Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

DOSBox VS PPSSPP

Compare DOSBox VS PPSSPP and see what are their differences

DOSBox logo DOSBox

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

PPSSPP logo PPSSPP

PPSSPP is the leading PSP emulator for Android, Windows, Linux, Mac and more.
  • DOSBox Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-27
  • PPSSPP Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-09

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.

PPSSPP features and specs

  • High Compatibility
    PPSSPP has a high compatibility rate with a wide range of PSP games, allowing users to play most of their favorite titles with minimal issues.
  • Cross-platform Support
    The emulator is available on various operating systems including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, providing flexibility in how and where you choose to play PSP games.
  • Enhanced Graphics
    PPSSPP offers improvements over the original PSP graphics such as higher resolutions and texture scaling, leading to a better visual experience on modern devices.
  • Save and Load States
    The emulator allows users to save and load game states at any point, making it easier to make progress in games without relying solely on in-game save points.
  • Customizable Controls
    PPSSPP lets users customize on-screen controls and map physical controllers to suit their preferences, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.

Possible disadvantages of PPSSPP

  • Performance Issues
    On some older or less powerful devices, the emulator may struggle with performance, leading to slowdowns or graphical glitches in certain games.
  • Configuration Complexity
    Setting up PPSSPP optimally for different games can be complex, requiring users to tweak graphics and audio settings to achieve the best results.
  • Legal and Ethical Concerns
    While the emulator itself is legal, downloading or sharing copyrighted game ROMs without owning the original copies is illegal, leading to potential ethical dilemmas for users.
  • Inconsistent Experience
    Although most games are supported, some may still encounter bugs or run with issues, requiring individual fixes or updates from developers.

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?

PPSSPP videos

PPSSPP Review (Fast PSP Emulator)

More videos:

  • Review - PPSSPP - PSP Emulator - Android - 2020 - Easy Set Up And Games!
  • Review - So I've Been Playing: DRAGON BALL EVOLUTION [ Review PSP / ppsspp ]

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to DOSBox and PPSSPP)
Emulators
60 60%
40% 40
Gaming
51 51%
49% 49
Games
100 100%
0% 0
Gaming Tools
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

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

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.

PPSSPP Reviews

15 best emulators for Android to play old favorites!
PPSSPP is, without question, the best PSP emulator on the market. It features the best stability, best ROM support, and best features of any of the other PSP emulators. Additionally, the emulator includes the usual array of features for an emulator. It is still a work in progress. Some games may not play at full speed, even on the latest devices. However, it’s definitely...
10 Emulators To Turn Your Computer Into A Retro Console
Playstation Portable Simulator Suitable For Playing Portably (PPSSPP) is a fairly new emulator with the purpose of running PSP games. It was created by one of the cofounders of Dolphin and just like Dolphin, is easy to set up and can play a large number of PSP games.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, PPSSPP should be more popular than DOSBox. It has been mentiond 9 times since March 2021. 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

PPSSPP mentions (9)

  • MH:R RELEASED! LET'S FUCKING GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
    PPSSPP is the emulator that you need to play the games. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Which persona do I get when the ports come out? Alot of people say 4 is really good but I've never played 3 or 4 myself
    I used the PPSSPP emulator that emulates PSP games as it allows me to emulate several of the games, though I do recommend using PCSX2 for ps2 games, specifically so that you can play P3 FES, which I prefer to P3P. (which is the one getting the steam port) I won't link you to any of the game ROMs bc I think that can get me in trouble, but looking up persona [number] PSP ROM will probably get you what you're looking... Source: almost 3 years ago
  • PPSSPP (1.12.3) crashing at startup
    The standalone PPSSPP app crashes no matter which version I use, including the latest 1.12.3. I can't even get error logs because the app does not even start, just crashes out to the home screen. I used the Google Play version, as well as the APKs on the official ppsspp.org site. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Persona game questions.
    If you're asking about emulation, that has nothing to do with modding the games (no one's made any translation mods for the Japanese PSP games that have official translations anyway). It's playing them on a different device (such as PC) using an emulation program such as PPSSPP. You'll have to acquire the game ROMs separately, but the only way to do that legally is if you rip it from your own copy (which you'd... Source: about 3 years ago
  • Posted a few days ago.
    If you want to emulate the PSP version just get the ISO of P3P from CDRomance or Vimm's Lair, and just download PPSSPP http://ppsspp.org/ from here or download it from the Play Store if you're on Android. Source: over 3 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

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

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

PCSX2 - PCSX2 a Playstation 2 emulator for android, Linux and Mac

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

RetroArch - RetroArch is a frontend for emulators, game engines and media players.

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

Dolphin Emulator - Official website of Dolphin, the GameCube and Wii emulator. Download the latest version (5. 0-5763) now or ask questions on our forums for help. Enter your search in the box aboveDownloadDownload the latest version of the Dolphin Emulator (5.