Beginner's guide: Switching from the original Dosbox to Daum Dosbox

At GOG, the Dos games are normally sold only with the original Dosbox. The development stopped at 0.74.
However, Taewoong offers his "DOSBox SVN Daum builds" which include some improvements and enhancements:
http://ykhwong.x-y.net/
There are several reasons why I prefer the DOSBox SVN Daum builds, e.g. because of the better scalers. Maybe you want to give it a try for yourself.

1. Install the game from GOG. I tested it with "Secret agent", but the procedure should always be similar.

2. Download the most recent Daum build at http://ykhwong.x-y.net/.
Just choose the .7z-file and extract in a specific subfolder, say "dosbox_daum".

3. Copy this folder to your GOG Dos game, e.g. E:\goggames\Secret Agent
There, you now have two subfolders:
- E:\goggames\Secret Agent\DOSBOX
- E:\goggames\Secret Agent\dosbox_daum

4. Rename
E:\goggames\Secret Agent\DOSBOX
to E:\goggames\Secret Agent\DOSBOX_old

5. Rename
E:\goggames\Secret Agent\dosbox_daum
to E:\goggames\Secret Agent\DOSBOX

6. Test it: Launch the game with its shortcut, e.g. : "Launch Secret Agent"
Everything should run smoothly.

Now, it is time to make use of the Daum improvements by manipulating the .conf-file.

1. In the game directory, there should be a .conf file with the name of the specific game, e.g.
E:\goggames\Secret Agent\dosbox_secret_agent.conf
Rename this file to something like
E:\goggames\Secret Agent\dosbox_secret_agent_old.conf

2. In the subfolder with the Daum Dosbox, there is a file dosbox.conf
As you have previously renamed the folder, it is here:
E:\goggames\Secret Agent\DOSBOX\dosbox.conf
Copy this file to the parent folder, e.g.
E:\goggames\Secret Agent\DOSBOX
Rename it to the name given by the GOG installation, e.g.
E:\goggames\Secret Agent\DOSBOX\dosbox_secret_agent.conf
Taewoong gives some interesting comments to the specific options to understand better what you can / should / should not change.

Now: Have fun! Just change whatever line you want!
But to get not lost, here some recommendations:

Whenever you change a line, first copy it and add a "#" at the beginning:
From:
scaler=normal2x
To:
# scaler=normal2x
scaler=hq3x

Thus, if a game shows some strange results or does not start at all, you can easily revert every change.

Here are a few suggestions:
[sdl]
fullscreen=true
fulldouble=true
fullresolution=desktop
windowresolution=1024x768
output=direct3d
autolock=true
sensitivity=100
waitonerror=true
priority=higher,normal
mapperfile=mapper-SVN-Daum.map
# pixelshader=point.fx
pixelshader=HQ2x.fx
usescancodes=false
overscan=0

[dosbox]
language=
machine=svga_s3
vmemsize=32
captures=capture
mainline compatible mapping=true
adapter rom is ram=true
private area size=32768
memsize=32
memsizekb=0
memalias=0

[render]
frameskip=0
aspect=true
linewise=true
char9=true
doublescan=true
# scaler=hq3x
scaler=hq4x
# scaler=xbrz
autofit=true


[vsync]
vsyncmode=on
vsyncrate=60

[cpu]
core=auto
cputype=pentium_mmx
cycles=max limit 80000
cycleup=500
cycledown=500
ignore opcode 63=true
apmbios=false
isapnpbios=true
realbig16=false

+1 for an excellent guide. I've looked at Taewoong's DOSBox build several times but never got round to trying it. This has given me the nudge to give it a go - so thanks!

You mention the better scalers, but what would you consider to be other worthwhile advantages of this version of DOSBox.

Already used it ages ago since it was the only build that had whatchamacallit integrated.. eh MT-32.
Could you perhaps add some comments as to what the settings do?
I kind of hate it when people post a config without explaining what it does.

In the [sdl] section, use the line
pixelshader=HQ2x.fx

On a huge monitor, you should be able to eliminate some more jaggies, better than with the scaler hq3x / hq4x alone.

But all in all, the gameplay "feels" better with the Daum version, IMHO of course.

Great guide but one minor quibble. I've been told before that development hasn't stopped. They haven't had a new release in years but it is still being slowly worked on.

Well, then I apologize.
However, from what I know, only the Daum version offers some improvements and enhancements like the pixelshader and the 3dfx. In Daum there is a section The GOG versions do not have pixelshader nor glide.

In the dosbox.conf of Daum, Taewoong himself explains what every single line means, what options do you have and sometimes what he recommends.
I quoted the [vsync] sections, but omitted the start.
Taewoong writes: Other sections, esp. offer very rich information.

Thanks for the replies eli2. I'll try this out with the next DOS game I play.

Would be cool if GOG decided to switch from 0.74 to Daum builds for all DOS games here.

I saw Daum shows screenshots of windows 95 (and points to vogons guide to install win 98se too),
Isn't it better to run win98se on a virtual machine such as Virtual Pc for win7 Or Virtual Pc 2004 of win XP to run win98se (also 2007 runs on xp and can somewhat emulate win98se)?

Hrm, this sounds very cool for high res monitors! I'm playing XCOM UFO Defense at the moment which I believe uses DOSbox (would have to check), and while it is a Steam game, it could likely benefit from the shaders too. Playing XCOM with a more CRT-looking display with analogue filtering would make the game feel more 90s'ish.

Tomb Raider 1 supports Glide (3dfx), and the GOG's version of Dosbox already has Glide activated.

First a notice concerning both Dosbox versions: After starting TR1, the title screen (with Lara's passport) showed up. After selecting "New game", the game stopped. I had to switch to Windows (Alt+Tab) and back to TR 1 (again Alt+Tab). After that, it was still necessary to switch to fullscreen (Alt+Enter).

Now to Daum:

1. In section
[sdl]
you must use Any other value (e.g. "desktop", "1920x1200") results in a small window that cannot be switched to fullscreen (normally possible with Alt+Enter).
Using results in the same problem.

2. The option (also in section [sdl]) does not have any effect in 3D. It is however noticeable in the 2D parts, as in the Dos command line (when starting the game) but also in the movies. Try and you know what I mean.


3. In section
[render]
the option had to be set to false; otherwise, the small window (see above) showed up.

4. In the same section
[render]
the option has only effects for the 2D parts (like the pixelshader mentioned above).


5. I recommend the following entries in the section [cpu]: In the first place this may depend on the question whether the VM has full soundcard support.
Dosbox is a full gamer PC.
Other VMs are often only intended to run old office applications, e.g. a specific database or editor.
Iirc there are indeed some games that just need Win95 / 98 / 98SE. But up to now I do not see the need for a Win9x VM.

For TR1, use nGlide.

Already mentioned here.