byuu describes the changes since v067:
This release officially introduces the accuracy and performance cores,
alongside the previously-existing compatibility core. The accuracy core
allows the most accurate SNES emulation ever seen, with every last
processor running at the lowest possible clock synchronization level.
The performance core allows slower computers the chance to finally use
bsnes. It is capable of attaining 60fps in standard games even on an
entry-level Intel Atom processor, commonly found in netbooks.
The accuracy core is absolutely not meant for casual gaming at all. It
is meant solely for getting as close to 100% perfection as possible, no
matter the cost to speed. It should only be used for testing,
development or debugging.
The compatibility core is identical to bsnes v067 and earlier, but is
now roughly 10% faster. This is the default and recommended core for
casual gaming.
The performance core contains an entirely new S-CPU core, with
range-tested IRQs; and uses blargg's heavily-optimized S-DSP core
directly. Although there are very minor accuracy tradeoffs to increase
speed, I am confident that the performance core is still more accurate
and compatible than any other SNES emulator. The S-CPU, S-SMP, S-DSP,
SuperFX and SA-1 processors are all clock-based, just as in the accuracy
and compatibility cores; and as always, there are zero game-specific
hacks. Its compatibility is still well above 99%, running even the most
challenging games flawlessly.
If you have held off from using bsnes in the past due to its system
requirements, please give the performance core a try. I think you will
be impressed. I'm also not finished: I believe performance can be
increased even further.
I would also strongly suggest Windows Vista and Windows 7 users to take
advantage of the new XAudio2 driver by OV2. Not only does it give you
a performance boost, it also lowers latency and provides better sound by
way of skipping an API emulation layer.
Changelog:
- Split core into three profiles: accuracy, compatibility and
performance
- Accuracy core now takes advantage of variable-bitlength integers (eg
uint24_t)
- Performance core uses a new S-CPU core, written from scratch for speed
- Performance core uses blargg's snes_dsp library for S-DSP emulation
- Binaries are now compiled using GCC 4.5
- Added a workaround in the SA-1 core for a bug in GCC 4.5+
- The clock-based S-PPU renderer has greatly improved OAM emulation;
fixing Winter Gold and Megalomania rendering issues
- Corrected pseudo-hires color math in the clock-based S-PPU renderer;
fixing Super Buster Bros backgrounds
- Fixed a clamping bug in the Cx4 16-bit triangle operation [Jonas
Quinn]; fixing Mega Man X2 "gained weapon" star background effect
- Updated video renderer to properly handle mixed-resolution screens
with interlace enabled; fixing Air Strike Patrol level briefing screen
- Added mightymo's 2010-08-19 cheat code pack
- Windows port: added XAudio2 output support [OV2]
- Source: major code restructuring; virtual base classes for processor
- cores removed, build system heavily modified, etc.
byuu says:
Added missing $4200 IRQ lock, which fixes Chou Aniki on the fast CPU
core, so slower PCs can get their brotherly love on.
Added range-based controller IOBit latching to the fast CPU core, which
enables Super Scope and Justifier support. Uses the priority queue as
well, so there is zero speed-hit. Given the way range-testing works, the
trigger point may vary by 1-2 pixels when firing at the same spot. Not
really a big deal when it avoids a massive speed penalty.
Fixed PAL and interlace-mode HVIRQs at V=0,H<2 on the fast CPU core.
Added the dot-renderer's sprite list update-on-OAM-write functionality
to the scanline-based PPU renderer. Unfortunately it looks like all the
speed gain was already taken from the global dirty flag I was using
before, but this certainly won't hurt speed any, so whatever.
Added #ifdef to stop CoInitialize(0) on non-Windows ports.
Added #ifdefs to stop gradient fade on Windows port. Not going to fuck
over the Linux port aesthetic because of Qt bug #47,326,927. If there's
a way to tell what Qt theme is being used, I can leave it enabled for
XP/Vista themes.
Moved HDMA trigger from 1104 to 1112, and reduced channel overhead from
24 to 16, to better simulate one-cycle DMA->CPU sync.
Code clarity: I've re-added my varint.hpp classes, and am actively using
them in the accuracy cores. So far, I haven't done anything that would
detriment speed, but it is certainly cool. The APU ports exposed by the
CPU and SMP now take uint2 address arguments, the CPU WRAM address
register is a uint17, and the IRQ H/VTIME values are uint10. This
basically allows the source to clearly convey the data sizes, and
eliminates the need to manually mask values when writing to registers or
reading from memory. I'm going to be doing this everywhere, and it will
have a speed impact eventually, because the automation means we can't
skip masks when we know the data is already masked off.
Source: archive contains the launcher code, so that I can look into why
it's crashing on XP tomorrow.
It doesn't look like Circuit USA's flags are going to work too well with
this new CPU core. Still not sure what the hell Robocop vs The
Terminator is doing, I'll read through the mega SNES thread for clues
tomorrow. Speedy Gonzales is definitely broken, as modifying the MDR was
breaking things with my current core. Probably because the new CPU core
doesn't wait for a cycle edge to trigger.
I was thinking that perhaps we could keep some form of cheat codes list
to work as game-specific hacks for the performance core. Keeps the hacks
out of the emulator, but could allow the remaining bugs to be worked
around for people who have no choice but to use the performance core.
byuu says:
Added OV2's XAudio2 driver (it's better and faster than the DirectSound
one)
Fixed DirectInput keypad number codes
Added launcher to make the profiles work
Profiles now called: Accuracy, Compatibility, Performance (not debating
names anymore)
The launcher isn't going to work on OS X because of the .app folder
bullshit (yes, yes, .sfc folders.)
It also crashes on Windows XP for god only knows what reason. Works fine
on Windows 7 and Linux. So XP users, rename the .dll files to .exe to
test this release. I'll fix it on Monday.
The color highlighting fucks up the radio boxes on the Windows classic
theme, because Nokia can't afford a god damn QA team.
Lastly, I forgot to add launcher to the make archive-all command, so the
source for it will be in the next WIP.
byuu says:
This fixes libsnes and debugger builds, and collapses bsnes/ppu/bppu to
bsnes/ppu and bsnes/dsp/sdsp to bsnes/dsp. It also introduces
bsnes/sync.sh, which will synchronize all of asnes/ with bsnes/,
excepting the custom speed-focused modules. So far, that's bsnes/ppu
(scanline renderer) and bsnes/dsp (state machine.)
Should make keeping the two ports in sync much, much easier. It's
basically the same thing as before, only you run sync.sh and have a few
duplicated folders now. May make it clearer by creating a stub/ or src/
folder inside bsnes to do all of the copying, so that you only see the
custom folders in bsnes/' root directory.
Tim Allen