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Main => Software Forum => Topic started by: Matthew Fisher on September 26, 2005, 11:03:14 am

Title: boosting dmame performance
Post by: Matthew Fisher on September 26, 2005, 11:03:14 am
Hey, you DOS experts out there, I am looking to maximize my DMAME performance.  I have a 700 mHz Athlon with 381 MB ram.  My little rig is having real trouble with some games.  My question is, would adding more ram help, or do I need to a get a faster processor?    I'm running EMM386.EXE and NOEMS.  Thanks for any hints. 
Title: Re: boosting dmame performance
Post by: youki on September 26, 2005, 12:39:24 pm
I don't think adding more ram will help under Dos.  I even not sure that DOS can allocate the memory you already have.

But a Faster processor would help for sure.

But a 700Mhz is already good for most of the game.  On what kind of game you have problems?



Title: Re: boosting dmame performance
Post by: Matthew Fisher on September 26, 2005, 01:15:32 pm
Darn.  That's what I thought -- I just wanted to be sure.  It may be time to upgrade.    Let's say I bought a relatively new computer with a P4.  Any reason I coudn't load Win 98 on there and then run DOS?  I know there may be driver issues, but I think I can work around those, since all I need to work in DOS is a serial mouse and a soundcard.  For now, I have to stay in DOS though. 

I'm trying to run Exidy Top Gunner and am maxing out at ~8fps.  Not exactly humming along...  It was a 68000-based vector game.  Funny thing is, Cosmic Chasm, another 68000 game, plays just fine.  Does this have to do with the size of the roms, or am I thinking about this wrong? 
Title: Re: boosting dmame performance
Post by: lokki on September 26, 2005, 03:00:34 pm
Try running it with -noart parameter

Title: Re: boosting dmame performance
Post by: Matthew Fisher on September 26, 2005, 03:15:41 pm
Will do.  How about adjusting the audio sample rate to 22050 or 11025?  Does this do much (other than degrade the sound quality)? 
Title: Re: boosting dmame performance
Post by: lokki on September 26, 2005, 03:35:25 pm
Not sure, the noart helps some vector games (but not sure about topgunner since this uses a very new driver)
Title: Re: boosting dmame performance
Post by: Matthew Fisher on September 26, 2005, 04:10:18 pm
I'll try -noart and the sampling rate.  Can't hurt, right?  All of the other vector games work just fine for me, rock solid at full framerates.  Thanks for the info. 
Title: Re: boosting dmame performance
Post by: RayB on September 27, 2005, 11:28:32 am
I'd also look into what resolution is being used and if vector anti-aliasing is on as well.
The lower the res, and the less extra "enhancements" are on, the better.