Ideally you want multiplier and FSB control and then cache control. Raw CPU speed control has predictable results, cache control doesn't always work how you expect it to. The other methods are even less predictable. This is my own experience, I only speak for myself.

Can I suggest that you alter your profile signature so people can see below your posts the specs of the PC you have. It's usually relevant to answering any questions.

I am afraid I haven't used any slowdown utilities other than setmul. That's not going to do much on your processor other than disable cache.

RetroPCCupboard wrote on 2025-01-17, 21:21:

Can I suggest that you alter your profile signature so people can see below your posts the specs of the PC you have. It's usually relevant to answering any questions.

I am afraid I haven't used any slowdown utilities other than setmul. That's not going to do much on your processor other than disable cache.

Okay, no problem.

I use CPUSPD and SETMUL.

CpuSpd - A Hardware Based CPU Speed Control Utility for DOS/Win9X Retro Gaming
SetMul - Multiplier control for VIA C3 / AMD K6+7+8 Mobile / Cyrix 5x86

Keep in mind that any throttling capabilities will be largely dependent on your specific motherboard and CPU. Not all hardware has the same capabilities.

Shponglefan wrote on 2025-01-17, 21:34:

I use CPUSPD and SETMUL. […]
Show full quote

I use CPUSPD and SETMUL.

CpuSpd - A Hardware Based CPU Speed Control Utility for DOS/Win9X Retro Gaming
SetMul - Multiplier control for VIA C3 / AMD K6+7+8 Mobile / Cyrix 5x86

Keep in mind that any throttling capabilities will be largely dependent on your specific motherboard and CPU. Not all hardware has the same capabilities.

Yeah, I've tried both of those. I can't remember SETMUL, but I know CPUSPD has a number of options I'm not quite familiar with, except disabling the L1/2 caches. Or is there a Windows version that has different options?

I'm assuming you are still talking about your Pentium 3. You just don't have options, Pentiums 2 and 3 don't have fine for trying to play speed sensitive games. They are fine for Win9X games that were current when they released. But trying to run older games can be outright impossible if it's one of those games that needs a very specific speed.

There's no one size fits all build that will run everything. DOS reaches from before the release of the NES and has some very late releases from about the time of the PlayStation 2 release.

This is the era issue people mentioned in your original build thread, you went with a Pentium 3 which is a late 90s build and good for Win9x, but will have issues with old DOS games. A K6-3 or Pentium MMX 233 are the systems that let you access mid-90s games but can be slowed down properly to run 386 and 486 games correctly.

I assume it is out of the question to build or buy another PC for DOS?

SScorpio wrote on 2025-01-17, 22:07:

I'm assuming you are still talking about your Pentium 3. You just don't have options, Pentiums 2 and 3 don't have fine for trying to play speed sensitive games. They are fine for Win9X games that were current when they released. But trying to run older games can be outright impossible if it's one of those games that needs a very specific speed.

There's no one size fits all build that will run everything. DOS reaches from before the release of the NES and has some very late releases from about the time of the PlayStation 2 release.

This is the era issue people mentioned in your original build thread, you went with a Pentium 3 which is a late 90s build and good for Win9x, but will have issues with old DOS games. A K6-3 or Pentium MMX 233 are the systems that let you access mid-90s games but can be slowed down properly to run 386 and 486 games correctly.

I am, yeah. For the most part, games have been fine in DOS. There's only been a few that have required a CPU throttle and they've mostly been the Lucas classics. Disabling the caches has solved the problems for the most part. However, using Throttle for Day of the Tentacle did a much better job. I think with the cache just disabled, it was causing popping during each line of dialogue.

With the new CPU I'll be getting, which will probably be sitting around 700-800MHz, it's possible Throttle might reduce it just right? Just with option 2 or 3. But are there any throttlers that work in the same way as Throttle? That just alter the core clock? Maybe a different one might lower it by 30% instead of 37.5% and will be just right.

RetroPCCupboard wrote on 2025-01-17, 22:20:

I assume it is out of the question to build or buy another PC for DOS?

Definitely. Not a practical option.

DustyShinigami wrote on 2025-01-17, 22:21:

RetroPCCupboard wrote on 2025-01-17, 22:20:

I assume it is out of the question to build or buy another PC for DOS?

Definitely. Not a practical option.

I thought so... hopefully you'll have some luck with some of the other slowdown utilities. I'm afraid I've not played around with them. I guess, worst case, there's always DOSBox if you really want to play a game that won't run.

RetroPCCupboard wrote on 2025-01-17, 22:26:

DustyShinigami wrote on 2025-01-17, 22:21:

RetroPCCupboard wrote on 2025-01-17, 22:20:

I assume it is out of the question to build or buy another PC for DOS?

Definitely. Not a practical option.

I thought so... hopefully you'll have some luck with some of the other slowdown utilities. I'm afraid I've not played around with them. I guess, worst case, there's always DOSBox if you really want to play a game that won't run.

I mean, it's not something that I'm in dire need of by any means. And the game can be made playable even in Windows. It's one of those minor issues I've encountered whilst configuring the machine that I would like to cross off the list. 😀

DustyShinigami wrote on 2025-01-17, 21:39:

Yeah, I've tried both of those. I can't remember SETMUL, but I know CPUSPD has a number of options I'm not quite familiar with, except disabling the L1/2 caches. Or is there a Windows version that has different options?

No, there's no Windows version. It's a DOS utility.

Since you're trying to throttle a P3, as mentioned above they aren't the best processors for throttling. If you look at the chart in the CPUSPD thread, it shows the different throttling options per CPU. Pentium MMX, AMD CPUs, and Pentium 4 and up tend to have more options. Whereas Pentium 2 and 3 don't.

CPUSPD can also throttle via your motherboard's chipset. But it sounds like you're already using the Throttle application for that (which AFAIK does the same thing).

Shponglefan wrote on 2025-01-18, 01:16:

No, there's no Windows version. It's a DOS utility. […]
Show full quote

DustyShinigami wrote on 2025-01-17, 21:39:

Yeah, I've tried both of those. I can't remember SETMUL, but I know CPUSPD has a number of options I'm not quite familiar with, except disabling the L1/2 caches. Or is there a Windows version that has different options?

No, there's no Windows version. It's a DOS utility.

Since you're trying to throttle a P3, as mentioned above they aren't the best processors for throttling. If you look at the chart in the CPUSPD thread, it shows the different throttling options per CPU. Pentium MMX, AMD CPUs, and Pentium 4 and up tend to have more options. Whereas Pentium 2 and 3 don't.

CPUSPD can also throttle via your motherboard's chipset. But it sounds like you're already using the Throttle application for that (which AFAIK does the same thing).

Ahh, I see. Thanks. So, I take it the boxes that are empty, for the PIII, are features it doesn't have...? And the ones in green with an asterix are the ones it does...? I'm a bit confused with it. I noticed the chart does have a Multiplier option, but an empty box for the P3. I don't recall seeing a Multiplier option the last I tried CPUSPD anyway. I'd have to load it up again sometime tomorrow.

A lot of those options I'm unfamiliar with anyway and I don't know what they do if they're supported. I don't mind combining Throttle with another tool, providing another tool has an option that would help.

Give cpuspd a go, it supports up to 8 different CPU processor duty cycles on P3/Celeron processors on supported Intel chipsets. If you have a non-intel chipset you may get more (up to 16 choices) or none at all.

Use cpuspd -t8 (100% duty) to cpuspd -t1 (lowest duty).

In combination with disabling L1/L2 cache, either via cpuspd or setmul you may find a reasonable number of options that work.

I use setmul and cpuspd with a Celeron 300 and got a fairly wide spread of 486-like speeds, one around the speed of a fast 386, and one like a faster 286.

For me, that was plenty for my purposes.

Not had much luck so far. According to CPUSPD, there's no multiplier support. I tried the throttler option - around 5 or 6 - but had the same problem as the Throttle tool. Six still made the sprites in the game flicker and 5 stopped it, but introduced a stutter. Also tried those options combined with disabling the L2 cache, but no improvement.

I tried Slow300, but could not for the life of me understand how to set up the hotkeys. I re-read the document over and over, so whether it's just the way it's written/explained, I don't know. Just couldn't process it. I tried playing with a couple of the options, but still wasn't able to get it right.

SlowDOS was the first tool I tried for Theme Park, but I don't think I could figure that one out either. I don't think tiny delays is what I'm after anyway.

And had no luck with Setmul and its multiplier either. Again - read through the readme, but got confused. I'm not sure it's explained very clearly. Tried putting values in (single digits and decimals), but nothing appeared to change.

DustyShinigami wrote on 2025-01-18, 01:45:

Ahh, I see. Thanks. So, I take it the boxes that are empty, for the PIII, are features it doesn't have...? And the ones in green with an asterix are the ones it does...?

Correct. The green boxes with the asterisks are for supported features. Empty boxes are unsupported features.

I'm a bit confused with it. I noticed the chart does have a Multiplier option, but an empty box for the P3. I don't recall seeing a Multiplier option the last I tried CPUSPD anyway. I'd have to load it up again sometime tomorrow.

Pentium 3 processors have locked multipliers. The multiplier is locked in the hardware itself, so it can't be changed by software.

Does anyone have any experience with Slow300? The hot keys for it? I honestly don’t understand this; it makes no sense to me how it’s explained. Or am I just being dumb? 🙁

I've also tried Mo'Slo, which does allow for some control over the speed. Combined with Throttle, it has helped a good deal. Probably the best I'm going to get at the moment. I'm just wondering if anyone has had any experience with it and if it's worth buying the full version?

As your are looking for lower speed, the cpu are quite easy to change with your config. Have you considered using a Pentium II 233 Klamath ?
See also Slot 1 cpu slowdown???