Speed differences between versions of MAME

[gman314]

I am currently running versions 127 and 147 of MAME, and I noticed that the TMNT (world 4 players) rom runs ever so slightly faster on 147.  Also, it seems as if the resolution is slightly different on the 147 version.  I also noticed that Final Fight seems slightly faster on 147 as well. 

Can anyone verify these claims, or is this all just my imagination?  Are there any other games that people have noticed that run differently between two different versions?

Keep in mind, that the discussion does not necessarily need to be limited to just version 127 and 147.  Thanks.

[thatpurplestuff]

You can make the FPS pop up so you can see exactly how fast the game is running through MAME... don't remember the key but if you go to the menu through TAB you should be able to see what key brings up the frames per second.

[gman314]

So I checked the framerate, and both run at 100%.  It    seems as if the graphics are slightly more "dynamic" and crisp on the 147 version. I have the brightness and contrast set to the same value on both versions. Both are also set to a 4:3 ratio. I actually went so far as to measure the screen and, in conclusion, I noticed that the health bars at the top of the screen are in a slightly different position (they are about a millimeter off from one version to the other) .  I think that this proves that there must be some graphical differences between the two versions. Perhaps this difference creates an illusion of a speed difference. Has anyone noticed anything similar in other specific games?  Do newer versions of mame result in slight graphical improvements in games that have otherwise run flawlessly in previous versions?

[paigeoliver]

It is probably teeny tiny differences to the rendering engines or you don't have all the options set the same way even though you think you do.

Even back almost 100 mame versions ago you couldn't tell the difference between mame Final Fight and the real board (I used to have a Final Fight right next to my mame cabinet some 10 years ago).

[gman314]

I agree about what you said regarding Final Fight. Upon further inspection, both    versions seem identical. Last night I was playing both versions of TMNT again, and the speed seemed identical to me as well. The only thing that I still notice is that slight graphical difference where the screen seems slightly "shifted ". 

Any other notable games with slight differences like this?

[Haze]

I agree about what you said regarding Final Fight. Upon further inspection, both    versions seem identical. Last night I was playing both versions of TMNT again, and the speed seemed identical to me as well. The only thing that I still notice is that slight graphical difference where the screen seems slightly "shifted ". 

Any other notable games with slight differences like this?

There are probably a few.

When drivers are first done (especially in the past, with few references) visible areas were usually chosen based on what resulted in the least garbage on the display, ie what the games seemed to expect.

For some that actually turned out to be wrong, and that garbage towards the edges of the screen was present on the original hardware.  TMNT is one such case IIRC and the resolution now properly represents what the board would put out, even if there are some parts will now have some ugly artefacts near the edges of the screen.  You're unlikely to find a list of cases where tweaks like this have been made, but MAME is constantly trying to be more like the original boards wherever possible, and this is just one such example of that.

[paigeoliver]

But on the original hardware wouldn't the ugly artifacts at the edge of the screen be adjusted off screen with the monitor controls?

I agree about what you said regarding Final Fight. Upon further inspection, both    versions seem identical. Last night I was playing both versions of TMNT again, and the speed seemed identical to me as well. The only thing that I still notice is that slight graphical difference where the screen seems slightly "shifted ". 

Any other notable games with slight differences like this?

There are probably a few.

When drivers are first done (especially in the past, with few references) visible areas were usually chosen based on what resulted in the least garbage on the display, ie what the games seemed to expect.

For some that actually turned out to be wrong, and that garbage towards the edges of the screen was present on the original hardware.  TMNT is one such case IIRC and the resolution now properly represents what the board would put out, even if there are some parts will now have some ugly artefacts near the edges of the screen.  You're unlikely to find a list of cases where tweaks like this have been made, but MAME is constantly trying to be more like the original boards wherever possible, and this is just one such example of that.

[Haze]

That is the correct solution for getting rid of them without screwing up your screen timing, yes.

But on the original hardware wouldn't the ugly artifacts at the edge of the screen be adjusted off screen with the monitor controls?

I agree about what you said regarding Final Fight. Upon further inspection, both    versions seem identical. Last night I was playing both versions of TMNT again, and the speed seemed identical to me as well. The only thing that I still notice is that slight graphical difference where the screen seems slightly "shifted ". 

Any other notable games with slight differences like this?

There are probably a few.

When drivers are first done (especially in the past, with few references) visible areas were usually chosen based on what resulted in the least garbage on the display, ie what the games seemed to expect.

For some that actually turned out to be wrong, and that garbage towards the edges of the screen was present on the original hardware.  TMNT is one such case IIRC and the resolution now properly represents what the board would put out, even if there are some parts will now have some ugly artefacts near the edges of the screen.  You're unlikely to find a list of cases where tweaks like this have been made, but MAME is constantly trying to be more like the original boards wherever possible, and this is just one such example of that.

[Gray_Area]

god, it took me several minutes and such, constantly refreshing the page, to find this one.


"Let's start with the [NeoGeo] games that have garbage in the overscan area - no other company allowed games out the door with problems that major, and on consoles you would be denied manufacture by Sega/Sony/Nintendo/Microsoft if you had an error like that. Only Midway/Williams can even begin to compete with the NeoGeo for sheer bugginess of games."

- R. Belmont