Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

GNU Compiler Collection VS PCem

Compare GNU Compiler Collection VS PCem and see what are their differences

GNU Compiler Collection logo GNU Compiler Collection

The GNU Compiler Collection (GCC) is a compiler system produced by the GNU Project supporting...

PCem logo PCem

PCem emulates an IBM 5150 PC, several models of clones and successors, along with various graphics...
  • GNU Compiler Collection Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-12
  • PCem Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-06

GNU Compiler Collection features and specs

  • Open Source
    GCC is free software and its source code is open to the public, allowing developers to contribute, modify, and distribute it.
  • Cross-Platform
    GCC supports a wide range of hardware architectures and operating systems, making it highly versatile for different development environments.
  • Multi-language Support
    It supports multiple programming languages, including C, C++, Fortran, Ada, Go, and more, providing flexibility for developers working in different contexts.
  • Optimization
    GCC provides powerful optimization capabilities that can improve the performance of the compiled code significantly.
  • Strong Community
    There is a large and active community of users and developers that contribute to the project's continuous improvement and provide extensive support.

Possible disadvantages of GNU Compiler Collection

  • Complexity
    GCC can be complex and somewhat daunting for beginners due to its wide array of command-line options and settings.
  • Compilation Speed
    In some cases, GCC can be slower to compile compared to some commercial compilers, particularly at high optimization levels.
  • Error Messages
    The error diagnostics can sometimes be cryptic or less user-friendly, which can make debugging difficult for less experienced programmers.
  • Default Settings
    GCC defaults might not always be the most optimized for every use case, requiring users to manually configure options for best performance.

PCem features and specs

  • High Compatibility
    PCem is known for its high compatibility with a wide range of older PC systems, allowing users to emulate various hardware configurations from the '80s and '90s.
  • Wide OS Support
    PCem supports a variety of operating systems, allowing users to run DOS, Windows 95, 98, and many other legacy systems.
  • Authentic Experience
    By emulating the hardware at a low level, PCem provides an experience that is very close to using an actual vintage PC.
  • Customization
    Users have extensive control over the configuration of the emulated machine, including CPU type, amount of RAM, and various peripherals.

Possible disadvantages of PCem

  • Complex Setup
    Setting up PCem can be complex, especially for users not familiar with configuring legacy PC hardware and software.
  • Resource Intensive
    PCem can be resource-intensive compared to other emulators, requiring a relatively powerful modern PC to run smoothly.
  • Limited Graphics Support
    While it supports many early graphics cards, PCem lacks support for more advanced graphics emulation beyond older Voodoo models.
  • Requires BIOS
    PCem requires the user to provide their own BIOS files for the emulated systems, which can be difficult to legally obtain.

GNU Compiler Collection videos

The GNU Compiler Collection, Dr Jeremy Bennett at Manchester Free Software

More videos:

  • Review - What's New in the GNU Compiler Collection

PCem videos

Installation and Review of Windows NT 3.1 Build 297 (PCem)

More videos:

  • Review - Emulating Windows 98 (D3D, 3Dfx) on PCEM running 3DMark'99 Full Speed On A Windows 10 PC
  • Demo - Blood II PC Gamer Demo (PCEM Test)

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to GNU Compiler Collection and PCem)
IDE
65 65%
35% 35
Email Marketing
74 74%
26% 26
Text Editors
58 58%
42% 42
Project Management
70 70%
30% 30

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

GNU Compiler Collection might be a bit more popular than PCem. We know about 41 links to it since March 2021 and only 34 links to PCem. 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.

GNU Compiler Collection mentions (41)

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PCem mentions (34)

  • Popularity of DOS/4GW made Win95 game compat easier, but with higher stakes
    Absolutely check out PCem for a closer to hardware emulation than dosbox, https://pcem-emulator.co.uk/. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Anyone get Sid Meier's SimGolf Working?
    One option is to try PCEm https://pcem-emulator.co.uk/ which is a emulator for old computers that runs on Windows and Linux, I actually learned about it via this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9HP9W88Wew of a guy playing Sim Golf on his Windows PC using PCEm, this should be similar on Linux but I'm not sure if the SteamDeck will have enough power but maybe worth a try. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Is there anyway to port old abandonware Windows 95/98 game to Apple Silicon?
    For hardcore mode, compile PCEm - I think brew has most of the dependencies available ... https://pcem-emulator.co.uk/ - have fun! Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Is VirtualBox still really bad with Windows 9x?
    You use 86box or PCem which are not virtualizers but hardware emulators so you will need a really fast CPU (especially in single thread). The advantage is that Windows 98 will be running on period appropriate hardware, since all of it is being emulated real-time. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Intel Explores Transition to 64-Bit-Only X86S Architecture
    QEMU [0] emulates many systems, including the 32-bit Intel architecture. For retro gaming specifically I can recommend PCem [1], which also emulates a wide range of sound and graphics cards, from IBM MDA to 3dfx Voodoo 2. [0] https://www.qemu.org/ [1] https://pcem-emulator.co.uk/. - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing GNU Compiler Collection and PCem, you can also consider the following products

clang - C, C++, Objective C and Objective C++ front-end for the LLVM compiler.

NASM - The Netwide Assembler, NASM, is an 80x86 and x86-64 assembler designed for portability and...

Tiny C Compiler - The Tiny C Compiler is an x86, x86-64 and ARM processor C compiler created by Fabrice Bellard.

86Box - 86Box is a hypervisor and IBM PC system emulator that specializes in running old operating systems...

LLVM - LLVM is a compiler infrastructure designed for compile-time, link-time, run-time, and...

flat assembler - A fast and efficient self-assembling x86 assembler for DOS, Windows and Linux.