CPU/APU for GameCube emulation?
CPU/APU for GameCube emulation?
Hi there, let's figure this out together. You're looking to set up a retro gaming PC for you and your daughter, so I'll give you some guidance on choosing the right CPU/APU.
For raw power, you mentioned you're open to spending up to around ¥80,000. That puts you in a good range—expect solid performance for emulation or older consoles. If you want to run PS3 emulation smoothly, aim for a mid-range processor with decent multi-core support. A recent Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 should handle it well, especially if paired with enough RAM and a decent GPU.
For GameCube support, most entry-level systems can manage it, but you might need a dedicated emulator like RetroArch or a dedicated console. If you're building your own PC, consider an SFF desktop such as an NUC or a mid-range Asus X300/Inwin Chopin. These give you flexibility and better cooling for longer sessions.
On the other side, if you're open to using Android or a small SBC (like a Raspberry Pi or a low-power tablet), you could run emulators directly on the device. Just keep in mind that performance will be limited compared to a full PC.
Since you don’t want a laptop, sticking with a desktop makes sense. If you need help picking specific parts or configurations, just let me know! Happy gaming!
You have several choices to consider. I can't decide one option for you because I’m unsure how much the prices vary in your area. For the APU, there’s the 3400G with 4c/8t, the 5600G/5700G which is newer but pricier, and the 4700G—a middle ground. All three can handle GameCube, PS2, some WII, and even PS3 emulation to a degree. Here are some benchmark videos showing how these models run on different consoles like 3DS, GameCube, PS3. The 3400G video lacks timestamps, while the others include them. I also overlooked that the 4700G offers a stronger GPU than the 5600G and possibly even the 5700G, since the 5600G only has 7 Vega cores at 1900MHz, whereas the 4700G has 8 Vega cores at 2100MHz, which could impact performance in GPU-heavy situations.
I anticipate handling a Ryzen 3000G or 5000G processor. Likely with a 1000-series GPU or an AMD 400-series chip, provided you locate a good deal.
I accidentally shared this post without thinking. The board could be changed to an ITX model and the case replaced. Excuse me.
Sorry, I should have mentioned that I'm familiar with ETA Prime's videos. It's often a very good source of info, even though he sometimes has the bad tendency (to my point of view) to overclock CPU/iGPU, which makes it difficult to really know what the processor can do or at base clock. As a matter of fact, I'm really more trying to know what would be the bare minimum for GameCube. I've seen YouTube videos of people testing the same processors, sometimes even the same computer, and get really different results (might be due to how they tweaked Dolphin) so I'm kind of lost. See, for example, I've seen a video in which ETA Prime reviews the Chuwi Larkbox and a few GameCube games seemed to run relatively well (hint: F-Zero GX was not one of them). He even pushed to WII territory with various levels of success. He could also run Dreamcast and Saturn on this tiny box. But I've also seen other reviews where Dreamcast could barely run, Saturn was choppy, and running GameCube was an illusion. So, yeah, I'm actually more than kind of lost...
It's tough to track down parts these days. For example, ETA Prime once reviewed a Lenovo 4650g SFF computer, but on Lenovo Japan's site it says delivery could take up to three months at the latest, leaving you wondering when you'll actually get your machine. Small NUC-sized 4800U models from Asrock and Asus are currently out of stock everywhere, and I'm not sure a 4300U or 4500U would suffice. There are still some 3400G + Asrock X300 units available from Japan-based BTO makers, but they're getting harder to find and prices are rising. Newer 5000 series parts might be too pricey. For instance, a 5700G + Asrock X300 BTO would cost around ¥130,000 on the site, which is a lot even if you build it yourself. With a budget of about ¥80,000, you could only afford the X300 and the 5700G, not more. Even switching to Linux or Batocera wouldn't solve the storage or RAM issues. I just can't justify spending that much on such a small retro gaming rig that's mainly used over weekends and holidays.
GameCube emulation works smoothly on my DeskMini A300, even with modest RAM.