Dive into the capabilities of the Orange Pi 5 as we explore its PS2 emulation prowess utilizing the Aether sx2 emulator. This feature-rich device comes with 4GB of RAM, making it a potent contender for various emulation tasks.

The Setup

The device showcased in this exploration is housed in a meticulously 3D printed case designed by Phil Seaman. The case design originally incorporated a honeycomb pattern at the bottom, which unfortunately didn’t come out as intended due to a minor mishap during printing. Nevertheless, this serendipitous error provided an unexpected advantage – easy access to the NVMe drive, a crucial feature when booting with an SD card loaded with Android. Learn more about the 3D printed case.

The cooling setup has been slightly modified with a larger fan, operating quietly at 3.3 volts, ensuring the Orange Pi 5 stays cool during intensive tasks, and significantly improving its performance. For further details on cooling solutions, watch this video.

Emulating the PS2: Aether sx2 in Action

Aether sx2 is a promising PS2 emulator available on the Play Store. Before diving into gaming, ensure to have the necessary BIOS file for the emulator.

Game Performance

Several games were put to the test to evaluate the performance of the emulator on Orange Pi 5. Here’s a rundown:

  • Spider-Man 3: Ran seamlessly at one times native resolution, with a smooth frame rate even when bumped up to two times native resolution.
  • Burnout 3: Performed decently, though required a drop in resolution to maintain a playable frame rate.
  • Shadow of the Colossus: This graphically intensive game was playable at one times native resolution, showcasing the emulator’s capability.
  • Pro Evolution Soccer: Encountered minor slowdowns, necessitating a resolution drop for smoother gameplay.
  • Downhill Domination: Initially faced performance hiccups, but tweaking the renderer from Vulkan to OpenGL significantly improved the frame rate.

Graphics and Resolution Scaling

Adjusting the resolution scaling proved to be a handy feature, allowing for a balance between visual quality and performance. The emulator managed to maintain a good frame rate on most games at higher resolution settings, showcasing the Orange Pi 5’s emulation capabilities.

Beyond Emulation

The Orange Pi 5 isn’t just about emulation. It’s a versatile piece of hardware capable of running various operating systems including Android 12, which can be installed following this tutorial. The beta version of Orange Pi OS is also available for those looking to explore it further. Discover more about the Orange Pi OS Beta 0.0.2.

Essential Accessories

To get the most out of your Orange Pi 5, consider investing in some accessories like a quiet cooling fan, a stand-off kit for better case fitting, or a reliable USB C to HDMI adapter for connecting to displays.

Links

Android 12 with Google Play Store tutorial. Orange Pi 5
https://youtu.be/NbwEb-UNhqM

Orange Pi OS Beta 0.0.2. Orange Pi 5
https://youtube.com/shorts/tnyUn_x4yOw?feature=share

3d printed case https://www.printables.com/model/359018-orange-pi-5-case/files

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