PCem VS NASM

Compare PCem VS NASM 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...

NASM

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

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2023-05-06

Landing page //
2021-10-11

PCem

Website: pcem-emulator.co.uk
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NASM

Website: nasm.us
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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.

NASM features and specs

Standardization
NASM (Netwide Assembler) uses a standard and simple syntax that is consistent across different platforms and projects, making it easier for programmers to read and write assembly code.
Cross-Platform
NASM supports multiple operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and macOS, allowing developers to write assembly code that can be assembled on different platforms.
Wide Compatibility
NASM is compatible with numerous output formats such as ELF, COFF, and Mach-O, which makes it versatile for different types of development, including system-level programming and application software.
Open Source
Being open source, NASM allows developers to contribute to its development or adapt it to fit specific needs, granting a high degree of flexibility and customization.
Active Community
NASM has an active user and developer community, providing extensive support, resources, and regular updates that help address issues and enhance features.

Possible disadvantages of NASM

Low-Level Language
Writing in assembly language, including NASM, is inherently low-level, making it complex and time-consuming compared to high-level programming languages.
Steep Learning Curve
NASM requires a significant understanding of assembly language and computer architecture, which may present a steep learning curve for beginners.
Error-Prone
Due to its low-level nature, development in NASM is prone to errors, such as memory management bugs, which can be difficult to debug.
Limited Use Cases
While powerful, NASM is generally used for specific use cases like embedded systems, operating system development, or performance-critical applications, limiting its utility for general software development.
Maintenance Difficulty
Assembly code is less maintainable over time compared to high-level languages, as it can be harder for developers to understand and update long after it was originally written.

PCem videos

+ Add

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

NASM videos

+ Add

Why you should NOT get the NASM CPT || Certification

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to PCem and NASM)

NASM

IDE

52 52%

IDE

48% 48

Text Editors

46 46%

Text Editors

54% 54

Project Management

49 49%

Project Management

51% 51

Email Marketing

62 62%

Email Marketing

38% 38

User comments

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

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, PCem seems to be a lot more popular than NASM. While we know about 34 links to PCem, we've tracked only 3 mentions of NASM. 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

NASM mentions (3)

How to improve at x86/C?
Try https://nasm.us/ as a modern way to use assembly. Source: about 2 years ago
Help needed for asm related project
Assembly is machine specific, have a look at NASM for a more generic assembly language. https://nasm.us/. Source: about 2 years ago
vcpkg now (finally) has site with search functionality
I have a weird problem: when I try using vcpkg on my work laptop, it cannot download nasm. Instead of nasm, I get an HTML page that explains that I am kept safe and secure by CSIS who blocked downloads from this dangerous domain. Vcpkg barfs on the HTML file (as it should). Source: about 4 years ago