# Best DOS PC emulator: DOSBox Staging, the Gold Cartridge pick

Page: https://whichemulator.wtf/dos/ · Reference: WEM-DOS-MI3P

The Ask API at `GET https://whichemulator.wtf/ask` answers questions from the same data as this page, and it is the only place the setup steps are published. It takes `q` (the question, 3 to 500 characters) and an optional `page` (a local path such as `/dos/`). It returns JSON `{answer, consoles, sources, follow_ups}`, or Markdown when the request sends `Accept: text/markdown`. No key; 30 requests a minute per IP. Guide: https://whichemulator.wtf/skill.md

IBM PC compatibles running MS-DOS, Various (IBM PC standard), 1981.

## Recommended: DOSBox Staging

whichemulator.wtf calls its recommendation for each system the Gold Cartridge pick. For the DOS PC, the Gold Cartridge pick is DOSBox Staging.

Built for playing DOS games, from PC booters through to Windows 3.1, with sensible defaults, CRT shaders that look right without tuning, and a game folder that mounts itself as C:. It is the maintained continuation of the original DOSBox, and old DOSBox configs still work. Windows 95 and 98 are deliberately out of scope; use DOSBox-X for those.

Runs on Windows · Mac · Linux. Open source. Download: https://www.dosbox-staging.org/

**No BIOS or DOS needed:** DOSBox has its own BIOS and DOS built in. You don't need a copy of MS-DOS, only the game files.

## Alternatives

- [DOSBox-X](https://dosbox-x.com/) (Windows · Mac · Linux, open source): Aims at accuracy and covering every pre-2000 PC setup rather than games first. The one to use for Windows 95/98/ME, PC-98 and DOS/V software, or anything Staging won't run. Far more settings, and a menu bar to reach them. Linux builds come through Flathub.
- [DOSBox](https://sourceforge.net/projects/dosbox/) (Windows · Mac · Linux, open source): The original. Superseded: the last release, 0.74-3, came out in 2019, and both Staging and DOSBox-X run everything it does with fewer rough edges.

## RetroArch cores

- DOSBox Pure: The one to use. Loads games straight from .zip files, has an on-screen start menu and works well with a gamepad. Development has moved to Codeberg.
- DOSBox-core: Closer to standalone DOSBox, with MT-32 support if you supply the ROMs.
- DOSBox-SVN: Plain port of the old DOSBox code. Only worth it if Pure misbehaves.

DOSBox Pure is the easiest way to play DOS games on Android or a handheld.

## Hardware

- First model: IBM 5150, 8088 at 4.77 MHz
- Graphics: CGA (1981), EGA (1984), VGA (1987)
- VGA: 320×200, 256 of 262,144 colours
- Sound: PC speaker, AdLib, Sound Blaster
- Media: Floppy, hard disk, CD-ROM

## Notes

### Staging or DOSBox-X

Both are forks of the original DOSBox and both are open source. They want different things. Staging is about games: it picks good defaults, keeps the setup simple and leaves Windows 95 and 98 to others on purpose. DOSBox-X tries to emulate every kind of PC up to the late 1990s, so it has far more settings and runs Windows 9x, PC-98 software and odd applications that Staging won't touch.

For a DOS game, start with Staging. If it won't run, or the game needs Windows 95, try DOSBox-X. Plain DOSBox still works, but nothing has been released since 2019.

### Roland MT-32 music

Many late-1980s Sierra and LucasArts games sound best with a Roland MT-32. Staging and DOSBox-X both emulate one, but the MT-32 ROMs are Roland's and aren't included. If you want that music, dump the ROMs from your own module; without them, choose Sound Blaster or General MIDI instead.

## Support the developers

- [DOSBox Staging on Open Collective](https://opencollective.com/dosbox-staging)
- [Sponsor DOSBox Staging](https://github.com/sponsors/dosbox-staging)
- [Star DOSBox-X](https://github.com/joncampbell123/dosbox-x)

## Questions the Ask API answers

- [How do I set up DOSBox Staging for the DOS PC?](https://whichemulator.wtf/ask?q=How+do+I+set+up+DOSBox+Staging+for+the+DOS+PC%3F&page=%2Fdos%2F&via=page)
- [Which DOS PC emulator should I use on Android?](https://whichemulator.wtf/ask?q=Which+DOS+PC+emulator+should+I+use+on+Android%3F&page=%2Fdos%2F&via=page)
- [Which RetroArch core should I use for the DOS PC?](https://whichemulator.wtf/ask?q=Which+RetroArch+core+should+I+use+for+the+DOS+PC%3F&page=%2Fdos%2F&via=page)
- [Does DOS PC emulation need a BIOS?](https://whichemulator.wtf/ask?q=Does+DOS+PC+emulation+need+a+BIOS%3F&page=%2Fdos%2F&via=page)