PC vs Mac vs Linux in Dolphin

Nintonito · 09-19-2014, 04:02 AM #1

If I were to run identical specs on all three operating systems, I.e triple booting a Mac or something crazy, which OS would win in terms of emulation speed? Comparing my ASUS gaming laptop with my very new macbook pro, the macboon pro seems to win by a landslide in some games like 1080 avalanche, but in games like Super Mario sunshine they both hover around a similar speed. Unfortunately the test isn't fully fair because my macbook's CPU is considerably faster (i7-3610QM vs i7-4980HQ). Sound off in the comments about your experiences, and maybe a Dev could chime in on the hard facts about dolphin on different OSes.

**JMC47** · 09-19-2014, 04:08 AM #2

Windows, followed by Linux, followed by Mac.

**KHg8m3r** · 09-19-2014, 04:21 AM #3

Bootcamp into Windows on the Mac and see the great speed gains.

PureTryOut · 09-19-2014, 04:27 AM #4

Why would it run faster on Windows though? I understand the GPU driver issues on anything other then Windows, but the actual processor shouldn't make a difference right?
Does Windows have special optimizations Dolphin can use or is it just the GPU that benefits the most?

**JMC47** · 09-19-2014, 04:44 AM #5

Driver overhead on CPU matters hugely. More efficient drivers means lower CPU usage.

ThorhiantheUltimate · 09-19-2014, 07:46 AM #6

When it comes to opengl, doesnt linux and windows perform around the same? Plus you have way better bluetooth support in linux than windows, especially with those pesky TR remotes.

**JMC47** · 09-19-2014, 07:55 AM #7

I'm just speaking from experience.

**mbc07** · 09-19-2014, 08:18 AM #8

(09-19-2014, 07:46 AM)ThorhiantheUltimate Wrote: When it comes to opengl, doesnt linux and windows perform around the same?

Linux drivers aren't that good, Windows OGL is faster...

ThorhiantheUltimate · 09-19-2014, 09:23 AM #9

(09-19-2014, 08:18 AM)Jhonn Wrote:
(09-19-2014, 07:46 AM)ThorhiantheUltimate Wrote: When it comes to opengl, doesnt linux and windows perform around the same?

Linux drivers aren't that good, Windows OGL is faster...

For the most part ive gotten around the same performance in Linux compared to windows 7 (both 64bit). Of course, I am using nvidia drivers, so they aren't the worst offender in the Linux GPU drivers world.

***Shonumi*** · 09-19-2014, 09:59 AM **#10**

(09-19-2014, 08:18 AM)Jhonn Wrote:
(09-19-2014, 07:46 AM)ThorhiantheUltimate Wrote: When it comes to opengl, doesnt linux and windows perform around the same?

Linux drivers aren't that good, Windows OGL is faster...

Yeah, not quite really. I can verify what ThorhianUltimate has said for Nvidia's proprietary drivers at least. For every other driver though, you probably do have a point. Nvidia's closed source drivers are still the only thing I'll trust, and it'll probably stay that way for a while.