PCem VS 86Box

Compare PCem VS 86Box and see what are their differences

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PCem

PCem emulates an IBM 5150 PC, several models of clones and successors, along with various graphics...

86Box

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

Landing page //
2023-05-06

Landing page //
2023-10-19

PCem

Website: pcem-emulator.co.uk
$ Details

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86Box

Website: github.com
$ Details: -

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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.

86Box features and specs

Hardware Emulation
86Box offers comprehensive emulation of various hardware components, allowing users to run a wide range of legacy software and operating systems accurately.
Open Source
Being open-source, 86Box allows users to contribute to its development and customize the emulator to meet specific needs, fostering a community-driven approach.
Active Development
The project is actively maintained and updated, ensuring compatibility with new systems and incorporating user feedback and bug fixes regularly.
Wide Compatibility
It supports a wide range of CPUs, sound cards, and graphics systems, providing flexibility in emulating different historical hardware setups.

Possible disadvantages of 86Box

Complex Setup
Setting up 86Box can be challenging for beginners due to the detailed configuration required for different system components.
Resource Intensive
The emulation can be resource-intensive, requiring significant computer resources to run smoothly, especially for complex setups.
Limited Documentation
While there is community support, official documentation can be sparse, making it difficult for new users to troubleshoot issues independently.
Niche Application
Primarily focused on enthusiasts of retro computing, 86Box may not fulfill the needs of users looking for modern virtualization solutions.

PCem videos

+ Add

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

86Box videos

+ Add

Windows 3.0 30th anniversary special - Installing Windows 3.0 in 86Box

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to PCem and 86Box)

86Box

IDE

63 63%

IDE

37% 37

Text Editors

55 55%

Text Editors

45% 45

Project Management

51 51%

Project Management

49% 49

Email Marketing

100 100%

Email Marketing

0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using PCem and 86Box. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, PCem seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 34 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.

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 / almost 2 years 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: about 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 / about 2 years ago