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3 Users - 2 Years - Digital Downloadable (US$64.95)
Thanks, I'll check into it.
Okay, I did some testing and here's what I found:
SQ1VGA at 25,000 cycles
In standard build there was a cut out in the sound during the previously mentioned screen transitions. I increased the frameskip to the max, 10, but it had absolutely no effect on the sound.
In Hal's build with video memory adjustment, there was no cut out on said transitions.
There was still some minor popping elsewhere in both versions, but that's because DOSBox is clocked faster than my computer can handle. But we already know this. To be specific: I have intentionally overclocked DOSBox.
DOOM at 50,000 cycles
In the standard build, when I move around, my movement on screen is fairly smooth, but the music crackles and pops. Again, I increased the frameskip to the max, 10, but it had absolutely no effect on the sound.
Using Hal's build, the video was slightly sluggish, but the sound was absolutely clean, with no popping while moving around.
In both games I had selected Sound Blaster/AdLib for sound. Also know: I have the DOSBox settings for both Sound and OPL rates set at 48000. Again, I have intentionally done this to push my computer to the limits.
I could be completely wrong, because I don't know what all Hal has changed in his build, but I think this seems to give both games a little bit more stability by having a restricted video speed.
My proposed experiment:
Now that I am being taken seriously, I would like to ask others with newer machines to humor me by doing the same thing. Take an FPS or any demanding 3D game of your choice (preferably with FM music) and play it in both builds.
1. Purposefully overclock the standard build of DOSBox to the point that it causes negative side effects in other areas of the game (like skipping sound).
2. Run the game in Hal's build of DOSBox. Clock the CPU cycles at the same speed. Because you are using a build with limited video memory, the video will probably have a minor lag during movement, which is to be expected. But, are the other negative side effects still there?
If the video speed of Hal's build could be adjusted up high enough, while still being limited, the movement in the game should be perfect. So my question is, could adjustable video speeds be used as a smoother, cleaner, and possibly more stable alternative to frame skipping?
I don't know how difficult it would be to add customizable video speeds to DOSBox, but I think it has potential to be a good thing, if implemented correctly. I could be wrong about everything, but if I'm right, I think it's a least worth considering.