Metroid Prime (GCN) audio issues

[Phoenix10k]

Specs:
Core i7-940 (2.93GHz)
6GB DDR3 triple channel
GTX 660 Ti

So, when I start up Metroid Prime in Dolphin 3.0-804-dirty, the audio seems fine during the intro and the file select screen. However, as soon as the game starts, the volume drops to a level I can barely hear, and some sound effects cause crackling and popping noises. Also, on occasion, the music will stop playing when entering a new area.

I see that the music issue is known on the wiki, but as you can tell by my specs, I can't use DSP LLE without horrendous slowdown and audio lag. Sometimes older versions of this emulator run older games better than the new versions. If no one has a fix for this problem, can anyone tell me a better version of the emulator to use?

[pauldacheez]

Your CPU should be good enough to run with LLE if you use LLE on Thread.

As for the issue in HLE, it'd be a fine idea to see if the situation's improved in 3.0-809, as that and 807 were changes to HLE. http://dolphin-emu.org/download/

[DefenderX]

Yep, try LLE ( http://forums.dolphin-emu.org/Thread-howto-getting-dsp-dumps-required-for-dsp-lle--23103 ) and check LLE on thread for a speedup. If you still have speed problems, try to overclock your CPU.

[Shonumi]

(11-14-2012, 12:51 PM)pauldacheez Wrote: Your CPU should be good enough to run with LLE if you use LLE on Thread.

Run? Yes. Run well? Not so much. MP is a particularly demanding GC game, even when you change the EFB Copies to Texture instead of the default RAM. It's possible to get stutterless LLE audio with the VBeam Trick (I have a video of it in action on YouTube) and I very much suggest the OP take a look at the trick, but the game still won't run at fullspeed, not without overclocking at least.

[DefenderX]

That's what I said Yeah, as Shonumi said, there is the VBeam trick. This trick can help you getting almost perfect audio with LLE although your CPU can't handle it perfectly.

* Disable Idle Skipping and check Accurate VBeam emulation
* Leve Idle Skipping checked and check Accurate VBeam emulation

That's all

[LordVador]

Even with the VBeam trick his system can't handle Metroid Prime(s) + LLE at stock speed

[DefenderX]

Yeah, he have to overclock his CPU.

[Phoenix10k]

I'm trying to avoid overclocking the CPU since the cooler I have on it is sketchy. I'm already running idle at 58C. Also, I searched for the VBeam trick on YouTube but didn't find it, and the poster who tried to give instructions, I didn't find a VBeam option to check in any of the config options.

LLE on thread is better than LLE alone, but still causes great slowdown and audio skipping.

As I said before, I'm also willing to rollback to a different version (even a 2.0) if it means Metroid Prime will play normally. If not... well... I guess I'll have to dig up my old GC in my closet. Composite video is so ugly, though.

[pauldacheez]

The VBeam option is in the game's properties (right-click > Properties). Change it to a checkmark.

[admin89]

Quote:I'm already running idle at 58C

Please check CPU heatsink if it was installed correctly . That temp is not normal , you should reappky thermal compound
i7 920 2.67 overclock -> 4.0GHz
Stock heatsink (intel) : Idle 44c and max load 88c
NZXT T20 entry level heatsink (low-end): Idle 35c and max load 71c