N64 Resolution Upscaling + N64 Lag [Solved]

HenrikoMagnifico

So, I've been using Retropie to play N64 games for a little while now, and most games I've played have been working (mostly) flawlessly on my Raspberry Pi 3 Model B. The only issue is the fact that the games (to be honest) look like barf on my screen, especially when I play on the TV. I have not experienced any performance issues this far, so would quality up-scaling be an alternative worth taking a look at?

I would love to be able to play these games at a slightly higher resolution, even if the frame drops will become a bit more common. Is there a way for me to do this? I'm quite new to Retropie and Linux, so I will need a guide of some sorts.

Thanks in advance, ~Henriko

Shakz

Switch your emulator.
Tap A when you see the text that shows up before the game launches and set "mupen64plus-gles2rice-highres"
As your default emulator. Then launch the game so it updates the config script.
Quit out of the game.
There are a couple of other tweaks that need to be made but for now that should get you started.
You need to go into \\retropie\configs\n64\gles2n64.conf from your windows machine...just paste that in file explorer so long as your pi is hooked up to the network.
Change these two settings.
Change
LoadHiResTextures = False
to
LoadHiResTextures = True

Change
SkipFrame = Fales
to
SkipFrame = True
then save the file.
This is the best settings I have for MOST games...not all.
I'll make a video as soon as I have a chance and post it here.

HenrikoMagnifico

Right, so I am a bit confused of which of the files in the \retropie\configs\n64 folder I should edit? There are multiple ones, I will try edit the one called "gles2n64.conf" and see what I can find.

Edit: I think it works. I changed the values you named in Mupen64config.txt and now it works just fine! Thank you.

Edit 2: Okay, new issue. I'm currently playing Majora's Mask and it's a ton of fun, the only issue is that the frame rate drops a lot when there are multiple NPCs at screen at the same time. Can this be fixed somehow? Thanks in advance.

Shakz

Yeah sorry bout that m8...forgot to mention which file to edit....however this shows you're quite capable, and willing to read between the lines :-)
I went ahead and edited the post in case someone else stumbles across this thread.
One other thing I have noticed that helps with performance is texture packs. You are welcome to find your own or try out different ones but I use this one.
http://www.emulation64.com/files/info/958/
You have to download it in parts. Then unzip them.
On your pi you will need to dump them here.
/home/pi/.local/share/mupen64plus/hires_texture
Name the file
ZELDA MAJORA'S MASK
One more tweak will get you right. What I call a mild overclock. You do not need to overclock the cpu for better performance with N64...at least not with my pi which is one of the ones that will not take much.
Add these lines to the bottom of your
/boot/config.txt

gpu_freq=500
core_freq=500
sdram_freq=500
sdram_schmoo=0x02000020
over_voltage=2
sdram_over_voltage=2

This is what I have had the very best results with. The pi...with an open case and heatsinks...no fan will run just a degree or two hotter.
This will not make the games run perfect but it does make them playable.
Hope this helps!

HenrikoMagnifico

@Shakz I'll try this straight away! I have already ordered a cooling case from Flirc and hopefully that will allow me to overclock it even more later.

Also, I don't seem to be able to use save states at all in any emulators. I followed the steps in

video but to had no luck. I am using a wired Xbox 360 controller and the latest version of Retropie.

Edit: Added:
gpu_freq=500
core_freq=500
sdram_freq=500
sdram_schmoo=0x02000020
over_voltage=2
sdram_over_voltage=2

to my config.txt in /boot/ which is located on my SD card. It didn't speed any up unfortunately, but rather did the exact opposite. The system got a lot slower and the game I tried eventually froze, so I reverted the change back.

Shakz

Well I think he is going into too much detail...
holding select and tapping right shoulder (not trigger) does not save your state?

HenrikoMagnifico

@Shakz will try...

Edit: Aha, there seems to ONLY be an issue with the N64 emulator. I had mapped by triggers and shoulder buttons wrong, so that is fixed now. It works on all emulators but the N64 one - which is unfortunate considering that's the one I use the most.

Edit 2: It works now?! It just doesn't display the text that indicates that a save state has been saved / loaded / selected! There is still the fact that Majora's Mask lags when NPCs are in the area, but that's something I can live with for now. Thank you for your help!