Setting up Windows version: Difference between revisions
More plugin and settings cleanup.
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===Graphics (GS) plugins=== | ===Graphics (GS) plugins=== | ||
[[image:GSDx2.png|thumb|GSdx]] | |||
GS plugins are used by PCSX2 to provide the graphical output on the screen (i.e. to render the picture). The default PCSX2 1.6.0 installation has three different GS plugins for you to select from: | GS plugins are used by PCSX2 to provide the graphical output on the screen (i.e. to render the picture). The default PCSX2 1.6.0 installation has three different GS plugins for you to select from: | ||
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* GSdx 1.2.0 (SSE2/AVX) | * GSdx 1.2.0 (SSE2/AVX) | ||
These are in fact the same plugin compiled using different optimization instructions sets. You must use only the versions supported by your CPU otherwise the emulator may crash. The difference between these versions speed-wise is in fact minuscule and only some games are showing any improvements in speed when using more optimized version. So if you are unsure, your safe choice is the SSE2 version. The three above are listed in order from fastest to slowest. | |||
AVX and AVX2 instructions give a minor speed-up '''only when GSdx works in software mode'''. These versions will not improve the speed in hardware mode. | |||
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 the SSE2 plugin instead in case your system has an older CPU. | 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 the SSE2 plugin instead in case your system has an older CPU. | ||
{{Tip| | {{Tip| | ||
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===Pad (input) plugins=== | ===Pad (input) plugins=== | ||
[[image:LilyPad_Settings.png|200px|thumb|left|Lilypad]] | |||
Default PCSX2 installation allows you to select the following PAD plugin: | Default PCSX2 installation allows you to select the following PAD plugin: | ||
#LilyPad v0.12.1 | #LilyPad v0.12.1 | ||
This is arguably the most advanced PAD plugin for PCSX2. Use ''configure'' button to open LilyPad configuration dialog.<br /> | This is arguably the most advanced PAD plugin for PCSX2. Use ''configure'' button to open LilyPad configuration dialog.<br /> | ||
You'll see a configuration dialog (pictured, click to enlarge). | You'll see a configuration dialog (pictured, click to enlarge). | ||
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===Sound plugins=== | ===Sound plugins=== | ||
[[image:SPU2-X_Settings.png|200px|thumb|left|SPU2-X]] | [[image:SPU2-X_Settings.png|200px|thumb|left|SPU2-X]] | ||
SPU2-X is the most advanced, compatible and up-to-date sound plugin for PCSX2. It was first based on '''Gigaherz's''' SPU2ghz and later modified by '''Jake Stine (Air)'''. This is the only SPU2 plugin that supports audio processing effects (like reverberation and Dolby Pro Logic (if your sound card is able to decode it)). Many games only work correctly with SPU2-X. | SPU2-X is the most advanced, compatible and up-to-date sound plugin for PCSX2. It was first based on '''Gigaherz's''' SPU2ghz and later modified by '''Jake Stine (Air)'''. This is the only SPU2 plugin that supports audio processing effects (like reverberation and Dolby Pro Logic (if your sound card is able to decode it)). Many games only work correctly with SPU2-X. | ||
*''Interpolation'': Specifies the interpolation algorithm (smoothing low frequency sounds not unlike anti-aliasing algorithms for graphics): | *''Interpolation'': Specifies the interpolation algorithm (smoothing low frequency sounds not unlike anti-aliasing algorithms for graphics): | ||
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=Emulation Settings (Core configuration)= | ==Emulation Settings (Core configuration)== | ||
''Emulation Settings'' config window is the collection of main PCSX2 settings to tune the behavior of PCSX2 itself (not unlike the plugins separate configurations can tune the behavior of a particular plugin). You can access the window from ''Config'' => ''Emulation settings'' menu. There are 6 tabs, ''EE/IOP'', ''VUs'', ''GS'', ''GS Window'', ''Speedhacks'' and ''Gamefixes'' each of which has its own set of settings. | ''Emulation Settings'' config window is the collection of main PCSX2 settings to tune the behavior of PCSX2 itself (not unlike the plugins separate configurations can tune the behavior of a particular plugin). You can access the window from ''Config'' => ''Emulation settings'' menu. There are 6 tabs, ''EE/IOP'', ''VUs'', ''GS'', ''GS Window'', ''Speedhacks'' and ''Gamefixes'' each of which has its own set of settings. | ||
==EE/IOP== | ===EE/IOP=== | ||
EE/IOP tab stands for ''Emotion Engine / Input Output Processor'' which are the core components of the PlayStation®2. The tab contains 4 settings. | EE/IOP tab stands for ''Emotion Engine / Input Output Processor'' which are the core components of the PlayStation®2. The tab contains 4 settings. | ||
[[file:EE-IOP.png|300px|thumb|right]] | [[file:EE-IOP.png|300px|thumb|right]] | ||
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==VUs== | ===VUs=== | ||
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''. | 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''. | ||
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==GS== | ===GS=== | ||
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. | 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. | ||
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==GS Window== | ===GS Window=== | ||
This tab will allow you to control the PCSX2 GUI game window (video output window) behavior: | This tab will allow you to control the PCSX2 GUI game window (video output window) behavior: | ||
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==Speed Hacks== | ===Speed Hacks=== | ||
Speed hacks are various techniques used to speed up emulation at the cost of emulating accuracy. All of these options '''can cause severe bugs, crashes and other abnormal behavior''' so use them with caution! Some games may benefit from these settings immensely while others can be slowed down or broken. Read the on-screen hints and messages to get more information (especially if you're new to this) they will help you not to break anything.<br /> | Speed hacks are various techniques used to speed up emulation at the cost of emulating accuracy. All of these options '''can cause severe bugs, crashes and other abnormal behavior''' so use them with caution! Some games may benefit from these settings immensely while others can be slowed down or broken. Read the on-screen hints and messages to get more information (especially if you're new to this) they will help you not to break anything.<br /> | ||
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. | 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. | ||
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==Game fixes== | ===Game fixes=== | ||
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 (note also that some of these fixes are not applied automatically). | 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 (note also that some of these fixes are not applied automatically). | ||
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<br/> | <br/> | ||
=PCSX2 main menu= | ==PCSX2 main menu== | ||
PCSX2 main menu consists of 5 sub-menus. | PCSX2 main menu consists of 5 sub-menus. | ||