Odd thing I have discovered.

[Dread]

There is an odd thing I had discovered while testing the Daedalus R8 build...well, R7 - but my theory will have been verified through using the R8.

During my playing of the R7 build, I had been playing on the Super Mario 64 Rom:
(Super Mario 64 (E) [!].z64)

The game operated pretty well - but still many glitches and slow framerate. I remembered a time when I was playing on my Modded Xbox and a rom was not working. I replaced the file with a different language rom and it worked.

So - I began testing with the Super Mario 64. I tried instead of the English version:
(Super Mario 64 (J) [!].z64)

And to my avail - The game had less graphical glitches - and in fact, a boost in framerate. The game actually became playable (for me anyway) on the R7 build. I have yet to test my theory on the R8 build, but I shall and I will return with my findings.

, Dread


~~~~~EDIT~~~~~~

After much Experimentation

-And useful info from many scources *check acknowledgements*-

I have come to the conclusion that Super Mario 64 with Speed Hack runs at a very playable speed...even more so then the regular US rom. I have also come to the conclusion that different versions also operate on a different FPS satbility level. So, I would like to say, that Strrmnmm...*My apoligies if incorrect - I cannot spell his name...* should do further research down this path...and acknowledge the following people for opening the door to this path...


Me - For the asking the actual question. *Apoligies for the Ego.*

Cobra - For his useful information, and supplying the actual evidence of changes within the Roms

And N:CAL:k - for submitting Miscellaneous Rom information between different versions.

Also, the QJ community should thank anybody else who contributed to this topic.

Thank you - Dread.

[Mister Chief]

Interesting.

I use a US rom for Super Mario 64.

[Dread]

Yes! I have found a differences. Not very significant - but still, plausible.

1) In the Japanese version, the Framerate seems to stay stable from 23 to 28 fps with no random jumps down to - say - 11 fps. -not very importent but still...Stability good. Stability is your friend...like a cookie.-

2) The signs, and everything of that sort are readable (if you are Japanese) - but there are no black patches, or graphical errors when trying to read signs.
(Again...not importent. But that feeling of emptyness goes away. That is...if you have OCD.)

More to find...I shall find it.

, Dread.

[Basil-Culex]

interesting....

[madmax2]

I heard someone said in a post that there was a mario 64 version that had speed hack, download that one, for Speed Boost

[CoBrA2168]

I decided to do some tests to solve this myth.

I didn't notice any speed increase when using the JAP or EUR versions of the game. BUT, the speedhacked one of the USA version showed much better performance.

Take a look yourselves.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=5QN5N5DY

[Mister Chief]

If I want to find the speed hacked version what would I google?

[db92]

mario 64 speed hack i suppose >.>

[Mister Chief]

I think I found it.

[zodionic]

what did you google?

[Mister Chief]

I just downloaded a 7zip full of different versions of Super Mario 64.

Overall there was an increase in the minimum framerate and maximum framerate in nearly all if not all areas of the game.

[madmax2]

I just downloaded a 7zip full of different versions of Super Mario 64.

Overall there was an increase in the minimum framerate and maximum framerate in nearly all if not all areas of the game.

yeah cool
an interesting question
"How did they 7 zipped all those roms all down to the size of one rom??"

i want to know how to do that?

[Mister Chief]

Dunno.

One rom is the actual size but all the others are 0kb untill you extract them.

[M7thCC]

I just tried the speed hacked version of Super Mario, FPS was incredible on the intro and nearly 2/3 (17~23) normal speed outside the castle. Interestingly it dropped down to a steady 16 FPS inside though, but overall I would say it's at least a little better with the hack than not. It's great to see the amount of improvement StrmnNrmn has gotten into this over the last few weeks...

(I also tried an invincible US version of Starfox, graphics were a little messed up but FPS was a constant 10~13.)

EDIT: I just realized that the ROM merely removes the FPS limit which is why we don't seem much of an improvement on the PSP. Running the ROM on a PC however would yield much better results because it actually has the power to push the game over it's limit, whereas the PSP can't even approach it yet.

[kimbonious]

To those doing the initial question about speed difference, I know back when snes was still starting up we had a discussion on that, and one of the coders said it was due to the fact that us rom's run at 60hz, and everywhere else runs at 50hz, which makes the processpr do 10 less cycles per second. Don't know the truth behind it but it made sense to me at the time.

[CoBrA2168]

You guys know peaches slide (secret star)? Go there once you get enough stars go to that level. You can play the WHOLE slide at a solid 23 FPS with the speedhacked rom. I never tested it yet with a regular one.

[M7thCC]

You know the speed hacked ROM really doesn't do anything... it just removes the FPS limit so machines more powerful than the N64 can push it faster than it was designed for; because they have the power to do so.

The PSP can't yet run it at a solid 30 FPS, so allowing it to run at ~infinite FPS won't show any improvement unless the ROM physically alters code to allow optimizations within itself.

[Hemperor]

This is an intresting thread, once I get my PSP back I must test this.

[CoBrA2168]

You know the speed hacked ROM really doesn't do anything... it just removes the FPS limit so machines more powerful than the N64 can push it faster than it was designed for; because they have the power to do so.

The PSP can't yet run it at a solid 30 FPS, so allowing it to run at ~infinite FPS won't show any improvement unless the ROM physically alters code to allow optimizations within itself.

Then how do you explain the blatant speed up?? Ill make a video soon for proof.

[M7thCC]

Lol, then find me something that shows the ROM has more than the FPS limit removed. I would agree there's a bit of a speed up as I said before, but I don't think it's remarkable.

[CoBrA2168]

Lol, then find me something that shows the ROM has more than the FPS limit removed. I would agree there's a bit of a speed up as I said before, but I don't think it's remarkable.

Well instead of taking like 1 hour to make a video, let me jsut tell you some differences.

The most obvious and easy to tell is in peach's slide. On the regular rom it gets about 15-17 fps. The speedhacked gets 20-24.

Now you just have to believe me on this, unless you can test yourself.

[Exodus]

Wow, I'm using a different ROM here, and when it was flying around the castle, I got 30+ FPS. Standing around outside, I'm getting 25FPS. I get a sold 20+ FPS in most places, running around outside. Inside the casle main room, 20+ FPS in most places. Bob-Omb castle room, around 25FPS stable, even up to 28 in some places. At the star selection screen, instead of the constant 72, I am getting 82.

I'm pretty sure, (my ROM at least), is getting a significant speed boost from this.

[M7thCC]

Someone really needs to come in here and explain how a ROM will make a game go faster without the hardware/software actually crediting towards it. I could see maybe if something was stripped out making it lighter but meh... this thread should go away now. ;)

[Exodus]

There are speedhacked SNES ROMs, that... If I can explain it correctly, they remove loops in the code that really don't DO anything but slow down performance.

It wasn't a problem at all for the SNES, because that is the native platform.

I'm not sure how they do it for N64 ROMs, but it could be similar.

[Basil-Culex]

exactly how can u tell if your downloading or even have that kind of rom?

[UnluckyLuke]

Could you tell us the exact name of the speedhacked ROM? For reference purposes?

[CoBrA2168]

There are speedhacked SNES ROMs, that... If I can explain it correctly, they remove loops in the code that really don't DO anything but slow down performance.

It wasn't a problem at all for the SNES, because that is the native platform.

I'm not sure how they do it for N64 ROMs, but it could be similar.

I'm pretty sure that's exactly what they do for n64 roms too. They remove unused code and stuff.

For reference - Super Mario 64 (U) [t2] (Speed).z64

[Exodus]

I think I know where Cobra got his, since I got mine from the same source, I believe.

Yes, that is the name of the ROM for reference purposes.

I think we've verified it gives a good speedboost to gameplay.

Also, if you know your ROMS the "t" by a ROM's name means it is trained, which one would assume it has a bit of code that allows you to cheat ingame.

Now, I'm not sure if it is just noted as such because it is speedhacked, I'm not sure.

But it does run faster, and I'm not sure of any cheats in the ROM.

[SeikenZ]

wow 29/31 fps in bomb level room with the speedhack rom.:)

[Exodus]

Crazy, I know!

More ROMs like this could help us get better speeds.