DOSBox Optionals
5.6#19 in ms-dos emulatorsWindows
VisitDOSBox Optionals vs DOSBox Staging
DOSBox Staging
7.2#3 in ms-dos emulatorsFree planFree planAPILinuxmacOSSelf-hosted
VisitWhat both publish
| Fact | DOSBox Optionals | DOSBox Staging |
|---|---|---|
| Audio | Listed sound support includes MAME sound, FluidSynth, Munt MT-32, Nuked OPL3, and SSI-2001 reSID emulation. | Emulated sound options include Roland MT-32 and SC-55, FluidSynth MIDI, OPL, Gravis UltraSound, and PC speaker audio. |
| Graphics | The listed video backends are Surface, OpenGL, and OpenGL3 with shader support. | Features include zero-configuration CRT emulation, aspect-ratio-correct output, accurate VGA emulation, custom shaders, and 3dfx Voodoo emulation. |
| Networking | The README lists Novel NE2000 and IPX mode support. | A virtual Novell NE2000 card supplies TCP/IP networking through DHCP, with configurable TCP and UDP port forwarding. |
| Purpose | DOSBox Optionals is a DOS, Windows 95, and Windows 98 emulator forked from DOSBox and targeting Windows. | Runs MS-DOS and Windows 3.1 software on modern Windows, macOS, and Linux computers, with MS-DOS emulation built in. |
DOSBox Optionals plans
No prices published.
DOSBox Staging plans
- DOSBox StagingFree
Pick DOSBox Optionals if…
DOSBox Optionals suits Windows users seeking to run MS-DOS, Windows 95, or Windows 98 software in an emulator. Its listed graphics, audio, disk image, and networking options may be useful for retro software setups.
Pick DOSBox Staging if…
DOSBox Staging suits people seeking to run DOS or Windows 3.1-era software on Windows, macOS or Linux. It is intended for personal, low-stakes use rather than guaranteed compatibility.