fastDOOM: Unlocking the Speed of DOOM on a 486
This article delves into the remarkable performance optimizations achieved by the fastDOOM project, boosting the classic game DOOM's speed by 30% or more on a 486 processor. The author meticulously benchmarks various fastDOOM versions against the original, analyzing code changes and Git history to uncover the secrets behind the speed improvements. These include code reduction, function inlining, rendering optimizations (handling Mode Y and Mode 13h differently), and CPU/bus-specific tweaks. The author also explores the performance implications of different video modes (Mode Y vs. Mode 13h) and discusses unsuccessful optimization attempts. The article concludes with heartfelt praise for Victor Nieto, the creator of fastDOOM, for his impressive work.
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