PC/XT (VirtualXT)¶
Background¶
VirtualXT is a Turbo PC/XT emulator that runs on modern hardware and operating systems. It is designed to be simple and lightweight yet still capable enough to run a large library of old applications and games.
It emulates an Intel 8088 or NEC V20 CPU, the PC/XT chipset, CGA, EGA or Hercules graphics, EMS memory and a real-time clock, and can share a directory of the host with the emulated machine.
The VirtualXT core has been authored by
- Andreas T Jonsson
The VirtualXT core is licensed under
A summary of the licenses behind RetroArch and its cores can be found here.
BIOS¶
The PC/XT BIOS and the EGA BIOS are built into the core. No files are needed.
Extensions¶
Content that can be loaded by the VirtualXT core have the following file extensions:
- .img - a floppy or hard disk image
- .exe
- .com
- .ini - a machine configuration
Loading content¶
- A .img disk image is booted, from the floppy or the hard disk first depending on Boot priority. Several images can be swapped through RetroArch's disk control.
- An .exe or .com file is started from its own directory, which the emulated machine sees through the host filesystem share. Host filesystem must be enabled for it.
- An .ini file describes the machine to build and what to load into it.
- Without a disk image the core boots its default disk,
virtualxt_default.imgin the saves directory. It is created the first time, and created anew each time content is loaded while Reset default disk is enabled.
Features¶
Frontend-level settings or features that the VirtualXT core respects.
| Feature | Supported |
|---|---|
| Restart | ✔ |
| Saves | ✕ |
| States | ✕ |
| Rewind | ✕ |
| Netplay | ✕ |
| Core Options | ✔ |
| Memory Monitoring (achievements) | ✕ |
| RetroArch Cheats | ✕ |
| Native Cheats | ✕ |
| Controls | ✔ |
| Remapping | - |
| Multi-Mouse | - |
| Rumble | ✕ |
| Sensors | ✕ |
| Camera | ✕ |
| Location | ✕ |
| Subsystem | ✕ |
| Softpatching | ✕ |
| Disk Control | ✔ |
| Username | ✕ |
| Language | ✕ |
| Crop Overscan | ✕ |
| LEDs | ✔ |
Geometry and timing¶
- The VirtualXT core's core provided FPS is 60.
- The VirtualXT core's core provided sample rate is 44100.
- The VirtualXT core's base width and height follow the video mode.
- The VirtualXT core's max width is 720.
- The VirtualXT core's max height is 700.
- The VirtualXT core's core provided aspect ratio is 4/3.
Core options¶
The VirtualXT core has the following option(s) that can be tweaked from the core options menu. The default setting is bolded.
- Boot priority [virtualxt_boot_priority] (FD|HD)
- Reset default disk [virtualxt_reset_default_disk] (enabled|disabled)
- CPU Turbo (10MHz) [virtualxt_cpu_turbo] (disabled|enabled)
- CPU type [virtualxt_cpu_type] (Intel 8088|NEC V20)
- Video adapter [virtualxt_video] (CGA|EGA|HGC)
- CRT filter [virtualxt_crt_filter] (enabled|disabled)
- PC noise [virtualxt_pc_noise] (enabled|disabled)
- PC noise volume [virtualxt_noise_volume] (100%|75%|50%|25%)
- Host filesystem [virtualxt_hostfs] (enabled|disabled)
- EMS memory [virtualxt_ems] (enabled|disabled)
- Joystick [virtualxt_joystick] (enabled|disabled)
- Serial mouse [virtualxt_serial_mouse] (enabled|disabled)
- Show game focus message [virtualxt_show_game_focus] (enabled|disabled)
- RTC [virtualxt_rtc] (enabled|disabled)
Device types¶
The VirtualXT core takes input from the keyboard; enable RetroArch's Game Focus mode (Scroll Lock) to type. A mouse is emulated as a serial mouse and a joypad as a PC joystick, each while its core option is enabled.
Compatibility¶
This core emulates an Intel 8088 CPU, like the original IBM 5150/5160, at 4.77 MHz or with CPU Turbo at 10 MHz. The 8088 only operates in real mode, so no protected-mode or 32-bit software will run.
Try software released in the 80's, like classic PC booters.