HLSL. I give up

[langlem]

  so I decided to finally play around with the HLSL feature in MAME.  I CAN NOT get it to even start.  Have read every thread and tried everything.  Have a quad core i3 550 with windows 7.  On board gpu that runs Hyperspin just fine. At this point I am not worried much about lag...I just want to see what it looks like.

Have updated DirectX (11 came on the computer) as I read that was a known problem for others.

I am certain I am doing something extremely obvious but I can not figure it out. This forum has saved me every time I get stuck and I am hoping so again.

I am on MAME 144 (its compiled and has only 25 vertical classics).  "Yes" I know there have been a ton of improvements ... I am hoping to skip the debate on upgrading at this time and just answer the HLSL issue.

So I have it enabled in the .ini and settings copied from hours of reading thru the threads...

It just wont "turn on."

Should there be something in the HLSL folder! In the Artwork folder?

I have tried both within Hyperspin and just MAME...neither work.  Very frustrated.

Thanks for any help...like I say...it has to be an obvious thing that I am missing.  Is there a video setting in the ini file I need to enable or disable?

[epetti]

Run dxdiag to make sure direct x is otherwise running correctly. Generate a new mame.ini and do nothing but enable hlsl just to make sure no other settings are going wacky. Make sure you have the aperture.png in your artwork folder. And make sure you install the DirectX 9 end user Run-time web installer. The last one was the biggest problem that was messing me up. I thought I had installed the correct DirectX. But it's that specific run time installer that needs to be installed.

[ABACABB]

I recall having to set my Windows Desktop (using Windows 7) to one of the "aero" themes.  If my memory is correct, this little trick solved the issue for me, although it has been a few years now.

[langlem]

Thanks...I did download that direct x end user file...Better make sure it was the correct one.

Dumb ?     

If I create a new ini file will it overwrite my current one?

Appreciate the tips... Will post back shortly...

[Ond]

It may be the shader version on your on board GPU.  HLSL wont run on old shader ver.

[langlem]

Tried all above.... No dice.   

Thanks OND.... Will investigate that.  Is that updateable?

ML

[yamatetsu]

Maybe your MAME version is the culprit. Perhaps HLSL simply doesn't work. I have MAME 149 installed and I couldn't get it to work, turns out that 149 had issues with it so even if you turn it on in the mame.ini it simply is ignored.
I wanted to see what HLSL looks like, so I installed MAME 161 on my computer, turned HLSL on and that worked instantly. Looked great on some games, absolutely horrible on others, but it worked.

You could probably save some time by just downloading a newer MAME version and a few test ROMs.

[Haze]

so I decided to finally play around with the HLSL feature in MAME.  I CAN NOT get it to even start.  Have read every thread and tried everything.  Have a quad core i3 550 with windows 7.  On board gpu that runs Hyperspin just fine. At this point I am not worried much about lag...I just want to see what it looks like.

Have updated DirectX (11 came on the computer) as I read that was a known problem for others.

The hardware might be an issue, it needs a good GPU, although I have heard it will run on the i3/i5/i7 integrated stuff to a degree.

DirectX 11 doesn't matter, as others have stated, you need the latest DirectX 9 stuff installed.

I am certain I am doing something extremely obvious but I can not figure it out. This forum has saved me every time I get stuck and I am hoping so again.

I am on MAME 144 (its compiled and has only 25 vertical classics).  "Yes" I know there have been a ton of improvements ... I am hoping to skip the debate on upgrading at this time and just answer the HLSL issue.

This is where you're most likely causing yourself problems, you're specifically avoiding what could be the actual solution, HLSL has changed a lot over time, there are versions where it didn't work properly at all, versions with different incompatibilities etc.

So I have it enabled in the .ini and settings copied from hours of reading thru the threads...

It just wont "turn on."

Should there be something in the HLSL folder! In the Artwork folder?

Yes, there should be, exactly what will depend greatly on your version, are you using dodgy packages downloaded from elsewhere with missing files, or the wrong files?  You really should use the official distribution.

I have tried both within Hyperspin and just MAME...neither work.  Very frustrated.

Thanks for any help...like I say...it has to be an obvious thing that I am missing.  Is there a video setting in the ini file I need to enable or disable?

Hyperspin has nothing to do with it.

Ensure you have DirectX 9 stuff installed, maybe latest GPU drivers too since you're on Intel.

Download the latest version 0.167 from http://mamedev.org/release.php if you're sensible and running a 64-bit OS grab the 64-bit one.
extract it to a CLEAN folder
run "mame -cc" to create an ini file* and edit it to point at your rom path

run with "mame pacman -hlsl"

* mame64 instead of mame for both cases if you got the 64-bit package

if it still doesn't work then maybe your generation of i3 really doesn't support it.

asking for support when there are apparently so many unknown variables with the build you're using isn't going to get you anywhere, posts like this do annoy me because the obvious and correct thing to try is always going to be the latest official version from the official site, that should be first port of call for ANY problem, with requests for help starting at that point.

[BadMouth]

I didn't know it played a role in HLSL, but here are the Dx9 runtimes that a lot of emulators require. (and newer installs are missing)
https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/download/details.aspx?id=34429
If not installing while online:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8109

A lot of people have an issue with these when trying to run other emulators like Model 2 emulator or NullDC.
One would assume if you have the newest version of DirectX and all the latest updates you'd be covered, but that is not the case.
That's why steam installs the crap out of various runtimes the first time you launch a new game.

[BorgDog]

I just did this the other day and the downloads BadMouth linked to were the key to getting it working, at least for me.  I'm running a MAME 156 and used some settings vwalbridge posted for lower end systems in this thread as I was trying it out on a Gigabtye BRIX with a J1900 Celeron processor.  It ran the classics with HLSL on, Pac-Man, Donkey Kong etc with no loss of frame rates, but started losing some when I moved up to MK and SFIII etc.  I didn't think it could handle any of it, in the end I turned it back off as I didn't feel like messing with it and it's for my grandson who I'm pretty darn sure has never seen a scan line in his life so is unlikely to miss it.

[vwalbridge]

It ran the classics with HLSL on, Pac-Man, Donkey Kong etc with no loss of frame rates, but started losing some when I moved up to MK and SFIII etc.

Thanks for the follow up BorgDog. Sorry, I forgot to mention that I only tested those settings on the "classics". Good to know they don't work for MK, SF and above. 

HLSL is a tricky feature and it's good you just shut it off. Better to have smooth game play than eye candy scan lines.

[BadMouth]

I'm half afraid to post anything on HLSL settings since I'm way back on v.146 on my cab, but with that version anyway the main adjustment in the case of slowdown was the prescale setting.

I had to reduce it for the oddball old game like Frogger that was more demanding because it had discrete sound.  I just created an ini for the individual game so the other games could still look their best (given the older hardware in my cab).

[langlem]

So....I guess that is what I get for being lazy...  Before that, I appreciate everyone's advice and willingness to help.  I am a VERY casual mameer and just get a wild hair to mess with my cabs every 5-6 months. 
It is a nasty cycle that repeats.  I have a cocktail cab I just finished and a vertical cab that I did about 3 years ago.  I get them 99% perfect and then just want to 'tweak' it a bit... that is where the trouble begins for me because it is not something I do very often...I have to re-educate myself on everything!!

So, I went ahead and downloaded Mame 167, dropped in a few ROMS and enabled HLSL...Boom! there it is.  Now, I am sure I will get sidetracked on working on anything else!...starting with re-compiling and updating ROMS...thankfully I only play about 75-80 at the most so not a huge deal.

I also updated (which I thought I did last night half asleep!) the DX drivers as suggested.

I am sure I will be back with more basic questions before long!  Thanks to all who chimed in!

By the way...  The onboard Intel GPU really struggles... play, especially sound is very choppy on the 3-4 games I played around with; Donkey Kong, Pac Man, Ms. Pac Man...

I am sure this is no surprise to most...but for anyone else out there like me... that is basically a 5-6 year Mame noob (if that even is possible) that is wondering if it really is necessary for a Vid card and run HLSL... I would say pretty much definite.

Later!

ML

[vwalbridge]

By the way...  The onboard Intel GPU really struggles... play, especially sound is very choppy on the 3-4 games I played around with; Donkey Kong, Pac Man, Ms. Pac Man...

I've found these settings to look pretty good while not stressing out the Intel graphics card too much.  However, your results may vary so remember to hit "F9" and see your frame rate

As BorgDog said, these settings work best for the "vertical classics" (ie, pac man, DK, burger time, etc) (these settings look a little weird on horizontal games like defender and mario bros)

These settings do NOT round the corners or use pincushion. (I've found those 2 settings to be far more than an integrated card can handle.)

Code: [Select]

#
# DIRECT3D POST-PROCESSING OPTIONS
#
hlsl_enable               1
hlslpath                  hlsl
hlsl_prescale_x           0
hlsl_prescale_y           0
hlsl_preset               -1
hlsl_write               
hlsl_snap_width           1024
hlsl_snap_height          768
shadow_mask_alpha         0.1
shadow_mask_texture       aperture.png
shadow_mask_x_count       320
shadow_mask_y_count       240
shadow_mask_usize         0.09375
shadow_mask_vsize         0.109375
curvature                 0.0
pincushion                0.02
scanline_alpha            1.0
scanline_size             1.0
scanline_height           1.0
scanline_bright_scale     1.0
scanline_bright_offset    0.0
scanline_jitter           0.05
defocus                   0.0,0.0
converge_x                0.2,0.0,0.0
converge_y                0.0,0.0,0.0
radial_converge_x         0.2,0.0,0.0
radial_converge_y         0.0,0.0,0.0
red_ratio                 0.85,0.15,0.0
grn_ratio                 -0.05,1.05,0.0
blu_ratio                 -0.025,-0.025,1.05
saturation                1.0
offset                    -0.15,-0.16,-0.16
scale                     1.15,1.16,1.16
power                     1.1,0.95,0.8
floor                     0.0,0.0,0.0
phosphor_life             0.0,0.0,0.0

#
# NTSC POST-PROCESSING OPTIONS
#
yiq_enable                0
yiq_cc                    3.59754545
yiq_a                     0.5
yiq_b                     0.5
yiq_o                     0.0
yiq_p                     1.0
yiq_n                     1.0
yiq_y                     6.0
yiq_i                     1.2
yiq_q                     0.6
yiq_scan_time             52.6
yiq_phase_count           2

#
# VECTOR POST-PROCESSING OPTIONS
#
vector_length_scale       0.8
vector_length_ratio       500.0

#
# BLOOM POST-PROCESSING OPTIONS
#
vector_bloom_scale        0.3
raster_bloom_scale        0.1
bloom_lvl0_weight         1.0
bloom_lvl1_weight         0.21
bloom_lvl2_weight         0.19
bloom_lvl3_weight         0.17
bloom_lvl4_weight         0.15
bloom_lvl5_weight         0.14
bloom_lvl6_weight         0.13
bloom_lvl7_weight         0.12
bloom_lvl8_weight         0.11
bloom_lvl9_weight         0.10
bloom_lvl10_weight        0.09


[langlem]

Thanks!  I will give those a try when I get home.

On a related note.... anyone have a good suggestion for a video card for Gateway SX2851.  Needs to be low profile.

Yes....   Can.     Worms.      Opened.

 

[langlem]

just wanted to say thanks to all who helped out.  Have it up and running just fine now.

I actually bought an inexpensive vid card on Amazon that really helped the situation.  I should know by now...keep MAME as current as possible.  Was just being lazy I guess.

One issue that I have (will possibly start a new thread) is that when I enable bezels in video options my screen curvature/pincushion seems to go away??  I suppose this is a setting that I am just missing
or not aware of.  Anything on this ring a bell??

Again....appreciate all the advice!

Matt

[B2K24]

Answered your other thread with a C&P from another forum with someone else who had same problem/issue

[langlem]

thanks!!  really appreciate the help.

Got it!

Matt

[Haze]

One issue that I have (will possibly start a new thread) is that when I enable bezels in video options my screen curvature/pincushion seems to go away??  I suppose this is a setting that I am just missing
or not aware of.  Anything on this ring a bell??

there's a thread over at Mameworld about this, apparently it isn't supported at the moment, but you can get some alt. shader files (that aren't in the distribution by default because they're not as good in some other ways) which allow both to work at the same time.