Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

ProSystem VS RetroArch

Compare ProSystem VS RetroArch and see what are their differences

ProSystem logo ProSystem

The ProSystem Emulator is an Atari 7800 emulator for the PC and Windows OS.

RetroArch logo RetroArch

RetroArch is a frontend for emulators, game engines and media players.
  • ProSystem Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-03-26
  • RetroArch Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-12-22

ProSystem features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    ProSystem offers a user-friendly interface that simplifies navigation and operation for both new and experienced users.
  • Compatibility
    The software is compatible with various operating systems, providing flexibility for users with different setups.
  • Open Source
    Being open source, ProSystem allows developers to contribute to its improvement and customize it to suit their needs.
  • High Performance
    ProSystem provides robust emulation with minimal latency, ensuring a smooth user experience.

Possible disadvantages of ProSystem

  • Limited Features
    The application may lack some advanced features that are found in other more comprehensive emulation platforms.
  • Support
    As an open-source project, it may not offer official customer support, which can be a drawback for users needing assistance.
  • Updates
    Updates and new releases may not be as frequent, potentially leading to periods where certain bugs remain unresolved.
  • Learning Curve
    Despite its ease of use, users new to emulation software might require some time to familiarize themselves with its functionalities.

RetroArch features and specs

  • Versatility
    RetroArch supports a wide range of gaming platforms and can emulate many different system cores, making it highly versatile for users who want to play games from various consoles.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    RetroArch is available on multiple operating systems including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, enabling users to have a consistent experience across different devices.
  • High Customizability
    Users can customize keybindings, video, and audio settings extensively. There are numerous shaders and overlays that can be applied to enhance the gaming experience.
  • Rich Feature Set
    Features like save states, netplay, rewind, and achievements add a modern twist to retro gaming and are robustly implemented in RetroArch.
  • Active Development Community
    An active development community continually updates RetroArch with new features, bug fixes, and emulation cores, ensuring ongoing improvements and support.

Possible disadvantages of RetroArch

  • Complex Setup
    The setup process for RetroArch can be complex, especially for newcomers. Configuring cores, bios files, and controller setups might require a steep learning curve.
  • Performance Issues
    Some cores may not run smoothly or may have compatibility issues depending on the user's hardware or the specific game being emulated.
  • User Interface
    The user interface, while powerful and feature-rich, can be daunting and unintuitive for those not familiar with emulation software.
  • Legal Concerns
    Users must be cautious about the legality of ROMs and BIOS files, as downloading them without owning the original game or system is illegal in many jurisdictions.
  • Resource Intensive
    RetroArch can be resource-intensive, potentially causing lag or crashes on older or less powerful hardware, especially when using advanced features like shaders.

Analysis of RetroArch

Overall verdict

  • Yes, RetroArch is generally considered a good platform for emulating and playing retro games.

Why this product is good

  • RetroArch is a powerful, open-source front-end for emulators, game engines, and media players. It offers a unified interface and a wide range of features such as real-time rewind, run-ahead input latency reduction, and dynamic rate control to reduce audio stuttering. It also supports advanced configurations and has a vibrant community that contributes to its continuous development and wide-ranging emulator core support.

Recommended for

  • Gamers who enjoy retro and classic video games
  • Users looking for an all-in-one emulator solution
  • Customization enthusiasts who want extensive configuration options
  • Individuals interested in multi-platform support, as RetroArch runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and more

ProSystem videos

Classic Game Room HD - ATARI 7800 ProSystem review

More videos:

  • Review - Atari 7800 ProSystem - Review & Overview
  • Review - Atari 7800 ProSystem review

RetroArch videos

RetroArch - Getting Started! Your Ultimate Retro Gaming PC! [Setup and Demonstration]

More videos:

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to ProSystem and RetroArch)
Gaming
7 7%
93% 93
Emulators
8 8%
92% 92
Group Chat & Notifications
Gaming Tools
5 5%
95% 95

User comments

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Reviews

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

ProSystem Reviews

We have no reviews of ProSystem yet.
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RetroArch Reviews

Best DS Emulator: Are These Emulators Safe And Legal To Use?
RetroArch also supports a wide range of controller types, making it a great choice for gamers who want to use their favorite controller.
Source: appletoo.us
5 Best Nintendo DS Emulators for PC
It has highlights like RetroArch are shaders, netplay, rewinding, next-frame response times, run ahead, machine translation, blind accessibility features, and much more.
Best emulators for Android in 2023
RetroArch is a popular open-source front-end for emulators. If youโ€™re into playing retro games, RetroArch is your one-stop shop for all your emulating needs. It's not an emulator by itself but instead allows you to add "cores" that act as the backend to emulate several legacy consoles. While most of its most popular emulators are already covered here by dedicated apps, it...
5 of the Best GameBoy Advance (GBA) Emulators for Android
RetroArch is a poster child worldwide of emulation, specifically due to the fact that itโ€™s not precisely an emulator. The retroArch is best refer to as a solitary, unified application where you can communicate with other emulators.
4 Free Open Source Game Emulators For Windows PC, Linux, and macOS
In addition to this, you are able to run original game discs (CDs) from RetroArch. RetroArch has advanced features like shaders, netplay, rewinding, next-frame response times, runahead, machine translation, blind accessibility features, and more! What systems does it play?

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, RetroArch seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 20 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.

ProSystem mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of ProSystem yet. Tracking of ProSystem recommendations started around Mar 2021.

RetroArch mentions (20)

  • RetroArch cannot be found on the PlayStore, the first result is a copycat. It is just me?
    No, isn't just you. Every 64-bit phone haves the Play Store Retroarch available, the 32-bits no. But you can still download the 32-bit version on the Retroarch website. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Cause of the intrusion has been found and isolated. Sites are operational again.
    It was only the download links on retroarch.com on the Platforms page that got (briefly) redirected for a few hours. That should all be safe now. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Malicious download links?
    Yes, only the retroarch.com and libretro.com websites were affected. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Recent update from supposed hackers
    I went to retroarch.com and it said "discord.gg/evaderz is big haxors" its unrespectable. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Latest RetroArch on Xiaomi Mi box
    I've got installed RetroArch Plus from Google Play on my Xiaomi Mi box 4k and I want to update it to the latest version. I downloaded apk from retroarch.com but when I use apk installer to update it say is not compatible. I removed version from Google Play but fresh install 1.15.0 is not compatible too. I tried 32 and 64 version. What I'm doing wrong? Is any other AndroidTV version? Source: over 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing ProSystem and RetroArch, you can also consider the following products

Stella - Stella is a multi-platform Atari 2600 VCS emulator released under the GNU General Public License...

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Shoebill - Shoebill - a Macintosh II emulator that runs A/UX (and A/UX only).

RetroX - RetroX is an Android application that will help you organize and play your own Retro Games with the...

Hatari - Hatari is an Atari ST emulator for Linux and other systems that are supported by the SDL library.

LaunchBox - LaunchBox is a portable, box-art-based games database and launcher for DOSBox, emulators, arcade cabinets, and PC Games. Download it free!