Setting up Windows version: Difference between revisions

This guide explains how to download, install and properly configure '''PCSX2''' in Windows environment. It will also give some tips on using PCSX2 more efficiently. Keep in mind that the guide was written for PCSX2 '''v1.2.1''' but can still be used for other versions of emulator.

There are also local [[Setting up Linux version]] and [[Setting up Mac version]] versions of this guide (but they are possibly not as detailed as this one).

[[PCSX2]] is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_2 Playstation 2] emulator capable of running commercial games. It's an open source project and it runs on Windows, Mac and Linux. Like its predecessor project PCSX (a PlayStation emulator), it is based on a PSEmu Pro spec plug-in architecture, separating several functions from the core emulator. PCSX2 requires a copy of the PS2 BIOS, which is not available for download from the developers, due to the copyright concerns and legal issues associated with it.

You will need the BIOS file from your Playstation 2 console. It is not included with PCSX2 since it is copyrighted by Sony. Since PCSX2 needs this binary file to work, without it you won't be able to use emulator at all. You'll find more information on how to download BIOS from your PS2 machine [[#BIOS|later in this guide]].

Note that Windows XP will no longer be able to run PCSX2 compiled under modern MS Visual Studio.

You can get PCSX2 for Windows [http://pcsx2.net/download/releases/windows/viewcategory/6-windows.html here]. There are 3 versions available for download: standalone installer, web-installer and Windows binaries.

This is the ideal solution if you want to keep the application portable. You will need [http://www.7-zip.org/ 7-Zip] to decompress the files and the [http://download.microsoft.com/download/2/E/6/2E61CFA4-993B-4DD4-91DA-3737CD5CD6E3/vcredist_x86.exe Visual Studio 2013 redistributable package] for this version to work.

Note to AMD users: please do '''NOT''' confuse SSE3 with SSSE3 (1 extra S) and SSE4A with SSE4.1, they are totally different and are '''NOT''' supported on AMD systems before Bulldozer/Bobcat. Please fall back to SSE2 plugin instead in case your system has older CPU.

*''Texture filtering'': Enables linear filtering when rendering textures. '''Checked''' option will ensures filtering in any case and '''grayed''' will only use filtering for 3D textures (this may help with some 2D games that will look weird otherwise).

{{Warning|Use this settings only in case you are absolutely sure they are needed for your game to function.<br />

*For a very detailed description about what each setting does and how to properly configure the plugin, visit the [http://forums.pcsx2.net/Thread-Pokopom-KrossX-s-Pad-Plugin official thread of the plugin] and/or check the small [https://code.google.com/p/magical-tools/wiki/Pokopom Pokopom Wiki].

{{Warning|Note that the only '''legal''' way of obtaining a BIOS image is to dump it from your '''own''' Playstation 2 console. Do '''not''' attempt to ask where to get BIOS images on the PCSX2 forums, because it's against the [http://forums.pcsx2.net/Announcement-Global-Forum-Rules forum rules]. The PS2 BIOS is a copyrighted material of [[Sony|Sony Corporation]]. It is illegal to distribute the copyrighted files without copyright holder consent. PCSX2 team could get in trouble if suspected of illegally supplying people with BIOS files!}}

EE/IOP tab stands for ''Emotion Engine / Input Output Processor'' which are the core components of the Playstation 2. The tab contains 4 settings.

VUs stand for ''Vector Unit''s which are the Playstation 2 co-processors working in parallel with the EE and IOP CPUs. The Playstation 2 has two VUs called ''VU0'' and ''VU1''.  

GS stands for ''Graphics Synthesizer'' Playstation 2 co-processor responsible for rendering the graphics (but is also used by some games for additional calculations and other purposes). The PCSX2 will work in conjunction with the selected GS plugin (like for ex. [[#GSdx|GSdx]] plugin) to emulate PS2 graphical co-processor and convert its output into input understood by the PC video cards.

If your system is powerful enough to emulate your game in full speed ''you do not need to enable anything here'' because none of these options can improve compatibility.

*''Enable speedhacks'': You can disable all speed hacks in one click by unchecking this option. This may be useful if your game is unstable and you are narrowing down the possible cause of this.

#''Slider Level 3'': Reduces the EE cycle rate by 50%. Big speed increase for some games and moderate compatibility hit. ''This setting can also cause stuttering audio in game videos''.

*''VU Cycle Stealing'': This hack specifies the number of cycles the ''[[#VUs|Vector Units]]'' steal from the ''[[#EE/IOP|Emotion Engine]]''. This option is somewhat resembling the previous although the donated CPU power will go directly to two VUs (not ''[[#GS|GS]]'' emulation or other PCSX2 needs). As ''VUs'' tend to need more power than ''EE'', the hack will exploit this fact by overclocking VUs in the cost of reducing EE clock speed. Please note that it can cause false FPS readings (especially in higher values), screen flashing, slowdowns and possibly more serious bugs for some games! Using the slider control you can select up to four levels of VU stealing starting with level 0 (no VU stealing) to level 3 (severely incompatible option that will cause flickering, slowdowns and graphical bugs for the majority of games). Level 1 is fairly compatible while level 2 is selectively compatible and should be used with a caution.  

**''Enable Wait Loop detection'': PCSX2 will detect some idle cycles with this hack enabled. Some games used those cycles for various reasons (from synchronization to slowing down if the real PS2 speed was too high). If detected the cycle than will execute only once reducing the waiting time and moderately increasing emulation speed in game games. The hack is set by default and is very compatible.

*''microVU Hacks'': These hacks are only applied when microVU is selected as the VUs recompiler. If superVU is selected, these hacks does not apply.

This tab contains some game-specific hacks and fixes. These fixes are disabled by default but enabled automatically if the game in question is detected to be running. The ''Automatic Gamefixes'' option can be also switched off (although it is not recommended) in ''System'' sub-menu of PCSX2 main menu. You should not enable these hacks unless you have a game that somehow was not detected by PCSX2 automatically (it is possible also that some of these fixes are not applied automatically at all).  

Most of these hacks are needed because the PS2 has different float arithmetic than x86 CPUs. Some of these differences do not lead to any problems, others however may cause serious issues to some games. You can read hacks descriptions and hints to get more information.

*''VU Clip Flag Hack'': This hack is only needed when ''superVU'' is selected as [[#VUs|VUs] recompiler. Needed for [[Template:Megami_Tensei_series|Persona]] games.

For those users do not want to spend the time evaluating all the hacks, fixes and speed-ups described above and especially for the new users who wants to start playing games right away the system of options sets or ''presets'' was introduced. This system will restrict you to only 6 slider positions instead of myriad options and PCSX2 will automatically assume using specific options, game fixes and speed-ups according to the ''presets'' level you choose. Check ''Preset'' checkbox on the botton of settings window to enable using presets. This will disable most options on many tabs (as they will now be controlled by PCSX2 automatically). Presets go from the safest (but also the slowest) to the most unsafe (but the fastest one). You should start with level '''1''' or '''2''' if you have a powerful machine. Level '''3''' and '''4''' are for those who do not have a good machine or have a very demanding game to emulate. Level '''5''' or '''6''' are not recommended and should only be used as a last resort (note that some game can even be ''slowed down'' by those levels).

**''Run ELF...'': This item will let you load a single executable ELF-file. Most demos are in ELF-format. It is not suitable to run commercial games.

**''Pause/Resume'': This item will be enabled when you start a game. You can pause and resume the game any time.

**''Save State'': You can same a gamestate in one of the 10 save slots. This item will only be active when you're ingame.

**''Enable Cheats'': This item will enable or disable automatic application of game cheats. Cheats are ''pnach'' files located in PCSX2 ''cheats'' folder. These files have multiple functions form makeing your game playable (if nothing else helps) to circumventing some in game restrictions (adding more money or making your in game character immortal, see [[Game cheats|game cheats]] and [[Memory editing|memory editing]] for further information). You can find the big library of cheats on the forums [http://forums.pcsx2.net/Thread-Post-your-PCSX2-patches-here in this thread].

**''Enable Widescreen patches'': This item will enable the additional folder ''cheats_ws'' to load ''pnach'' files from. You should use it to store widescreen patches for your games. See some information about it [[#GS Window|here]]. You can find the big library of cheats on the forums [http://forums.pcsx2.net/Thread-PCSX2-Widescreen-Game-Patches in this thread].

**''Enable Host Filesystem'': This item will enable or disable the file system extension the may be used by homebrew developers load the files from your machine. See some [http://code.google.com/p/pcsx2/issues/detail?id=1238 more information] if you're interested.

**''ISO Selector'': This will allow you to select one of the recent ISO images or add new ISO image to the list by using ''browse..'' item. The image you selected here can be booted in ''system menu'' (see description above).

***''Open in Explorer'' will open the selected folder in Windows Explorer (to easily access its contents).

***''Eject'' button is available when you select one of the two ''active'' memcards. ''Ejecting'' memcard will not delete its contents it will only make the card inactive disallow PS2 games to use it in any way. To ''insert'' card in one of two available virtual card slots, select a disabled card, press ''Insert'' button and choose a virtual port to insert your card (any memcard already in this part will be automatically ''ejected'' and disabled).

***''Auto-Eject Memcards when loading save states'' option will momentarily eject and reinsert both selected memcards every time you load savestate while playing. This will avoid such problems as memcard corruptions if the game tightly synchronizing some internal variables with memcard contents. Ejecting it will force the game to re-index the card contents avoiding possible desynchronization. Some games however (ex. [[Guitar Hero]]) do not like this technique. You'll have to uncheck this option in case you encounter savestates loading problems.

**''Multitap 1'' and ''Multitap 2'': These items will allow you to use up to 8 controllers through the multitap support (up to 4 for one PAD port). Prior to enabling these options however you will have to configure multitap in the ''[[#LilyPad|Lilypad]]'' plugin. Multitap support does not work with all games yet, but most games should be fine.