(Solved) Parallel-n64 not saving core options

Darksavior

Pi 4 using weekly image updated to 4.5.13. Retroarch and Parallel-n64 built from source. In trying to change settings like gfx plugin, resolution, or framerate, it won't save them. I don't see an error popup in retroarch when saving. To see if it's a widespread problem, I tested by altering core options in fceumm but had no issues.

Checking retroarch-core-options.cfg, the only entries I see that are related to parallel-n64 are:
parallel-n64-gfxplugin = "auto"
parallel-n64-gfxplugin-accuracy = "low"
parallel-n64-screensize = "640x480"
I can manually change those options and parallel will use them.

quicksilver

@Darksavior I noticed this about a year ago but my post didn't really get any traction.

https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/21796/lr-parallel-n64-game-options-file-blank

On my pi 3 at least all of the options for parallel-n64 populated in the retroarch core options config. On my pi 4 only the few options that you pointed out do.

BuZz

It's been reported last year in the libretro bug tracker. Also from an arm user. Could be broken just on arm / gles due to ifdef logic in source. I'm debugging it but tbh this emulator probably won't offer anything useful over the standalone / mupen64-next core.

Darksavior

@BuZz Ah it's their problem. Understood. Yea, if you think it doesn't offer anything better, I'll leave it alone. I'd rather see you guys concentrate on mupen-next.

With goldeneye, it gave me considerably low framerates 20s/30s, but it doesn't have those split second freezes like mupen-next does.

BuZz

@Darksavior not seen the freezes. Which game to test? Did you play around with the core options and frame rate limiting etc to see if it helps? Also changing cpu governor to performance?

I'm not that familiar with n64 in general so maybe I just didn't notice.

BuZz

Btw core options are not being saved as the emulator is segfaulting on exit. I'm still debugging though.

Darksavior

@BuZz Goldeneye is one of the hardest to emulate. What I mean by freezes, is that in mupen-next, there are lots of pauses and scratchy audio due to low framerates which makes the first level annoying to play. You notice it right in the beginning. It stabilizes a bit in the later levels due to smaller areas.
Parallel has even lower framerates with the same game, but has no audio skipping and pauses.
I'll double check on the governor, but I believe I do have it set to performance. Framerate is set to "full" in mupen.

BuZz

https://github.com/RetroPie/RetroPie-Setup/pull/2986

rejesterd

For those trying to get Golden Eye to work, I would recommend lr-parallel-n64 (updated from source as of maybe 2 days ago). It's the only one that has worked for me without issue in 1-player mode. You can tell right away when you load the game and get to the SELECT FILE screen. No choppiness at all there, nor during game play (like when lots of characters are moving and shooting in the same frame, or when you enter a new area on a mission). Unfortunately, lr-parallel-n64 fails in 2-player vs. mode, as player 1's half of the screen always has a white flicker. The workaround for that is to use mupen64plus-GLideN64. GLideN64 fails in 1-player mode, but it's ok for the smaller areas that you use for 2-player vs. mode.

Darksavior

@BuZz Won't build. https://pastebin.com/NpirBpup

BuZz

@Darksavior ah I did a commit after the PR removing a flag, but it's still needed for rpi4. Try again in 5.

[Edit] should be ok now.

Darksavior

@BuZz That did it, thanks. Now I can unlock the framerate to fullspeed (60). I'll have to double check with mupen, but this might be able to run goldeneye at better speeds. F-Zero and other games are still crashing but that might just be the emulator.