Roughly how good is the Pi Zero W?

[SpudsMcToole]

I'm considering getting one of those cute Game Boy-style cases, but I'm curious how powerful the Pi Zero is emulation-wise compared to my normal 3B. I'm assuming it can't cope with stuff like Playstation, but what CAN it handle? Up to SNES/Megadrive level? NES/Master System? Game Boy? Arcade games up to roughly what sort of year?

[blackshadow]

got one of these myself obviusly its not a 'powerhouse' hen compared to the likes of the pi3 or even the 4 im using mine ina gpi case and its suprisingly good cant speak for arcade compatability that being said most systems actually run fine barring a few which ill list below

GBA - msot games actually run fine but theres a few here and there that need that extra bit of power to run full speed

n64 - pretty much forget about this system unless anytihng has changed recently the pi zeo wont be running most n64 games decently

dreamcast - same as n64

PSX - if you use the standalone pcsx-rearmed as apposed to the libretro one most games will run pretty damn well with this i completed spyro 1 on my gpi with this emulator has a bit of audios stutter on some games though but nothing that would overwise impair gameplay

snes - depending on which core is used most games run well on this syetm though super-fx games do not run well so forget the likes of starfox

[SpudsMcToole]

@blackshadow Cheers. Even my Pi 3 doesn't run N64 or Dreamcast playably, so I wasn't expecting a Zero to manage 😄

[Darksavior]

@SpudsMcToole I'm picky when it comes to snes emulation and for portables I understand I can't run the latest bleeding edge versions, but the zero is only powerful enough to run the oldest snes emulator available, snes9x2002. Expect lower-end emulators to only work on a zero.

I ended up getting a new 3ds. Besides supporting ds/3ds, you can inject your roms so they'll work with the official virtual console nes/snes/gen/gba/emulators if you wish to not use retroarch's emulators. It can handle snes9x2005 except for special chip games but there's also another snes emulator specially made for the 3ds. It does require a $20 ds flashcart to flash it with custom firmware, but overall I love this setup.