Homebrew Retroarch Emulation Thread (Nightly Builds Included)

Drak0rex

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I'm curious what the optimal setup would be to get emulators to perform the best. Does it make any difference if they are ran from emunand vs sysnand? Do the various entry points make any difference? Is there any difference between running from 3DSX vs CIA? Is it possible to have a fw that is too high or low (9.2 emunand vs 9.5 emunand)?
 

hippy dave

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9.2 or below (sysnand version) for kernel, CIA versions should give the best possible performance for all. Not all cores will be faster in this config than another tho.
Using sysnand or emunand shouldn't affect performance.
 
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Drak0rex

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9.2 or below (sysnand version) for kernel, CIA versions should give the best possible performance for all. Not all cores will be faster in this config than another tho.
Using sysnand or emunand shouldn't affect performance.
So what about emunand? Any restriction? Also, (and I'm assuming not, but I dunno) does AGB_FIRM have any effect on the gba emulators?
 
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Drak0rex

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Is it known which games will and won't work for CPS1 and 2? Some don't load and reboot the system, saying it doesn't have enough samples, others play with no sound. Maybe I have something set up wrong. Thus far I have the emulator installed as CIA and plopped the roms on my card. No settings changes or additional files have been added. I looked in the OP but couldn't find what I was looking for.
 

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Is it known which games will and won't work for CPS1 and 2? Some don't load and reboot the system, saying it doesn't have enough samples, others play with no sound. Maybe I have something set up wrong. Thus far I have the emulator installed as CIA and plopped the roms on my card. No settings changes or additional files have been added. I looked in the OP but couldn't find what I was looking for.
I play Mighty! Pang (CPS2) all the time with no issues, N3DS 10.1.0-27E
 

Kubba

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Looks like I'll be disecting this bit by bit...



Yes, that is correct, but it has to be named the same as the .3dsx. Not what you're proposing/asking for, but was just clarifying in case...



Basically to simplify the process, the XML file points to an existing app that is installed on the system (In this case, let's say YouTube). What the program does at boot is that if it finds the app specified first in the XML (It goes by AppID), it piggybacks off of it, using it for memory since the programs are so huge, and launches it (sort of) from the app.
I asked this before to someone else, but if you have YouTube, do you have it updated to the latest version? It only works when updated.
Other applicable games are Sm4sh, and Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate (Demo or Cart/Downloaded full game).



Not really. You CAN run PAL versions instead since they would run at 50fps instead of 60fps, but even then more problems would arise from there. Simply changing the bios wouldn't help at all. PCSX isn't fast at all at the moment, especially on an over 9.2 O3DS. Even on N3DS it's... meh.



Not much more can be done, but I CAN recommend some settings that I use often on N3DS.
I set my sound resampler (Settings -> Audio) to "Nearest", which basically means it doesn't do much sound processing.
I keep Software Driven Sound, or CSND as the main audio driver (Settings -> Driver), since DSP is currently Experiencing Bugged sound mechanics. (If you get the joke, you get a cookie)
Also, for best display, I would recommend (In Settings -> Video) keeping the Aspect Ratio at "X:X (PAR 1:1)" and integer scale disabled (I believe, or enabled). Basically it renders the image as it should without blowing up the image or messing with the aspect ratio.



No problems!

Thanks for your help; I'll be using Smash for MAME emu in that case.

It is difficult to find the information I need when it is interspersed throughout many threads and posts, and I still have many more questions, but I understand that is the nature of projects at this stage of development.

Additionally, I think it's fascinating that homebrew can literally piggyback off of other programs to take advantage of more memory. Could this tactic be used for other emulators and homebrews as well?

Not really. You CAN run PAL versions instead since they would run at 50fps instead of 60fps, but even then more problems would arise from there. Simply changing the bios wouldn't help at all. PCSX isn't fast at all at the moment, especially on an over 9.2 O3DS. Even on N3DS it's... meh.

In regards to PCSX emulation, you imply that the emulator will run slower on firmware that succeeds 9.2. What is the technical explanation for this? What does subsequent firmwares do that limit emulation like PCSX on higher firmwares?

Thanks again, and I'm glad 3DS HB is picking up.
 

NoNoNeko

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Thanks for your help; I'll be using Smash for MAME emu in that case.

In regards to PCSX emulation, you imply that the emulator will run slower on firmware that succeeds 9.2. What is the technical explanation for this? What does subsequent firmwares do that limit emulation like PCSX on higher firmwares?

Thanks again, and I'm glad 3DS HB is picking up.

Firmwares less then 9.2 have kernel access.
 

Drak0rex

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Looks like I'll be disecting this bit by bit...



Yes, that is correct, but it has to be named the same as the .3dsx. Not what you're proposing/asking for, but was just clarifying in case...



Basically to simplify the process, the XML file points to an existing app that is installed on the system (In this case, let's say YouTube). What the program does at boot is that if it finds the app specified first in the XML (It goes by AppID), it piggybacks off of it, using it for memory since the programs are so huge, and launches it (sort of) from the app.
I asked this before to someone else, but if you have YouTube, do you have it updated to the latest version? It only works when updated.
Other applicable games are Sm4sh, and Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate (Demo or Cart/Downloaded full game).
I've been seeing this floating around for a while now. How difficult is it to set this up? Do all I need to do is download a specified xml file on my sd card, and when I launch the game, it'll launch the emulator instead, or is there more to it?

Firmwares less then 9.2 have kernel access.
So Emulators running on 9.2+ emunand won't work as well as 9.0?
 
Last edited by Drak0rex,

Columbo2811

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Is it known which games will and won't work for CPS1 and 2? Some don't load and reboot the system, saying it doesn't have enough samples, others play with no sound. Maybe I have something set up wrong. Thus far I have the emulator installed as CIA and plopped the roms on my card. No settings changes or additional files have been added. I looked in the OP but couldn't find what I was looking for.
If on n3ds and on or under 9.2 for me every cps1 and cps2 and neo geo run full speed. I don't run boot legs or parent roms. Every rom works for them systems. Google there wiki page for each system and see the games. I didn't get all games to run from just one rom site had to search to find certain roms to work. Actually there's one that don't work for me it's irritating maze on the neogeo , It don't work as that was a trackball game and requires a specific bios for it to run. But it has been run by some people.
 

NuikopeaDemon

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download this .... it will have the XML files in the mame folders just make sure you have Monster Hunter 4 Demo

its what i use
 

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Drak0rex

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Firmwares less then 9.2 have kernel access.
So Emulators running on 9.2+ emunand won't work as well as 9.0?
download this .... it will have the XML files in the mame folders just make sure you have Monster Hunter 4 Demo

its what i use
Then how to use? The xmls go on the root or stay in the folders? How does it all work?
 

NuikopeaDemon

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So Emulators running on 9.2+ emunand won't work as well as 9.0?

Then how to use? The xmls go on the root or stay in the folders? How does it all work?
just add your 3dsx and smdh to these folders .... because they all have to be named the same thing and be in the same place

I do understand it sounds confusing but its simple exactly
 

Drak0rex

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just add your 3dsx and smdh to these folders .... because they all have to be named the same thing and be in the same place

I do understand it sounds confusing but its simple exactly
Is there a tutorial you used that has everything layed out?
 

NuikopeaDemon

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