138
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
*Glide64 - Also comes with Project64 as of version 2.1. Often much more accurate and compatible than Jabo's plugin, and has a wealth of options, though it can be slower on lower-end machines, and may not work on integrated graphics. Still, it is overall the best and most compatible plugin for general use, though it is by no means issue-free, and it is very likely little to no further improvements will be made to it. The version bundled with Project64 2.x is only really meant to work with those versions of Project64, however, so if you're using another emulator, try [https://code.google.com/p/glidehqplusglitch64/ Glide64 Final] instead.
*[https://github.com/gonetz/GLideN64/ GLideN64] - A plugin developed by the maker of Glide64, though its code is actually originally based on gln64 (with combiner hacks from Glide64 and LLE code from z64gl). The plugin currently supports mip-mapping, emulation of low-level triangles, microcode of some games, gamma correction, flat and prim shading, VI emulation, and LLE graphics (though defaults to HLE). By 2018, it has [[Nintendo_64_emulators#High-level_vs._low-level_graphics|implemented HLE support]] of microcodes for many popular N64 games to enable fast performance, even on mid to high-end PC's/systems, and graphical enhancements. It currently fixes numerous long-standing issues in games and is capable of smoothly emulating advanced framebuffer effects in hardware that Glide64 and Jabo could not without resorting to software and murdering the framerate in the process. It also supports several enhancements, such as hi-res custom [[Texture_Packs|texture support]], AA and AF, a [[Widescreen_Hack|widescreen hack]], and even some shaders. There is support for an "[[Overscan]]" feature that helps the users to [[Widescreen_Hack#Nintendo_64|remove black borders around a game's visual output]]. However, it requires at least OpenGL 3.3 in the latest versions to run, and OpenGL 4.x for some advanced functions, making this plugin very toaster-unfriendly. It is also not without its share of issues and regressions on some games compared to Glide64. Its LLE mode is also much slower than even z64gl, and some of the plugin's features are broken in this mode.
*[https://github.com/ata4/angrylion-rdp-plus/releases Angrylion RDP Plus] - This is a fork of Angrylion's RDP that supports multithreading. It now uses OpenGL 3.3 and also supports Linux. The multi-threading helps boost performance significantly, but some games are still not full speed on an i7 8700k. This fork has at least one accuracy regression, compared to the official version of Angrylion. It also allows you to disable VI filters.
Divided video plugins into current and deprecated, started updating information
==Video==
The following are the current best video plugins for use on modern PCs and devices.
[[File:SuperMario64-Comparison.png|thumb|right|Jabo's Direct3D8 (left) compared with angrylion's RDP with OpenGL (right), while playing ''Super Mario 64''.]]
*ParaLLEl-RDP - Currently considered the best video plugin by most measures. It is just as accurate and compatible as Angrylion, but much faster thanks to its implementation of Vulkan's compute shaders. Unlike Angrylion, it also allows a number of enhancements, including hi-res upscaling, resulting in the best of all worlds. It has higher system requirements than the other plugins, however. It requires a GPU with Vulkan support (most GPUs from 2014 onwards are covered) and up-to-date drivers, and upscaling increases the GPU requirements even further, far more than GLideN64. At native resolution, however, a modest PC can handle it without much issue.
*[https://github.com/gonetz/GLideN64/ GLideN64] - A plugin developed by the maker of Glide64, though its code is actually originally based on gln64 (with combiner hacks from Glide64 and LLE code from z64gl). The plugin currently supports mip-mapping, emulation of low-level triangles, microcode of some games, gamma correction, flat and prim shading, VI emulation, and LLE graphics (though defaults to HLE). By 2018, it has [[Nintendo_64_emulators#High-level_vs._low-level_graphics|implemented HLE support]] of microcodes for many popular N64 games to enable fast performance, even on mid to high-end PC's/systems, and graphical enhancements. It currently fixes numerous long-standing issues in games and is capable of smoothly emulating advanced framebuffer effects in hardware that Glide64 and Jabo could not without resorting to software and murdering the framerate in the process. It also supports several enhancements, such as hi-res custom [[Texture_Packs|texture support]], AA and AF, a [[Widescreen_Hack|widescreen hack]], and even some shaders. There is support for an "[[Overscan]]" feature that helps the users to [[Widescreen_Hack#Nintendo_64|remove black borders around a game's visual output]]. However, it requires at least OpenGL 3.3 in the latest versions to run, and OpenGL 4.x for some advanced functions, making this plugin very toaster-unfriendly. It is also not without its share of issues and regressions on some games compared to Glide64. Its LLE mode is also much slower than even z64gl, and some of the plugin's features are broken in this mode.
*[https://github.com/ata4/angrylion-rdp-plus/releases Angrylion RDP Plus] - This is a fork of Angrylion's RDP that supports multithreading. It now uses OpenGL 3.3 and also supports Linux. The multi-threading helps boost performance significantly, but some games are still not full speed on an i7 8700k. This fork has at least one accuracy regression, compared to the official version of Angrylion. It also allows you to disable VI filters.
*Glide64 - The former best general-use plugin. While it is no longer updated and is less accurate and compatible than the newer offerings, it still has a few use cases, such as better support for older ROM hacks. It works relatively well for most games (the more popular, the better!), and it is also faster than the others, thus suitable for slower devices such as the Raspberri Pi.
The following video plugins are considered old and deprecated, and should not be used or considered unless you have a VERY old device that cannot handle the recommended plugins, or there's a very specific use case not covered by modern implementations.
*Jabo's Direct3D - Comes with Project64. Very speedy, has built-in AA, AF options, and is one of the only plugins with a [[Widescreen_Hack|widescreen hack]]. The most recent version included with Project64 2.x (1.7.0.57-ver5) is somewhat buggy and has regressions, however, so the version included in [http://www.jabosoft.com/articles/114 Jabo's 1.6.1 patch] is recommended instead for most cases, though the former can run in LLE mode, which can help with a few games. Sadly, it will likely never see another update again, and there is some talk of replacing it with either Glide64 or GLideN64 as Project64's default video plugin or even removing it outright.
*[http://www.emutalk.net/threads/54166-Rice-Video-Community-version Rice Video] - A fast, highly configurable video plugin famous for its ability to load [[Texture_Packs|hi-res textures]], making it a popular plugin within the N64 emulation community. The 1964 team eventually annexed it as its official video plugin, renaming it 1964Video. There are many versions and forks of it floating around, either to fix issues or add features. For the most part, however, it has fallen behind in comparison to Glide64, which can now also load hi-res textures. As such, none of its variations are recommended for general use unless there's a very specific fringe case or you're on a toaster.
*[http://www.emutalk.net/threads/40640-Z64-a-LLE-graphics-plugin z64gl] - A hardware-accelerated, low-level plugin developed by ziggy, derived from MAME's N64 driver. It has the capability to render at the N64's native resolution in case you don't like super sharp polygons with low-res textures. It also includes experimental multi-threading support. Requirements are heavier than Jabo's plugin and Glide64, and configuration requires editing the config file directly. Needs an LLE RSP plugin, such as the bundled z64 RSP or Project64's RSP plugin set to LLE graphics. Overall, it tends to be quite glitchy with many games, but it is one of the only plugins capable of properly displaying difficult games such as Rogue Squadron. After years of abandonment, a [https://github.com/purplemarshmallow/z64/tree/angrylion-integration recent fork] has cropped up that aims at improving this plugin's accuracy and fixing its bugs by incorporating code from angrylion's plugin and improving the overall code quality.
*[https://sourceforge.net/p/angrylions-stuff/code/HEAD/tree/ Official Angrylion RDP] - A software-rendered, hardware-accurate plugin, developed by angrylion (though derived from MAME, much like z64gl). This specific version is the most accurate N64 renderer in existence, it is capable of playing almost every single game in the N64 library with no issues, fixing even notorious cases such as the ''Pokémon Snap'' red dot and the ''Body Harvest'' bridge. However, because of its sheer intensiveness, it is currently little more than a curiosity. Try it out if you have a tricked-out rig and want to test your CPU's mettle. This plugin uses Direct Draw and is Windows only.
*[http://www.emutalk.net/threads/55481-angrylion-s-Per-Pixel-RDP-with-OpenGL HatCat/angrylion's Pixel-Accurate N64 Plugin] - This is a fork of Angrylion's RDP, done by HatCat. It has some optimizations not present in the official code, but is outdated and lacking some accuracy improvements and optimizations written by Angrylion. It has the option to disable the VI filters (which gives a speed boost), as well as the ability to set custom resolutions. Also, this version uses OpenGL 1.x instead of Direct Draw and supports Linux.
==Audio==
