Performance is subpar and resource usage is minimal.
Performance is subpar and resource usage is minimal.
Pretty much what the title says. I tried playing Call of Duty 2: Big Red One (NTSC) on Dolphin, and I can't get over 30 fps. In the task manager, the utilization of my CPU and GPU are on idle performance, as if they don't even register that they're supposed to be running a game. I've emulated with PCSX2 in the past, and, while not perfect, I could get it working. I've heard many good things about Dolphin, so I'd like to switch to Dolphin, but there is obviously something wrong with it. I've tried both the stable build and the latest version, and neither runs well. I have a Ryzen 5 3600 and an RX 5700 XT, so I'm sure it's not about meeting the system requirements. But it is not utilized, so... is that the problem, or is there something else that could be causing the issue? I can't find anything on either Reddit or old forum posts.
It might have been a game engine cover. Most of those old titles ran on consoles at around 30 frames per second.
You might find assistance easier on a Dolphin Discord or a similar platform, though it could affect forum guidelines.
Only works with PAL versions; emulators can adjust settings so games run smoothly at 60 FPS, even if the original is limited to 30 FPS. Medal of Honor played at full 60 FPS on PCSX2.
Many titles run at 30 or lower natively, and PAL typically offers around 50fps. It’s possible OPs won’t use the processor much, but usually mods boost performance by 60fps or more—sometimes just a bit above 10% CPU/GPU usage. You’re not alone in noticing similar results with PSX2 games.
To verify if the game is locked at 30 and whether you can exceed it, you’d need to check the game’s settings or performance limits. Frontline isn’t locked in RPCS2, which explains why Dolphin performs better—emulation usually impacts system resources more than native execution.
Consider searching for particular titles or verify if a 60 or 120 fps update exists in dolphin settings. Personally, I haven’t found any issues with dolphin; however, pcsx2 (the similar version) offers the most optimized performance. It may require significant CPU power, but PS2-era games are usually lightweight today. A modern i5 processor should handle it easily.
There are videos on Big Red One running at 60 fps... on PCSX2. Dolphin, not so much. I probably shouldn't find the lack of coverage on shooters for the GameCube all that surprising since the Nintendo crowd tends to look down on shooters anyway. This, however, does surprise me. Every Reddit thread I've come across has been arguing in favor of Dolphin as the better optimized and more intuitive emulation software. Considering I did have some trouble with PCSX2 when I tried using it the first time, I assumed they must be right. By modern I meant in the sense of 2016+ so it is not necessarily a brand-new system. I think it had something to do with the fact that they only use one core (or something to that extent) which may overwhelm some computers, especially if you want to play at higher-than-native resolutions or if you want effects like AA enabled.
I find it confusing too since PS2 emulation seems much smoother—it handles everything automatically, or at least most of it. Dolphin is more challenging to get games running properly in my experience. Yes, PCSX2 works perfectly on my i5U laptop (around 2 cores/4 threads), which might not be the absolute minimum but isn’t a high demand either.