For retro and nostalgic gamers, the charm of old games (classics) is truly irreplaceable by today’s fast-food games. Previously, there have been many articles sharing how to use TV boxes, Raspberry Pis, or PSCs (Playstation Classics) to run retro games with Lakka, EmuELEC, and other emulators.
As a mini console enthusiast, Windows itself is actually the platform with the most complete emulators, capable of covering PS3 and even NS (Nintendo Switch) at a higher ceiling. By using a mini console at hand, paired with a large hard drive and unlimited controllers, it’s very convenient to build a versatile retro mini console.
This article utilizes my mini console (Zerokey SER5 Pro) to introduce several frontends and independent emulators I have personally encountered, achieving a comprehensive retro console experience from arcade, handheld, to home consoles. Any console that can run Windows can use the solutions introduced in this article, but different emulators have different hardware configuration requirements, and machines with different configurations may encounter issues where certain platforms cannot run smoothly. At the same time, with more covered platforms, there may naturally be some compatibility issues, which can only be resolved by everyone using search based on their encountered situations.
▼ The miniPC used this time is the Zerokey SER5 Pro, configured with AMD Ryzen5-5600H + 16GB RAM
Emulator Frontend & Independent Emulators
Due to the numerous retro gaming platforms, if there is one emulator for each platform, the installation and gaming experience won’t be very good. Therefore, currently, if you want to cover multiple platforms for retro games, a frontend is essential. The three main frontends known to domestic players on the PC platform are: Universal Emulator, Pegasus, and CoinOPS.
Universal Emulator
The Universal Emulator (RetroArch) is a frontend that must be mentioned; it is currently the most comprehensive frontend covering Windows, Mac, Linux, to mobile platforms like Android, iOS, PSP, PSV, 3DS, and to console platforms like GC, Wii, XBox, NS, PS3, PS4.
However, I personally do not recommend choosing the Universal Emulator, as the installation and configuration threshold is relatively high, and novice players can easily feel lost in the complex configurations/options. Currently, there are many contributors maintaining the Universal Emulator package, and the NS/PSV platform’s “I Do UFO” has been continuously updating the integrated package. Other platforms also have many individuals/groups maintaining it. If you want to use the Universal Emulator on Windows, it is advisable to choose some well-reviewed integrated packages (I personally have not used the Universal integrated package on Win, so I won’t recommend any here).
Of course, the Universal Emulator also has its advantages; as a simulator spanning multiple platforms, once you get the hang of it, switching platforms can also be conveniently used. There are already many tutorials about the Universal Emulator online, so everyone should make good use of the search function~
Pegasus Frontend
Pegasus Frontend is also a relatively popular frontend recently (and it also calls the Universal Emulator, is it the frontend of the frontend?), in my opinion, it is more convenient in terms of use and configuration compared to the Universal Emulator, even the integrated package installation tutorials are more comprehensive. Currently, there are two workgroups’ integrated packages that are relatively popular in China: one is the Pit Digger Alliance (XperiaPLAY’s Eternal Glory) with the Pegasus 2.0 integrated package, and the other is the Jump Pit Alliance (Mr. Big Aperture, etc., even the naming has “pit”…) with the Pegasus 3.5 integrated package.
In terms of use, Pegasus makes modifying configuration files and adding games easier, especially the PDF tutorial written by the Jump Pit Alliance is very detailed, making it suitable for users with poor English reading skills (who find it painful to look at the Universal Emulator/Pegasus official website). The Pegasus 3.5 from the Jump Pit Alliance has been maintained and updated, and the total capacity of the integrated package has now reached 1.7TB (you can download portions as needed based on the platform). If you are a new friend entering the pit, I personally recommend starting from the Pegasus 3.5 of the Pit Digger Alliance.
Pegasus also has another advantage, which is that the same integrated package can conveniently cover PC, Mac, and Android, basically only needing to batch process to modify metadata.txt to switch between different platforms.
▼ Pit Digger Alliance, Pegasus 2.0 integrated
▼ Jump Pit Alliance, Pegasus 3.5 integrated package + ES2 theme
In terms of adding emulators and games, Pegasus mainly does this by editing the metadata, and the Pegasus official website has detailed descriptions about this. You can also refer to the metadata.txt provided in the integrated package for self-modification.
▼ metadata.txt example
collection: 3DO
extension: bin, iso, zip
ignore-file: D no Shokutaku (Japan) (Disc 2).bin
launch: “\Pegasus-wkzlm\RetroArch\retroarch.exe” -L “\Pegasus-wkzlm\RetroArch\cores\opera_libretro.dll” “{file.path}”
game: D之食卓
file: D no Shokutaku (Japan) (Disc 1).bin
developer: D之食卓
description: D之食卓（D no Shokutaku）是……
CoinOPS Next 2
CoinOPS Next 2 is actually also a very excellent frontend, with a very exquisite interface and a good reputation among foreign users. However, since many are organized by foreign contributors, the ROM’s Chinese translations and versions do not quite match the habits of Chinese users. Therefore, if you are a newcomer choosing an integrated package, it is still recommended to prioritize the Pegasus 3.5 integrated package.
▼ CoinOPS Next frontend integrated package interface
Onemorething——OpenEmu (Mac)
For Mac users, the lack of games has always been an old problem. In fact, there is also a very excellent emulator frontend on the Mac platform—OpenEmu. As a Mac software, OpenEmu continues the exquisite design style of the Mac platform, far surpassing other frontends in terms of refinement. Although the number of emulator platforms supported by OpenEmu may not be as extensive as the Universal Emulator, the super simple ROM addition (just drag and drop) allows users to focus more on the game itself.
Moreover, the compatibility aspect is also beyond expectations. I remember shortly after I got my M1 Mac Mini, I encountered this frontend. Initially, I was worried about compatibility issues when switching to Arm for the first time, but the actual experience was basically perfect. OpenEmu also has many built-in filters, which are very convenient for beginners. Of course, the minimalist and convenient design concept is not perfect; for users who like to pursue parameter adjustments and tweak cheats, OpenEmu’s minimalist design is a double-edged sword.
With the performance of most users’ PCs today, running PS2 or earlier platforms is basically no problem. Most compatibility issues can be solved by adjusting the frontend’s core calls. However, for newer generation platforms like PS2, PS3, and WiiU, the performance requirements will be higher, especially RPCS3, Yuzu, and Ryujinx require higher machine performance. Of course, due to space constraints, I won’t elaborate on these specific emulators; you can find rich introductions and configuration information through search.
▼ Although AetherSX2 claims to be arm-based, it has now logged onto Xbox in UWP form, which doesn’t seem to be limited to arm?
SER5 Pro Unboxing
Having discussed many frontends and emulators earlier, the latter part of this article will introduce the carrier I chose—the Zerokey SER5 Pro, which packs a lot of retro games into a volume of less than 0.6L (126mm x 113mm x 42mm).
This machine is configured with an AMD Ryzen5-5600H, 16GB (8GX2) dual-channel DDR4 memory, and comes with a 512GB PCIe SSD. To expand storage, I added a 1TB SATA SSD for storing ROMs. Although this is a mini console with integrated graphics, its performance release is good, and the AMD APU is very capable, making the emulator experience quite satisfactory.
For most emulators currently, CPU performance is the top priority. The 5600H provides a 6-core, 12-thread Zen3 CPU, with a base frequency of 3.3GHz and a burst frequency of 4.2GHz, which is generally sufficient. In terms of GPU, the integrated Vega graphics of the Ryzen5-5600H performs well; although it may have a certain gap compared to dedicated graphics like GTX1050, most emulator games perform adequately, and even some PC AAA games can run at lower resolutions.
Of course, if the sole purpose is gaming, there are currently more cost-effective options like the XSS around 1800, or various boxes that can install EmuELEC. The reason for choosing the Windows platform solution mainly has two considerations:
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Besides gaming, PCs can also be used for many other tasks. Pure gaming platforms, while cheaper, have almost zero expandability beyond entertainment.
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In addition to having richer emulators, the Windows platform can conveniently run many Win games, giving it an advantage in terms of game richness.
The SER5 Pro provides two USB 3.0 Type-A ports, one USB Type-C port supporting video output (DP Alt Mode), a power button, and a 3.5mm headphone jack on the front. The back has a gigabit network card, one USB 3.0 Type-A, one USB 2.0 Type-A, two HDMI 2.0 ports, and the power input. You can connect monitors or TVs as needed through USB Type-C to DP and HDMI ports.
As a miniPC, disassembly is also very convenient; just unscrew the four screws on the bottom and carefully open the back cover to see the internal components.
The build quality of the SER5 Pro also maintains Zerokey’s consistently good standards, with component placement and black PCB being impeccable for this price range. The machine’s external interfaces also use conductive tape connections to enhance anti-static/EOS capabilities.
For the memory, I chose the 16GB version, with the factory configuration being two Micron DDR4-3200 sticks. There is also a high-end option with 32GB memory available. The SSD is from Kingston NV1, PCIe 3.0 interface, with a capacity of 512GB. The machine also provides a 7mm 2.5-inch SATA hard drive slot, and I added a 1TB Crucial MX500 for storage expansion.
The network card is still the AMD and MTK customized RZ608 (MT7921K), supporting Wifi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2. The Wifi 6E part has a maximum rate of 1200Mbps with 2×2, and Bluetooth can also be used to connect wireless controllers.
Performance Testing
Although the Ryzen5-5600H is not a very new processor, as a non-x8xx/x9xx among APUs, there are not many performance testing articles online. Here, I will casually test the overall performance. If you have a machine and are considering running the emulator platforms I introduced, you can refer to this performance testing data as a rough reference.
In terms of CPU, it has a 6-core, 12-thread Zen3 core, with a single-core score of 563.2 and a multi-core score of 3527 on CPU-Z.
CINEBENCH R23 shows a single-core score of 1370pts and a multi-core score of 7796pts, which is sufficient for productivity tools.
For the GPU, the 3DMark Fire Strike GPU score is 4000, with a combined score of 3647. The 3DMark Time Spy GPU score is 1247, with a CPU score of 6185 and a combined score of 1416.
The memory consists of two Micron 8GB DDR4-3200 sticks, with timings of 22-22-52-CR1. The actual memory read bandwidth is 46910MB/s, write bandwidth is 41497MB/s, copy bandwidth is 41434MB/s, and the latency is 90.9ns.
The overall performance score is still more meaningful when using PCMark10, where the SER5 Pro scored a total of 6022. Among them, the scores for commonly used software startup, video conferencing, and browser total 10239, while the corresponding productivity scores for spreadsheet editing and document processing total 9748, and for image editing, rendering, and video editing total 5938.
Although the Ryzen5-5600H integrates a 7CU Vega graphics, its actual gaming performance is still quite good. In tests, running Assassin’s Creed Odyssey at 720P on minimum settings achieved an average frame rate of 46 frames. While it doesn’t reach the full 60 frames, being able to run AAA games from a few years ago smoothly is already a great value.
Similarly, running Shadow of the Tomb Raider at 720P with minimum settings achieved an average frame rate of 56 frames, also within a playable range.
Some Emulator Tests
For platforms before PS2, there is basically no pressure on today’s PCs. Performance is no longer a limitation. As long as there are no compatibility issues, they can generally run perfectly, so I won’t elaborate further.
▼ DC, PSP and other old platforms pose no challenge for the Ryzen5-5600H
Compared to the success of the Wii, the Wii U is considered a relatively failed generation of consoles. However, its design laid the foundation for the now over 100 million sales of the NS. In terms of software lineup, the WiiU is also quite good, and the CEMU emulator is highly mature.
For the CEMU test, I chose the popular Breath of the Wild, which runs without pressure under Vulkan API. Apart from the emulator consuming a lot of memory and GPU, the CPU still has some headroom.
Due to the complexity of the Cell processor used in the PS3, as of now, the RPCS3 official compatibility list only shows 68.04% playable. In addition to compatibility, for the integrated graphics of the Ryzen5 6600H + 16GB RAM, many games will inevitably not have enough performance.
For testing, I chose relatively less demanding titles like Super Robot Wars 2OG and God of War 1+2 HD Remaster. The 2OG part used a dedicated integrated package from Baidu Tieba, and although the emulator version was older, it still easily maintained 60 frames. For users wanting to review God of War 1 and 2, the PS3 remastered version should be the best quality version, and the game frame rate was also very stable, with lower CPU and memory usage compared to CEMU.
▼ 2OG
▼ God of War 1+2 HD Remaster
Finally, the last test was on the Yuzu emulator, which also used the Vulkan API. Breath of the Wild was tested to be stable between 20-30 frames. The CPU still had some headroom, but both 16GB memory and GPU were relatively tight; if it were 32GB memory, it would be better.
Non-Recommendations for Controllers
For most games, the Xbox wireless controller is quite recommended, as it can be directly connected to the computer via Bluetooth. If there is no Bluetooth, a wireless receiver needs to be purchased.
▼ Xbox Controller
For budget-conscious users, you can also consider the 8BitDo Orion wired controller (compatible with Xbox, so it can only be wired), while the wireless option would be the 8BitDo Pro2.
▼ 8BitDo Orion
▼ 8BitDo Pro2
Conclusion
Returning to the content introduced in this article, the emulator part is more of a starting point. Whether you use a traditional desktop, laptop, or mini console, you can use the frontend + independent emulator approach to create your own versatile retro machine.
Mini consoles are still relatively niche products in China. Many users may have never heard of them or have doubts about the performance of such small products. In fact, large companies like Intel have been promoting NUC, and with higher integration and enhanced heat dissipation design, the performance of mini consoles has not been compromised at all. The Zerokey SER5 Pro, which uses AMD’s standard pressure processor, can handle daily office work, light gaming, 4K video playback, image processing, and even some video editing. The build quality of the SER5 Pro is also among the top in its price range, and its highly integrated design saves a lot of space. The emulator part has already met the needs of almost all mainstream emulators. For emulator enthusiasts, the AMD/Intel integrated graphics machines available this year are very valuable.
As a mini console enthusiast, I will continue to share reviews and gameplay of mini consoles with everyone. I hope everyone pays attention to my future updates. Finally, thank you all for watching. I welcome everyone to like, bookmark, and leave comments in the comment section. I am KC, and I will see you in the next article~