More CPU raw power = better results...
The trouble is - the MIPS/GHz ratio of the current CPUs is just 20-30% better then P4... The main targets are - multicore, multimedia extensions (SSE etc) and 64-bit, not the raw power.
The second boost - several cores versus HT or single core CPU - again, just 5-10% of the performance.
So - even with the latest CPUs you still don't have smooth gameplay in demanding areas. Like Vesa/SVGA.

Well then, if that's the case, what are some ways to optimize the DOSbox experience? I tried searching but the search functions on this site hate me for some reason.

C2D minimum but I noticed a significant boost in late 90's games when I upgrade to a i7.

I7-i5 MIPS to GHz ratio is around 7.5. Hmm... Well, almost 2 times better then P4 Prescott (3.4) or C2D (4.2), so - even 1.66 GHz i5 is better then P4...
Dunno. The real testing is needed. Cycles=max and then measure the resulting number of the DOSBox cycles.

By chance, would anyone happen to know what the ratio would be for an A8-3500m at 1.5ghz? That's what's in my newest modern laptop.

Well, the easiest way is - run well known Dhrystone benchmark in the vanilla DOSBox. With the cycles=max. Non-optimized versions 1.1 and 2.1 are added to this post.
My result: P4 3.00E, 3 GHz - 36.07 VAXs. 😀
If I run the test in WinXp cmd - the result is 451 VAXs.

Had to find a copy of DOS4GW.EXE to run this it seems. Not sure if it matters, but found v1.97 of it to use from a quick google search.

My results for the A8:

D1:
Microseconds 1 loop: 10.72
Dhrystones / second: 93294
VAX MIPS rating: 53.10

D2:
Microseconds 1 loop: 11.23
Dhrystones / second: 89013
VAX MIPS rating: 50.66

It is P4 or A8 results?

Finally got around to running the benchmark on my p4. It's a 3.06ghz Prescott 519J P4 for reference.

D1:
Microseconds 1 loop: 14.08
Dhrystones / second: 71032
VAX MIPS rating: 40.43

D2:
Microseconds 1 loop: 15.09
Dhrystones / second: 66253
VAX MIPS rating: 37.71

AMD Phenom 9550 Quad-Core 2,21 GHz

D1:
Microseconds 1 loop: 7.48
Dhrystones / second: 133779
VAX MIPS rating: 76.14

D2:
Microseconds 1 loop: 7.62
Dhrystones / second: 131148
VAX MIPS rating: 74.64

Can anyone test his faster cpu?

What games do you want to run that run choppily?
I played through Mechwarrior 2 at 1024x768 on my C2D 6550 (2.33GHz) and it was silky smooth.
Now, I'm on a C2Q Q9450 (OCed at 3.45GHz) and I still can't find anything that slows down on DOSBox 😜

My ASUS G73Jh-1A Notebook (Core i7 720QM - Quad Core, 8 Threads @ Stock 1.6GHz) Results :

Dosbox 0.74 Core=Dynamic, Cycles=20000

D1:
Microseconds 1 Loop : 51.81
Dhrystones / second : 19300
VAX MIPS : 10.98

D2:
Microseconds 1 Loop : 51.19
Dhrystones / second : 19536
VAX MIPS : 11.12

Dosbox 0.74 Core=Dynamic, Cycles=Max

D1:
Microseconds 1 Loop : 7.55
Dhrystones / second : 132505
VAX MIPS : 75.42

D2:
Microseconds 1 Loop : 7.81
Dhrystones / second : 128000
VAX MIPS : 72.85

Dosbox 0.74 Core=Full, Cycles=Max

D1:
Microseconds 1 Loop : 7.94
Dhrystones / second : 125984
VAX MIPS : 71.70

D2:
Microseconds 1 Loop : 7.91
Dhrystones / second : 126482
VAX MIPS : 71.99

EDIT:

Tested the FPS of DOOM :

Dosbox 0.74, Core=Dynamic, Cycles=Max

DOOM v1.2

C:\DOOM>doom -timedemo demo1 [Ent]

Results :

2567 Gametics, 696 Realtics

= (2567 ÷ 696) x 35

= 129fps

F2bnp wrote:

What games do you want to run that run choppily?
I played through Mechwarrior 2 at 1024x768 on my C2D 6550 (2.33GHz) and it was silky smooth.
Now, I'm on a C2Q Q9450 (OCed at 3.45GHz) and I still can't find anything that slows down on DOSBox 😜

try this one
Re: Pył, Pyl, Dust English language version

Well, you can compare your results to DosBox running on ARM processors:
https://sites.google.com/site/dosboxturbo/performance

Malik wrote:

My ASUS G73Jh-1A Notebook (Core i7 720QM - Quad Core, 8 Threads @ Stock 1.6GHz) Results : […]
Show full quote

My ASUS G73Jh-1A Notebook (Core i7 720QM - Quad Core, 8 Threads @ Stock 1.6GHz) Results :

Dosbox 0.74 Core=Dynamic, Cycles=20000

D1:
Microseconds 1 Loop : 51.81
Dhrystones / second : 19300
VAX MIPS : 10.98

D2:
Microseconds 1 Loop : 51.19
Dhrystones / second : 19536
VAX MIPS : 11.12

Dosbox 0.74 Core=Dynamic, Cycles=Max

D1:
Microseconds 1 Loop : 7.55
Dhrystones / second : 132505
VAX MIPS : 75.42

D2:
Microseconds 1 Loop : 7.81
Dhrystones / second : 128000
VAX MIPS : 72.85

Dosbox 0.74 Core=Full, Cycles=Max

D1:
Microseconds 1 Loop : 7.94
Dhrystones / second : 125984
VAX MIPS : 71.70

D2:
Microseconds 1 Loop : 7.91
Dhrystones / second : 126482
VAX MIPS : 71.99

EDIT:

Tested the FPS of DOOM :

Dosbox 0.74, Core=Dynamic, Cycles=Max

DOOM v1.2

C:\DOOM>doom -timedemo demo1 [Ent]

Results :

2567 Gametics, 696 Realtics

= (2567 ÷ 696) x 35

= 129fps

But Doom is a low-res, 320x200 game, bro. What troubles me with DOSBOX is that it is still unable to run hi-res, texture mapped 3D game with adequate speed. My laptop is i5 M520 @2.4 GHz, and when running F-22 Lightning II in DOSBOX, the frame rate is choppy as hell.

robertmo wrote:

F2bnp wrote:

What games do you want to run that run choppily?
I played through Mechwarrior 2 at 1024x768 on my C2D 6550 (2.33GHz) and it was silky smooth.
Now, I'm on a C2Q Q9450 (OCed at 3.45GHz) and I still can't find anything that slows down on DOSBox 😜

try this one
Re: Pył, Pyl, Dust English language version

Sorry for the late reply, I just saw this, I can't seem to get this to run under DOSBox 0.74.
Whenever I run Pyl.exe it just gives me a black screen. But I did notice that the cycles aren't set to Max, which could be a speed problem.
I played Mechwarrior 2 at 1024x768 at Max cycles. How exactly does DOSBox figure out when to set the cycles to Max?

I've always needed to set Cycles to Max by hand..

With the cycles=auto any protected mode game/app is automatically setting the cycles to max. Theoretically.
Cycles=max - all games/apps are using the maximum (not so good for the realmode games/apps).

About "too slow in 640x480" - 4,8 times more CPU speed is needed for the drawing. So - Doom will be only 129/4.8=29 fps in 640x480 as the example.
For the good (60 fps) 640x480 we need 150 VAX in DOSBox as the minimum.

F2bnp wrote:

Whenever I run Pyl.exe it just gives me a black screen.

you need more memory
memsize=63