[!!] Getting Started With Dolphin [!!]

[omegadox]

Notice! DO NOT ASK FOR ROMS!
See link if you need them badly: Info about Roms

======= System Requirements =======
* Operating System: Microsoft Windows (2000/XP/Vista or higher) / Linux / Apple Mac OS X (Intel version).
* Processor: Any Fast CPU with SSE2 supported (recommended at least 2Ghz). Dual Core for speed boost. use cpu-z to see if your cpu supports it( and google cpu-z dont ask us!)
* Graphics: Any graphics card that supports Direct3D 9 or OpenGL 2.1.
* Your Brain: Understanding the FAQ, Forum Rules, and that we don't support Piracy.

Note: OpenGL plugin is the best working video plugin for Dolphin, do not expect great results with the Direct3D9 plugin compared to the alternate one.
Note: Direct3D9 plugin is still in the works and has more kinks than the OGL one, so expect to run into black screen, shading errors, and other graphical bugs.
Note: Dolphin is not 100% perfect at its emulation. Running into crashes, errors, and whatnot is expected!

======= Runtime Library Requirements =======
Dolphin needs you have to have the libraries listed below installed.

[Windows]
-MS Visual C++ Runtime 2008 SP1: This fixes the "side by side" / "application config" & model errors
Microsoft VC++ 2008 SP1 Redist x86 - For 32bit Windows
Microsoft VC++ 2008 SP1 Redist x64 - For 64bit Windows

-The DirectX March 2009 Runtime: This fixes the plugin loading errors
Note: THIS MEANS UPDATE YOUR DIRECTX EVEN IF YOU HAVE THE VERSION 9.0c or 10 or 10.1!!!!!!
Microsoft DirectX Updater

[Linux]
-install libbluetooth: fixes the "PANIC failed to load plugin Plugins/libPlugin_wiimote.so" error for linux users

======= Video Card Requirements =======
You must have a video card that support OpenGL 2.x fully or Direct3D 9.0c.

Note: The Direct3D9 video plugin is old/outdated and it looks like it doesn't work anymore. We recommend using the Dolphin OpenGL Video plugin for better video emulation.

Note: Make sure your drivers are up to date!
[Driver Sites]
NVIDIA Drivers
ATI Drivers

[Models that Dolphin likes]
- NVIDIA GeForce 6 to 9 Series and GeForce 200 Series
--* GeForce 6 Series
--* GeForce 7 Series
--* GeForce 8 Series
--* GeForce 9 Series
--* GeForce 200 Series
- ATI Radeon R200 to R700 Series
--* ATI Radeon Processor Generations
--* Radeon 300
--* Radeon 420
--* Radeon 520
--* Radeon 600
--* Radeon 700

[Model thats Dolphin doesn't like]
- Any Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) Chipset (These cards do not support OpenGL 2.x fully)
--* Intel Graphics Media Accelerator
- Older NVIDIA Chipsets
--* GeForce 256
--* GeForce 2
--* GeForce 3
--* GeForce 4
--* GeForce FX Series
- ATI Radeon R200 and Older
--* ATI Radeon Processor Generations
--* Radeon 100
--* Radeon 200
--* RIVA TNT
------+ RIVA TNT
--* RAGE
------+ Rage

________________________________________________________________________________​__________________________________________________
Q: Where can I get the latest Dolphin?
A: You can only get the latest SVN builds from unofficial compiles or compile the source for yourself
Daco: http://www.nyleveia.com/nevada/downloads.php
nakeee: http://www.cs.huji.ac.il/~elylevy/dolphin/ (linux 32/64 svn builds)
Omega: http://cid-53f64087c2ab7e7d.skydrive.liv...ds/Dolphin

For more links to builds by non-devs see: http://www.dolphin-emu.com/forum/viewthr...read_id=19

Q: I get a plugin loading error. How do I fix this?
A: See http://www.dolphin-emu.com/forum/viewthr...ad_id=1494

Q: How do I get a ROM for Dolphin?
A: It is illegal to obtains ROMs you DO NOT OWN, please only rip ROMs from your own game discs that you purchased. You might be able to read the discs on a LG made DVD drive.

Q: Does this game work? What games are buggy or do not work?
A: Please check here: http://forums.ngemu.com/dolphin-discussi...-list.html and http://forums.ngemu.com/dolphin-discussi...list.html, also search around the forums, else you need to try it yourself.

Q: I get a TLB Error!
A: Sometimes it is not really a TLB error, if the error is related to TLB, TLB support will NOT be added to Dolphin for now, see: http://forums.ngemu.com/dolphin-discussi...uture.html

Q: The DirectX plugins fail to load
A: You need to update you DirectX to the latest: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/detai...laylang=en

Q: Audio does not work!
A: Not all games have working audio yet, the audio are still in development, see: http://forums.ngemu.com/dolphin-discussi...lphin.html

Q: LLE plugin says it fails to load "dsp_rom.bin" and "dsp_coef.bin"
A: You need these 2 files in order to use LLE.

Q: I get an error: "Failed to grab 1GB of contiguous memory"
A: you might have a program that tampers with memory of other running programs such as "kaspersky".
A2: http://forums.dolphin-emu.com/thread-244.html

Q: The game runs very slow
A: Do not expect to get high FPS in all games, Dolphin is still in development and needs a fast CPU to run it (eg: 2-4+ Ghz SSE2 supported processor). Try enabling Dual Core under configure to speed it up.

Q: The game fails to boot!
A: Not all games are compatible in Dolphin yet, you will have to wait for a fix

Q: The game crashes at a certain part
A: Note that the emulator is still in development, so the JIT core is still buggy, so do not expect a game to fully 100% work, disabling Dual Core mode might fix it and same with "OptimizeQuantizers"

Q: I want to cheat in a game and/or add a cheat code
A: See http://code.google.com/p/dolphin-cheats-database/

Q: How do I know if my system supports Dolphin?
A: It needs to support SSE2, Pixel Shader 2.0 running Windows XP or higher; Use CPU-Z (http://www.filehippo.com/download_cpuz/) and GPU-Z (http://www.techpowerup.com/gpuz/) tools to get info about your system

Q: How do I speed up the emulation?
A: See http://forums.ngemu.com/dolphin-discussi...rial.html, or try enabling Dual Core under Configuration.

Q: I want to use my XBOX 360 controller under linux
A: See http://forums.ngemu.com/dolphin-discussi...linux.html

Q: My game break when Dual Core mode is enabled
A: Dual Core mode is currently buggy, so some game will break under that mode

Q: What is the difference between x86 and x64?
A: x86 is 32bit and x64 is 64bit. x64 version will ONLY run on a 64bit Windows OS, (all 64bit Windows OS's have a folder called "C:\Windows\sysWOW64" and "C:\Program Files (x86)\"
The x64bit of Dolphin will have slightly faster emulation speed as to x86

Q: How do I use the Wiimote in Dolpin
A: There are many tutorials online, google "connect a wiimote to a computer with bluetooth".

Q: I am having problems running my Wii ROM
A: The Wii emulation is in development and buggier than the GC emulation

Q: I want to request and/or upload a game save
A: Please do it here: http://forums.ngemu.com/dolphin-discussi...-here.html

Q: How do I find the source code changes?

A: See: http://code.google.com/p/dolphin-emu/source/list

Q: I want to report a bug to the dev team
A: See: http://code.google.com/p/dolphin-emu/issues/list, please only report meaningful issues, be sure to check if your issue was already reported!

Q: I want to compile dolphin for Windows
A: See http://code.google.com/p/dolphin-emu/wiki/WindowsBuild

Q: I want to compile dolphin for Linux
A: See http://code.google.com/p/dolphin-emu/wik...pendencies

Q: I want to compile dolphin for Mac OS X
A: See http://code.google.com/p/dolphin-emu/wiki/MacOSX_Build

Q: I get a error saying some OpenGL extensions are not supported
A1: Your video card might not support them, check with http://www.realtech-vr.com/glview/
A2: If you are using a modern NVIDIA GeForce graphics card, try disabling the option "Extension Limit" in the NVIDIA Control Panel (Control Panel > NVIDIA Control Panel or Start > Run > "nvcplui.exe")
A3: Try updating your video drivers

Q: I am getting an error with the OpenGL plugin
A: Your drivers may be outdated and/or your video card does not support
To find out your video card: Start > Run > dxdiag
Then download the latest drivers off the main site your graphics card's vendor

Q: How do I use a real memorycard dump?
A: See: http://forums.ngemu.com/dolphin-discussi...lphin.html

Q: Will Dolphin support Quad Core?
A: See: http://forums.ngemu.com/dolphin-discussi...dcore.html

Q: I get this "error: The specified procedure could not be found." error
A: Either your plugins are older than the Dolphin exe or vice versa.

Q: What is DolphinIL?
A: This version of Dolphin uses the work in progress JIT-IL Core. JITIL should be faster recompiler than the current JIT (ector JIT). Note that the core is still being worked on and there are still kinks in it that needs to be fixed.

[Super Empra]

I didn't know that the GFX card requirements were that low.

[fagoatse]

Anything above 9600GT/HD3870 provide almost the same speed, it's all about CPU at the moment.

[nosound97]

(03-24-2009 03:42 AM)Super Empra Wrote:  I didn't know that the GFX card requirements were that low.

They are low only for GC. Wii needs higher I guess...

[FloW3184]

nope.... wii needs about the same.

[nosound97]

Since when Wii needs the same as GC? You may use the same to run it slowly but with proper graphics.

[FloW3184]

hmmmm... i have only an onboard card at the moment and there is no difference what i run... both same speed... i only have to switch the resolution down because of the limited bandwith of my onboard chip.

[SSJVeggeto]

what would be better a Quad core like mine or a 3,6ghz Dual Core to play dolphin, Pcsx2and other games like GTA IV,and other PC games

[nosound97]

No matter what you need. Dolphin only uses Dual Core.

[fagoatse]

The higher its clocked the better fps you get.