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    Getting the best N64 experience on a Pi 4

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved General Discussion and Gaming
    mupen64pluspi4 bnintendo 64
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    • dankcushionsD
      dankcushions Global Moderator @busywait
      last edited by

      @busywait said in Getting the best N64 experience on a Pi 4:

      @dankcushions @billymild
      Some parts of some games have 640x480 2-D assets, and would have originally been put on the screen at 480i.

      For example the "Multiplayer" (4 player) option inside the Bust-a-Move '99 game are obviously for 640x480 - you can barely read the text in 320x240.

      yep, hence i wrote

      by default we try and set up the n64 emulators (and all systems, for the most part) to run at native resolution - so for n64 this is around 320x240

      to be clear, mupen64plus-gliden64 and lr-mupen64plus-next are set to use native resolution, so they use whatever resolution the game originally was, which is typically around 320x240 but can be more or less. when you set it to '-highres' is simply doubles that native resolution.

      (the other n64 emulators are a mixed bag)

      I found the game can play perfectly smoothly (very few small audio glitches moving through the menus) in lr-mupen64plus-next with the 640x480 core option set as long as I don't have an overlay on the screen. (I also have the "Threaded renderer" core option off in this game).

      -next's pre-set core resolution options can conflict with the native resolution setting if you move them from default (which is actually 640x480 anyway). i forget how they interact now - really the setting should be ignored when using native resolution but i believe it isn't (i always recommend gliden64 standalone for this and other reasons). you can adjust native resolution core option to 2x for a more accurate way of increasing resolution.

      busywaitB 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • busywaitB
        busywait @dankcushions
        last edited by busywait

        @dankcushions said in Getting the best N64 experience on a Pi 4:

        by default we try and set up the n64 emulators (and all systems, for the most part) to run at native resolution - so for n64 this is around 320x240

        to be clear, mupen64plus-gliden64 and lr-mupen64plus-next are set to use native resolution, so they use whatever resolution the game originally was, which is typically around 320x240 but can be more or less. when you set it to '-highres' is simply doubles that native resolution.

        Thanks - is there a quick way to ensure the core options for n64 are defaults (I thought they were already), because lr-mupen64plus-next was not showing the 480i detail for me - probably because I misinterpreted advice to set the default resolution to 320x240, which I might have done in the core options.

        I don't see a "native resolution" core option - is that in another config file, or compiled in?

        dankcushionsD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • dankcushionsD
          dankcushions Global Moderator @busywait
          last edited by

          @busywait

          is there a quick way to ensure the core options for n64 are defaults (I thought they were already), because lr-mupen64plus-next was not showing the 480i detail for me - probably because I misinterpreted advice to set the default resolution to 320x480, which I might have done in the core options.

          delete all entries in /opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch-core-options.cfg prefixed with mupen64plus-next- then immediately reinstall lr-mupen64plus-next (do NOT run it before reinstall otherwise it will implement the emulator's defaults, not retropie's, which are suboptimal).

          there are plans to automate this process at some point.

          I don't see a "native resolution" core option - is that in another config file, or compiled in?

          same file:

          mupen64plus-next-EnableNativeResFactor = "1"
          

          it will be in the core options menu under a similar name.

          George SpiggottG 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
          • George SpiggottG
            George Spiggott @dankcushions
            last edited by

            @dankcushions Thanks, I've just followed this guide and it all seems to be working as expected. Good to see this long awaited feature added.

            I was hoping that this would resolve Worms Armageddon's problem but it doesn't seem to. Does anyone know what causes the graphical misalignments in Worms?

            Currently running:
            Retropie 4.8.9 on a Pi Zero 2W (Overclock Settings: CPU 1400Mhz)
            ES-DE on a GMKtec K6 (Windows 11, 32GB RAM)

            quicksilverQ retropieuser555R 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • quicksilverQ
              quicksilver @George Spiggott
              last edited by

              @george-spiggott said in Getting the best N64 experience on a Pi 4:

              I was hoping that this would resolve Worms Armageddon's problem but it doesn't seem to. Does anyone know what causes the graphical misalignments in Worms?

              Is this the issue you're referencing? https://github.com/gonetz/GLideN64/pull/1847

              Looks like it should have been fixed a while back so either there has been a regression or the pis gpu isn't able to perform the proper function to fix the issue.

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • retropieuser555R
                retropieuser555 @George Spiggott
                last edited by

                @george-spiggott Not an answer to the n64 version but have you tried the Dreamcast version of Worms Armageddon or World Party? They're pretty solid versions

                Pi 5 4GB

                Retroflag GPI with raspberry pi zero 2 w/ wifi

                Retroachievements:- lovelessrapture

                George SpiggottG 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • George SpiggottG
                  George Spiggott @retropieuser555
                  last edited by George Spiggott

                  @quicksilver I don't think so, the issue is that the white lines surrounding any on screen text bubbles e.g. worm names, health and power bars are oddly cropped and misaligned on the right and lower sides. It also affects the US flag on the menu screen where the flag's 'bars' are misaligned.

                  [edit] I have sort of fixed this by setting 'Background Mode' to 'Stripped'. all the graphics are fixed but now the game is very slow, going down to 24fps in places. So I've found the cause I just need to get the speed back up.

                  This is what it is supposed to look like.

                  @retropieuser555 They are but they are WinCE games so they don't currently run on the Pi. The PS1 version is also rock solid and supports widescreen (rare for a PS1 game).

                  Unrelated to this there are still options for fixed screen resolutions and the default is 640x480. Do they do anything any more?

                  Currently running:
                  Retropie 4.8.9 on a Pi Zero 2W (Overclock Settings: CPU 1400Mhz)
                  ES-DE on a GMKtec K6 (Windows 11, 32GB RAM)

                  quicksilverQ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • quicksilverQ
                    quicksilver @George Spiggott
                    last edited by quicksilver

                    @george-spiggott said in Getting the best N64 experience on a Pi 4:
                    Are you using gliden64 or mupen-next for worms? I get very good performance using gliden64 except during parts of the game were the screen shakes.

                    They are but they are WinCE games so they don't currently run on the Pi.

                    On a side note WinCE support is coming to redream sometime next week. So get some games ready to test!

                    George SpiggottG A 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 1
                    • George SpiggottG
                      George Spiggott @quicksilver
                      last edited by George Spiggott

                      @quicksilver Mupen64plus-next with vanilla settings apart from the one I mentioned (background mode). I'll give Gliden64 a try.

                      [edit] I got the same choppy performance on Gliden64, especially with the sound. I've always had problem with N64 sound on non libretro N64 cores. I'm running the KMS driver and my setting are hardly optimal, in fact my settings are a bit of a mess for these cores. This is why I've stuck with Mupen64plus-next, It is slower but problems are so much easer to work around.

                      Also looks like I need to move my Tomb Raider and Worms Dreamcast games over to my Pi in preparation. :)

                      Currently running:
                      Retropie 4.8.9 on a Pi Zero 2W (Overclock Settings: CPU 1400Mhz)
                      ES-DE on a GMKtec K6 (Windows 11, 32GB RAM)

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • A
                        AdamBeGood @quicksilver
                        last edited by

                        @quicksilver said in Getting the best N64 experience on a Pi 4:

                        On a side note WinCE support is coming to redream sometime next week. So get some games ready to test!

                        Amazing news! So Sega Rally should work at last. I know this isn't N64 related at all, but that is good to hear.

                        L 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • L
                          luckyluca @AdamBeGood
                          last edited by

                          Quick question about the Framebuffer as mentioned here:
                          https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Rq4shU1RUSdcc7cTVWeORMD-mcO6BwXwQ7TGw8f5_zw/view#gid=1983504515

                          Where do I find that setting, in order to disable it (using mostly ntsc roms)?

                          "Core Options & Overrides
                          NOTE: Framebuffer Emulation is typically ""True/Enabled"" by default. This ensures correct PAL functionality, but causes a significant performance hit. This list is mostly comprised of NTSC ROMs and assumes a ""False/Disabled"" state for the RetroArch emulators, unless otherwise specified."

                          Many thanks
                          L

                          dankcushionsD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • dankcushionsD
                            dankcushions Global Moderator @luckyluca
                            last edited by

                            @luckyluca please search our documentation: https://retropie.org.uk/docs/RetroArch-Core-Options/

                            L 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • L
                              luckyluca @dankcushions
                              last edited by luckyluca

                              @dankcushions said in Getting the best N64 experience on a Pi 4:

                              @luckyluca please search our documentation: https://retropie.org.uk/docs/RetroArch-Core-Options/

                              Sorry but I can't find it anywhere, what config does it fall under?

                              retroarch-core-options.cfg
                              retroarch.cfg
                              mupen64plus.cfg

                              or anywhere else?

                              I'm looking for any string resembling framebuffer, buffer

                              dankcushionsD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • dankcushionsD
                                dankcushions Global Moderator @luckyluca
                                last edited by

                                @luckyluca the spreadsheet says:

                                "Core Options & Overrides
                                NOTE: Framebuffer Emulation is typically ""True/Enabled"" by default. This ensures correct PAL functionality, but causes a significant performance hit. This list is mostly comprised of NTSC ROMs and assumes a ""False/Disabled"" state for the RetroArch emulators, unless otherwise specified."

                                retroarch emulators use core options, which are explained in my link. if you want to change them, you should change them via the RGUI of the retroarch emulator you are running, as per the link. the appropriate option will be called 'framebuffer emulation' or similar. you don't need to edit any files.

                                L 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • L
                                  luckyluca @dankcushions
                                  last edited by luckyluca

                                  Thanks for your super-fast reply by the way.

                                  Sorry but that specifically was not clear from your link.

                                  After more digging, I assume it refers to EnableFBEmulation and it applies to the mupens lr cores under retroarch-core-options.cfg so it seems.

                                  P.s.
                                  I prefer editing configs directly.

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • L
                                    luckyluca @roslof
                                    last edited by luckyluca

                                    @roslof

                                    Thanks for your fantastic google doc. I was wondering, How up to date is it in regard to the n64?

                                    Asking as I've been told that last year's advancements on mupen64plus-GLideN64 would make it a good candidate for 90% of the roms now?

                                    Also, would it be a bad idea when testing, to assume that if games start, they would work throughout?

                                    thank you again

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • B
                                      billymild
                                      last edited by

                                      Anyone using Vulkan yet?

                                      dankcushionsD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • dankcushionsD
                                        dankcushions Global Moderator @billymild
                                        last edited by dankcushions

                                        @billymild said in Getting the best N64 experience on a Pi 4:

                                        Anyone using Vulkan yet?

                                        even if you manually installed latest mesa (vulkan is not included in the version used by current raspberry pi OS), there is no HLE n64 emulator that uses vulkan (ie, GLideN64 does not support vulkan), and the LLE video plugin that does support it (parallel-rdp) needs more than vulkan 1.0 anyway, and is likely very beyond the pi 4's gpu, vulkan or not.

                                        B 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                        • B
                                          billymild @dankcushions
                                          last edited by

                                          @dankcushions there were a few tutorials on installing Vulkan on RPi4's. This is why I asked over on the forum.

                                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • B
                                            billymild
                                            last edited by

                                            When resolutions are referred to in this thread was that in reference to the resolution for the emulator in the Run Command window?

                                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote -1
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