A tech enthusiast recently embarked on an intriguing journey to push the boundaries of portable gaming technology by attempting to run Windows 95 on a homebrew Nintendo 3DS. Utilizing the enhanced capabilities of the “New” 3DS, which boasts additional RAM and processing power, TechTuber MetraByte successfully installed a DOSBox port and subsequently layered the Windows 95 operating system atop it.
Performance Insights
The initial loading times were notably lengthy, particularly during the first boot of Windows 95, which MetraByte left running overnight. In contrast, the installation of the operating system itself was relatively swift, clocking in at approximately five minutes. However, it wasn’t until well after Windows 95 had launched that proper mouse input support via Touch through DOSBox became functional.
On a positive note, the New Nintendo 3DS proved capable of running Windows 95, which is commendable given that the operating system was designed to function with as little as 4MB of RAM. While the 256MB of RAM in the New 3DS may seem modest by contemporary standards, it was quite adequate for software from the era before the advent of gigabytes of memory. The challenge arises from the need for DOSBox to not only manage system memory but also to emulate x86 architecture on the ARM-based hardware of the New 3DS, leading to significant performance limitations.
Audio and Software Challenges
During his experimentation, MetraByte discovered that audio playback was feasible when running Windows 95. However, attempts to utilize his preferred music studio software resulted in a bluescreen error, indicating the fragility of the setup. Despite these hurdles, the operating system appeared to function adequately for basic tasks, suggesting that lighter applications might still be viable.
In practical terms, while the endeavor to install Windows 95 on the New Nintendo 3DS is a fascinating experiment, it may be more prudent for users to explore older DOS titles that are likely to perform better under these conditions. Given the inherent capabilities of the New Nintendo 3DS and the overhead associated with running Windows 95, focusing on classic DOS games could provide a more enjoyable and seamless experience.
