I scanned all the previous Ultima 7 threads before posting this to make sure that this particular issue hadn't been thoroughly addressed yet (it was mentioned once before but no relevent information was given on a fix).

First, let me just say that I'm well aware of Exult and while I'm impressed with its abilities I'd really like to experience the authentic game through DOSBox.

Basically, I'm looking for advice on how to fix this performance issue with Ultima 7. I'm using the Ultima 7 that came with the 1998 Ultima Collections CD-ROM; the one with the Forge of Virtue expansion included.

While moving through either Ultima 7 Blackgate or Serpent Isle, the entire game pauses for about 1 or 2 seconds after every few steps the Avatar takes. This make progressing through the game quite cumbersome. Has anyone else experienced and solved this issue? I've tried using different CPU core selections and Frameskipping but to no avail. Here's my current DOSBox 0.63 conf file text for Ultima 7 Blackgate:

--------------------

[sdl]
fullscreen=false
fulldouble=true
fullfixed=false
fullresolution=Default
output=surface
hwscale=1.00
autolock=true
sensitivity=100
waitonerror=true
priority=higher,normal
mapperfile=mapper.txt

[dosbox]
language=
machine=vga
captures=C:\Classic Games\Ultima\_DOSBox Capture\
memsize=16

[render]
frameskip=0
aspect=false
scaler=normal2x

[cpu]
core=normal
cycles=5000
cycleup=10
cycledown=10

[mixer]
nosound=false
rate=22050
blocksize=2048
prebuffer=10

[midi]
mpu401=false
intelligent=false
device=default
config=

[sblaster]
type=sbpro2
base=220
irq=7
dma=1
hdma=5
mixer=true
oplmode=auto
oplrate=22050

[gus]
gus=false
rate=22050
base=240
irq1=5
irq2=5
dma1=1
dma2=1
ultradir=C:\ULTRASND

[speaker]
pcspeaker=true
pcrate=22050
tandyrate=22050
disney=false

[dos]
xms=true
ems=false

[modem]
modem=false
listenport=23
comport=COM2

[directserial]
directserial=false
Comport=COM1
realport=1
defaultbps=1200
parity=N
bytesize=8
stopbit=1

[ipx]
ipx=false

[autoexec]
mount C "C:\Classic Games\Ultima\PC\DOS\Ultima 7 - The Black Gate"
C:
ULTIMA7.COM

-----------------

Any help towards resolving this issue would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time.