Emulation accuracy: Difference between revisions

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;It's important to know that emulation accuracy and compatibility are two different things; while how closely an emulator mimics the original hardware is important, don't mistake that for compatibility. Whether games run properly is a separate concern, accuracy can sometimes influence it. See [[#Perfection.3F|"perfection"]] and [[#Controversy|"controversy"]] sections.

If emulators are accurate enough, it produces much fewer audio and video glitches, usually at the cost of more processing power needed. It's often achieved by using tighter synchronization. This means the more accurate an emulator is, the lesser deviations there are from real hardware behavior but the more demanding it is. In another way, instructions given to both the program and the hardware (original intentions) results in both outputting the same result (mimics). Ironically, that aspect might at times be at odds with how authentic the experience is, when it introduces [[input lag]]. A similar debate surrounds [[Shaders,_presets_and_filters|CRT shaders]] as well. Not to mention the [[Computer_specifications#Recommended_Specifications|hardware intensive nature of very accurate emulators]] for later consoles may be at odds with the emulator's usability, especially with the recent collapse of [https://emulation.gametechwiki.com/index.php/Computer_specifications#Architecture_Recommendation:~:text=CGP%20Scaling%20and%20Microprocessor%20Law%20Eras|Moore's Law] (in layman's terms, you can't just "buy a better PC" if semiconductor technology does not catch up fast enough with what it takes for accurate emulation that makes zero compromises for optimizing speed). As a result, accuracy and emulator authenticity continue to be controversial subjects and highly a matter of opinion depending on what aspect of the experience the user values more.

If emulators are accurate enough, it produces much fewer audio and video glitches, usually at the cost of more processing power needed. It's often achieved by using tighter synchronization. This means the more accurate an emulator is, the lesser deviations there are from real hardware behavior but the more demanding it is. In another way, instructions given to both the program and the hardware (original intentions) results in both outputting the same result (mimics). Ironically, that aspect might at times be at odds with how authentic the experience is, when it introduces [[input lag]]. A similar debate surrounds [[Shaders,_presets_and_filters|CRT shaders]] as well. Not to mention the [[Computer_specifications#Recommended_Specifications|hardware intensive nature of very accurate emulators]] for later consoles may be at odds with the emulator's usability, especially with the recent collapse of [https://emulation.gametechwiki.com/index.php/Computer_specifications#Architecture_Recommendation:~:text=CGP%20Scaling%20and%20Microprocessor%20Law%20Eras Moore's Law] (in layman's terms, you can't just "buy a better PC" if semiconductor technology does not catch up fast enough with what it takes for accurate emulation that makes zero compromises for optimizing speed). As a result, accuracy and emulator authenticity continue to be controversial subjects and highly a matter of opinion depending on what aspect of the experience the user values more.

==Types==

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 ;It's important to know that emulation accuracy and compatibility are two different things; while how closely an emulator mimics the original hardware is important, don't mistake that for compatibility. Whether games run properly is a separate concern, accuracy can sometimes influence it. See [[#Perfection.3F|"perfection"]] and [[#Controversy|"controversy"]] sections.
-If emulators are accurate enough, it produces much fewer audio and video glitches, usually at the cost of more processing power needed. It's often achieved by using tighter synchronization. This means the more accurate an emulator is, the lesser deviations there are from real hardware behavior but the more demanding it is. In another way, instructions given to both the program and the hardware (original intentions) results in both outputting the same result (mimics). Ironically, that aspect might at times be at odds with how authentic the experience is, when it introduces [[input lag]]. A similar debate surrounds [[Shaders,_presets_and_filters|CRT shaders]] as well. Not to mention the [[Computer_specifications#Recommended_Specifications|hardware intensive nature of very accurate emulators]] for later consoles may be at odds with the emulator's usability, especially with the recent collapse of [https://emulation.gametechwiki.com/index.php/Computer_specifications#Architecture_Recommendation:~:text=CGP%20Scaling%20and%20Microprocessor%20Law%20Eras|Moore's Law] (in layman's terms, you can't just "buy a better PC" if semiconductor technology does not catch up fast enough with what it takes for accurate emulation that makes zero compromises for optimizing speed). As a result, accuracy and emulator authenticity continue to be controversial subjects and highly a matter of opinion depending on what aspect of the experience the user values more.
+If emulators are accurate enough, it produces much fewer audio and video glitches, usually at the cost of more processing power needed. It's often achieved by using tighter synchronization. This means the more accurate an emulator is, the lesser deviations there are from real hardware behavior but the more demanding it is. In another way, instructions given to both the program and the hardware (original intentions) results in both outputting the same result (mimics). Ironically, that aspect might at times be at odds with how authentic the experience is, when it introduces [[input lag]]. A similar debate surrounds [[Shaders,_presets_and_filters|CRT shaders]] as well. Not to mention the [[Computer_specifications#Recommended_Specifications|hardware intensive nature of very accurate emulators]] for later consoles may be at odds with the emulator's usability, especially with the recent collapse of [https://emulation.gametechwiki.com/index.php/Computer_specifications#Architecture_Recommendation:~:text=CGP%20Scaling%20and%20Microprocessor%20Law%20Eras Moore's Law] (in layman's terms, you can't just "buy a better PC" if semiconductor technology does not catch up fast enough with what it takes for accurate emulation that makes zero compromises for optimizing speed). As a result, accuracy and emulator authenticity continue to be controversial subjects and highly a matter of opinion depending on what aspect of the experience the user values more.
 ==Types==