Are you using 0.74-3? Several dynarec auto changes were done to combat stuttering on newer Intel Core processors..

Windows 7 played a big role as well for the stuttering, On windows 7, at least 74-2 is needed for working auto cycles. But it can be that the fixed cycle amount is just too high for non-combat parts.

leileilol wrote on 2020-03-08, 02:42:

Are you using 0.74-3? Several dynarec auto changes were done to combat stuttering on newer Intel Core processors..

Qbix wrote on 2020-03-08, 14:58:

Windows 7 played a big role as well for the stuttering, On windows 7, at least 74-2 is needed for working auto cycles. But it can be that the fixed cycle amount is just too high for non-combat parts.

Well I'm actually using DOSBOX 0.74-.3 I haven't tested whether earlier DOSBOX version stutter or not.

I have tried Dawn Patrol and Need For Speed: Special Edition on the same PC though, with about similar cycle, and they don't stutter. Well NFS:SE stutters a little, while DP doesn't stutter at all (DP only stutter when you set high cycles with core=normal or core=simple).

However, I remember: back in 2012, I experienced similar problems with Origin's Pacific Strike: the game stutters so bad during cut scenes (especially during speeches), but it doesn't stutter during combat, despite sound and speech are on. Unlike Top Gun though, Pacific Strike doesn't stutter in main menu, although there are no sound nor speech in main menu (only MIDI song). By the way, I was using XP.

So, since I'm already using 0.74-3, what should I do?

Are you using gsync? With gsync enabled for windowed and full screen then I'd see issues with the sound when at the main menu and dragging the cursor around in window mode, no issues in fullscreen.

With gsync enabled only for fullscreen then no issue with either.

It looks like you can extract the CD to a directory and point the INI file to it for the game. The setup still needs the CD. ISO mounts fine with DOSBox.

Should probably stick something in the readme about gsync and mabye add refresh rate to title bar.

For games with stutter issues when playing in window mode you could try capturing DOSBox video, viewing details of the video to see what refresh rate it's using and set a custom refresh and resolution, set the desktop to this if your monitor supports it and see f the game works
https://www.vsynctester.com/

Mabye try playing with the various vsync options in the Nividia control panel as well like forcing vsync with gsync. Don't use let the application decide.
Also use output=opengl

/EDIT
This game requires 70hz so will have issues if monitor can only do 60.
So for my other monitor I can drop the desktop resolution to 1280x1024@75hz on my LCD and the game works fine.
On my G-SYNC monitor only allowing G-SYNC for fullscreen works.

//EDIT Try frameskip=1 as well.

Any reason why you can't use cycles=max or maybe cycles=max limit 250000 ?
Stuttering audio tends to mean that the cycles you picked for that specific piece of the game, are too high.

UPDATE:

@DosFreak: well I don't use G-SYNC, buddy. The menu doesn't appear, so I guess my monitor doesn't support it. And yes, I'm using OpenGL output (so I can get FXAA for DOS games running in DOSBOX).

No G-SYNC.

@Qbix: yes, you're right: setting cycles to max eliminate the stuttering, and the flight part is pretty smooth even with SUPERHI option. Thanks!