notaz
Certified Guru
Finally, after endless hours of debugging the new version is ready.
This is quite a major update. The most important feature which I am very happy about is the utilization of the second processor. It now can be used to generate YM2612 sound samples, what causes quite an improvement of overall performance. Many games (actually all of which I have tested) now can run fullspeed with 44kHz sound at stock speeds. Actually some games now run fullspeed underclocked (I just played through few Vectorman2 levels with 166MHz set and got no slowdowns at all). You may need to set tighter RAM timings to get that (added an option for that in the menus).
I also did some serious optimizations on the sound core without loosing quality (well at least I can't hear a difference). Many games now can run 22kHz sound fullspeed with no overclocking or using the second core.
Now I just wonder what is better for battery life, overclocking one CPU or using both of them, but with no overclock? It would be nice if someone would check, I do not have time for that now.
Here is the detailed change log:
* Severely optimized MAME's YM2612 core, part of it is now rewritten in asm.
+ The YM2612's code now can be run in GP2X's ARM940T CPU, what causes large performance increase.
* Accurate renderers are slightly faster now.
+ Using quadruple buffering instead of doublebuffer now, also updated framelimitter, this should eliminate some scrolling and tearing problems.
* Fixed some flickering issues of 8bit accurate renderer.
+ craigix's RAM timings now can be enabled in the menu (see advanced options).
+ Added ability to save config for specific games only.
+ Gamma control added (using GP2X's hardware capabilities for this).
* Volume keys are now configurable.
+ GnoStiC added USB joystick support, I made it possible to use it for player 2 control (currently untested).
* squidgehack is now applied through kernel module (cleaner way).
UPDATE: just a quick bug-fix release:
* Fixed an issue with incorrect sounds in some games when dualcore operation was enabled (for example punch sound in SOR).
* Limited max volume to 90, because higher values often cause distortions.
* Fixed a bug with lower res scaling.
* Gamma is now reset on exit.
UPDATE2: another quick bug-fix release:
* Gamma-reset-on-entering-menu bug fixed.
* Recompiled PicoDrive with gcc profiling option set as described here:
http://www.gp32x.de/board/index.php?showtopic=28490
download PicoDrive 0.963
source code
This is quite a major update. The most important feature which I am very happy about is the utilization of the second processor. It now can be used to generate YM2612 sound samples, what causes quite an improvement of overall performance. Many games (actually all of which I have tested) now can run fullspeed with 44kHz sound at stock speeds. Actually some games now run fullspeed underclocked (I just played through few Vectorman2 levels with 166MHz set and got no slowdowns at all). You may need to set tighter RAM timings to get that (added an option for that in the menus).
I also did some serious optimizations on the sound core without loosing quality (well at least I can't hear a difference). Many games now can run 22kHz sound fullspeed with no overclocking or using the second core.
Now I just wonder what is better for battery life, overclocking one CPU or using both of them, but with no overclock? It would be nice if someone would check, I do not have time for that now.
Here is the detailed change log:
* Severely optimized MAME's YM2612 core, part of it is now rewritten in asm.
+ The YM2612's code now can be run in GP2X's ARM940T CPU, what causes large performance increase.
* Accurate renderers are slightly faster now.
+ Using quadruple buffering instead of doublebuffer now, also updated framelimitter, this should eliminate some scrolling and tearing problems.
* Fixed some flickering issues of 8bit accurate renderer.
+ craigix's RAM timings now can be enabled in the menu (see advanced options).
+ Added ability to save config for specific games only.
+ Gamma control added (using GP2X's hardware capabilities for this).
* Volume keys are now configurable.
+ GnoStiC added USB joystick support, I made it possible to use it for player 2 control (currently untested).
* squidgehack is now applied through kernel module (cleaner way).
UPDATE: just a quick bug-fix release:
* Fixed an issue with incorrect sounds in some games when dualcore operation was enabled (for example punch sound in SOR).
* Limited max volume to 90, because higher values often cause distortions.
* Fixed a bug with lower res scaling.
* Gamma is now reset on exit.
UPDATE2: another quick bug-fix release:
* Gamma-reset-on-entering-menu bug fixed.
* Recompiled PicoDrive with gcc profiling option set as described here:
http://www.gp32x.de/board/index.php?showtopic=28490
download PicoDrive 0.963
source code
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