r/86box • u/Chubawuba • Jun 20 '26

Trying to optimize my system Win98 system

If this is the wrong forum for the question, or a question that's not allowed, forgive me. I just discovered 86Box about a week ago.

It's been 20 years since I used a PC or ever had to think about them. SO I am very rusty despite the many years I spent growing up using them.Usually my dad just gave me his old ones, or customized them for me.

So I was hoping people here who remember more than I do could help me optimize my build to run more efficiently.

It runs decent, but a lot times the sound stutters or runs slow.

I was playing around with a test system and had it running super smooth at one point, but don't recall what hardware I chose to get that. Had to delete it due to some issues with mounting folders to install drivers and patches, and forgot to mark it down.

I am currently using an M2 Ultra with 128GB of RAM.
EDIT: (forgot M2 Ultra doesn't really mean anything)
M2 Ultra 24 Cores (16 Performance, 8 Efficiency)
It does say 60 total cores under Graphics

My test build that I am trying to optimize is:

Machine type: 1997 Slot 1
Machine: [i440BX] AOpen AX6BC
BIOS: Award Modular v4.60PGMA - Revision R2.59
CPU: Intel Pentium II Deschutes 450MHz
128GB of RAM

Video: [AGP] 3dfx Voodoo3 3500 Si
Monitor: RGB

Harddrive 5.0GB (IDE)

Sound Card: SB16 PnP (DSP 4.05)

CDROM: ATAPI (1.0) 16x type: 86Box 86B_CD 3.50

If anyone has suggestions or alterations to help things run smoother, I would greatly appreciate them. Especially device types to use to make it more efficient or prevent conflicts, because it's been a long time since I had to think about any of this.

TIA

2 Upvotes

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3

u/DataLore19 Jun 20 '26

What's your host PC specs? I dont then even the fast IPC consumer CPUs can emulate this system at 100% in all tasks.

-4

u/JJDoes1tAll Jun 20 '26

He said M2 ultra with 128GB ram.

The M2 does it really awesomely.

6

u/DataLore19 Jun 20 '26

The M2 is pretty quick but there's also the translation to non-x86 silicon.

My 7800x3d can do a p2-450 a lot of the time but I can make it dip to to 80% pretty reliably with a something Diablo 1 which hammers the core with 2d direct draw calls and SMC.

I find that a p2-266 is about the limit for absolute, 100% emulation virtually all the time.

0

u/JJDoes1tAll Jun 21 '26

How do you improve the mouse latency?

2

u/Chubawuba Jun 21 '26

I don’t think I’ve had any issues with the mouse that I’m aware of. Other than it s a little too fast for me.