100% Android switching to 100% mini PC. Help is needed and appreciated.

[chefchiras]

FROM NVIDIA SHIELD TO A WO-W8 MINI PC. HELPPP?!?!!!

 

I've had an Nvidia shield for over 5 years I use it everyday for everything movies TV retro emulation etc however it's dying so I came across a WO-We mini PC that has the AMD excavator built in. I have zero issues from nes up to PS1; my question is PS2 it was my favorite system growing up and it's the only system I really want to emulate PS3 would be awesome but I'm not sure it has the power. My question is what are the best specs for pcsx2 or LRPS2 on RetroArch which I'm still not to familiar with but I'm going to buy the big box if it's capable to run ps2 at 80%. 

[Lordmonkus]

https://www.wo-we.com/collections/mini-pc/products/mini-pc-amd-excavator-a9-9400

I am guessing that this is the mini PC you are referring to and so then I would avoid it, it won't be able to do PS2 emulation very well at all.

13 minutes ago, chefchiras said:

but I'm going to buy the big box if it's capable to run ps2 at 80%

Launchbox doesn't run the games and has no impact on how well a game runs or doesn't run, the systems hardware determines that. I would also strong recommend against running emulation at 80%, it would be a terrible experience but that is just my opinion.

If you wanna run PS2 and possibly PS3 emulation it's hard to give you an exact recommendation but I would start with a lower end Ryzen CPU and some sort of actual graphics card like a 10 series Nvidia, like a 1060 or 1070 minimum. That would run PS2 very well and maybe PS3 but because PS3 emulation is still in its early stages speed is very hit and miss depending on the game and emulator development stage.

[chefchiras]

Thanks I appreciate the feedback I actually already have it running at about 85% playing def jam vendetta. I'm aware the front end doesn't impact on how the emulator it self performs I was looking for tips if I should use openGL with a shader or use the AMD setting and adjusting a few other settings (I remember years ago on my old laptop I tried setting up pcsx2 and it ran a few games but not many) and I'm pleasantly surprised with what this tiny PC about the size of 4 hockey pucks melted together and is almost silent. So if any is familiar with a lower end PC emulation settings that have worked for you I'd be happy to try them on this to see if they work. Thanks again in advance. 

[Guest]

14 hours ago, chefchiras said:

Thanks I appreciate the feedback I actually already have it running at about 85% playing def jam vendetta. I'm aware the front end doesn't impact on how the emulator it self performs I was looking for tips if I should use openGL with a shader or use the AMD setting and adjusting a few other settings (I remember years ago on my old laptop I tried setting up pcsx2 and it ran a few games but not many) and I'm pleasantly surprised with what this tiny PC about the size of 4 hockey pucks melted together and is almost silent. So if any is familiar with a lower end PC emulation settings that have worked for you I'd be happy to try them on this to see if they work. Thanks again in advance. 

Those little pc's are indeed something to see, all that stuff crammed into a box the size of a portable cd player from 1993. I will admit I have only owned one, I've seen quite a few and they always amaze me. The only mini pc's I've witnessed that can run ps3 games are those alienware alphas and the ones that look like its a video card with a plastic shield around it, those cost alot of money and still dont perform as good as a pc with a dedicated GPU. They may make them better now but the lack of a dedicated gpu really holds those things back when it comes to gaming, thats why I personally have only owned one. When you say you have it running at 80% what does that mean? ps2 games (if they are 100% compatible) should run at a steady 60fps. If its running at anything below that with all upscaling and anti-aliasing off then your not gonna have a proper ps2 experience. If that kind of stuff doesnt bother you and you still want to play it in its rugged state with no upscaling and such, then use software mode. You should use no shaders if your not getting the full 60fps most of the time, those have a performance impact. I will also state and this is important, don't use RA ps2 core its waaaay out of date. Stenzek works on the pcsx2 team now and its taken huge strides since then. Plays all games way better and supports achievements. PS2 is also my favorite console, if you like it as much as I do then I can also suggest PSP emulation to scratch your ps2 itch. I've seen little retro pockets play some psp games at a playable speed, not well enough for my personal preference but it should be playable on that.

Edited July 11, 2023 by KingSlayer420

[chefchiras]

40 minutes ago, KingSlayer420 said:

Those little pc's are indeed something to see, all that stuff crammed into a box the size of a portable cd player from 1993. I will admit I have only owned one, I've seen quite a few and they always amaze me. The only mini pc's I've witnessed that can run ps3 games are those alienware alphas and the ones that look like its a video card with a plastic shield around it, those cost alot of money and still dont perform as good as a pc with a dedicated GPU. They may make them better now but the lack of a dedicated gpu really holds those things back when it comes to gaming, thats why I personally have only owned one. When you say you have it running at 80% what does that mean? ps2 games (if they are 100% compatible) should run at a steady 60fps. If its running at anything below that with all upscaling and anti-aliasing off then your not gonna have a proper ps2 experience. If that kind of stuff doesnt bother you and you still want to play it in its rugged state with no upscaling and such, then use software mode. You should use no shaders if your not getting the full 60fps most of the time, those have a performance impact. I will also state and this is important, don't use RA ps2 core its waaaay out of date. Stenzek works on the pcsx2 team now and its taken huge strides since then. Plays all games way better and supports achievements. PS2 is also my favorite console, if you like it as much as I do then I can also suggest PSP emulation to scratch your ps2 itch. I've seen little retro pockets play some psp games at a playable speed, not well enough for my personal preference but it should be playable on that.

Thank you for your response I greatly appreciate it that was the information that was kind of looking for and when I say 80% I was low ball and it's 60 frames per second it occasionally stutters but nothing I can't pause and have it passed in 5 seconds so it's not flawless but it's definitely playable there's not many issues like I said I think it's because the AMD excavator that's in it that's why I'm getting the performance that I am I'm just so Android I'm not used to having to justify the emulation so thank you for your advice I greatly appreciate it I figured PS3 I would put it out there but I kind of knew the mini PC wasn't strong enough to run it but thank you again I do appreciate it.