Scenery/Tree Detail = Normal

Hardware:
Userbenchmark Gaming Score: 25%  
CPU: 2.6Ghz 4 Cores 
GPU: GTX 750-Ti 2GB
 

Click image to expand.

Low Settings + Improved Graphics or Detail

You can technically increase your settings for better looking graphics (such as turning on the Ultra Shaders), OR you can run low shadows or increased draw distance (or detail). Just don't try increasing all these variables at the one time and expect the game to run as well as it does with all sliders set to minimum!

Performance Settings:
Shadows = OFF
Shaders = Ultra
TurfFX = OFF
Draw Distance = 4000m
Scenery/Tree Detail = High

Hardware:
Userbenchmark Gaming Score: 25%  
CPU: 2.6Ghz 4 Cores 
GPU: GTX 750-Ti 2GB
 

Click image to expand.

Medium Settings - Option 1

With more powerful hardware, the options you have to choose from increase. This image shows TurfFX on, but you'll have to sacrifice shadows and maybe also Ultra Shaders when enabling this option with a UserBenchmark Gaming Score below 50%.

Performance Settings:
Shadows = OFF
Shaders = Ultra
TurfFX = ON
Draw Distance = 5000m
Scenery/Tree Detail = Normal/High

Hardware:
Userbenchmark Gaming Score: 40%  
CPU: 2.8Ghz 4 Cores
GPU: GTX 960 2GB

 

Click image to expand.

Medium Settings - Option 2:

An alternative at 40-50% score is to turn TurfFX off, and try various combinations of Shadows, Shaders, Draw Distance and Detail to get the graphics/performance balance you're after.

Performance Settings:
Shadows = Low/Medium
Shaders = Standard/Ultra
TurfFX = OFF
Draw Distance = 5000m
Scenery/Tree Detail = Normal/High

Hardware:
Userbenchmark Gaming Score: 40%
CPU: 2.8Ghz 4 Cores
GPU: GTX 960 2GB
 

Click image to expand.

High Settings:

With a four year old machine (or perhaps a more recent budget machine) with a Userbenchmark Gaming Score of 80%, you can turn on all the graphical effects, but you'll need to carefully manage the in-game sliders.

Performance Settings:
Shadows = Medium
Shaders = Ultra
TurfFX = ON
Draw Distance = 5000m
Scenery/Tree Detail = Normal
(Alternative 1: Increase draw distance and decrease detail)
(Alternative 2: Increase draw distance and detail and turn
off one of the graphical features in the Launcher).

Hardware:
Userbenchmark Gaming Score: 80%
CPU: 3Ghz 4 Core 
GPU: GTX 980 4GB

 

Click image to expand.

Ultra Settings:

With a top-end machine, you can now run with the graphics features at Max, but you will still need to keep an eye on the in-game draw distance and detail sliders on a per-route basis.

With similar graphical settings to High, here we've zoomed out the shot so you can see the mountains in the distance.

Performance Settings:
Shadows = Ultra
Shaders = Ultra
TurfFX = ON
Distance and Detail = Adjust per route as required

Hardware:
Userbenchmark Gaming Score: 110%
CPU: 3.5Ghz 8 Core 
GPU: GTX 1070-Ti 4GB
 

Click image to expand.