Emulators running slower for unknown reason

Slimy · 30 Nov 2017, 02:59

My dad wants me to make another Pi-console for a friend. Instead of copying my own card, I'll try doing it from scratch using the images on the main site, test it, then update it, then test it again, and see at what point it starts to run worse, if it does.

I'll attach heatsinks to this one, but I don't think heat is the issue here.

juice · 30 Nov 2017, 04:56

i having same issues with nespi case took it out the case and in different case no problems, i was getting temp gauge after 10 min temp was 82'c -85' . with the other case it 65' c . i need to sort this issue out myself , this is my next problem. could be down to you chip throttling because of heat . i am no expert tho. good luck

AndersHP · 30 Nov 2017, 11:06

I'm experiencing almost the same thing after updating to Retropie 4.3.7 and retroarch 1.6.9.
See my thread

I'm suspecting the latter to be the problem. Have you tried reverting to 1.6.7? I'll try this within the next few days.

Slimy · 30 Nov 2017, 13:26

@andershp
I'm not sure how I would revert to 1.6.7, but I would like to try if possible.

I've set up the 2nd Pi, used the same video and shader settings, and everything was running as smoothly as I remember it. So I'm not crazy at least.

Retropie-Setup verson was 4.3
Retroarch version was 1.6.7
GBA emulator was mGBA 0.6.0
SNES emulator was Snes9x 2010 1.52.4

I put the old sd card into the fresh Pi, and the games still stutter. So I can rule out the Pi itself as the culprit.

Then I updated the new Pi using the RetroPie-Setup option, but there's still no stuttering, so I have no idea where things went wrong.

MegaTimX · 30 Nov 2017, 13:31

Maybe you should try adjusting your video memory settings, which I think are under system settings. Using a higher resolution requires more video memory. Perhaps updating it either defaulted or changed the setting.

matchaman · 30 Nov 2017, 13:46

NESPi is a lovely looking case but ventilation is virtually non-existent. I had to drill a hole in the back on mine. Also that case makes fans sound really loud, it has the worst accoustic design ever - it doubles as an noise amplfiier :p

On Pi3 you definitely need to use a heatsink because it runs quite hot and the CPU throttles regularly without cooling. Be sure to use really thin (usually white) thermal tape, if it's more than .4mm thick it will make things worse.

AndersHP · 30 Nov 2017, 13:51

@slimy said in Emulators running slower for unknown reason:

I put the old sd card into the fresh Pi, and the games still stutter. So I can rule out the Pi itself as the culprit.

Good you found this conclusion. I was wondering if my pi suddenly died. I think I'll test tonight.
In my own situation, my pi is placed in the official pi casing, with the top off, like this:

I haven't changed this in the 6 months I have tinkered with it, and games stutter when I launch them, 1 minute after bootup. So even though active cooling could be nice, I don't believe this suddenly is the problem.

Slimy · 1 Dec 2017, 01:49

@megatimx
Are you talking about the Memory Split option in Raspi-config? If so, It's set to the same thing on both Pis. (256)

Darksavior · 1 Dec 2017, 04:57

No issues here, as I've posted in: https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/14756/retroarch-1-6-9-update-slowing-emulations-down

I did not try gba but the rest are fine. Messing around with the config will cause problems. They are already optimized.

@slimy said in Emulators running slower for unknown reason:

I put the old sd card into the fresh Pi, and the games still stutter. So I can rule out the Pi itself as the culprit.

You have to try a clean, updated, UNALTERED image to verify it's a config problem.

Slimy · 1 Dec 2017, 05:12

@darksavior
What do you mean? I've set up a fresh retropie image on the other card, and that one is working smoothly.

soulgriever · 1 Dec 2017, 15:30

@Slimy odds are a config was screwed up in the update since so many seem to be having this issue. I know it sucks but id recommend a clean install to the sd card that's giving you issues since the other one solved the issue

AndersHP · 1 Dec 2017, 20:34

So, I've reverted back to RetroPie 4.3 and Retroarch 1.6.7 and can confirm that everything is back to normal again.

I then updated only Retroarch to 1.6.9 again (RetroPie still 4.3) and everything is terrible again. Armed Police Batrider stutters even in the menusounds.

So... Fresh install or should I just stay with 1.6.7 and wait for a fix?

Solaris · 2 Dec 2017, 14:02

YOu can check if it's the temperature by logging on the pi while you game using ssh and checking the temperature with this command:

/opt/vc/bin/vcgencmd measure_temp

If the temperature is below 70 degrees, it's not the temperature.

You could do slight overclocking but have you tried with another microsd? Microsd going bad can sometimes load and make gameplay stutter. Happened to me a while ago. FOr the slight OC, don't overclock and CPU but you could add some memory to the GPU.

Also, does it happen on demanding emulators (like n64) or even on nes and snes. Snes should have zero problems with a stock pi. If it stuters there, you might have a bigger problem.

AndersHP · 2 Dec 2017, 18:21

@solaris said in Emulators running slower for unknown reason:

YOu can check if it's the temperature by logging on the pi while you game using ssh and checking the temperature

...but if the pi overheats within minutes of bootup, I suspect the software to be faulty, not the pi. Edit: just checked. It's 56 deg C after bootup.

Microsd going bad can sometimes load and make gameplay stutter.

But as I stated above, I just tested with the old software on the same microsd and it's all good..? After the update, it goes bad again... So the microsd is not the problem..

FOr the slight OC, don't overclock and CPU but you could add some memory to the GPU.

Again, if I can run everything neatly with the old software, I don't want to overclock just to run a newer software better...? I suspect the problem is the software then, and then I'd rather stay with the old software...

Wouldn't you agree?

BobHarris · 2 Dec 2017, 18:26

This post is deleted!

Slimy · 4 Dec 2017, 07:37

@solaris said in Emulators running slower for unknown reason:

YOu can check if it's the temperature by logging on the pi while you game using ssh and checking the temperature with this command:

The temperature is below 70 degrees on bootup, and stayed there after running some games. (They were stuttering regardless of temerature.)

@solaris said in Emulators running slower for unknown reason:

You could do slight overclocking but have you tried with another microsd? Microsd going bad can sometimes load and make gameplay stutter. Happened to me a while ago. FOr the slight OC, don't overclock and CPU but you could add some memory to the GPU.

That sounds like a good test but I don't have another spare. At this point I'll probably switch to a clean install, though it would have been nice to know what went wrong. (If it's still stuttering after that I'll know it's the sd.)

@solaris said in Emulators running slower for unknown reason:

Also, does it happen on demanding emulators (like n64) or even on nes and snes. Snes should have zero problems with a stock pi. If it stuters there, you might have a bigger problem.

I believe every system is affected, but it's most noticeable on the snes, gba, and psx.

dankcushions · 5 Dec 2017, 11:25

@andershp said in Emulators running slower for unknown reason:

I then updated only Retroarch to 1.6.9 again (RetroPie still 4.3) and everything is terrible again. Armed Police Batrider stutters even in the menusounds.

on what emulator? mame2003? if so, that's had daily driver updates in the last few weeks and they are all untested, so who knows what's going on with that at this point.

BuZz · 5 Dec 2017, 16:14

@dankcushions I had a feeling they were not being tested but is this verified ? The libretro project is quick (too quick imho) to accept changes to cores, and in this case it seems unwise. It seems like a bad idea to submit untested backported changes to such a popular emulator.

I am considering forking and rolling back our mame2003 due to all the problems being reported.

arcadez2003 · 5 Dec 2017, 20:21

@dankcushions said in Emulators running slower for unknown reason:

@andershp said in Emulators running slower for unknown reason:

I then updated only Retroarch to 1.6.9 again (RetroPie still 4.3) and everything is terrible again. Armed Police Batrider stutters even in the menusounds.

on what emulator? mame2003? if so, that's had daily driver updates in the last few weeks and they are all untested, so who knows what's going on with that at this point.

Sigh all these claims about being "untested" are plain [removed] every code change i've done has been fully tested on the MAME side by myself and if i broke anything
eg SEGA, Mortal Kombat sound or Batrider game speed i have fixed or attempted to fix the problems the guy should test batrider again after my recent commit
and see how it plays.

BuZz · 5 Dec 2017, 20:23

@gamez-fan This is not a playground - watch your language and attitude unless you want to be removed.