User:DoctorMuerte/test2: Difference between revisions

EE/IOP stands for ''Emotion Engine / Input Output Processor'' which are the core components of the Playstation 2. Below we'll describe the settings available to us:

*''Clamping mode'': These settings go from '''faster''' to '''slower''' from top to bottom. So 'None' is the fastest but least compatible and 'Full' is the slowest but most compatible. Default value here is ''Normal'' which works fine for most games without compromising speed much. Automatically changed when ''Automatic Gamefixes'' is checked under System for some games known to need a different value than default.

*''Restore Defaults'': Click this to restore all settings to their default values (which are seen as Bold in Vista/Windows 7 or colored green in Windows XP).

==VUs==

VUs stands for Vector Units which are the co-processors of the Playstation 2 working in parallel with the EE and IOP. The Playstation 2 has 2 of these co-processors called ''VU0'' and ''VU1''. Below we'll describe the settings available to us:

*''Clamping mode'': These settings go from '''faster''' to '''slower''' from top to bottom. So ''None'' is the fastest but least compatible and ''Extra+Preserve Sign'' is the slowest but most compatible. Default value here is ''Normal'' which works fine for most games without compromising speed much. Automatically changed when 'Automatic Gamefixes' is checked under System for some games known to need a different value than default.

*''Restore Default'': Click this to restore all settings to their default values (which are seen as Bold in Vista/Windows 7 or colored green in Windows XP).

{{Tip|If you experience spikey polygons or bad geometry, try setting ''Clamping mode'' to '''Extra + Preserve Sign'''.}}

==GS==

GS stands for Graphics Synthesizer which is responsible for rendering the graphics of the Playstation 2 (among other things).  

<br />Below we'll describe the settings available to us:

#''NTSC Framerate'': Sets the speed NTSC games will run at. Default (and normal) speed for these games is 59.94 FPS, but you can set this lower or higher to combine it with the above options. Hint: Setting this to lower values than normal can speed up a few games but doing so can break some games. Can only be changed via editing the ''pcsx2_vm.ini'' and changing the value after ''FramerateNTSC=''.

#''PAL Framerate'': Sets the speed PAL games will run at. Default (and normal) speed for these games is 50 FPS, but you can set this lower or higher to combine it with the above options. Hint: Setting this to lower values than normal can speed up a few games but doing so can break some games. Can only be changed via editing the ''pcsx2_vm.ini'' and changing the value after ''FrameratePAL=''.

*''Frame Skipping'': The options in this group can be used to control how frame skipping works, a technique which skips drawing some frames of a game to make it feel like it's running smoother when full speed cannot be achieved. As noted in the GUI, this feature can and will cause stuttering, flashing or other abnormal behavior depending on the game. Toggle it ingame by pressing ''Shift + F4''.

#''Disabled'': When selected disables Frame Skipping, recommended if you are getting adequate speed.

<br />'''Shift + F4''' Enables frame skipping.

}}

==GS Window==

Here you will be able to control various aspects of the video output of PCSX2. Below we'll describe the settings available to us:

#''Standard (4:3)'': Will set the aspect ratio of your video to 4:3.

#''Widescreen (16:9)'': Does the same but with a 16:9 ratio. Keep in mind that the game's display will be stretched this way, deforming the normal display. For proper wide screen, make sure you check ''Enable Widescreen Patches'' under ''System'', or if there is no patch for your game set it in its menu (if it supports it).

*''Custom window size'': Set your preferred size for the video window in pixels. This does not effect the game's rendered resolution, image quality or speed in any way, it is equivalent of resizing the output window by dragging its corner with the mouse.

*''Zoom'': As the name suggests, you can enter the percentage you want the game to be zoomed in. You can also use it while running a game by:

*''Wait for vsync on refresh'': When checked, PCSX2 will use [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analog_television#Vertical_synchronization ''vsync''] which can reduce tearing but also greatly reduces actual FPS. Applies to full screen mode and may not work with all GS plugins.

*''Dynamically toggle Vsync depending on frame rate'': What this option does is explained in the tooltip, leave your mouse on it until the tooltip shows.

==Speed Hacks==

Speed hacks are various techniques used to speed up emulation at the cost of emulating accuracy. All of these options <span style="color: red">can and will cause severe bugs, crashes and other abnormal behavior so use them with caution!</span>.

<br />Also note that these affect certain games only, so you might not get any speed up depending on the game. Below we'll describe the settings available to us:

***''MTVU (Multi-Threaded microVU1)'': Check this to use a third core for emulating the ''VU1'' unit of the PS2. This speed hack provides a '''large''' speed boost for processors''' with 3 cores or more''', while having extremely high compatibility (causes problems only in a handful of games). Note that some games might not get a good speed increase (depends how much they use the VU1 unit). There are also reports of speed boosts even on dual core processors.

*''Restore defaults'': Click this to restore all settings to their default values (which actually disables all hacks in this tab).

==Game fixes==

As the name implies, these are special game fixes for some games which for some reason emulating them requires something special. Note that the team has no intention of keeping hacks for specific games, these are there temporarily until a proper fix is found so they can be removed. Many of these are automatically applied when ''Automatic Gamefixes'' is checked under System.

*''Ignore Bus Direction on Path 3 Transfer'': Fixes '''Hotwheels'''.

*''Switch to GSdx software rendering when an FMV plays'': With this checked, ''GSdx'' will automatically switch to a software renderer when it detects a video playing and back to hardware when it's done. More of a convenience setting than a hack, it is very useful considering the number of games that have issues with videos on hardware renderers of GSdx.

==Presets==

Starting from 0.9.8, the preset system was introduced. In short this is a system to help users who want a quick and easy configuration of PCSX2. When ''Presets'' is checked (located at the bottom of all 6 tabs we have described until now), all of the options in these tabs will be grayed out since the Preset system will be changing them instead of you. Here are the preset levels (from slowest and most compatible to fastest and less compatible):

#''Safest'': As the name implies it is the safest preset in terms of compatibility. Compared to the other levels it is the most compatible and the slowest too.

'''Config menu'''

*''Emulation Settings'': Will open the Emulation Settings screen which we described in the [[#Core_configuration|Core Settings]] section of this guide.

*''Memory cards'': Will open the memcard manager:

**By clicking browse you can specify a custom folder from which PCSX2 will try loading its memory cards.

**Select any memcard in the -Unused- list to enable the Insert button, which will bring out a dialog for you to choose in which port you want to insert the selected memcard.

**Auto-Eject Memcards when loading save states: Description is in the GUI, recommended to be checked.

*''Plugin/BIOS selector'': Will open the Plugin/BIOS selector screen where you can change plugins, BIOS used and folders which we described at the start of this guide.

The follwing entries will open the configuration screen for the selected plugin, respectively (Video/Audio/Pad/Dev9/USB/Firewire).

*''Multitap 2'': Will enable Multitap 2. You also have to enable multitap in the Lilypad input plugin for it to work. Does not work with all games yet, but most should be fine.

*''Clear all Settings'': Will clear all saved settings restoring them to defaults and opens the First Time Configuration Wizard.

'''Misc menu'''

*''Check/Uncheck Show Console'': This will enable/disable a second window that will appear behind the PCSX2 display and is mainly used for debugging. There you will be able to see various messages that can help you identify a problem or when running a game what is being done each moment by the emulator. Red messages are errors and yellow messages are warnings.