Bochs
Bochs is a free, open-source emulator that simulates IA-32 x86 PC hardware.
What Bochs is
Bochs is a free, open-source emulator that simulates IA-32 x86 PC hardware. It models Intel CPU families from 386 through x86-64, common I/O devices and a custom BIOS, allowing users to run guest operating systems such as Linux, DOS and Windows. Optional command-line and graphical debuggers let users inspect registers and memory or set breakpoints. Graphics support includes VGA, VESA VBE, Cirrus Logic video and four 3dfx Voodoo adapter models. Bochs can simulate USB controllers and devices, and on several host systems can forward guest network packets to a physical network. Multiprocessor simulation is available for up to 254 processor threads, but is described as experimental. The emulator uses a single-threaded simulation core and does not use dynamic code translation or virtualization. It supplies virtual hardware, not a setup wizard or guest installation media, so users install the guest operating system themselves. Bochs runs on Windows, GNU/Linux, FreeBSD, OpenBSD and MacOS X, with additional documented ports.
Good
- Emulates x86 CPUs from 386 through x86-64.
- Can run Linux, DOS and Windows guests.
- Optional command-line and graphical debuggers are available.
- Supports USB controllers and emulated devices.
- Free and open-source under the GNU Lesser General Public License.
Watch out
- There is no setup wizard or guest installation media.
- Multiprocessor simulation is experimental.
- Some features may require compiling Bochs from source.
- The single-threaded core does not use dynamic code translation.
Who it suits
Bochs suits users who need to emulate x86 hardware and are prepared to configure virtual hardware and install a guest operating system themselves.
Verdict
Bochs provides detailed x86 hardware simulation and debugging tools at no cost. It requires users to handle guest installation and setup rather than relying on a wizard.
Plans and prices
From Bochs's own pricing page, checked 1 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Bochs | Free | No setup wizard · guest OS installation is user's responsibility · some features require compiling from source |
The facts
Each one read from Bochs's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Clipboard
- Depending on the host platform, text can be copied between the text-mode screen and the guest OS clipboard through simulated keystrokes.checked 1 Oct 2026
- CPU range
- It can emulate Intel CPU families from 386 through recent x86-64 Intel and AMD processors.checked 1 Oct 2026
- Debugger
- It provides optional command-line and GUI debuggers for examining registers and memory and setting breakpoints.checked 1 Oct 2026
- Emulated systems
- It includes Intel x86 CPU, common I/O-device, and custom-BIOS emulation.checked 1 Oct 2026
- Graphics
- The emulator supports VGA, VESA VBE resolutions up to 2560x1600x32bpp, Cirrus Logic video, and four 3dfx Voodoo adapter models.checked 1 Oct 2026
- Guest operating systems
- Bochs can run most operating systems inside the emulation, including Linux, DOS, and Microsoft Windows.checked 1 Oct 2026
- Installation
- Users can install a binary package or compile from source, and some features such as the debugger may require compiling Bochs themselves.checked 1 Oct 2026
- License
- The Bochs Project distributes Bochs under the GNU Lesser General Public License.checked 1 Oct 2026
- Multiprocessor emulation
- It can be configured to simulate up to 254 processor threads, although this feature is described as experimental.checked 1 Oct 2026
- Networking
- It emulates NE2000 or Intel 82540EM network adapters and can forward guest packets to the physical network on several host systems.checked 1 Oct 2026
- Performance model
- Bochs does not attempt dynamic code translation or virtualization and uses a single-threaded simulation core.checked 1 Oct 2026
- Setup requirements
- There is no setup wizard or recovery or installation disk; Bochs supplies virtual hardware and users handle guest OS installation.checked 1 Oct 2026
- Support
- The project directs unresolved runtime issues to its developers mailing list or SourceForge bug tracker.checked 1 Oct 2026
- USB
- Bochs supports UHCI, OHCI, EHCI, and xHCI controllers plus emulated mouse, tablet, keyboard, disk, CD-ROM, floppy, hub, and printer devices.checked 1 Oct 2026
- What it does
- Bochs is a highly portable open-source IA-32 (x86) PC emulator written in C++.checked 1 Oct 2026
The company
- Founded
- 1994checked 28 Sep 2026
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