First RetroPie install, game is playing slow and choppy?

xl97

Hello-

I am in the middle of making a mini arcade cabinet based on the Raspberry Pi3 and RetroPie.

I have already laser cut my cabinet stuff... and am working on the RetroPi side of things now.

Specs:
Raspberry Pi 3
2.5A power supply *(canakit)
Current (official) RetroPi image downloaded and written to microSD card.
connected to my HDMI enabled 42" TV for now (still looking for a nice display to be used in the mini cabinet)

At this point it was very easy/direct to get this stage...

(grab image, load to SD card, and boot up)..

being as this is my first RetoPie install though, I am not 'up to speed' on all the trouble shooting topics and how to address them.

I enabled wi-fi and enabled SSH as well..

for now, until I get things configured, I am just using an XBOX controller to test and play with.

Here is where my issues/question comes into play.

I grabbed a ROM from the internet (Donkey Kong (64) USA.. for the NES64 emulator (at least what I gathered form the download page).

I uploaded the ROM into the NES64 directory and rebooted the Pi..

I am now seeing the emulator and the one game listed. (great! I thought).

However when I tried to actually load/play the Donkey Kong game..

The visuals/graphics looked choppy/pixelated
and the sound was also choppy and jumpy.

Definitely not playable... and even something you could listen to.

(I also couldnt get the game to START/PLAY when using the xbox controller? is there a specific button I need to press or map?)

At this point I'm not sure what I could have done wrong? Or more so, how its gets fixed?

Is it a known issue with this ROM? (doubtful)
Do I need to change the emulator to run it or something?
Is there a different settings page I need to fiddle with or set something specific?

Are there general rules for installing/loading/playing ROMS? (default settings or emulators to use?)

I'm not even sure what keywords to use here to try better searches?

Any feedback is appreciated.

thanks!
-xl

markyh444

@xl97 If you start a search with N64 and performance, there's loads of info already on this. It's unfortunate you decided to go with N64 as your first emulator because performance can be iffy on the Pi unless you tweak things. There's a section in the Wiki for how to do that and loads of YouTube videos as well. You'll probably need to overclock for decent results with N64 though.

Most other emulators are well documented in the wiki too for how to get started.

Good luck with your arcade cab build.

AlexMurphy

@xl97 It's a known issue with N64 emulation. Try different systems, they should run fine.

xl97

Honestly.. it was just the first ROM I had run across..

(new to the gaming stuff)..

I just set up a Pi as a web server (LAMP) as well as an MQTT broker to be used with several Arduino/ESP8266 modules..

but the gaming/emulation is just something I have done before! lol..

@marky444

thanks.. I just found a similar thread:
https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/901/n64-games-slow

I wasnt sure if was a specific ROM/emulator or just something I may have fat fingered?

still so new I havent found a nice ROM place yet (I know... I'm not asking!) ;)

so it was what I had to test with.

Is it possible to play Street Fighter and/or Mortal Combat on the Pi 3's ??

Any other emulators to stay away from?

I think maybe start with MAME?

thanks for the replies guys!

AlexMurphy

@xl97 SF and MK will work, of course. MAME or PSX for those.

xl97

@AlexMurphy

thanks!

I guess I have some more noob questions if ya dont mind.

I downloaded some ROMs that were under the MAME category. (at a site I wont mention).. but where do I transfer them to, on the Pi? I see two MAME directories in the parent ROM folder? libretro and mame4all
Are there any LEGAL ROMS available?

Thanks

AlexMurphy

@xl97 You should read this. It should answer a lot of questions about MAME and why downloading random ROMs and sticking them in a random folder is the path to madness. https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/2859/how-to-use-mame-with-retropie-help-guide

xl97

@AlexMurphy

Thanks for the link.

To be clear, I wasnt, nor have I ever, just put a ROM in any old random folder. :)

I just wasnt clear on the difference(s) between the MAME directories. (but the link has cleared that up)

The answer I saw was this:

"There isn't really a correct answer for this, it depends on your personal requirements.
If you have a Pi1 I would suggest using mame4all / lr-mame4all. If you have a Pi2 or Pi3 I'd suggest lr-mame2003 and perhaps lr-fba-next. Try them out, and see what you prefer."

AlexMurphy

@xl97 That's a very good answer! Personally I use lr-mame2003 & advMame with a separate NeoGeo system. Using those and the correct ROM set I would say I have an over 95% success rate.

PetroRie

@xl97 said in First RetroPie install, game is playing slow and choppy?:

@AlexMurphy

thanks!

I guess I have some more noob questions if ya dont mind.

I downloaded some ROMs that were under the MAME category. (at a site I wont mention).. but where do I transfer them to, on the Pi? I see two MAME directories in the parent ROM folder? libretro and mame4all
Are there any LEGAL ROMS available?

Thanks

There is no such thing as legal roms I believe :P Everyone of the forum here gets them from the ... dark side lol. You need to use the correct romset for the emulator you're using, else the games won't work. I can suggest you to use the lr-fbalpha emulator, its easy to get the proper romset for this one. All you have to do is to upload them and you can play them. If you want to use the Final Burn Alpha emu (FBA) you need to put the roms into the FBA rom folder.

herb_fargus

@PetroRie that's not entirely true.

Sega sells ROMs through steam

And I believe there are a few Capcom binaries that are essentially emulators packaged with a ROM or two for sale through the proper legal channels.

Also a few homebrews

AlexMurphy

@herb_fargus You can alao buy an SNK NeoGeo ROM pack through humblebumble... Allthe classics.

herb_fargus

@AlexMurphy yes that's the one

PetroRie

@herb_fargus said in First RetroPie install, game is playing slow and choppy?:

@PetroRie that's not entirely true.

Sega sells ROMs through steam

And I believe there are a few Capcom binaries that are essentially emulators packaged with a ROM or two for sale through the proper legal channels.

Also a few homebrews

Aha I didn't knew that. But are you allowed to copy them for an example on an SD card etc? When I think about it, on the Wii you could buy older games (N64 etc.). I really wonder how much money they're making on that.

xl97

Thanks for the replies, and also the info on LEGAL ROMs.. (and avenues to pursue such items)

talking MAME ROMS for a second,

I got some Maevel vs Capcom and Street Fighter 3 roms.. (they were under the MAME section)

going off of this statement from the wiki:

"There isn't really a correct answer for this, it depends on your personal requirements.
If you have a Pi1 I would suggest using mame4all / lr-mame4all. If you have a Pi2 or Pi3 I'd suggest lr-mame2003 and perhaps lr-fba-next. Try them out, and see what you prefer."

I put the ROMS mentioned above in the mame-libretro directory.. (not the mame4all directory)...

and they are not being displayed (emulator or games/roms)

I'm not sure if I need to find/install new emulators (never done that before).. or if I have it in the wrong emulator directory and there is a correct directory in the default emulator/directory listings?

Thanks

dankcushions

@xl97 street fighter III only works in lr-fbalpha.

To be clear, I wasnt, nor have I ever, just put a ROM in any old random folder. :)

this is kind of what you've done here :) you downloaded a random mame rom (you don't know what romset it is) from the wrong romset for the folder you put it in (mame-libretro/ mame2003 = mame 0.78). SF3 isn't available in the 0.78 romset... hence you need to use lr-fbalpha, and a rom from its romset (0.2.97.39)

xl97

@dankcushions
Thanks for the reply..

It was not a random folder. It was a choice, because those are the only two MAME directories there are available.

And thats whats the wiki says to do.

I cant put anything into a directory that doesnt exist, so I put it in the folder the wiki article says to.

"If you have a Pi2 or Pi3 I'd suggest lr-mame2003 and perhaps lr-fba-next"

no lr-fba-next anything to transfer to.

That being said.. It there a wiki article or tutorial that can be followed to install this new emulator/directory?

Since this 'romset' number is a crucial part of 'everything' apparently.. how do you get these romset numbers? if the download place only has them listed under "MAME" section?..

dankcushions

@xl97 said in First RetroPie install, game is playing slow and choppy?:

@dankcushions
Thanks for the reply..

It was not a random folder. It was a choice, because those are the only two MAME directories there are available.

And thats whats the wiki says to do.

I cant put anything into a directory that doesnt exist, so I put it in the folder the wiki article says to.

"If you have a Pi2 or Pi3 I'd suggest lr-mame2003 and perhaps lr-fba-next"

no lr-fba-next anything to transfer to.

that's not a wiki page, that's a forum post. and it's old - lr-fba-next has been known as lr-fbalpha for months now. the wiki page is here: https://github.com/RetroPie/RetroPie-Setup/wiki/Arcade

this page is also very clear about romset importance.

That being said.. It there a wiki article or tutorial that can be followed to install this new emulator/directory?

Since this 'romset' number is a crucial part of 'everything' apparently.. how do you get these romset numbers? if the download place only has them listed under "MAME" section?..

we can't tell you where to get roms from. but you have the romset number, and you have a search engine, so.. :)

PetroRie

@xl97 said in First RetroPie install, game is playing slow and choppy?:

@dankcushions
Thanks for the reply..

It was not a random folder. It was a choice, because those are the only two MAME directories there are available.

And thats whats the wiki says to do.

I cant put anything into a directory that doesnt exist, so I put it in the folder the wiki article says to.

"If you have a Pi2 or Pi3 I'd suggest lr-mame2003 and perhaps lr-fba-next"

no lr-fba-next anything to transfer to.

That being said.. It there a wiki article or tutorial that can be followed to install this new emulator/directory?

Since this 'romset' number is a crucial part of 'everything' apparently.. how do you get these romset numbers? if the download place only has them listed under "MAME" section?..

If you want to use the FBA emulator you need to upload the roms to the FBA rom folder. They changed the name of lr-bfa-next the emu is now called lr-fbalpha, search the romset of this emulator on Google. If you get it all you have to do is to upload the roms to the FBA directory and you're ready to play.

If you have a different romset you need to rebuild it (its like updating it) with a tool named clrmamepro. Here is a tutorial on how to do that:

https://retropie.org.uk/docs/Validating,-Rebuilding,-and-Filtering-Arcade-ROMs/

It can sound a little bit confusing in the beginning but it's pretty easy to do so.

xl97

@dankcushions

HAHA.. sorry.

I wasnt not asking for where to DL ROMS from.. :)

To re-phrase, (and I'll double check as I'm sighting from memory)..

When I DL'd the ROM, I dont recall there being any numbers (but I may have overlooked it not understanding the importance)..

just that they were under the MAME category..

@PetroRie

Thanks for the reply/info!
I'm not used to these naming conventions yet!

so the FBA directory (there by default or something I need to add?) is actually this Final Burn Alpha emulator directory.

I'm hoping to give this some attention tonight/this weekend and add some more games. (I really need to finish the laser cut arcade cabinet I made too)..

I'm sure I'll some reading to do about how to use the joystick/arcade buttons and the PI directly.. vs just plugging the Xbox controller! lol.. (but I'll get there!)

Thanks for the time guys!

(appreciate the help/support & feedback!)

*now to go check my other thread:
https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/8796/new-install-no-2nd-player

to see if I am overlooking some sort of 2nd player config stuff..... or if its the xbox controller(s) themselves or what. I havent been able to turn my kids onto the greatness of Street Fighter II, 2 player fighting yet!