# PCSX2: Advanced Setup

## Introduction

PCSX2 can do more than just run PS2 games at 480p!

We're going to do some tweaking to configure PCSX2 for **Quality** or **Performance**, depending on how much your PC can handle.

{% hint style="warning" %}
These instructions are not for total beginners to PC gaming.

You are expected to know basic information about your hardware, such as how many cores your CPU has and your display's native resolution.
{% endhint %}

## What Configuration Should I Use?

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Quality" %}
If you have a gaming PC, follow the instructions to configure PCSX2 for **Quality**.

You don't need the latest and greatest parts, just a dedicated graphics card (GTX 950 or better) and a decent CPU.
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Performance" %}
If you're using a non-gaming laptop or are struggling to run the game at full speed, follow the instructions to configure PCSX2 for **Performance**.

Some settings have **Performance+** configurations which can help smooth out small frame dips.
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Last Resort" %}
If even the Performance configuration doesn't let you run P3F at full speed, follow the instructions to configure PCSX2 for **Last Resort** optimizations.<br>

{% hint style="warning" %}
P3F is considered one of the easier PS2 games to emulate, even on low-end hardware. However, PCSX2 cannot perform miracles.

If your PC is very old or has below-minimum specs, it may not be able to run P3F at full speed.
{% endhint %}
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

## Launch PCSX2 Menu

* Open your **P3F Mods\\.PCSX2** folder and launch **pcsx2-qtx64-avx2.exe**.

<figure><img src="https://3415581489-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FgTnSjT11B6ElK3lgc4iI%2Fuploads%2F4KcvyrqtdGs0RSTVi7YU%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=1182af35-245c-42c0-9244-50c0ac086f94" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

This will open the PCSX2 emulator without running a game:

<figure><img src="https://3415581489-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FgTnSjT11B6ElK3lgc4iI%2Fuploads%2FPs1oQlmTtPdyfBbtSmte%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=9c573fc0-6768-47b3-91d2-f3e253be1968" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

<details>

<summary>Why aren't there any games in PCSX2's game list?</summary>

If you launched Persona 3 FES from the PCSX2 game list, the game would run but the emulator would not load any mods.

In order to play P3F with mods, you must always launch the game from **Aemulus** or one of the shortcuts in your **P3F Mods** folder.

</details>

## Internal Resolution

This setting controls the resolution that 3D scenes render at.

### Access Setting

* In PCSX2, select **Settings > Graphics** to open the **Graphics Settings** menu.

<figure><img src="https://3415581489-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FgTnSjT11B6ElK3lgc4iI%2Fuploads%2FUW82pJ3q6MOtbL0SUoZe%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=7ec82e41-0eec-4dd6-8746-8c6e692f642f" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

* Select the **Rendering** tab from the tab bar.

<figure><img src="https://3415581489-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FgTnSjT11B6ElK3lgc4iI%2Fuploads%2FSrnMfTqIofr11jiCPJKL%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=19360c77-c397-44d0-9dae-2048f157427f" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

* Locate the **Internal Resolution** setting at the top of the **Rendering** menu.

<figure><img src="https://3415581489-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FgTnSjT11B6ElK3lgc4iI%2Fuploads%2FOM6uLGm3VRZug3RWtPeT%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=e1e94999-7fa5-4799-a027-4e389827c820" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Change Setting

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Quality" %}

* Change **Internal Resolution** to match your monitor's resolution.
  * For example, select **3x Native (\~1080p)** if you have a 1080p monitor.

<figure><img src="https://3415581489-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FgTnSjT11B6ElK3lgc4iI%2Fuploads%2FS0LgATA4fKZpfCge7it7%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=392fe02a-9180-4711-add0-4385608208f6" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="info" %}
You can use values even higher than your monitor's resolution to reduce edge aliasing, if your GPU can handle it!
{% endhint %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Performance / Last Resort" %}
{% hint style="success" %}
P3F CEP is configured for Performance resolution by default.
{% endhint %}

* Set **Internal Resolution** to **Native (PS2)**.

<figure><img src="https://3415581489-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FgTnSjT11B6ElK3lgc4iI%2Fuploads%2FPzi6XKFrKdzEvxWLS4gm%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=43228b98-d67e-4cca-805c-69d934094e2a" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="warning" %}
Lowering the internal resolution will only improve performance if your GPU is what's holding PCSX2 back.

Lowering the internal resolution will not improve performance if your CPU is not powerful enough to run the game.
{% endhint %}
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

* Click **Close** to close the Graphics Settings menu.

## Audio Synchronization

We can adjust PCSX2's **audio synchronization** to tell the emulator how much it should balance accuracy and speed:

* A **low latency** means your audio will match up with the visuals, but it requires more CPU power.
* A **higher latency** means your audio will start to lag behind the visuals, but it will give faster emulation performance on low-end PCs and less stuttering.

### Access Setting

* Select **Settings > Audio** to open the **Audio Settings** menu.

<figure><img src="https://3415581489-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FgTnSjT11B6ElK3lgc4iI%2Fuploads%2F0OnzI0HkBkDw02099QAz%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=f91cfbc9-50a2-47f4-b0b5-788cebc4d3b1" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

* Locate the **Synchronization** and **Latency** settings near the top and middle of the menu.

<figure><img src="https://3415581489-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FgTnSjT11B6ElK3lgc4iI%2Fuploads%2FHUgiCrdMOIMAG9rFYEou%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=b8622e3d-fee5-4f98-9710-1e8954b23403" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Change Setting

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Quality" %}

* Set **Synchronization** to **TimeStretch (Recommended)**.

<figure><img src="https://3415581489-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FgTnSjT11B6ElK3lgc4iI%2Fuploads%2FNZqe2vzJg7FZCVl0f6LX%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=b6c19e1d-e10f-4d1a-8f18-74aff08ee27e" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

* Set the **Latency** slider to **33 ms (avg)**.

<figure><img src="https://3415581489-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FgTnSjT11B6ElK3lgc4iI%2Fuploads%2FcLZMNDJo6JqjBJ1p00bb%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=7918e0e9-9858-45cf-888d-29b93af4a5d9" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Performance" %}
{% hint style="success" %}
P3F CEP is configured for Performance audio by default.
{% endhint %}

* Set **Synchronization** to **TimeStretch (Recommended)**.

<figure><img src="https://3415581489-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FgTnSjT11B6ElK3lgc4iI%2Fuploads%2FbS2fqsqD2LQ4HvVtI4iJ%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=41366d9a-7075-40b3-81a4-ab722ce95173" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

* Set the **Latency** slider to **66 ms (avg)**.

<figure><img src="https://3415581489-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FgTnSjT11B6ElK3lgc4iI%2Fuploads%2FkzzgcDuNNrqDt8i6it9a%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=fbd04e90-ccc5-4619-9e1d-a4094454c1b2" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="info" %}
**Performance+**: Set the **Latency** slider to **99 ms (avg)**.
{% endhint %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Last Resort" %}

* Set **Synchronization** to **Async Mix (Breaks some games!)**.

<figure><img src="https://3415581489-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FgTnSjT11B6ElK3lgc4iI%2Fuploads%2FJtH0fuSFRoaEVoN4TWG1%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=c8e92a7a-4c55-409e-97ee-abf72e9ea6d1" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="warning" %}
This setting tells the emulator to always play the game audio at normal speed, even if the game is slowing down.

It will reduce stuttering, but the audio might go out of sync during cutscenes and story events.
{% endhint %}

* Set the **Latency** slider to **66 ms (avg)**.

<figure><img src="https://3415581489-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FgTnSjT11B6ElK3lgc4iI%2Fuploads%2Fbwemlhb2pmJjfkpAaxZ1%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=4a41a433-7079-42f6-a6a6-01e8c7873153" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="info" %}
**Last Resort+**: Set the **Latency** slider to **99 ms (avg)**.
{% endhint %}
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

* Click **Close** to close the **Audio Settings** menu, then close PCSX2.