Higher resolutions on ZSNES/Linux (without OpenGL)

Chaotic Thought · Post by **Chaotic Thought** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 1:03 am

I've used ZSNES for several years on DOS and Windows, but recently wanted to get it working on Linux. According to what I've seen on the forums, docs, and code--Linux support for high resolution modes only works with OpenGL.

I'm running ZSNES-1.42 on Linux-2.6.11.12 without X installed (I'm using SDL with the fbcon driver)

ZSNES v1.42

SDL support Version 1.2.9
NASM support NASM version 0.98.39 compiled on Dec 10 2005ZLib support Version 1.2.3
PNG support (png screenshots) Yes, version 1.2.8
OpenGL support Disabled by user

Compiling went fine and the program works and plays games as perfectly as I'd expect, albeit in limited resolution modes.

Since my system does not support OpenGL, it seems I'm limited to modes 0 - 3 (256x224, 512x448, and 640x480). My system is a laptop with a fixed-resolution of 1024x768 (so that a 512x448 video mode looks the same as a 512x448 non-zoomed window). Nonetheless, I wanted to ask and see if anyone knew how to do this.

It looks like each video mode is implemented specially by some assembly routines, so I suppose asking for a higher resolution would not be simple--but maybe there is some other way? I'd be happy if each pixel's area could be doubled so that 512x448 would become 1024x896, but I'm not sure of the best way to do this, or whether implementing it would be practical.

Any tips on this one? Thanks.

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 2:21 am

.... The Super Nintendo's resolution is only 512x448 pixels. I have no idea why you would want high resolution unless you want to make it run slower Dx.

Chaotic Thought · Post by **Chaotic Thought** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 9:21 am

You're right; I should have clarified: What I would like is to be able to "scale up" the resolution to fill my 1024x768 display. I am running on a laptop with a fixed resolution display of 1024x768 (the video offers no scaling); that is, right now my SNES games are playing fine, but at 512x448 pixels, it only fills a fourth of my screen. It would be awesome if I could get ZSNES to double the area of each of the SNES's pixels so that it scaled up to up to 1024x896. Of course, the top/bottom 64 pixels would have to be cropped--But I could probably live with that more easily than playing in a small window.

Doing just this is possible by using OpenGL on Linux, or by using the Windows version (which supports more resolution scaling such as 1024x768). My question is--is it possible with Linux/SDL without OpenGL.

SquareHead · Post by **SquareHead** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 9:50 am

Your laptop hardware does not scale or stretch smaller images to fill the screen? I thought most models did. (Usually by an option you can toggle in your BIOS.)

adventure_of_link · Post by **adventure_of_link** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 10:11 am

Newer models automagically stretch the image.

I tried finding such an option in my notebook's BIOS, none to be found.

SquareHead · Post by **SquareHead** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 10:20 am

adventure_of_link wrote:Newer models automagically stretch the image.

I tried finding such an option in my notebook's BIOS, none to be found.

Wow, I checked both my 5yr old ones and one automagically does it, and the other has an option in it's bios.

adventure_of_link · Post by **adventure_of_link** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 11:26 am

Hmm...

Maybe they implemented this option sometime after you bought the first one ?

-shrugs-

SquareHead · Post by **SquareHead** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 11:30 am

MEH, this is a linux issue, and I shouldnt be posting in here until I can get a form of linux to run on either laptop. Sorry for the spam.

Chaotic Thought · Post by **Chaotic Thought** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 12:53 pm

Yes, most laptops (and external LCDs) have the stretching option. However, mine is older and does not have this option. The machine is dual-booting Windows, and the same thing happens under Windows (choosing 640x480, for instance, will display on exactly 640 by 480 real LCD pixels without any stetching).

I checked the BIOS and tried the laptop's blue Fn hotkeys, looked at the Windows display settings, searched for Web pages talking about my machine, and I could find no trace of the stretching feature on my system. I think the system simply lacks that feature.

So basically I'm looking for ZSNES to implement this expected hardware feature using software instead.

creaothceann · Post by **creaothceann** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 12:56 pm

What about the DS video modes?

SquareHead · Post by **SquareHead** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 1:06 pm

creaothceann wrote:What about the DS video modes?

From what I'm guessing happens (if there are any ds modes not opengl), is that if the resolution is lower than his screen's native the image will stretch to that resolution, and still be centered and tiny on his screen.

Chaotic Thought · Post by **Chaotic Thought** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 10:01 pm

Yes, it is centered on my screen. The largest I can get on Linux is 640x480. Larger screens work fine on Windows, though.

It looks like the routines that draw to the SDL screen are assembly so they're a bit confusing for me since I've never done SDL.

paulguy · Post by **paulguy** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 2:37 am

I heard of this thing once that can allow gl programs to run (slowly if it's actually 3d, not the case for zsnes) without hardware opengl support. I forget what it's called, though.

Chaotic Thought · Post by **Chaotic Thought** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 5:05 am

Mesa provides OpenGL in software, I believe. And if SDL uses it, ZSNES will use it, I think. I suppose I could try it, but I was a little hesistant because of the probable slowdown.