PCSX2 Out of Memory Texturing Temporarily Disabled Error: Tips and Tricks for Better Performance and Compatibility
Introduction
PCSX2 is a free and open-source PlayStation 2 emulator for Windows, Linux, and Mac. It allows you to play PS2 games on your PC, with many benefits over the original console. Some of the advantages of using PCSX2 are:
pcsx2 out of memory texturing temporarily disabled
You can play PS2 games in higher resolutions, up to 4K, with anti-aliasing, texture filtering, and other graphical enhancements.
You can use custom shaders, cheats, save states, screenshots, and recording tools.
You can use various controllers, including keyboard, mouse, gamepad, or even a real PS2 controller with an adapter.
You can play PS2 games from different regions, with support for PAL and NTSC formats.
You can play PS2 games that are rare, expensive, or no longer available.
However, PCSX2 is not a plug-and-play emulator. It requires some configuration and optimization to run smoothly and avoid errors. In this article, I will provide you with some tips and tricks on how to set up PCSX2 and play PS2 games on your PC.
Requirements
Before you start using PCSX2, you need to make sure that your PC meets the minimum and recommended system requirements for the emulator. According to the official website, these are the requirements for PCSX2:
Minimum
Operating system: Windows 10 21H2 (1809 or later) (64-bit) or Ubuntu 20.04/Debian or newer, Arch Linux, or other distro (64-bit)
CPU: Any that supports SSE4.1 (Pentium 4 and up, Athlon64 and up)
GPU: Any that supports Pixel Shader model 2.0, except Nvidia FX series (broken SM2.0, too slow anyway)
RAM: 4 GB
Software: Visual C++ 2019 x86 Redistributables
Recommended
Operating system: Windows 10 21H2 (1809 or later) (64-bit) or Ubuntu 22.04/Debian or newer, Arch Linux, or other distro (64-bit)
CPU: Supports AVX2 (Intel Core i3/i5/i7 or AMD Ryzen) with PassMark single thread performance rating near or greater than 2100
GPU: Supports Direct3D11/OpenGL 4.6/Vulkan 1.3 with PassMark G3D Mark rating around 6000 (GeForce GTX 1050 Ti or Radeon RX 570)
RAM: 8 GB
Software: Visual C++ 2019 x86 Redistributables
Note that these requirements are based on general guidelines and may vary depending on the game you want to play. Some games are more CPU-intensive or GPU-intensive than others, so you may need a stronger or weaker PC for different games. You can check the compatibility list or the wiki for more information on specific games.
Downloading and installing PCSX2 Downloading and installing PCSX2
To download and install PCSX2 on your PC, you need to follow these steps:
Click on the Download button on the sidebar to go directly to the official PCSX2 download page.
Click on the option that applies to you and download the setup file. You can choose between the stable release, which is more tested and stable, or the development build, which is more updated and experimental. You can also choose between the full installer, which includes everything you need, or the standalone installer, which requires you to have Visual C++ 2019 x86 Redistributables installed on your PC.
Go to your download folder and double-click the .exe file you downloaded to start the installation. Follow the instructions on the screen and choose the destination folder for PCSX2. You can also choose to create a desktop shortcut for easy access.
Once the installation is done, click Finish to launch the application. You will see a welcome screen with some information about PCSX2 and a link to the official website. Click Next to proceed.
You will be asked to select a language for PCSX2. Choose the one you prefer and click Apply.
You will be asked to configure your plugins for PCSX2. Plugins are software components that handle different aspects of the emulation, such as graphics, sound, input, and CD/DVD drive. You can use the default plugins that come with PCSX2, or you can download and install other plugins from the internet. For each plugin, you can click Configure to adjust its settings, or Test to check if it works properly. You can also click Reset Defaults to restore the default settings for all plugins. When you are done, click Next.
You will be asked to select a BIOS file for PCSX2. The BIOS file is a copy of the firmware of your PS2 console, which is required for PCSX2 to run PS2 games. You cannot use PCSX2 without a BIOS file, and you cannot download it from the internet, as it is illegal to do so. You have to obtain it from your own PS2 console, which I will explain how in the next section. For now, click Finish to complete the installation of PCSX2.
Congratulations! You have successfully downloaded and installed PCSX2 on your PC. Now you are ready to play PS2 games on your PC. Getting the BIOS file
As I mentioned before, you need a BIOS file to use PCSX2. The BIOS file is a copy of the firmware of your PS2 console, which contains the basic instructions and settings for the system. Without a BIOS file, PCSX2 cannot run PS2 games, as it would not know how to emulate the PS2 hardware.
However, you cannot download the BIOS file from the internet, as it is illegal to do so. The BIOS file is protected by copyright laws and belongs to Sony, the manufacturer of the PS2 console. Downloading or distributing the BIOS file without permission is considered piracy and can result in legal consequences.
The only legal way to get the BIOS file is to obtain it from your own PS2 console. This means that you need to own a PS2 console and a way to connect it to your PC. There are different methods to do this, depending on the model of your PS2 console and the tools you have available. Here are some of the most common methods:
Using a PS2 Memory Card and a Memory Card Adapter
This method works for all models of PS2 consoles, but requires a PS2 memory card and a memory card adapter. A memory card adapter is a device that allows you to connect your PS2 memory card to your PC via USB. You can buy one online or from a local store that sells video game accessories.
To use this method, you need to follow these steps:
Insert your PS2 memory card into your PS2 console and turn it on.
Insert a PS2 game disc into your PS2 console and start the game.
When the game starts, press the Triangle button on your controller to open the in-game menu.
Select System Configuration and press X.
Select Version Information and press X.
Write down the information that appears on the screen, such as Console Model Number, ROM Version, DVD Player Version, etc. You will need this information later to identify your BIOS file.
Turn off your PS2 console and remove the memory card.
Insert your memory card into your memory card adapter and connect it to your PC via USB.
Download and install a software called WinHIIP on your PC. WinHIIP is a tool that allows you to manage the contents of your PS2 memory card.
Run WinHIIP as administrator and select your memory card from the drop-down menu. Click OK.
Click on Utilities and select Extract Boot File from Memory Card. Click OK.
Select a destination folder for your BIOS file and click Save.
WinHIIP will extract the BIOS file from your memory card and save it in the destination folder. The BIOS file will have a name like SCPH-XXXXX.BIN, where XXXXX is the Console Model Number that you wrote down earlier.
Congratulations! You have successfully obtained the BIOS file from your PS2 console using a memory card and a memory card adapter. Now you can use it with PCSX2.
Using a Network Adapter and an Ethernet Cable
This method works for some models of PS2 consoles, but requires a network adapter and an ethernet cable. A network adapter is a device that allows you to connect your PS2 console to a network via an ethernet cable or a hard disk drive. You can buy one online or from a local store that sells video game accessories.
To use this method, you need to follow these steps:
Connect your network adapter to your PS2 console and insert an ethernet cable into it.
Connect the other end of the ethernet cable to your PC or router.
Turn on your PS2 console and insert a PS2 game disc into it.
Download and install a software called HDL Dump Helper GUI on your PC. HDL Dump Helper GUI is a tool that allows you to dump or install games from/to your PS2 console over a network.
Run HDL Dump Helper GUI as administrator and click on Refresh List. It will scan for available devices on your network.
Select your PS2 console from the list and click on Connect.
Click on Dump BIOS from PS2 and select a destination folder for your BIOS file. Click OK.
HDL Dump Helper GUI will dump the BIOS file from your PS2 console and save it in the destination folder. The BIOS file will have a name like SCPH-XXXXX.BIN, where XXXXX is the Console Model Number of your PS2 console.
Congratulations Congratulations! You have successfully obtained the BIOS file from your PS2 console using a network adapter and an ethernet cable. Now you can use it with PCSX2.
Using a USB Flash Drive and a Modded PS2 Console
This method works for all models of PS2 consoles, but requires a USB flash drive and a modded PS2 console. A modded PS2 console is a PS2 console that has been modified to run custom software, such as Free McBoot or Open PS2 Loader. You can mod your PS2 console by using a modchip, a swap disc, or a memory card exploit. You can find more information on how to mod your PS2 console online or from a local store that offers this service.
To use this method, you need to follow these steps:
Download and install a software called PS2 BIOS Dumper on your PC. PS2 BIOS Dumper is a tool that allows you to dump the BIOS file from your PS2 console to a USB flash drive.
Extract the PS2 BIOS Dumper files to a folder on your PC.
Format your USB flash drive to FAT32 file system and copy the PS2 BIOS Dumper folder to the root of your USB flash drive.
Insert your USB flash drive into your PS2 console and turn it on.
Run the PS2 BIOS Dumper software from your modded PS2 console. You can do this by using Free McBoot, Open PS2 Loader, or any other method that allows you to run custom software on your PS2 console.
Follow the instructions on the screen and press Start to begin the dumping process.
Wait for the dumping process to finish. It will take about 10 seconds.
Turn off your PS2 console and remove the USB flash drive.
Insert your USB flash drive into your PC and open it. You will find the BIOS file in the PS2 BIOS Dumper folder. The BIOS file will have a name like SCPH-XXXXX.BIN, where XXXXX is the Console Model Number of your PS2 console.
Congratulations! You have successfully obtained the BIOS file from your PS2 console using a USB flash drive and a modded PS2 console. Now you can use it with PCSX2.
Configuring PCSX2
Now that you have downloaded and installed PCSX2 and obtained the BIOS file, you need to configure PCSX2 settings for optimal performance and compatibility. PCSX2 has many settings that affect how the emulator runs and how the games look and sound. You can access these settings by clicking on Config on the menu bar and selecting one of the options. Here are some of the most important settings that you should pay attention to:
Emulation Settings
This option allows you to adjust the general settings of PCSX2, such as speed hacks, game fixes, frame skipping, and VSync. These settings can improve the speed and compatibility of PCSX2, but they can also cause glitches or crashes if used incorrectly. You should only change these settings if you know what you are doing or if you are following a specific guide for a game. Otherwise, you can use the presets that are available on the top left corner of the window. The presets range from 1 (Safest) to 6 (Mostly Harmful), with higher numbers offering more speed but less compatibility. The default preset is 3 (Balanced), which is recommended for most games.
Video (GS)
This option allows you to configure the graphics plugin for PCSX2, which is responsible for rendering the graphics of the games. You can choose between different plugins, such as GSdx, which is the most popular and compatible plugin, or OpenGL, which is more accurate but slower. You can also choose between different renderers, such as Direct3D11 (Hardware), which uses your GPU to render the graphics, or Direct3D11 (Software), which uses your CPU to render the graphics. The hardware renderer offers better performance and graphical enhancements, but it can also cause graphical glitches or incompatibility with some games. The software renderer offers better compatibility and accuracy, but it can also cause lower performance or pixelated graphics.
You can also adjust other settings related to graphics, such as resolution, aspect ratio, anti-aliasing, texture filtering, anisotropic filtering, mipmapping, CRC hack level, blending accuracy, etc. These settings can improve the quality and appearance of the graphics, but they can also affect the performance and compatibility of PCSX2. You should experiment with these settings until you find the best balance between quality and performance for each game.
Audio Audio (SPU2)
This option allows you to configure the sound plugin for PCSX2, which is responsible for playing the sound and music of the games. You can choose between different plugins, such as SPU2-X, which is the most popular and compatible plugin, or ZeroSPU2, which is more accurate but slower. You can also adjust other settings related to sound, such as volume, latency, interpolation, reverb, effects processing, etc. These settings can improve the quality and synchronization of the sound, but they can also affect the performance and compatibility of PCSX2. You should experiment with these settings until you find the best balance between quality and performance for each game.
Controller (PAD)
This option allows you to configure the input plugin for PCSX2, which is responsible for detecting and mapping the buttons and axes of your controller. You can choose between different plugins, such as LilyPad, which is the most popular and compatible plugin, or Pokopom, which is more accurate but less configurable. You can also choose between different devices, such as keyboard, mouse, gamepad, or even a real PS2 controller with an adapter. You can also adjust other settings related to input, such as sensitivity, deadzone, rumble, analog mode, etc. These settings can improve the responsiveness and comfort of your controller, but they can also affect the compatibility and functionality of PCSX2. You should experiment with these settings until you find the best configuration for each game.
CDVD
This option allows you to configure the CD/DVD plugin for PCSX2, which is responsible for reading and loading the PS2 games from ISO files or discs. You can choose between different plugins, such as CDVDGigaherz, which is the most popular and compatible plugin, or Linuz ISO CDVD, which is more accurate but slower. You can also choose between different sources, such as ISO Selector, which allows you to load PS2 games from ISO files on your PC, or Plugin Menu, which allows you to load PS2 games from discs on your PC's optical drive. You can also adjust other settings related to CD/DVD, such as read speed, read ahead cache, block dump mode, etc. These settings can improve the loading and compatibility of PS2 games on PCSX2, but they can also affect the performance and functionality of PCSX2. You should experiment with these settings until you find the best option for each game.
Loading games
Now that you have configured PCSX2 settings for optimal performance and compatibility, you are ready to load and play PS2 games on your PC. There are two ways to load PS2 games on PCSX2: from ISO files or from discs.
Loading games from ISO files
An ISO file is a digital copy of a PS2 game disc that you can create using a software like ImgBurn or DVD Decrypter. An ISO file contains all the data and information of a PS2 game disc in a single file that you can store on your PC. Loading games from ISO files is faster and more convenient than loading games from discs, as you don't need to insert or swap discs every time you want to play a different game. However, creating ISO files requires you to own the original PS2 game discs and have enough space on your PC to store them.
To load games from ISO files on PCSX2, you need to follow these steps:
Create an ISO file of your PS2 game disc using a software like ImgBurn or DVD Decrypter. Follow the instructions on the software and save the ISO file on your PC.
Launch PCSX2 and click on CDVD on the menu bar. Select ISO Selector and then Browse.
Locate and select the ISO file of your PS2 game on your PC. Click Open.
Click on System on the menu bar and select Boot ISO (fast) or Boot ISO (full). The fast option will skip the PS2 logo animation and load the game directly. The full option will show the PS2 logo animation and load the game normally.
Wait for the game to load and enjoy playing it on your PC.
Loading games from discs
If you don't want to create ISO files of your PS2 game discs or if you don't have enough space on your PC to store them Update your plugins to the latest version and make sure they are compatible with your PCSX2 version and your game. You can download the latest plugins from the official website or from other sources online. You can also configure your plugins according to your PC's capabilities and your game's compatibility. You can use the default settings or follow a specific guide for your game.
Verify your BIOS file and make sure it is not corrupted, invalid, or mismatched with your game region. You can check the integrity of your BIOS file using a software like MD5 Checker or HashMyFiles. You can also compare your BIOS file with the ones listed on the official website or on the wiki. You can also try using a different BIOS file from another PS2 console of the same region as your game.
Verify your game disc or ISO file and make sure it is not damaged, incomplete, or unsupported. You can check the integrity of your game disc or ISO file using a software like ImgBurn or DVD Decrypter. You can also compare your game disc or ISO file with the ones listed on the compatibility list or on the wiki. You can also try using a different game disc or ISO file from another source or region.
PCSX2 runs slow or laggy
If PCSX2 runs slow or laggy while loading or playing a game, it could be due to several reasons, such as:
Your PC does not meet the minimum or recommended system requirements for PCSX2.
Your PCSX2 settings are too high or too low for your PC or game.
Your plugins are outdated, incompatible, or misconfigured.
Your game disc or ISO file is slow to read or load.
To fix this issue, you can try the following solutions:
Check your PC's hardware and software and make sure they meet the minimum or recommended system requirements for PCSX2.
Adjust your PCSX2 settings according to your PC's capabilities and your game's compatibility. You can use the presets or follow a specific guide for your game. You can also enable some s