PCSX2: How to speed up game

So, I got plenty of emails requesting how to improve frame-rate on PCSX2. There is no ‘the solution’ for this, because the issue isn’t Graphics Card technically, it depends on your processor and RAM. So it will vary from PC to PC. However, I felt I could contribute something to the community by giving my settings, which could possibly speed up your game a little or maybe ‘a lot’ like it did for me.

If it doesn’t work, I apologize.

Here it goes:

First of all, open up PCSX2 and go to Config -> Plugin/BIOS Selector

This is the first phase, because you have to get the right Display/Audio Plugins to get the settings like mine.

BIOS doesn’t matter, it can be whatever you want. But the plugins must be like what I have,

If you don’t have any of the plugins above, the Google the exact name and you’ll get it. Incase you don’t find it, contact me.

Now that we have the Plugins setup correctly, now lets tweak the settings.

For this second phase, you have to go to Config -> Emulation Settings

Be careful not to mess too much with it (without knowing what you are doing) because, trust me, you may not even be able to play game unless you reinstall PCSX, so be careful.

First click on EE/IOP and do the following,

EmotionEngine – Recompiler

IOP – Recompiler

EE/FPU Advanced Recompiler Options

in Round Mode set Chop/Zero

in Clamping Mode set None

Next click on VUs

Set VU0 as microVU Recompiler

Set VU1 as microVU Recompiler

VU0/VU1 Advanced Recompiler Options

in Round Mode set Chop/Zero

in Clamping Mode set Normal

Now onto GS

Framelimiter

Uncheck Disable Framelimiting
Base Framerate Adjust as 100%
Slow Motion Adjust as 50%
Turbo Adjust as 200%

Frame Skipping
Check Disabled (default)

Frames to Draw as 1
Frames to Skip as 4

Uncheck Use synchronized MTGS
Uncheck Disable all GS Output

Now go to GS Window

Aspect Ratio as Widscreen (16:9) – Your choice
Custom Window Size as 640 x 480
Zoom as 100%
Your choice – Disable window resize border
Your choice – Always hide mouse cursor
Your choice – Hide window when paused

Your choice – Default to fullscreen mode on open
Your choice – Double-click toggles fullscreen mode

Uncheck – Wait for V-Sync on refresh (Checking it did not affect much, I only lost 2 frames so I have it checked, you can uncheck it if you want to. Vsynce does take up memory on slower machines.)
Uncheck – Dynamically toggle Vsync depending on frame rate (read tooltip!) (If your machine is weak and you opt to have Wait for V-Sync on refresh then Check this)

Now for Speedhacks

Check Enable Speedhacks (duh!)

EE Cyclerate [Not Recommended] as 1 – Eats up your processor
VU Cycle Stealing [Not Recommended] as 0 – Eats up your RAM

Other Hacks
Check Enalbe INTC Spin Detection
Check Enable Wait Loop Detection
Uncheck Enable Fast CD/DVD

microVU Hacks

Check mVU Flag Hack
Uncheck MTVU

Now for the final part of Game Fixes

As you can see uncheck Enable manual game fixes. (Caused lagging in SVR2012)

Now go to Config -> Video (GS) -> Plugin Settings…

Set it as follows,

That is it, this worked wonders for me. Try it and let me know in comments. Hope it helped (at least a little).