Question How to configure old games to run on newer computers?

[UserName]

As my backlog of older games continues to grow as time continues on and I'm now on an AM5 build - is there a guide on how to configure Windows 11 so that it slows down enough to play these older games?

For example - just picked up Enclave on Steam - and I've tried all the recommended steps with RTSS, dgVoodoo, and mouse polling among others. The game just runs so fast that even a single keyboard click forward moves to the very end in less than a second and any in game cut scenes start and are done in less than a second.

The closest I got was forcing RTSS to 30 fps - but that was so janky - I just stepped back.

Ideally, if anyone has gotten this game to work on a recent build - please share. Otherwise, are there any other tips for older games in general? One of the most frustrating things is having to manually set the affinity to 1 CPU via task manager instead of getting a command line launch to work automatically.

Edit: Thanks for all the links to the older emulators - though I should have specified run older games on Steam.

Thanks.

 

[Colif]

Its almost like you need an emulator to run them at a slower speed.

Enclave Compatibility | xemu: Original Xbox Emulator

A free and open-source application that emulates the original Microsoft Xbox game console, enabling people to play their original Xbox games on Windows, macOS, and Linux systems.

xemu.app

Its a long time since we had a turbo button to slow CPU down to run programs slow. Normally the problems with old games is getting them to run, not that they run too fast.

Virtual machines wouldn't help as from what I know, can't restrict processor speed, just what other parts they can use.

 

[Brian Boru]

Haven't read these, so for what it's worth—Win10 techniques should work on Win11 too in general.

How to run old games on Windows 10

Windows 95 games on Windows 10. It can be done.

www.pcgamer.com

How to run your old PC games on Windows 10

The classics never die (on PC)

www.techradar.com

How to Run Old Games and Software on Windows 10

Old PC games and software can struggle on Windows 10. Use these tips to get old Windows games, programs, and apps running on Windows 10!

www.makeuseof.com

DOS, Amiga, IBM PC: 4 Ways to Run Old Games on Your Modern PC

Want to play retro computer games on Windows 10 or 11? The older a game is, the less likely it is to work right out of the box on a new PC. These tricks can help.

www.pcmag.com

 

[UserName]

Haven't read these, so for what it's worth—Win10 techniques should work on Win11 too in general.

Thanks - but none of those apply to games that require the Steam launcher, for the GOG versions it would - since those usually require the DosBox emulator where you can slow it down a bit.

There might be a way with VirtualBox and only offering reduced CPU and RAM to the VM - but then i'd need space for a whole separate OS and Steam just to run the game that takes up less than 2.5GB alone. *sigh

 

[Kaamos_Llama]

I honestly have no idea if this is helpful or too complicated to use for games, but I remember hearing about this a while ago on a podcast and being interested.

Emulator of retro x86-based machines

86box.net

 

[UserName]

Its almost like you need an emulator to run them at a slower speed.

Enclave Compatibility | xemu: Original Xbox Emulator

A free and open-source application that emulates the original Microsoft Xbox game console, enabling people to play their original Xbox games on Windows, macOS, and Linux systems.

xemu.app

Exactly. My guess is that because of Steam - this game just won't run on my system.

 

[UserName]

I honestly have no idea if this is helpful or too complicated to use for games, but I remember hearing about this a while ago on a podcast and being interested.

Emulator of retro x86-based machines

86box.net

Great for games that aren't packaged with a loader requirement, but not for Steam.

 

[Kaamos_Llama]

Great for games that aren't packaged with a loader requirement, but not for Steam.

Ah, sorry missed the Steam part.

 

[UserName]

Well, I even tried the VirtualBox route with Win7 - and even then with only 1 CPU assigned - still the game moved like I was in the matrix, but the sound was even worse. Oh well. Unless someone has cracked the solution to this one, it will have to be one in the backlog that will never get played.

 

[UserName]

Interestingly enough - there's a specific video and Discord channel for specifically Enclave which may help others - but it didn't work for me.