Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

DOSBox VS DOSBox-X

Compare DOSBox VS DOSBox-X and see what are their differences

DOSBox logo DOSBox

DOSBox is a DOS-emulator that uses the SDL-library.

DOSBox-X logo DOSBox-X

DOSBox-X: Free, cross-platform and complete DOS, Windows 3.x and 9x emulation package
  • DOSBox Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-27
  • DOSBox-X Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-07

DOSBox features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    DOSBox is available on multiple operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux, which makes it accessible to a wide range of users regardless of their operating system.
  • Accurate DOS Emulation
    DOSBox provides highly accurate emulation of the original DOS system, allowing older games and applications to run smoothly as they did on legacy hardware.
  • Open Source
    Being open-source software, DOSBox is freely available and can be modified by anyone with programming knowledge, fostering community contributions and improvements.
  • Active Community and Support
    DOSBox boasts an active user community and comprehensive documentation, which provides extensive support, troubleshooting tips, and user-generated content.
  • Customization and Configuration
    Users can customize and configure DOSBox through its configuration file to optimize performance and compatibility for specific games and applications.

Possible disadvantages of DOSBox

  • Steep Learning Curve for Beginners
    New users might find DOSBox's command-line interface intimidating and may need time to familiarize themselves with its commands and setup procedures.
  • Limited Hardware Emulation
    While DOSBox emulates essential hardware, it may not support all legacy hardware configurations, potentially leading to compatibility issues with some older titles.
  • Performance Limitations
    Although suitable for many older games, DOSBox might struggle with more demanding applications from the late DOS era due to its emulation overhead.
  • Manual Configuration Required
    Some games and applications may require manual configuration adjustments for optimal performance, which can be time-consuming and challenging for less tech-savvy users.
  • Not Ideal for Non-Gaming Applications
    DOSBox is primarily geared towards gaming emulation, and it might not be the best solution for users looking to run non-gaming DOS applications.

DOSBox-X features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    DOSBox-X is available for multiple platforms including Windows, Linux, and macOS, ensuring broad accessibility across different operating systems.
  • Enhanced DOS Emulation
    Offers improved emulation of MS-DOS systems, supporting a wider range of DOS applications and games compared to its predecessor.
  • Advanced Configuration Options
    Provides extensive configuration settings which allow users to customize and optimize the emulation environment according to specific needs.
  • Active Development
    The project is actively maintained and updated, incorporating community feedback and releasing new features and bug fixes regularly.
  • Comprehensive Debugging Tools
    Includes robust debugging tools useful for developers looking to analyze the behavior of DOS programs and games.

Possible disadvantages of DOSBox-X

  • Complexity
    The extensive configuration options may be overwhelming for beginners who may prefer a simpler, more straightforward emulation solution.
  • Performance Overhead
    Compared to simpler DOSBox variants, the additional features and capabilities can introduce performance overhead, particularly on lower-end systems.
  • Advanced Knowledge Requirement
    To fully utilize its capabilities, users may need a good understanding of DOS systems and emulation settings.
  • Occasional Stability Issues
    As with any emulation software, certain configurations or applications may lead to occasional crashes or unpredictable behavior.
  • Limited Official Documentation
    While it has an active community, some official documentation may not be as comprehensive, requiring users to search for external resources or community support.

DOSBox videos

Why Do You Need DOSBox?

More videos:

  • Tutorial - DOSBox Tutorial - Installing Games With DOSBox
  • Review - DOSBox review - Can DOSBox actually replace real DOS?

DOSBox-X videos

DOSBox 0.74-3 vs. DOSBox-X 0.82.20 - ADG Filler #78

More videos:

  • Review - How-to: Install DOSBox-X Running Windows 3.11, Netscape, CalmiraXP, and More!

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to DOSBox and DOSBox-X)
Emulators
59 59%
41% 41
Games
39 39%
61% 61
Gaming
54 54%
46% 46
Media Player
68 68%
32% 32

User comments

Share your experience with using DOSBox and DOSBox-X. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare DOSBox and DOSBox-X

DOSBox Reviews

7 Best Mac Emulators For Gamers In 2022
For those hoping to go back to that magical time, or even for those who were not lucky enough to live it in the moment: DOSBox has got you covered.
Source: retrododo.com
12 Best Gaming Console Emulators for Mac in 2022
Honestly, people still play these games made for MS-DOS hence the need for DosBox. If you miss those games and still want to use your dos commands, this emulator is for you. Download
Source: thebingeful.com
10 Emulators To Turn Your Computer Into A Retro Console
DOSBox specializes in emulating an environment where MS-DOS programs can run as intended. So if you have some old DOS games lying around that won’t run on your modern PC, give it a try on DOSBox. It should emulate the game accurately and at native speed.

DOSBox-X Reviews

We have no reviews of DOSBox-X yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, DOSBox-X seems to be a lot more popular than DOSBox. While we know about 59 links to DOSBox-X, we've tracked only 1 mention of DOSBox. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

DOSBox mentions (1)

  • Emulation retro game console that lets me add my own games
    Any xbox using dosbox.com. Plays right from the browser, uses your google drive to pull the roms from. I adore that site. Source: almost 2 years ago

DOSBox-X mentions (59)

  • 101 Basic Computer Games
    If you are craving a BASIC fix, I highly recommend getting a DOS emulator like DosBos-X and just installing a copy of Quickbasic 4.5 (which has a compiler among other niceties over the original Microsoft QBASIC). You can easily find it on the Internet Archive. There are modern variants like QB64, but personally I find that BASIC really loses a lot of its appeal/flavor when you move from an interpretative language... - Source: Hacker News / 12 days ago
  • doesn't exist error?
    If you want to use DOS productivity software or DOS database programs, go with https://dosbox-x.com/ or https://www.vdos.info/. Source: over 1 year ago
  • The Ur-Quan Masters: The Open Source Remake of Star Control II
    He probably meant this fork https://dosbox-x.com/. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Best portable way to use MS-DOS/Windows 98?
    Have you tried DOSBox-X yet? It officially runs Windows 98 and can be mostly configured through a UI. Source: over 1 year ago
  • How/Where to get DosBox
    Https://dosbox-x.com/ if you want a version where modern controllers work properly. Source: almost 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing DOSBox and DOSBox-X, you can also consider the following products

vDosPlus - vDosPlus (formerly vDos-lfn) is a free general-purpose non-gaming DOS emulator running on Windows...

vDos - vDos lets you conveniently run DOS applications by emulating a (spiced up) DOS PC in a window.

DOSEMU - DOSEMU stands for DOS Emulation, and allows you to run DOS and many DOS programs, including many...

FreeDOS - . creation tool just didn't feel up to the task. So, I created a new utility that may have better results.

JsDOSBox - [Development stage] JavaScript PC DOS Emulator

DOSBox SVN Daum - An enhanced SVN build of the DOS emulator which incorporates unofficial features and fixes that are...