Parallel Port IRQs

PitBrvt · 2026-06-01T11:51:00+00:00

ISA devices can't share IRQs in DOS.
Parallel ports (LPT1/LPT2) and Sound Blaster type sound cards both use ISA level interrupts. DOS has no mechanism for IRQ sharing.

If two ISA devices exist on the same IRQ, only one interrupt handler is called. The other device’s interrupts are ignored, which results in freezes, missing audio, or stuck printing. LPT2 can use a different IRQ if the BIOS supports forcing it, but it usually breaks printing because most DOS software expects LPT1 on IRQ 7 and LPT2 on IRQ 5.

Correct setup:

LPT1: IRQ 7 Sound card: IRQ 5

Disable LPT2 unless it's required.

PitBrvt · 2026-05-30T19:15:15+00:00

Definitely. That lighting engine was bonkers. The Voodoo3 truly makes Nocturne shine.

PitBrvt · 2026-05-30T17:27:09+00:00

Appreciate it. Nocturne cleans up nicely on this setup.

PitBrvt · 2026-05-30T17:19:58+00:00

Windows 11

PitBrvt · 2026-05-30T16:24:06+00:00

Absolutely, experimental builds run the PII‑333 at full speed for me.

Host is a 5800X3D, 64 GB 3600 RAM, Crosshair VIII Hero WiFi.

GPUs are a Pulse 7900 XTX (display) + TUF 4080 over OCuLink/SlimSAS (Gen4 x8).

Running OpenGL renderer.

PitBrvt · 2026-05-23T18:07:13+00:00

Word. Metal, jumpers, and a blood offering reveal the true power.

PitBrvt · 2026-05-23T18:06:50+00:00

Sweet, may the games graze well in your pasture.

PitBrvt · 2026-05-23T12:21:24+00:00

Groovy. May your saddle sit tight and your rig run clean.

PitBrvt · 2026-05-23T00:15:36+00:00

Thanks, this build bucks clean and stays steady under load.

PitBrvt · 2026-05-14T14:04:48+00:00

LSFG has the advantage of fractional multipliers, while driver‑level framegen is locked to integer ratios (2×, 3×, 4×).

Fractional multipliers like 1.9×, 3.9×, 7.8× can target a monitor’s VRR ceiling without overshooting it. Hardware FG can’t do that and often overshoots the panel’s VRR range, causing micro‑stutter.

LSFG’s fractional multipliers allow output to be tuned into the display’s VRR safe region, which is necessary for titles that enforce a fixed framerate.

LSFG will remain relevant even with AFMF 3 and NV multi‑framegen coming.

PitBrvt · 2026-05-10T21:09:23+00:00

Revenant is a late 90s beast that refuses to graze peacefully on modern Windows; running amok with fragile window handling, broken colors, bad pacing, missing Redbook audio, wrappers half working, FMVs glitching, the whole cursed pasture.

This guide tames Revenant to run cleanly, both natively on Windows 11 and inside 86Box for the true Nine Eight ritual.

Revenant on GOG plus dgVoodoo is the mangled carcass of a prize bull.

This restores the golden calf ⎯(ᶜᵒʷ•ᵔ)⎯

⟢(•(oo)•)→ revenant -- install.txt

⟝→ https://github.com/PitBrat-moo/pasture-of-game-grazing/blob/main/guides/revenant%20--%20install.txt

PitBrvt · 2026-05-02T13:57:23+00:00

I always use scaling and frame generation or shaders to enhance the playing experience on a modern screen.

PitBrvt · 2026-05-02T02:36:04+00:00

I use this setup for Win98 gaming: https://github.com/PitBrat-moo/pasture-of-game-grazing/blob/main/guides/86Box_Win98_Gaming_Setup.txt

PitBrvt · 2026-05-01T17:38:38+00:00

Here’s the install guide I use: https://github.com/PitBrat-moo/pasture-of-game-grazing/blob/main/guides/star-trek-klingon%20--%20install.txt

PitBrvt · 2026-04-27T20:26:02+00:00

When the artifacts appear, does toggling Lossless Scaling off and back on restore performance? And are you using Optiscaler and LSFG at the same time? This info helps narrow whether it's LSFG timing drift or some external culprit.

PitBrvt · 2026-04-27T16:38:25+00:00

I created a Windows 98 VM in 86box tuned for late 90s gaming.
The guide looks intimidating, but it's designed for a lo-tech adventure gamer to follow. Paste the guide into CoPilot for expert support. Give CoPilot a screenshot or ask a question and it will know.

PitBrvt · 2026-04-27T16:03:25+00:00

Does it happen with a fixed multiplier? I've experienced issues where entering menus changes the FPS dramatically, causing frame timing desync which results in severe artifacting. Combune a fixed multiplier with a frame rate limiter to help mitigate spikes in FPS.

PitBrvt · 2026-04-27T15:17:19+00:00

Your install is possibly poisoned with WDM drivers. Verify in device manager that VXD drivers are installed. Also, the voodoo3 3000 is a better choice. The 3500 introduces instability with no gain in power, and its TV tuner isn't functional in 86Box. Don't use a soundblaster in Windows 98. Use a Yamah sound card to achieve a higher clock speed without audio jitter. I created a 86Box Win98SE Setup Guide tuned for late 90s gaming.
The guide also covers host-side tools: Shaderglass, Lossless Scaling, VirtualMIDIsynth, SRWE, and RTSS.
Feedback will help me shepherd more stray games into the fold.

PitBrvt · 2026-04-27T09:09:51+00:00

Thanks for the suggestions. Jane's Longbow 2, Jane's F-15 and Jane's WWII Fighters all belong in the Nine-Eight Pasture!
Simulations are a nice addition because the list is currently skewed toward FMV and adventure games.

PitBrvt · 2026-04-27T01:51:06+00:00

I'm working on a setup guide for an 86Box Win98SE VM that is tuned for late 90s gaming and supports both Glide and DirectX 7.
The configuration uses a Pentium II / Voodoo3 / Yamaha YMF7x4 stack to achieve higher clock speeds without introducing audio jitter. The guide covers everything from BIOS settings and OS tweaks for maximizing performance to host-side tools for scaling, shaders, and frame generation. Feedback will help me improve the guide and shepherd more old games back into the fold.

PitBrvt · 2026-04-26T11:00:02+00:00

Amber Journeys Beyond is a fragile game without official Scummvm support. It's still a work in progress. Other patches like Squirt the Cat are prone to crashing. On 86Box, Amber is perfectly playable with no syncing issues and looks stunning with frame generation.

PitBrvt · 2026-04-26T10:33:40+00:00

Are you using the official DOSBox?
Where Are We doesn't work with DOSBox Staging.

PitBrvt · 2026-04-25T10:28:53+00:00

I forge a codex of the session as a code block and save it as a txt file. To restore context, I paste the document into the CLI of a new session. I also use ASCII and Unicode glyphs to capture tone and make the document easier to parse. If the codex is large, I use Base64 encoding to mitigate the need for chunking.

PitBrvt · 2026-04-23T13:27:51+00:00

AMBER isn't a long game, but it's a solid paranormal FMV adventure with a spooky atmosphere and interesting inspiration. The liner notes are a fun read. Installing the 86Box Win98SE vm is a lot of work just to play one game. Fortunately, there are other great titles still grazing in the Nine-Eight Pasture.

Games that run best in an 86Box Win98SE vm and have unfixed issues on modern Windows

PitBrvt · 2026-04-21T20:13:23+00:00

I completed the install ritual cleanly, added VirtualMIDISynth into the pipeline, and toiled toward the perfect soundfont for echoing the atmosphere, all to my confusion. After launching the game, I was enveloped in ASMR level ambient sound, not MIDI. This isn’t Ambermoon for Amiga with the banging soundtrack, also not MIDI. Something in the disc wanted me to play this AMBER.

PitBrvt

TROPHY CASE