Home Page Forums MAME Non-Windows MAME Support SDL Mame 0257 Slow on High Sierra

I'm upgrading my portable party box to a Mac Mini 2012 running High Sierra (from a Mac Mini 2009 running Yosemite)

(machine in question: https://everymac.com/systems/apple/mac_mini/specs/mac-mini-core-i7-2.3-late-2012-specs.html)

On things that worked fine on the old box like Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, Garou, all my 90's fighters, now are running at 85 to 90% instead of the clean 100 I was expecting. I know there is more than enough hardware here to push them and my top suspect now is OpenGL? Moving up to HS may have killed OpenGL support since I THIINK that's when Mac started messing with Metal. I peeked at the Mame.ini and there are oodles of OpenGL options that I don't get.

mame.ini:

#
# CORE CONFIGURATION OPTIONS
#
readconfig 1
writeconfig 0

#
# CORE SEARCH PATH OPTIONS
#
homepath .
rompath roms
hashpath hash
samplepath samples
artpath artwork
ctrlrpath ctrlr
inipath "$HOME/Library/Application Support/mame;$HOME/.mame;.;ini"
fontpath .
cheatpath cheat
crosshairpath crosshair
pluginspath plugins
languagepath language
swpath software

#
# CORE OUTPUT DIRECTORY OPTIONS
#
cfg_directory cfg
nvram_directory nvram
input_directory inp
state_directory sta
snapshot_directory snap
diff_directory diff
comment_directory comments
share_directory share

#
# CORE STATE/PLAYBACK OPTIONS
#
state
autosave 0
rewind 0
rewind_capacity 100
playback
record
exit_after_playback 0
mngwrite
aviwrite
wavwrite
snapname %g/%i
snapsize auto
snapview internal
snapbilinear 1
statename %g
burnin 0

#
# CORE PERFORMANCE OPTIONS
#
autoframeskip 0
frameskip 0
seconds_to_run 0
throttle 1
sleep 1
speed 1.0
refreshspeed 0
lowlatency 0

#
# CORE RENDER OPTIONS
#
keepaspect 1
unevenstretch 1
unevenstretchx 0
unevenstretchy 0
autostretchxy 0
intoverscan 0
intscalex 0
intscaley 0

#
# CORE ROTATION OPTIONS
#
rotate 1
ror 0
rol 0
autoror 0
autorol 0
flipx 0
flipy 0

#
# CORE ARTWORK OPTIONS
#
artwork_crop 0
fallback_artwork
override_artwork

#
# CORE SCREEN OPTIONS
#
brightness 1.0
contrast 1.0
gamma 1.0
pause_brightness 0.65
effect none

#
# CORE VECTOR OPTIONS
#
beam_width_min 1.0
beam_width_max 1.0
beam_dot_size 1.0
beam_intensity_weight 0
flicker 0

#
# CORE SOUND OPTIONS
#
samplerate 48000
samples 1
volume 0
compressor 1
speaker_report 0

#
# CORE INPUT OPTIONS
#
coin_lockout 1
ctrlr
mouse 0
joystick 1
lightgun 0
multikeyboard 0
multimouse 0
steadykey 0
ui_active 0
offscreen_reload 0
joystick_map auto
joystick_deadzone 0.3
joystick_saturation 0.85
joystick_threshold 0.3
natural 0
joystick_contradictory 0
coin_impulse 0

#
# CORE INPUT AUTOMATIC ENABLE OPTIONS
#
paddle_device mouse
adstick_device keyboard
pedal_device keyboard
dial_device mouse
trackball_device mouse
lightgun_device mouse
positional_device keyboard
mouse_device mouse

#
# CORE DEBUGGING OPTIONS
#
verbose 0
log 0
oslog 0
debug 0
update_in_pause 0
debugscript
debuglog 0

#
# CORE COMM OPTIONS
#
comm_localhost 0.0.0.0
comm_localport 15112
comm_remotehost 127.0.0.1
comm_remoteport 15112
comm_framesync 0

#
# CORE MISC OPTIONS
#
drc 1
drc_use_c 0
drc_log_uml 0
drc_log_native 0
bios
cheat 0
skip_gameinfo 0
uifont default
ui cabinet
ramsize
confirm_quit 0
ui_mouse 1
language English
nvram_save 1

#
# SCRIPTING OPTIONS
#
autoboot_command
autoboot_delay 0
autoboot_script
console 0
plugins 1
plugin
noplugin

#
# HTTP SERVER OPTIONS
#
http 0
http_port 8080
http_root web

#
# OSD INPUT MAPPING OPTIONS
#
uimodekey DEL
controller_map none
background_input 0

#
# OSD FONT OPTIONS
#
uifontprovider auto

#
# OSD OUTPUT OPTIONS
#
output auto

#
# OSD INPUT OPTIONS
#
keyboardprovider auto
mouseprovider auto
lightgunprovider auto
joystickprovider auto

#
# OSD DEBUGGING OPTIONS
#
debugger auto
debugger_port 23946
debugger_font auto
debugger_font_size 0
watchdog 0

#
# OSD PERFORMANCE OPTIONS
#
numprocessors auto
bench 0

#
# OSD VIDEO OPTIONS
#
video auto
numscreens 1
window 0
maximize 1
waitvsync 0
syncrefresh 0
monitorprovider auto

#
# OSD PER-WINDOW VIDEO OPTIONS
#
screen auto
aspect auto
resolution auto
view auto
screen0 auto
aspect0 auto
resolution0 auto
view0 auto
screen1 auto
aspect1 auto
resolution1 auto
view1 auto
screen2 auto
aspect2 auto
resolution2 auto
view2 auto
screen3 auto
aspect3 auto
resolution3 auto
view3 auto

#
# OSD FULL SCREEN OPTIONS
#
switchres 0

#
# OSD ACCELERATED VIDEO OPTIONS
#
filter 1
prescale 1

#
# OpenGL-SPECIFIC OPTIONS
#
gl_forcepow2texture 0
gl_notexturerect 0
gl_vbo 1
gl_pbo 1
gl_glsl 0
gl_glsl_filter 1
glsl_shader_mame0 none
glsl_shader_mame1 none
glsl_shader_mame2 none
glsl_shader_mame3 none
glsl_shader_mame4 none
glsl_shader_mame5 none
glsl_shader_mame6 none
glsl_shader_mame7 none
glsl_shader_mame8 none
glsl_shader_mame9 none
glsl_shader_screen0 none
glsl_shader_screen1 none
glsl_shader_screen2 none
glsl_shader_screen3 none
glsl_shader_screen4 none
glsl_shader_screen5 none
glsl_shader_screen6 none
glsl_shader_screen7 none
glsl_shader_screen8 none
glsl_shader_screen9 none

#
# OSD SOUND OPTIONS
#
sound auto
audio_latency 2

#
# PORTAUDIO OPTIONS
#
pa_api none
pa_device none
pa_latency 0

#
# CoreAudio-SPECIFIC OPTIONS
#
audio_output auto
audio_effect0 none
audio_effect1 none
audio_effect2 none
audio_effect3 none
audio_effect4 none
audio_effect5 none
audio_effect6 none
audio_effect7 none
audio_effect8 none
audio_effect9 none

#
# OSD MIDI OPTIONS
#
midiprovider auto

#
# OSD EMULATED NETWORKING OPTIONS
#
networkprovider auto

#
# BGFX POST-PROCESSING OPTIONS
#
bgfx_path bgfx
bgfx_backend auto
bgfx_debug 0
bgfx_screen_chains default
bgfx_shadow_mask slot-mask.png
bgfx_lut
bgfx_avi_name auto

#
# SDL PERFORMANCE OPTIONS
#
sdlvideofps 0

#
# SDL VIDEO OPTIONS
#
centerh 1
centerv 1
scalemode none

#
# SDL KEYBOARD MAPPING
#
keymap 0
keymap_file keymap.dat

#
# SDL JOYSTICK MAPPING
#
sixaxis 0

#
# SDL LOW-LEVEL DRIVER OPTIONS
#
videodriver auto
renderdriver auto
audiodriver auto
gl_lib /System/Library/Frameworks/OpenGL.framework/Libraries/libGL.dylib

#
# FRONTEND COMMAND OPTIONS
#
dtd 1



Thoughts?

Thanks!

With that ini file you'll get Metal as the default on a Mac, and on a 2012 machine that might fall back to a software path. Try -video opengl on the command line and see if that helps. It's worth noting that OpenGL is deprecated on the Mac but it still works fine in Ventura.

Are you running in a window or fullscreen?

What's the resolution of your desktop? Perhaps running with a lower resolution could get you a few more fps.

You can experiment with running in a window and putting the fps up with f11 and resize the window and seeing if a smaller window size can get you some more speed.

you can also specify a resolution with the -resolution parameter

-resolution preferred resolution for all screens; format is <width>x<height>[@<refreshrate>] or 'auto'

GC, resolution is only relevant if they're running no hardware rendering or with shaders, and the posted ini is not attempting to do either of those things.

No, that argument did nothing, I'm pretty close to loading like Yosemite on this thing (like the old box had) and just rolling with that and keeping it off the internet to be safe. I do a lot of work in retro computing in general so I'm familiar with how to keep older machines safe.

Try running with -sdlvideofps and paste some of the output. That will show if the problem is video or the emulation in general, although neither should cause trouble on that system.

One quick fight in MK1

0.02s, 1 F, avrg game: 54.47 FPS 18.36 ms/f, avrg video: 486.87 FPS 2.05 ms/f, last video: inf FPS 1.07 ms/f
1.02s, 56 F, avrg game: 54.72 FPS 18.27 ms/f, avrg video: 1023.76 FPS 0.98 ms/f, last video: inf FPS 1.02 ms/f
2.03s, 108 F, avrg game: 53.25 FPS 18.78 ms/f, avrg video: 522.29 FPS 1.91 ms/f, last video: inf FPS 0.96 ms/f
3.03s, 163 F, avrg game: 53.74 FPS 18.61 ms/f, avrg video: 619.27 FPS 1.61 ms/f, last video: inf FPS 0.67 ms/f
4.04s, 216 F, avrg game: 53.40 FPS 18.73 ms/f, avrg video: 555.00 FPS 1.80 ms/f, last video: inf FPS 1.01 ms/f
5.07s, 258 F, avrg game: 50.86 FPS 19.66 ms/f, avrg video: 293.79 FPS 3.40 ms/f, last video: inf FPS 27.75 ms/f
6.09s, 307 F, avrg game: 50.41 FPS 19.84 ms/f, avrg video: 263.56 FPS 3.79 ms/f, last video: inf FPS 0.65 ms/f
7.10s, 362 F, avrg game: 51.01 FPS 19.60 ms/f, avrg video: 282.38 FPS 3.54 ms/f, last video: inf FPS 0.99 ms/f
8.10s, 406 F, avrg game: 50.11 FPS 19.96 ms/f, avrg video: 239.90 FPS 4.17 ms/f, last video: inf FPS 0.59 ms/f
9.12s, 452 F, avrg game: 49.57 FPS 20.17 ms/f, avrg video: 220.39 FPS 4.54 ms/f, last video: inf FPS 0.79 ms/f
10.12s, 503 F, avrg game: 49.71 FPS 20.12 ms/f, avrg video: 225.73 FPS 4.43 ms/f, last video: inf FPS 1.08 ms/f
11.12s, 558 F, avrg game: 50.16 FPS 19.94 ms/f, avrg video: 241.47 FPS 4.14 ms/f, last video: inf FPS 0.94 ms/f
12.13s, 610 F, avrg game: 50.29 FPS 19.89 ms/f, avrg video: 248.24 FPS 4.03 ms/f, last video: inf FPS 0.99 ms/f
13.14s, 665 F, avrg game: 50.63 FPS 19.75 ms/f, avrg video: 259.48 FPS 3.85 ms/f, last video: inf FPS 0.97 ms/f
14.14s, 720 F, avrg game: 50.92 FPS 19.64 ms/f, avrg video: 271.03 FPS 3.69 ms/f, last video: inf FPS 0.94 ms/f
15.15s, 768 F, avrg game: 50.71 FPS 19.72 ms/f, avrg video: 261.76 FPS 3.82 ms/f, last video: inf FPS 1.08 ms/f
16.16s, 820 F, avrg game: 50.73 FPS 19.71 ms/f, avrg video: 260.05 FPS 3.85 ms/f, last video: inf FPS 0.99 ms/f
17.18s, 867 F, avrg game: 50.46 FPS 19.82 ms/f, avrg video: 249.13 FPS 4.01 ms/f, last video: inf FPS 0.83 ms/f
18.19s, 912 F, avrg game: 50.14 FPS 19.95 ms/f, avrg video: 236.28 FPS 4.23 ms/f, last video: inf FPS 0.99 ms/f
19.20s, 967 F, avrg game: 50.38 FPS 19.85 ms/f, avrg video: 246.72 FPS 4.05 ms/f, last video: inf FPS 1.00 ms/f
20.21s, 1020 F, avrg game: 50.48 FPS 19.81 ms/f, avrg video: 247.88 FPS 4.03 ms/f, last video: inf FPS 0.99 ms/f
21.21s, 1073 F, avrg game: 50.58 FPS 19.77 ms/f, avrg video: 250.07 FPS 4.00 ms/f, last video: inf FPS 1.01 ms/f
22.22s, 1126 F, avrg game: 50.67 FPS 19.74 ms/f, avrg video: 254.92 FPS 3.92 ms/f, last video: inf FPS 0.99 ms/f
23.23s, 1181 F, avrg game: 50.84 FPS 19.67 ms/f, avrg video: 264.31 FPS 3.78 ms/f, last video: inf FPS 0.95 ms/f
24.23s, 1236 F, avrg game: 51.00 FPS 19.61 ms/f, avrg video: 273.63 FPS 3.65 ms/f, last video: inf FPS 0.94 ms/f
25.25s, 1286 F, avrg game: 50.94 FPS 19.63 ms/f, avrg video: 268.67 FPS 3.72 ms/f, last video: inf FPS 0.94 ms/f
26.26s, 1333 F, avrg game: 50.75 FPS 19.70 ms/f, avrg video: 260.60 FPS 3.84 ms/f, last video: inf FPS 0.79 ms/f
27.27s, 1388 F, avrg game: 50.90 FPS 19.65 ms/f, avrg video: 268.75 FPS 3.72 ms/f, last video: inf FPS 1.01 ms/f
28.28s, 1435 F, avrg game: 50.75 FPS 19.71 ms/f, avrg video: 262.41 FPS 3.81 ms/f, last video: inf FPS 1.02 ms/f
29.29s, 1482 F, avrg game: 50.60 FPS 19.76 ms/f, avrg video: 255.34 FPS 3.92 ms/f, last video: inf FPS 28.51 ms/f
30.31s, 1534 F, avrg game: 50.62 FPS 19.76 ms/f, avrg video: 256.60 FPS 3.90 ms/f, last video: inf FPS 1.01 ms/f
31.32s, 1571 F, avrg game: 50.16 FPS 19.94 ms/f, avrg video: 237.57 FPS 4.21 ms/f, last video: inf FPS 0.42 ms/f
32.34s, 1616 F, avrg game: 49.98 FPS 20.01 ms/f, avrg video: 230.65 FPS 4.34 ms/f, last video: inf FPS 0.80 ms/f
33.34s, 1667 F, avrg game: 50.00 FPS 20.00 ms/f, avrg video: 230.36 FPS 4.34 ms/f, last video: inf FPS 1.01 ms/f
34.34s, 1719 F, avrg game: 50.06 FPS 19.98 ms/f, avrg video: 233.36 FPS 4.29 ms/f, last video: inf FPS 26.27 ms/f
35.36s, 1774 F, avrg game: 50.17 FPS 19.93 ms/f, avrg video: 235.67 FPS 4.24 ms/f, last video: inf FPS 0.43 ms/f
36.36s, 1829 F, avrg game: 50.30 FPS 19.88 ms/f, avrg video: 241.23 FPS 4.15 ms/f, last video: inf FPS 1.00 ms/f
37.37s, 1880 F, avrg game: 50.31 FPS 19.88 ms/f, avrg video: 242.21 FPS 4.13 ms/f, last video: inf FPS 1.01 ms/f
38.39s, 1934 F, avrg game: 50.38 FPS 19.85 ms/f, avrg video: 245.90 FPS 4.07 ms/f, last video: inf FPS 26.35 ms/f
39.39s, 1979 F, avrg game: 50.24 FPS 19.90 ms/f, avrg video: 239.97 FPS 4.17 ms/f, last video: inf FPS 0.67 ms/f
Average speed: 91.81% (36 seconds)
40.42s, 1981 F, avrg game: 49.01 FPS 20.41 ms/f, avrg video: 235.14 FPS 4.25 ms/f, last video: inf FPS 46.27 ms/f

That looks OK for video. Is this still the 0.204 you mentioned on Reddit or latest?

Most recent .257 as someone on Reddit suggested!

It looks okay on paper but plays sluggish and the sound is jacked

The sound is jacked because it's not running 100% speed.

For the heck of it, try -window -nomaximize and see if that's faster. It shouldn't be, but this doesn't make any sense.