SeymourOmnis
New member
In this topic, you will find some useful information about which type of computer specifications you need to have in order to be able to enjoy Project 64 at 60 or more FPS. I will keep this topic updated.
Before I start, we need to understand some important things:
1. Emulation isn't perfect (though someday it will be), so this guide will adjust to the PJ64's random slowdown bugs and crashes. If you have complaints about this, complain outside this topic (although bug reporting is fine, as I will try to make a workaround).
2. The CPU (or processor) is what emulates and increases the FPS (frames per second, speed). It is the only thing that will actually increase the FPS, that is if you have a balanced computer.
3. Although much won't admit it, many games, at certain point, actually REQUIRE fast graphics processing, so if you have an integrated video card, your performance will slow down. So that means, that if you have a good graphics card, your fast processor will have no drawbacks when emulating the game. That also means that the FPS will stay the same going from a GeForce 6200 to a 8800GTX OC.
There are also some core PJ64 settings that can make your game faster, but less smooth (varies on some games) (Sumarized from the manual). These are:
Advanced Block Linking: It is one of the PJ64's optimization techniques. While some games need this option to be ON or OFF, having this ON will make your game faster, but less smooth.
Counter Factor: Now this is the option that trades smoothness vs speed. It is actually a pseudo frameskipping technique. Having it on 1, you will have a very smooth gameplay, but on 2 or more it will be faster. Having it on the max
(6) will give you the fastest gameplay, but the laggiest too. Use this option only if you're very desperated for speed. Also, again, this can vary with some games, and certain games won't be compatible with some CF settings.
Memory Size: This is the option choosing wether emulate the jumper pak (4MB) or the Expansion Pak (8MB). While some games need the 8MB and some gain from it, choosing 4MB will make your gameplay somehow faster.
Large Compile Buffer: Having this option checked or unchecked can make your game either faster or slower, it depends at the game. This is option is very similar to the memory size option, some games gain from it and others don't need it checked, and thus wasting resources.
Register Caching: This the most significant and efficient optimization technique and speed gain option. Having it checked will make your gameplay faster, but as always, it has one drawback: it can cause crashes. If you see that your game is crashing frequently, then disable this option to see what happens.
SP Hack: Another optimization technique, although not so great. When checked, you gain a 5% speed, but similar to register caching, it can cause crashes. For this option it is better to have it turned off, unless you are killing for speed.
I will not mention the others as they are very game dependant. It is very important that you mess around with the settings I mentioned above to squeeze the best speed out of the games.
If you have a fast computer and want the smoothest gameplay and super stable gameplay, then enable this options (performance may vary upon games).
Advanced Block Linking: Off
Counter Factor: 1
Memory Size: 8MB
Large Compile Buffer: Checked
Register Caching: Checked, unless it causes crashes.
SP Hack: Unchecked.
If you have a very slow computer, but want speed badly on PJ64, then enable this settings (performance may vary upon games)
Advanced Block Linking: On
Counter Factor: 2. More if you're desperated.
Memory Size: 4MB (8MB only if needed, or if the game gains from it).
Large Compile Buffer: Unchecked (unless the game needs it to be faster)
Register Caching: Checked.
SP Hack: Checked, unless it causes crashes (if you kill for speed)
Now that you know the basics, I'll start writing system requirements documentation about games:
Before I start, we need to understand some important things:
1. Emulation isn't perfect (though someday it will be), so this guide will adjust to the PJ64's random slowdown bugs and crashes. If you have complaints about this, complain outside this topic (although bug reporting is fine, as I will try to make a workaround).
2. The CPU (or processor) is what emulates and increases the FPS (frames per second, speed). It is the only thing that will actually increase the FPS, that is if you have a balanced computer.
3. Although much won't admit it, many games, at certain point, actually REQUIRE fast graphics processing, so if you have an integrated video card, your performance will slow down. So that means, that if you have a good graphics card, your fast processor will have no drawbacks when emulating the game. That also means that the FPS will stay the same going from a GeForce 6200 to a 8800GTX OC.
There are also some core PJ64 settings that can make your game faster, but less smooth (varies on some games) (Sumarized from the manual). These are:
Advanced Block Linking: It is one of the PJ64's optimization techniques. While some games need this option to be ON or OFF, having this ON will make your game faster, but less smooth.
Counter Factor: Now this is the option that trades smoothness vs speed. It is actually a pseudo frameskipping technique. Having it on 1, you will have a very smooth gameplay, but on 2 or more it will be faster. Having it on the max
(6) will give you the fastest gameplay, but the laggiest too. Use this option only if you're very desperated for speed. Also, again, this can vary with some games, and certain games won't be compatible with some CF settings.
Memory Size: This is the option choosing wether emulate the jumper pak (4MB) or the Expansion Pak (8MB). While some games need the 8MB and some gain from it, choosing 4MB will make your gameplay somehow faster.
Large Compile Buffer: Having this option checked or unchecked can make your game either faster or slower, it depends at the game. This is option is very similar to the memory size option, some games gain from it and others don't need it checked, and thus wasting resources.
Register Caching: This the most significant and efficient optimization technique and speed gain option. Having it checked will make your gameplay faster, but as always, it has one drawback: it can cause crashes. If you see that your game is crashing frequently, then disable this option to see what happens.
SP Hack: Another optimization technique, although not so great. When checked, you gain a 5% speed, but similar to register caching, it can cause crashes. For this option it is better to have it turned off, unless you are killing for speed.
I will not mention the others as they are very game dependant. It is very important that you mess around with the settings I mentioned above to squeeze the best speed out of the games.
If you have a fast computer and want the smoothest gameplay and super stable gameplay, then enable this options (performance may vary upon games).
Advanced Block Linking: Off
Counter Factor: 1
Memory Size: 8MB
Large Compile Buffer: Checked
Register Caching: Checked, unless it causes crashes.
SP Hack: Unchecked.
If you have a very slow computer, but want speed badly on PJ64, then enable this settings (performance may vary upon games)
Advanced Block Linking: On
Counter Factor: 2. More if you're desperated.
Memory Size: 4MB (8MB only if needed, or if the game gains from it).
Large Compile Buffer: Unchecked (unless the game needs it to be faster)
Register Caching: Checked.
SP Hack: Checked, unless it causes crashes (if you kill for speed)
Now that you know the basics, I'll start writing system requirements documentation about games:
Last edited: