FAQ
Is Breadbox only a Commodore Simulator?
No, but at the moment, yes.
In the end, the project aims to include all other vintage computers as well.
And since it's a bit of a laborous task, progress depends a lot on the support it receives.
Computer power up takes some time
When you power on for the first time after installing or updating a new emulator, it may be a little slower. Subsequent startups should be faster.
Computer does not start (emulator is installed)
Try first to shut down the simulated computer and then switch it back ON. If that doesn't solve the problem, exit the Simulator view and try again.
Next steps to try are: Restart the Breadbox, Reboot your PC.
Game Controller doesn't work
If your controller is supported, then usually this happens if you plugin your controller when the emulator (the simulated computer) is already running. In that case, re-start the simulated computer.
Then, if the problem continues, check if your controller is linked to virtual joystick. In Simulator view open Settings - Input settings to see if it is selected. Verify also that the correct virtual joystick plug is attached to the computer in the Simulator view.
If the problem still persists, detach/attach the joystick plug and verify if you need to use a different control port (C64). Sometimes the classic power OFF and ON (simulated computer) might help.
Also, don't forget to check the known issues related to your controller on Breadbox Game Controller support section.
Simulator view responds slowly on user actions / Animations stutter
Breadbox requires an efficient graphics card when used with default graphics settings. It's very likely that your graphics card is not powerful enough for default settings.
Test with a different graphics settings and see how it affects the performance. Graphics settings are available on Main menu page in Setup panel. Try a lower resolution and with graphics quality set to Low.
Computer doesn't register all my key presses and responds are slow
This is also related to graphics card performance and perhaps also to CPU performance. If the graphics card is not efficient enough for Breadbox, it starts to affect other functions.
Lowering the graphics settings, e.g. resolution, may have a big impact. Zooming to monitor close up view will also help on this issue.
Unfortunately, this problem strongly indicates that your current graphics card and/or CPU performance of your computer is not sufficient for this software.
Keyboard input lag
When using the Breadbox with the recommended hardware, we haven't experienced any serious input lag which would affect normal use, including gaming. However it's a fact that there is more delay in input as well as in output when comparing to plain emulator usage.
If you experience input lag when using the Breadbox, it likely belongs to one of the following categories.
1. Hardware requirements
- It is known that Breadbox requires high-performance hardware in terms of CPU and GPU. Our tests with various hardware and feedback from users have shown that when the hardware is not sufficient, it significantly affects the input delay.
- You should try to lower graphics quality and screen resolution. Graphics settings are on the setup panel in Breadbox Main Menu.
- If that doesn't help with this issue, check if the problem is related to other categories here.
2. Audio visual effect delay
- In Breadbox there is a difference between the input signal sent to the emulator and between audio-visual effects. Audio-visual effect is the sound and animation of the keyboard key press. When the key press of the real keyboard press starts, it is not possible to start the audio-visual effect in real time, and its execution can be seen and heard quite clearly with a small delay. As the human perception is strongly affected by everything we see and hear, this may create a strong experience of an input lag. Dispite the fact that the actual input signal is registered and displayed on the virtual monitor much much faster than what the audio-visual experience from the effects are.
- The simple solution is to disable the keyboard sound simulation. It will disable the sounds of key presses from the Breadbox when using the PC-keyboard. But the sounds will still work when you use the mouse to click on virtual keys. You can disable the keyboard sounds from each of the computer from the setup panel in the simulator view, just uncheck the option: keyboard sound simulation.
3. It's a bug
- There is always the possibility that the problem is caused by a software bug. Please try to analyze how does it occur and is it still an issue after you restart everything.
- Regardless, please report the problem to us.
4. Normal input lag
- If the other three options are not effective, then it must be the normal input lag?
- This means it is just a normal feature of the product. The normal input lag accumulates from the input (the key press) to the output (what you see in the monitor). Relaying signals requires a little extra work from the software. And perhaps it can be further improved in the future.
- In our experience, it really isn't affecting the normal use, so we consider it a normal feature. But we'll leave the judgment to you, the user. If you experience that the normal input lag is too high, please report it.