FEATURE REQ: Video Changes in Linux

jdratlif · Post by **jdratlif** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 11:28 am

I have a few issues with the Linux version of zsnes.

First, the legend on the zsnes video config screen.
D, R, and S.

I have no S modes. So this makes little sense in Linux. Do other people have them? I have OGL modes which seem to imply S, but it doesn't state that. I'm thinking maybe it should?

Also, if OGL is always S, is there any way we could change that? I don't want S, I want R. So I use 640x480 DR mode under Linux, but 1024x768 DR mode under Windows.

I don't know if it matters, and neither of those is the resolution I actually use (1152x864).

Finally, there is no Triple Buffering in Linux. This means games aren't so smooth as they are in Windows. Any way we could add this to Linux?

Final Fantasy II (or IV-EasyType, whatever) is very hard to play in Linux. The screen is so jumpy. I've tried all the modes. I usually use interpolation and 25% scanlines under Linux, but in Windows I use Triple Buffering and all is well.

Post by **grinvader** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 1:31 pm

jdratlif wrote:I have a few issues with the Linux version of zsnes.

First, the legend on the zsnes video config screen.
D, R, and S.

I have no S modes. So this makes little sense in Linux. Do other people have them? I have OGL modes which seem to imply S, but it doesn't state that. I'm thinking maybe it should?

Also, if OGL is always S, is there any way we could change that? I don't want S, I want R. So I use 640x480 DR mode under Linux, but 1024x768 DR mode under Windows.

OGL implies DS.
Making some hi-res DR modes would require some kind of additionnal code (telling opengl to strech the pic another way or something) and prolly a 'screen ratio' checkbox (DS if disabled, DR if enabled).

Finally, there is no Triple Buffering in Linux. This means games aren't so smooth as they are in Windows. Any way we could add this to Linux?

Final Fantasy II (or IV-EasyType, whatever) is very hard to play in Linux. The screen is so jumpy. I've tried all the modes. I usually use interpolation and 25% scanlines under Linux, but in Windows I use Triple Buffering and all is well.

What are your specs ? I run FF4j with hq2x and bilinear filters without a single hiccup... at 85Hz refresh.

jdratlif · Post by **jdratlif** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 2:02 pm

grinvader wrote:What are your specs ? I run FF4j with hq2x and bilinear filters without a single hiccup... at 85Hz refresh.

P4 2.0 GHz / 1 GB RAM
nVidia GeForce2 MX 64 MB (nVidia drivers)
1152x864 @ 75 Hz
intel integrated audio (ix810 alsa drivers)
gentoo Linux (2.6.9 kernel)
zlib 1.2.1 / libpng 1.2.7 / SDL 1.2.7
zsnesl WIP 10/24

Not exactly brand-new, but not ancient either.

zsnes (I left my brains in the womb) configuration:

640x480 DR
Interpolation and 25% Scanlines

There is no bilinear filter w/o OpenGL. I tried your hq2x + bilinear on 1024x768 OGL Fullscreen and it didn't get any better.

Windows did this to me prior to triple buffering (which wasn't in the 05/08 WIP port that I was using last I tested that). I thought I had another configuration that worked in Windows at one time, but after looking at it for so long it becomes hard to distinguish.

But I remember this causing significant eye-strain for me on Windows and I didn't want to play it. After I got triple buffering, no more problem and I was able to play all the way through.

Post by **grinvader** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 2:10 pm

... I don't know what causes your trouble. I'm gonna throw in a guess and say the 2.6 kernel is a bit young and not perfect on every point (2.4.26-r9 here).

jdratlif · Post by **jdratlif** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 2:20 pm

grinvader wrote:... I don't know what causes your trouble. I'm gonna throw in a guess and say the 2.6 kernel is a bit young and not perfect on every point (2.4.26-r9 here).

I have trouble buying it's a kernel issue. But I'm willing to compile a 2.4 kernel and test it.

Is there a way to specify refresh rate in xorg? Maybe if I asked it for 60 Hz, I'd get good results? But there doesn't seem to be a zsnes -6 for Linux.

Post by **grinvader** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 2:57 pm

As I told you, I don't use vsync (and shouldn't, as my refresh is 85Hz) and don't have trouble.
You shouldn't get your rate so low.

jdratlif · Post by **jdratlif** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 3:08 pm

grinvader wrote:As I told you, I don't use vsync (and shouldn't, as my refresh is 85Hz) and don't have trouble.
You shouldn't get your rate so low.

I've heard other people claim good things can come from this.

My monitor also tells me the following
Optimum Resolution: 1280x1024 @ 60 Hz

jdratlif · Post by **jdratlif** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 3:56 pm

jdratlif wrote:
grinvader wrote:... I don't know what causes your trouble. I'm gonna throw in a guess and say the 2.6 kernel is a bit young and not perfect on every point (2.4.26-r9 here).
I have trouble buying it's a kernel issue. But I'm willing to compile a 2.4 kernel and test it.

Well, I built the 2.4.26 kernel (gentoo-sources), but now I can't run zsnes at all.

$ ./zsnes
cannot set up thread-local storage: kernel too old for thread-local storage support

I rebuilt zsnes under 2.4.26, but it made no difference. Maybe it's one of the libraries. Not sure if I want to rebuild zlib, libpng, and SDL just to try this kernel.

jdratlif · Post by **jdratlif** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 6:26 am

grinvader wrote:... I don't know what causes your trouble. I'm gonna throw in a guess and say the 2.6 kernel is a bit young and not perfect on every point (2.4.26-r9 here).

I decided to try a 2.4.26 kernel again. Forget what I had to rebuild, but I think it was glibc that made it work.

I don't get any better results in the 2.4.26 kernel. Although OSS sound is better than ALSA sound for me. I wonder why this should matter...

Hitokage · Post by **Hitokage** » Sat Nov 13, 2004 2:13 am

OGL is not the same as DS. Actually, a while ago I was complaining how the scaling in DS wasn't SNES accurate and was planning to post photos until I lost all internet for a couple weeks and then later I tried out OGL to only find that I was just being an idiot(sorry)... OGL scales just about right; I just never used it due to prior stability issues.

BTW, I find that bilinear filtering is broken for me, but I don't know why. If it has anything to do with vsync, then I can live without it. I use TV-out with twinview on linux and getting tear-free output means using opengl when possible and then having it explicitly vsync with the TV instead of my monitor.

Bahamut_ZERO_Clue · Post by **Bahamut_ZERO_Clue** » Fri Nov 19, 2004 1:24 am

Try using several of Nvidia's X11 configurations and application settings that are listed in the Readme they provide.

Try using the VSync option and have ZSnes set to something like 1024x768, 800x600, or 640x480 each with at least 85hz refresh rate (something reasonible). Then use the Vsync option Nvidia states to use when you launch the application. It should work. If they have an option for PageFlipping you should have it enabled in the xf86config file.

ZSNES board

FEATURE REQ: Video Changes in Linux

FEATURE REQ: Video Changes in Linux

Re: FEATURE REQ: Video Changes in Linux

Re: FEATURE REQ: Video Changes in Linux