Could the Dreamcast Emulate the GP32?

[Eric]

I think the GP32 would be pretty amazing to have emulate on the dreamcast another reason is that GameCube emulates the GameBoyAdvance so now DC is going to do it with GP32 i am glad wraggster asked about this cause i asked someone before but didn't seem to interested in doing it

[vipor231]

i dont see why it cant run it.somebody is emulating a gba on a dreamcast.

[BlackAura]

The GP32 is much more powerful than the GBA (in terms of processor speed). Even if we managed to run GP32 code on the Dreamcast's sound CPU, we'd have another problem: The sound processor can access the sound hardware, and the sound hardware only. That means no video, no CD access, no controller input...

[Propeller]

The idea of emulating a similar processor to the host machine is called "virtualization", and assumes that the host machine is way more powerful than the virtualized guest machine.

For example, you could virtualize an ARM7@25Mhz (more or less, can't be accurate because it's based on code profile) on a ARM7@100Mhz. So, you *can't* virtualize an ARM9@200Mhz. on a ARM7@100Mhz (being so naive) and expect something functional. You can add processing power with the SH4, but that makes no difference to the result. Or moreover, it would add an unexpected and unwanted communication overhead to the emulation.

That, added to what BlackAura said (the MOST important fact that makes it impossible), makes the GP32 emulation something unreachable to the Dreamcast.

Propeller

[Christuserloeser]

So it would have to be fully emulated with the SH4, what makes it a bÃ*t pointless since it would be very slow even in SHx ASM, I see...

It might be possible to run a few GP32 games on an GP32 emu 4 DC but not at a really reasonable speed.

That was what I was aiming at but since it wouldn't be that useful to develop an emulator within years that allows only 40% of the GP32 software lib to be played and that only at about an absolute max of 50 - 70% speed :'( we should forget about that...

Wasn't there a GP32 link cable for the DC?

Wouldn't that allow GP32 games to be run at a TV using the DC's video out :

Chris

[Ian_micheal]

This is even more far fetched then emulating the amiga at fullspeed on the dreamcast.

Basic know how 166mhz emulated = about 500 mhz need to gain fullspeed aproxx.

No way you could do it.

GP32 in some ways is only just under the dreamcast. Be like the ps2 emulating the dreamcast.

[Christuserloeser]

[quote author=Ian_micheal link=board=Dev;num=1086120644;start=15#15 date=06/06/04 at 11:58:46]Be like the ps2 emulating the dreamcast.[/quote]

Okay, now that's really impossible! ;D


Chris

[quzar]

What is the standard clock rate that commercial games use for it? I have seen that it is only 100Mhz. Since the DC has its own emulators, it wouldnt be necessary to play emulators on the emulators so overclocking wouldnt be an issue.

[Saoshyant]

Indeed Quzar (yeah I noticed the thread is old), but most commercial games from GP32 suuuuck. Still, I think this idea should not be dropped. Perfect assembly coding requires a real coder, which probably does not exist around us. Still we might not have a Yuji Naka, but if three of us join together to start it, it might work out. If not, it will be fun and good to learn more experience on how to code for mighty DC. Any questions? (no stupid sarcasms please....)

[quzar]

Are you a coder? if so then you would know that its not just a matter of teaming up... in fact if none of the people knows sh4 asm, then it would just be the blind leading the blind.