CRTEmuDriver for Windows 7 test results

[Thamiel]

-Installed CRTEMU drivers as admin, .dll error occurs, driver not signed error occurs, installer says drivers installed correctly.

Signature error? Are you using the latest package (the one you can get from Krick's mirror) or the "beta" package linked previously in this thread?

I used the one I grabbed from the Eiusdemmodi site a few days back. That's the same one that's mirrored on Kicks site right?

[Calamity]

I used the one I grabbed from the Eiusdemmodi site a few days back. That's the same one that's mirrored on Kicks site right?

Thanks. That's odd, I thought the signature problem had been solved. As you see, even if prompting the error Windows is taking the drivers fine after reboot... So it makes me think that in some systems the certificate only takes effect after the system is restarted (?).

[Thamiel]

I'd say that's whats happening, just upgraded to a low profile 4650 and installed the driver again. Installed, reboot, run VMM, reboot, done.

[R-Typer]

Hi!

Does crt_emudriver_13.1_1.2b_w7_64  work under windows 8.0 64bit? I installed it on mine and it works fine. All resolutions are available in arcade_osd and groovy mame plays and finds correct resolution for each game. Plus other emulators such as dolphin and pcsx2 work beautifully!!! And much faster than the xp.

Only VMMaker.exe says that "no compatible video driver found (registry update disabled). So I cant create my resolutions for winuae and some other emulators.

How do I go around this? Is this possible at all?

Thank you!
//sasha

[haynor666]

I've successfully tested Radeon 4350 with latest drivers and soft15kHz but still there one small issue with interlaced resolutions.

On windows xp 640x480i was visible as 640x480@60 but on windows 7 is 640x480@30. And here is problem - I've set MAME to sync to monitor refresh so now all games that uses interlaced resolutions runs at about 50% of speed. On windows xp there wasn't any problem. Is there any solution to bypass this?


Additionally some Taito Type X games does not show picture (like Battle Fantasia) because insist to work at 640x480@60. Some games however still works with 640x480@30.

[Sledge]

On windows xp 640x480i was visible as 640x480@60 but on windows 7 is 640x480@30. And here is problem - I've set MAME to sync to monitor refresh so now all games that uses interlaced resolutions runs at about 50% of speed. On windows xp there wasn't any problem. Is there any solution to bypass this?

-video d3d & -frame_delay 1 should fix that I think..

[Calamity]

On windows xp 640x480i was visible as 640x480@60 but on windows 7 is 640x480@30. And here is problem - I've set MAME to sync to monitor refresh so now all games that uses interlaced resolutions runs at about 50% of speed. On windows xp there wasn't any problem. Is there any solution to bypass this?

-video d3d & -frame_delay 1 should fix that I think..

I don't think he's using GroovyMAME, which btw is the solution. Indeed, GM switches to ddraw automatically for interlaced modes, because ddraw is not affected by the halved refresh issue.

[Sledge]

Ahh OK.. I just assumed he was using groovymame seeing as though he was posting in the GM forums

[Calamity]

Hi!

Does crt_emudriver_13.1_1.2b_w7_64  work under windows 8.0 64bit? I installed it on mine and it works fine. All resolutions are available in arcade_osd and groovy mame plays and finds correct resolution for each game. Plus other emulators such as dolphin and pcsx2 work beautifully!!! And much faster than the xp.

Only VMMaker.exe says that "no compatible video driver found (registry update disabled). So I cant create my resolutions for winuae and some other emulators.

How do I go around this? Is this possible at all?

Thank you!
//sasha

Hi R-Typer,

Sorry for my late answer. I'm very interested in this. My understanding is that CRT Emudriver should indeed install fine and be compatible with Windows 8. But because it needs to put the system in Test Mode, it will only be loaded provided you enable the test signing feature manually by pressing F8 on boot, and contrary to W7, this needs to be done each time you restart the system, so it's not useful in practice.

My guess is that the modelines have been installed in the registry but it's actually the default ATI driver shipped with W8 what's being loaded (so VMMaker wouldn't be recognizing it). This default driver does support custom modes too, but it won't allow you to modify the timings dynamically which is required for proper GM support. You can check which one of the drivers is active in the device manager. CRT Emudriver will be signed as "Calamity".

[sean_sk]

it needs to put the system in Test Mode

Just in regards to that Calamity, are you looking to set up a donation page soon so that we can get a Driver Signing Certificate for the driver? One of the reasons why I'm not using it at the moment is that I cant have Windows in 7 in test mode cause it mucks up a couple of customizations I have, plus it adds some time to my boot up sequence. Otherwise I'd really really love to use it.

[Calamity]

Just in regards to that Calamity, are you looking to set up a donation page soon so that we can get a Driver Signing Certificate for the driver? One of the reasons why I'm not using it at the moment is that I cant have Windows in 7 in test mode cause it mucks up a couple of customizations I have, plus it adds some time to my boot up sequence. Otherwise I'd really really love to use it.

Maybe at some point in the future. I'd like to see if there's any chance of getting the newer chipsets working. The certificate is valid for 1 year, so if I buy it now it might expire before I can get my hands on the other stuff.

[sean_sk]

Maybe at some point in the future. I'd like to see if there's any chance of getting the newer chipsets working. The certificate is valid for 1 year, so if I buy it now it might expire before I can get my hands on the other stuff.

Yep sure, makes sense. When you say "newer chipsets", if you mean HD 5000 and newer, I have a HD 5970 lying around. So if you need people to help test the drivers then let me know.

[haynor666]

On windows xp 640x480i was visible as 640x480@60 but on windows 7 is 640x480@30. And here is problem - I've set MAME to sync to monitor refresh so now all games that uses interlaced resolutions runs at about 50% of speed. On windows xp there wasn't any problem. Is there any solution to bypass this?

-video d3d & -frame_delay 1 should fix that I think..

I don't think he's using GroovyMAME, which btw is the solution. Indeed, GM switches to ddraw automatically for interlaced modes, because ddraw is not affected by the halved refresh issue.

So basically I'm stuck with this ?

[Calamity]

So basically I'm stuck with this ?

Stuck exactly with what?

[sean_sk]

So basically I'm stuck with this ?

Hi haynor666

Just a little puzzled why you're using soft15k if you're using crt_emudrivers with a Radeon HD 4350. If you use Groovymame (instead of regular mame) with your card and the crt_emudrivers then you shouldn't need to use soft15k.
Groovymame automatically uses direct draw when it selects an interlaced resolution for a game to prevent the 50% speed issue you are experiencing. Groovymame also has the advantage of auto selecting the right resolution for each game, provided you take the time to properly set up the available resolutions using VMMaker that comes included with crt_emudriver.
GM also has a fix that allows switching from interlaced resolution to progressive resolution using direct draw in Windows 7.
There are various posts in the Groovymame forum on how to use it.

[haynor666]

Sure, I can switch to groovymame but still there problems with taito type x games.

Also I prefer manually choose resolution for each driver and/or game for example I'm playing 256x192 games (driver ninjakd2) in 304x240. Reason is simple - scanlines is visible too much for me.

EDIT. It seems that GroovyMAME will solve almost all of my problems. Now i have to figure it how to force Taito Type X games to work correctly :/

[Calamity]

Now i have to figure it how to force Taito Type X games to work correctly :/

Check this thread: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,141253.0.html

[Sledge]

Not really sure where to put this, but i figure it would be seen here the most...
Another good reason to use Win 7, is that Windows 'Remote Desktop Connection' works just as well as teamviewer etc, but without the issues of installing the mirror driver.
Only caveat is that you have to have a password enabled for log on, but then remove it when you've finished of course..

[sean_sk]

but then remove it when you've finished of course..

Not necessary.

In "Run" type "control userpasswords2" (without quotes of course) and then, in the box that pops up, untick "Users must enter a username and password to use this computer." Then in the new box that pops up type the password twice (the one that you originally created for the account) and then "OK" it.

What this does is it allows you to keep the password for the account (so that you can continue to use Remote Desktop Connection and other services that require the password to exist) but disables the requirement of having to enter the password in at every PC startup or login, if that's the reason why you mentioned about removing it in the first place.

[haynor666]

After many hours of testing and tweaking I've noticed that some vector games cannot sync to 100% anymore. Why asteroids works ok games from cinemat.c and sega80v.c and aztarac do not. Those game are always sync to about 62% of speed. I tried enabling frame_delay, switching video from d3d to ddraw and again ddraw to d3d and still the same. Probably problem is related to halfed refresh rates of interlaced resolutions (or maybe my Asus 4350 making tricks again).

Originally under XP x64 Tac/Scan picks 768x576@49,5 and works fine but under 7 x64 does not.
The same situation is with Sundance. Under XP x64 picks 640x480@59,981 and works fine but under 7 x64 with exactly the same resolution does work at 79 %.

[Calamity]

Hi haynor666,

I'm not sure what your settings are. Bear in mind that in W7 GroovyMAME needs enabling DirectDraw for all interlaced modes in order to get the refresh right, you can see it in its logs. Because vector games will always be assigned interlaced modes you can bet DirectDraw will be used for them, unless forcing otherwise via command line or ini files.

All I can say is my main testing box is a modest P4 3.2 GHz with an Asus HD 4350 and all vector games I've tested run at 100% both in XP and W7. I'd say there's something odd with your system (considering the facts in your other thread too).

[haynor666]

From mame.ini:
video auto
frame_delay 0
syncrefresh 0
sleep 0
throttle 1

So those game should work in ddraw when it's needed. Forcing ddraw does not change situation. Official mame works the same way with:
throttle 0
syncrefresh 1
resolution 768x576