Random lockups & timing problems

[HBK]

Mainly i have two problems with ePSXe 1.4.0.
Is anyone else having the same probs ?
Is there a way to fix them out ?

Here they are :
1 - Games randomly lockups, still the emu runs but the game is frozen.
2 - The "timing" is really bad, especially with music and while CD access.

Explaining case 1 : the emu still responds and you can quit it. I haven't tried to SaveLoad State to see what happens, sorry. Maybe i'll do this when it happens agains.
Explaining case 2 : using ISOs reduces the slowdown while loading but does not suppress it. The music is speeding up / slowing down as the emu wants, or should i say as the game is played. The music speed is stable if you do nothing.

The current version is the only one i really tested, i tried 1.2.0 "back in time" but not enough to say if the problems are recurrent.

Mainly, games tested are : FFTactics, FrontMission3, VagrantStory, FF9, Wipeout3SE, and maybe a few more i forgot ...
I got the lockups only in FF9 and FM3, but there are the olny ones i played for more than 5 minutes (others were just "tested", not "played").
I got timing problems with all the games except WO3, the most expressive being FM3.

My current config should be in my profile.


That's all folks ! Thanks for all answers.


As an advice i can say to all Win2k users to set realtime prority to the emu process using task manager.
This suppress MDEC tickling and allows most power to your emu.
Also using specific FPS limitation helps reducing the timing problems.

[Rargh]

Well, FM3 is known to have timing issues w/ ePSXe, so I suggest u to forget it...

Could u put ur plugins configuration please?
That would be very helpful.

(I think particularly at the frame per second limit and the Video mode that could cause ur problems...)

Bye

Are u ok w/ it now?
(if man just cannot do errors...^^ )

[Raziel]

One correction Rargh,it's not"frameskip limit" but " frame per second limit".

[HBK]

Plugin config as follow, from what i remember, i'm here at work

Emu Config : SCPH-1001
Accurate CDROM Timing : Enabled
SPU IRQ Hack : Enabled
F4 Option : Disabled (can't remember it's label)

Iori's Config : Default Buffers
All Options Enabled Except "Config Window" (Running in FullScreen)

Pete's Config : 640x480x32 FullScreen
Use PC FPS Calculation : Enabled (Special Game Fixes : Enabled)
FPS Limit : Enabled with Specific Value 30. (AutoValue is BAD)
FPS Skip : Disabled
Bilinear Filtering : Mode2
OffScreen Drawing : Mode2
Texture Handling : Mode2
Texture Quality : R8 G8 B8 A8
Framebuffer Texture : Mode2
Advanced Blending : Enabled
Alpha MultiPass : Enabled
Mask Bit : Enabled
No Special Options Except Special Game Fixes.

Sorry if i forgot some ...

[Rargh]

Well, ntsc games are running at 60fps
Pal ones at 50 fps
Change ur fps limit according to the version of the game u want to play

Disable the cdrom status (enable it only for Gran turismo 1&2)
Disable the mask bit option
disable the special games fixes

Check all the boxes in the spu configuration pannel (not iori s one)
Give a try to the internal spu too

Actually vagrant story is having troubles w/ sound but the best spu for this game is the internal one (I ve tested all the spu plugins)

Bye

[HBK]

I perfectly know the timings for NTSC/PAL games but FM3 runs best at "30FPS Limit" with "PC FPS Calculation", that's a fact, at least on my config :confused:
I must add i'm using FSAA 4x disabling it povides regular speed up, but does not solve the music speeding up / slowing down

FM3 needs "Accurate CDROM Timing" to run, if not : loadings freezes.
The "Mask Bit" greatly improves display (transparencies).
The "Special Games Fixes" are all disabled except "PC FPS Calcuation".

All the SPU options are enabled, if not there would be almost no sound :eek:
I've already given a try to the internal SPU and it's the most compatible but not with the best sound

I know VS have sound problems, it may come from the plugins but from the emu as well ...

Anyway, it seems i've been the only one to get game freezes

[Rargh]

Originally posted by HBK
I perfectly know the timings for NTSC/PAL games but FM3 runs best at "30FPS Limit" with "PC FPS Calculation", that's a fact, at least on my config :confused:
I must add i'm using FSAA 4x disabling it povides regular speed up, but does not solve the music speeding up / slowing down

FM3 needs "Accurate CDROM Timing" to run, if not : loadings freezes.
The "Mask Bit" greatly improves display (transparencies).
The "Special Games Fixes" are all disabled except "PC FPS Calcuation".

All the SPU options are enabled, if not there would be almost no sound :eek:
I've already given a try to the internal SPU and it's the most compatible but not with the best sound

I know VS have sound problems, it may come from the plugins but from the emu as well ...

Anyway, it seems i've been the only one to get game freezes

Well i thank u for the tips w/ FM3.
I ll may be able to run it correctly.

I have a question.
Since u are using Win2k sp2...Have u experienced freeze up w/ it (I mean w/o playing...Cuz' i m experiencing the same way.
I perhaps solve my problems w/ it by reinstalling it.Thx again to cluthu.)
Check this topic...it should help

http://boards.psxemu.com/showthread.php?threadid=2803

And forgot to warn ya: If possible, try not to overclock ur graphic card / cpu.
It may cause crashes...

Sawasdee

[HBK]

No problem, remember to set your emu to realtime priority using task manager

I have almost no problems with Win2kSP2, no spontaneous crashes.
Excepted a problem using CreativeMixer, under certain circumptances, running it make the computer boot :confused:

Of course playing games may cause crashes because of the Video & Sound Hardware manipulation, but this is a PC-AT issue, not a Windows one :rockets:

After checking the forum, i should recommend not to use a FSB of 133 if at least one of your RAM Module is PC100 or less.
BTW, go buy some SDRAM, they're pretty low priced these times : 300FF for 256PC133

I knew overclocking cause crashes, i experienced this when i was trying to overclock the CPU - GFX - AGP myself

HBK

[Rargh]

Hey, i didn t even noticed u were french

Thx a lot for the stick tip.
Anyways, I ll upgrade my pc soon.
ah i remember the time (in fact last summer) where the ram was so expensive that I was forced to buy a 64pc 100 stick from my friend at the cost of 250 FF

Bye

[HBK]

Frenchies are EVERYWHERE

Yeah, yeah, i remember too ...
Well, if everything's okay i'll buy a 256PC133 module soon and give my current 128PC133+64PC100+64PC100 to my bros.

BTW, when i said i got game freezes, i meant in ePSXe of course.
The emu runs but those f_____g games are stuck.
Well, in fact, this IS an emu problem.

Ciao!