Configuration Guide: Difference between revisions

From Dolphin Emulator Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(→‎Graphics: Align with "Store EFB Copies to Texture Only" other updates are needed here.)
mNo edit summary
(39 intermediate revisions by 10 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
Dolphin is a very demanding program, so configuring Dolphin the right way is very important to run games smoothly. This '''performance guide''' will show a "quick and dirty" example of how to speed up Dolphin. Only options that improve performance are shown here.
Dolphin has two performance related configuration windows: Dolphin configuration and Graphics settings, in addition to applying settings per game via their [[GameINI]]. Dolphin is a very demanding program, so configuring Dolphin the right way is very important to run titles smoothly.


Dolphin has three configuration related buttons: Config, Graphics, and DSP, which will open the options described below.  
== System Requirements ==
Every game has different requirements, some titles may require a powerful computer while some other titles may not. Generally, these are the minimum recommended requirements for Dolphin.


== Config ==
* '''OS:''' 64-bit edition of Windows (7 SP1 or higher), Linux, or macOS (10.10 Yosemite or higher). Windows Vista SP2 and unix-like systems other than Linux are not officially supported but might work.
[[File:Dolphin emulator config.png|link=]]
* '''Processor:''' A CPU with SSE2 support. A modern CPU (3 GHz and Dual Core, not older than 2008) is highly recommended.
* '''Graphics:''' A reasonably modern graphics card (Direct3D 10.0 / OpenGL 3.0). A graphics card that supports Direct3D 11 / OpenGL 4.4 is recommended.


* '''Enable Dual Core''' - Provides a significant speedup on modern systems. Recommended.
== Dolphin Configuration ==
* '''Enable Idle Skipping''' - A free speedup 99% of the time. Recommended.
Dolphin is shipped with default settings for the most optimal performance, you do not usually need to change anything on your first time Dolphin setup.
* '''CPU Emulator Engine''' - JIT Recompiler is the fastest and most stable of the CPU emulator engines.


[[File:Performance Guide Config General.png|link=]]
=== Enable Dual Core ===
Provides a significant speedup on modern systems. Recommended on most titles, though may cause issues like crashing or graphic issues on some titles. Refer to [[:Category:Enable_Dual_Core_(Config_Required)|this page]] for a list of titles that require disabling Dual Core.


== Graphics ==
=== CPU Emulator Engine ===
[[File:Dolphin emulator graphics.png|link=]]
'''JIT Recompiler''' is the fastest engine and is recommended on almost all titles. There are a few titles that work better with different emulator engines but unplayably slow.


* '''Backend''' - Which graphics backend is the fastest generally varies depending on the game that you are playing. Experiment to find what works for you. Note: OpenGL is the only backend available on Linux and Mac OSX.
=== Audio ===
* '''Internal Resolution''' - "Auto - (Multiple of 640x528)" is recommended. If emulation suffers from slowdowns when going to fullscreen, change it to "1x Native (640x528)", and go up from there until you can find the highest setting without slowdown.
'''DSP HLE''' is the fastest DSP Emulator Engine. It is very reliable, and only a few titles still have problems with it. See [[DSP LLE]] for more details. '''OpenAL''' is faster backend. Recommended on almost all titles.
* '''Skip EFB Access from CPU''' can provide a speed boost. However it provides this boost at the expense of emulation accuracy, breaking some games and removing effects. It should be ok to use, but be careful with it.
* '''Ignore Format Changes''' - The vast majority of games don't care about this, and it provides a small boost. However a small number of games hate this setting. Recommended.
* '''Store EFB Copies to Texture Only''' - Make sure that "Store EFB Copies to Texture Only" is enabled. Disable it only when running a game that requires it.
** Disabling EFB Copies entirely can provide a radical speedup, however it provides this by disabling an entire class of effects, and will break most games. It is not recommended.
* '''Disable Destination Alpha''' - Allows Dolphin to skip the destination alpha pass used by some games’ effects. It breaks a lot of games, but can be a handy speedup. Use carefully.
* '''Fast Depth Calculation''' - Uses a less accurate method of calculating depth values. Gives a small speedup, but can cause flickering textures.


<div style="overflow:hidden">
== Graphics Settings ==
<div style="display:inline-block; padding:3px;text-align:center;">[[File:Performance Guide Graphics General.png|link=]]</div>
Some of these settings will improve emulation compatibility in exchange of PC performance.
<div style="display:inline-block; padding:3px;text-align:center;">[[File:Performance Guide Graphics Enhancements.png|link=]]</div>
<div style="display:inline-block; padding:3px;text-align:center;">[[File:Performance Guide Graphics Hacks.png|link=]]</div>
</div>


== DSP ==
=== General ===
[[File:Dolphin emulator dsp.png|link=]]
* Depending of the game and the graphics card: '''OpenGL''' or '''Direct3D 11''' in backend setting will offer better performance. Vulkan is still in experimental phase and it still is not recommended.
* '''V-Sync''' helps prevent screen tearing.


* '''DSP Emulator Engine''' - DSP HLE is the fastest DSP Emulator Engine. It is very reliable, but [https://code.google.com/p/dolphin-emu/issues/list?q=label:Component-DSPHLE some games] still have some problems with it. Use [[DSP LLE]] if DSP HLE is not working properly. See [[DSP LLE]] for more details.
=== Enhancements ===
* '''DSPLLE on Separate Thread''' - For systems with three or more CPU cores, this option can give a nice performance boost to DSP LLE. However, it can cause freezes in [[:Category:Zelda ucode games|Zelda ucode games]]. Use carefully.
The emulation can suffer slowdowns from extreme multiplier options in '''Internal Resolution''', '''Anisotropic Filtering''', and '''Anti-Aliasing''' settings. Start with minimum option like "1x Native (640x528)", and go up from there until you can find the highest setting without slowdown. Keep in mind non-1x options may cause graphical issues in some titles.
**Notice: this option was broken between {{revision|4.0-296}} and {{revision|4.0-1413}}.


[[File:Performance Guide Audio General.png|link=]]
=== Hacks ===
* '''Skip EFB Access from CPU''' - Provides a speed boost. However it provides this boost at the expense of emulation accuracy, breaking some titles and removing effects. It's off by default for greater emulation accuracy.
* '''Ignore Format Changes''' - The vast majority of titles don't care about this, and it provides a small boost. However a small number of titles hate this setting. It's enabled by default.
* '''Store EFB Copies to Texture Only''' - Enabled by default. Disable it only when running a game that requires it. Refer [[:Category:Store EFB Copies to Texture Only (Config Required)|this page]] for a list of titles that require disabling it.
{{image|Paper Mario TTYD - Cabin Transition EFB2Tex.gif|'''EFB Copies to Texture Only''' - Enabled}}
{{image|Paper Mario TTYD - Cabin Transition EFB2RAM.gif|'''EFB Copies to Texture Only''' - Disabled|br}}
* '''Texture Cache''' - Setting the slider on the "Fast" position will improve performance greatly, but it may cause graphical glitches in some games (Most commonly missing text).
* '''Fast Depth Calculation''' - Uses a less accurate method of calculating depth values. Gives a small speedup, but can cause flickering textures.
* '''Disable Bounding Box''' - Don't emulate bounding box calculation, which is only required for a limited set of titles, mostly [[:Category:Paper Mario (Series)|Paper Mario titles]].
* '''Vertex Rounding''' - Rounding 2D vertices to whole pixels, fixes graphical glitches seen in several titles at higher internal resolutions.


[[Category:Tutorials]]
[[Category:Tutorials]]

Revision as of 04:00, 7 August 2017

Dolphin has two performance related configuration windows: Dolphin configuration and Graphics settings, in addition to applying settings per game via their GameINI. Dolphin is a very demanding program, so configuring Dolphin the right way is very important to run titles smoothly.

System Requirements

Every game has different requirements, some titles may require a powerful computer while some other titles may not. Generally, these are the minimum recommended requirements for Dolphin.

  • OS: 64-bit edition of Windows (7 SP1 or higher), Linux, or macOS (10.10 Yosemite or higher). Windows Vista SP2 and unix-like systems other than Linux are not officially supported but might work.
  • Processor: A CPU with SSE2 support. A modern CPU (3 GHz and Dual Core, not older than 2008) is highly recommended.
  • Graphics: A reasonably modern graphics card (Direct3D 10.0 / OpenGL 3.0). A graphics card that supports Direct3D 11 / OpenGL 4.4 is recommended.

Dolphin Configuration

Dolphin is shipped with default settings for the most optimal performance, you do not usually need to change anything on your first time Dolphin setup.

Enable Dual Core

Provides a significant speedup on modern systems. Recommended on most titles, though may cause issues like crashing or graphic issues on some titles. Refer to this page for a list of titles that require disabling Dual Core.

CPU Emulator Engine

JIT Recompiler is the fastest engine and is recommended on almost all titles. There are a few titles that work better with different emulator engines but unplayably slow.

Audio

DSP HLE is the fastest DSP Emulator Engine. It is very reliable, and only a few titles still have problems with it. See DSP LLE for more details. OpenAL is faster backend. Recommended on almost all titles.

Graphics Settings

Some of these settings will improve emulation compatibility in exchange of PC performance.

General

  • Depending of the game and the graphics card: OpenGL or Direct3D 11 in backend setting will offer better performance. Vulkan is still in experimental phase and it still is not recommended.
  • V-Sync helps prevent screen tearing.

Enhancements

The emulation can suffer slowdowns from extreme multiplier options in Internal Resolution, Anisotropic Filtering, and Anti-Aliasing settings. Start with minimum option like "1x Native (640x528)", and go up from there until you can find the highest setting without slowdown. Keep in mind non-1x options may cause graphical issues in some titles.

Hacks

  • Skip EFB Access from CPU - Provides a speed boost. However it provides this boost at the expense of emulation accuracy, breaking some titles and removing effects. It's off by default for greater emulation accuracy.
  • Ignore Format Changes - The vast majority of titles don't care about this, and it provides a small boost. However a small number of titles hate this setting. It's enabled by default.
  • Store EFB Copies to Texture Only - Enabled by default. Disable it only when running a game that requires it. Refer this page for a list of titles that require disabling it.
  • Texture Cache - Setting the slider on the "Fast" position will improve performance greatly, but it may cause graphical glitches in some games (Most commonly missing text).
  • Fast Depth Calculation - Uses a less accurate method of calculating depth values. Gives a small speedup, but can cause flickering textures.
  • Disable Bounding Box - Don't emulate bounding box calculation, which is only required for a limited set of titles, mostly Paper Mario titles.
  • Vertex Rounding - Rounding 2D vertices to whole pixels, fixes graphical glitches seen in several titles at higher internal resolutions.