Octo-core android support?

[Polyarthus]

Hello there, I'm new

I've been trying to run dolphin for a while now but my poor macbook doen't even support openGL and my old PC laptop isn't even good enough for N64 emulation. But I have a new android phone so I figured I could try the android version.
I use a Xiamo Redmi Note 5 Pro wich uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 Octo-core 1.8Ghz CPU, 4Go of RAM and the gpu models seems to be "Adreno 509" (whatever that is), running Android 8.0.1

I tried to play Zelda OOT Master Quest, wich I suppose is less demanding than a true GC game? And it Almost works. But it's a bit laggy with occasionnal slow downs and the sound is stuttering a lot (even with the "stretch audio" option on) I haven't tried any other game yet.

In the menu there is an option tu use 1 or 2 CPU's cores, but no more. I guess that's why I can't run it smoothly?
Can the dev team (many thanks to them by the way ! They've done an amazing job so far) consider adding octo-core support to the next android version? 4 and 8 cores CPUs seems to be trending in smartphones these days. I wouldn't even be surprised if one uses a 16-core CPU.

Also, can you guys tell me if connecting an USB controller to my smartphone with a USB to Micro-USB adapter would work without modding my phone? For testing I used the on-screen controller but I don't understand how people manage to play on a touch screen when there's so many controls and I only have two thumbs

I'm looking forward to your answers. Thanks !

EDIT : I use dolphin 5.0.8991, if that helps?

[Shonumi]

Read this: https://dolphin-emu.org/docs/faq/#couldnt-dolphin-use-more-my-cpu-cores-go-faster

Whether it's the desktop version or the Android version, the same is true. Dolphin can't really use all of those cores.

[JosJuice]

(12-02-2018, 08:52 PM)Polyarthus Wrote: I tried to play Zelda OOT Master Quest, wich I suppose is less demanding than a true GC game?

No, it's actually relatively demanding, since Dolphin is emulating an N64 emulator that's emulating the game.

[Admentus]

Running any of the Nintendo 64 Virtual Consoles games on a Wii emulator is way more expensive than just running the actual Nintendo 64 games on a Nintendo 64 emulator. Master Quest for the GameCube is not any different.

You're basically emulating an emulated game on an emulator. Not to mention emulation won't be perfect for these emulated Nintendo 64 games. Dolphin can be as perfect as it can, but the emulator Dolphin tries to emulate can still be broken (*hint* Star Fox 64 on the Virtual Console). You will need to refer to an actual Nintendo 64 console or a Nintendo 64 emulator for perfect accuracy. Sound might not be possible to be perfectly accurate either, Majora's Mask from the Collector's Disc warns so in fact.

[argadelfinen]

“8-core” Android phones aren't quite like PC and laptop processors. Typically they have a big.LITTLE or similar configuration where there's some number of high performance cores paired with some number of low power cores, which may not be active simultaneously.

[DJBarry004]

(12-02-2018, 10:51 PM)argadelfinen Wrote: “8-core” Android phones aren't quite like PC and laptop processors. Typically they have a big.LITTLE or similar configuration where there's some number of high performance cores paired with some number of low power cores, which may not be active simultaneously.

Dolphin would be unable to use all of them regardless.

Dolphin normally* uses two cores: one to emulate the consoles´ CPU and DSP and the other for the GPU. Trying to divide those tasks in more cores would actually make Dolphin slower.

*Dolphin usually has Dual-Core mode enabled. Certain games need that disabled to solve bugs (everything will be handled by only 1 core). If for some reason one would enable DSP on thread, then Dolphin would use 3 cores instead of 1 or 2 (though I don´t think that´s possible anymore?).

[JosJuice]

(12-03-2018, 02:35 AM)DJBarry004 Wrote: *Dolphin usually has Dual-Core mode enabled. Certain games need that disabled to solve bugs (everything will be handled by only 1 core). If for some reason one would enable DSP on thread, then Dolphin would use 3 cores instead of 1 or 2 (though I don´t think that´s possible anymore?).

It's enabled automatically if you're using DSP LLE and the game doesn't have any problems with it.

[Polyarthus]

Thanks for your replies everyone !

OK got it. The explanation was useful. And I thought emulating was simple
I'll try other games. Too bad for master quest ! Guess I'll have to wait until my macbook dies on me and I put together a new computer.