Strange error in Dosbox

[Dragu]

@lmerckx
In general I have always an dosbox.bat file to start games, and mostly the mount operations I make at the end of dosbox.cfg. But this is just personal choice and no issue.
I found the story with the VK at testing a game. Because, if you start with dosbox.bat and have an error, you will never see it Screen erase instantly.
I for this reason sometimes start a game with no dosbox.bat, for debugging.
Concerning the speed lag, it is in relation important 1/2 as before if not less.
What is surprising that you have with the PI2 no problems, but we with PI3 have.
So, I think solution between both build.

[Dragu]

@lmerckx
I have another idea. Would it be possible to upload somewhere your version of PI2, to test with PI3 ?

[lmerckx]

@Dragu Good idea. The link is here: https://www.proximuscloud.be/web/app/share/invite/HLQ1C8rABR
If it doesn't work with it ... can you send me your configuration file. Perhaps, is it a change I made which still allow to get good performance.

[Dragu]

@lmerckx
I think it was not so brillant as idea, as the file is not executable under PI3. I dont know the reason and expected downward compatibility, what is not the case. So, this will unfortunately not help us.

[lmerckx]

@Dragu Sh... Can you send me your confiuration file anyway ?

[voljega]

keeps getting stranger and stranger !

[Dragu]

@lmerckx
Sure, but they are not all the same :

# This is the configuration file for DOSBox 0.74. (Please use the latest version of DOSBox)
# Lines starting with a # are comment lines and are ignored by DOSBox.
# They are used to (briefly) document the effect of each option.

[sdl]
#       fullscreen: Start dosbox directly in fullscreen. (Press ALT-Enter to go back)
#            vsync: Sync to Vblank IF supported by the output device and renderer (if relevant).
#                   It can reduce screen flickering, but it can also result in a slow DOSBox.
#   fullresolution: What resolution to use for fullscreen: original, desktop or a fixed size (e.g. 1024x768).
#                     Using your monitor's native resolution with aspect=true might give the best results.
#                     If you end up with small window on a large screen, try an output different from surface.
# windowresolution: Scale the window to this size IF the output device supports hardware scaling.
#                     (output=surface does not!)
#           output: What video system to use for output.
#                   Possible values: surface, texture, texturenb.
#         renderer: Choose a renderer driver if output=texture or output=texturenb. Use output=auto for an automatic choice.
#                   Possible values: auto, opengl, software.
#         autolock: Mouse will automatically lock, if you click on the screen. (Press CTRL-F10 to unlock)
#      sensitivity: Mouse sensitivity.
#      waitonerror: Wait before closing the console if dosbox has an error.
#         priority: Priority levels for dosbox. Second entry behind the comma is for when dosbox is not focused/minimized.
#                     pause is only valid for the second entry.
#                   Possible values: lowest, lower, normal, higher, highest, pause.
#       mapperfile: File used to load/save the key/event mappings from. Resetmapper only works with the default value.

fullscreen=true
vsync=false
fullresolution=desktop
windowresolution=original
output=texture
renderer=auto
autolock=true
sensitivity=100
waitonerror=true
priority=higher,normal
mapperfile=nremorse.map

[dosbox]
# language: Select another language file.
#  machine: The type of machine DOSBox tries to emulate.
#           Possible values: hercules, cga, tandy, pcjr, ega, vgaonly, svga_s3, svga_et3000, svga_et4000, svga_paradise, vesa_nolfb, vesa_oldvbe.
# captures: Directory where things like wave, midi, screenshot get captured.
#  memsize: Amount of memory DOSBox has in megabytes.
#             This value is best left at its default to avoid problems with some games,
#             though few games might require a higher value.
#             There is generally no speed advantage when raising this value.

language=
machine=svga_s3
captures=capture
memsize=16

[render]
# frameskip: How many frames DOSBox skips before drawing one.
#    aspect: Do aspect correction, if your output method doesn't support scaling this can slow things down!.
#    scaler: Scaler used to enlarge/enhance low resolution modes. If 'forced' is appended,
#            then the scaler will be used even if the result might not be desired.
#            Possible values: none, normal2x, normal3x, advmame2x, advmame3x, advinterp2x, advinterp3x, hq2x, hq3x, 2xsai, super2xsai, supereagle, tv2x, tv3x, rgb2x, rgb3x, scan2x, scan3x.

frameskip=0
aspect=false
scaler=none

[cpu]
#      core: CPU Core used in emulation. auto will switch to dynamic if available and
#            appropriate.
#            Possible values: auto, dynamic, normal, simple.
#   cputype: CPU Type used in emulation. auto is the fastest choice.
#            Possible values: auto, 386, 386_slow, 486_slow, pentium_slow, 386_prefetch.
#    cycles: Amount of instructions DOSBox tries to emulate each millisecond.
#            Setting this value too high results in sound dropouts and lags.
#            Cycles can be set in 3 ways:
#              'auto'          tries to guess what a game needs.
#                              It usually works, but can fail for certain games.
#              'fixed #number' will set a fixed amount of cycles. This is what you usually
#                              need if 'auto' fails (Example: fixed 4000).
#              'max'           will allocate as much cycles as your computer is able to
#                              handle.
#            Possible values: auto, fixed, max.
#   cycleup: Amount of cycles to decrease/increase with keycombos.(CTRL-F11/CTRL-F12)
# cycledown: Setting it lower than 100 will be a percentage.

core=dynamic
cputype=auto
cycles=max
cycleup=100
cycledown=100

[mixer]
#   nosound: Enable silent mode, sound is still emulated though.
#      rate: Mixer sample rate, setting any device's rate higher than this will probably lower their sound quality.
#            Possible values: 44100, 48000, 32000, 22050, 16000, 11025, 8000, 49716.
# blocksize: Mixer block size, larger blocks might help sound stuttering but sound will also be more lagged.
#            Possible values: 1024, 2048, 4096, 8192, 512, 256.
# prebuffer: How many milliseconds of data to keep on top of the blocksize.

nosound=false
rate=44100
blocksize=1024
prebuffer=20

[midi]
#     mpu401: Type of MPU-401 to emulate.
#             Possible values: intelligent, uart, none.
# mididevice: Device that will receive the MIDI data from MPU-401.
#             Possible values: default, win32, alsa, oss, coreaudio, coremidi, none.
# midiconfig: Special configuration options for the device driver. This is usually the id of the device you want to use.
#               or in the case of coreaudio, you can specify a soundfont here.
#               When using a Roland MT-32 rev. 0 as midi output device, some games may require a delay in order to prevent 'buffer overflow' issues.
#               In that case, add 'delaysysex', for example: midiconfig=2 delaysysex
#               See the README/Manual for more details.

mpu401=intelligent
mididevice=default
midiconfig=

[sblaster]
#  sbtype: Type of Soundblaster to emulate. gb is Gameblaster.
#          Possible values: sb1, sb2, sbpro1, sbpro2, sb16, gb, none.
#  sbbase: The IO address of the soundblaster.
#          Possible values: 220, 240, 260, 280, 2a0, 2c0, 2e0, 300.
#     irq: The IRQ number of the soundblaster.
#          Possible values: 7, 5, 3, 9, 10, 11, 12.
#     dma: The DMA number of the soundblaster.
#          Possible values: 1, 5, 0, 3, 6, 7.
#    hdma: The High DMA number of the soundblaster.
#          Possible values: 1, 5, 0, 3, 6, 7.
# sbmixer: Allow the soundblaster mixer to modify the DOSBox mixer.
# oplmode: Type of OPL emulation. On 'auto' the mode is determined by sblaster type. All OPL modes are Adlib-compatible, except for 'cms'.
#          Possible values: auto, cms, opl2, dualopl2, opl3, opl3gold, none.
#  oplemu: Provider for the OPL emulation. compat might provide better quality (see oplrate as well).
#          Possible values: default, compat, fast.
# oplrate: Sample rate of OPL music emulation. Use 49716 for highest quality (set the mixer rate accordingly).
#          Possible values: 44100, 49716, 48000, 32000, 22050, 16000, 11025, 8000.

sbtype=sb16
sbbase=220
irq=7
dma=1
hdma=5
sbmixer=true
oplmode=auto
oplemu=default
oplrate=44100

[gus]
#      gus: Enable the Gravis Ultrasound emulation.
#  gusrate: Sample rate of Ultrasound emulation.
#           Possible values: 44100, 48000, 32000, 22050, 16000, 11025, 8000, 49716.
#  gusbase: The IO base address of the Gravis Ultrasound.
#           Possible values: 240, 220, 260, 280, 2a0, 2c0, 2e0, 300.
#   gusirq: The IRQ number of the Gravis Ultrasound.
#           Possible values: 5, 3, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12.
#   gusdma: The DMA channel of the Gravis Ultrasound.
#           Possible values: 3, 0, 1, 5, 6, 7.
# ultradir: Path to Ultrasound directory. In this directory
#           there should be a MIDI directory that contains
#           the patch files for GUS playback. Patch sets used
#           with Timidity should work fine.

gus=false
gusrate=44100
gusbase=240
gusirq=5
gusdma=3
ultradir=C:\ULTRASND

[speaker]
# pcspeaker: Enable PC-Speaker emulation.
#    pcrate: Sample rate of the PC-Speaker sound generation.
#            Possible values: 44100, 48000, 32000, 22050, 16000, 11025, 8000, 49716.
#     tandy: Enable Tandy Sound System emulation. For 'auto', emulation is present only if machine is set to 'tandy'.
#            Possible values: auto, on, off.
# tandyrate: Sample rate of the Tandy 3-Voice generation.
#            Possible values: 44100, 48000, 32000, 22050, 16000, 11025, 8000, 49716.
#    disney: Enable Disney Sound Source emulation. (Covox Voice Master and Speech Thing compatible).

pcspeaker=true
pcrate=44100
tandy=auto
tandyrate=44100
disney=true

[joystick]
# joysticktype: Type of joystick to emulate: auto (default), none,
#               2axis (supports two joysticks),
#               4axis (supports one joystick, first joystick used),
#               4axis_2 (supports one joystick, second joystick used),
#               fcs (Thrustmaster), ch (CH Flightstick).
#               none disables joystick emulation.
#               auto chooses emulation depending on real joystick(s).
#               (Remember to reset dosbox's mapperfile if you saved it earlier)
#               Possible values: auto, 2axis, 4axis, 4axis_2, fcs, ch, none.
#        timed: enable timed intervals for axis. Experiment with this option, if your joystick drifts (away).
#     autofire: continuously fires as long as you keep the button pressed.
#       swap34: swap the 3rd and the 4th axis. can be useful for certain joysticks.
#   buttonwrap: enable button wrapping at the number of emulated buttons.

joysticktype=auto
timed=true
autofire=false
swap34=false
buttonwrap=false

[serial]
# serial1: set type of device connected to com port.
#          Can be disabled, dummy, modem, nullmodem, directserial.
#          Additional parameters must be in the same line in the form of
#          parameter:value. Parameter for all types is irq (optional).
#          for directserial: realport (required), rxdelay (optional).
#                           (realport:COM1 realport:ttyS0).
#          for modem: listenport (optional).
#          for nullmodem: server, rxdelay, txdelay, telnet, usedtr,
#                         transparent, port, inhsocket (all optional).
#          Example: serial1=modem listenport:5000
#          Possible values: dummy, disabled, modem, nullmodem, directserial.
# serial2: see serial1
#          Possible values: dummy, disabled, modem, nullmodem, directserial.
# serial3: see serial1
#          Possible values: dummy, disabled, modem, nullmodem, directserial.
# serial4: see serial1
#          Possible values: dummy, disabled, modem, nullmodem, directserial.

serial1=dummy
serial2=dummy
serial3=disabled
serial4=disabled

[dos]
#            xms: Enable XMS support.
#            ems: Enable EMS support. The default (=true) provides the best
#                 compatibility but certain applications may run better with
#                 other choices, or require EMS support to be disabled (=false)
#                 to work at all.
#                 Possible values: true, emsboard, emm386, false.
#            umb: Enable UMB support.
# keyboardlayout: Language code of the keyboard layout (or none).

xms=true
ems=true
umb=true
keyboardlayout=de129

[autoexec]
# Lines in this section will be run at startup.
# You can put your MOUNT lines here.

[lmerckx]

@Dragu The only difference between yours and my standard one is the
cycles=max

I prefer now auto for most games. But, I'm pretty sure this is not the cause of the problem.

[Dragu]

@lmerckx
I just rolled back, as I have a few versions in usr/bin, easy with rm and cp.
But there is no effect as you expected.

[lmerckx]

@dragu "The truth is elsewhere"
Can I use you as tester ? Because I'm blind without RPI3.

I will first compile a previous version (17.12.01?) of the code in current environment to detect where the problem could be.
If it's still lagging, it could be a problem in "inherited" compilation directive.

[voljega]

@lmerckx I can help too, if there's no need to switch on a dev update branch

[lmerckx]

@voljega Thank you too. For a simple test, it will be preferable to simply update the dosbox executable.
Perhaps a first version available this evening.

[Dragu]

@lmerckx
Thanks for your work. What I can still not understand, why there are different versions in Dosbox between PI2 and PI3. Just curiosity.

[lmerckx]

@Dragu I don't know either: same sources, same compiler directives (in package).
It is why I want to check if it can be external to the package.

[lmerckx]

@Dragu @voljega Here it is: https://www.proximuscloud.be/web/app/share/invite/3LrasrDfoc
It is a dosbox RPI3 (r4063), compiled in current environment.

[Dragu]

@lmerckx
Hi dear, I just tested but no improvements of speed. What I can still not understand is the hudge volume of this file for Recalbox PI3. Jessie version 0.74 is about 2.3MB, Windows version 0.74 about 3.7MB and this here about 5.5MB. Could it that this is a 64 bit compilation ? Perhaps a switch option ?

[lmerckx]

@dragu Things become clearer (I hope) ...
Not a problem of 32/64 bits but I suppose a compilation directive change (unexpected).

What about this one: https://www.proximuscloud.be/web/app/share/invite/r5zB6k7h7b

It is the new sources (virtual keyboard + b*mp) but the old way to compile !

[Dragu]

@lmerckx
I will test now. But wanted to post you picture about the last version and Jessie074. You see the hudge code.

[lmerckx]

Yes, this one is smaller in fact

[Dragu]

@lmerckx
Good news, speed is mostly back. Perhaps other compilation optimisation still possible. @voljega may also have an opinion. Thanks.