DOS or DOSBOX?

[Gnoman]

I run old DOS programs, quite often. I've used DOSBOX for a while, but I just found my old DOS 6.22 disks. Does DOSBOX have any real adventages to installing DOS on an old 486 I have lying around?

[Squall-Leonhart]

im sure a quick read of the features in dosbox compared to a crappity 486 running dos will give you a fair idea.

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[BigIg]

The only reason I'd have to tell you to stay away from Dosbox is perhaps that it requires a semi-decent computer to run certain DOS applications/games. Otherwise I'd probably be better than a real DOS box.

Most recent computers won't have any problems with Dosbox anyway.

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[jonc2006]

you could try using VDMsound (its for winXP though) instead, it only emulates some of the DOS environment and sound hardware so the load put on your system is reduced. i used it for playing a few of my older games and i was able to get better performance using that compared to DOSBOX in some of them.

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[Gnoman]

VDMsound won't work for programs that crap out if XMS is enabled, or have a heart attack at the very mention of Windows.

As a 486 is the system that many of these games were designed for, it should have a definite advantage over DOSbox in terms of speed. Calibrtaing the cycles is a pain.

[Squall-Leonhart]

VDM sound was fine on pre Geforce FX hardware which properly included VESA bios support.

today's hardware doesn't and results in slowdowns when running VESA apps

Dosbox doesn't need calibrating for speed. just set the cpu and cycles to auto and most games will work fine.

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[Samor]

indeed, very old dosbox versions needed that, but that's not the case anymore (it's still in there as an option, which is nice for games such as Test Drive 3)

DOSBox is an emulator.... the usual emulator vs. "real thing" rule applies: purist-wise, the 486 is the winner, and convenience & feature-wise, DOSBox is.

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[Devil Master]

Originally Posted by Gnoman

Does DOSBOX have any real adventages to installing DOS on an old 486 I have lying around?

Dosbox advantages: no old systems lying around, no RAM issues, full speed, you can't fux0r up your OS, you can use modern joypads, you can improve graphics with filters...

Dosbox disadvantages: it doesn't give blowjobs

Dosbox disadvantages OVER A REAL DOS MACHINE: it doesn't mix well with nostalgics who love old computers as if they had souls.

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Last edited by Devil Master; June 26th, 2009 at 15:57.