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Software Needed to Run Emulators (And What You Actually Need)

**You don't need "software to play emulators." The emulator *is* the software.** It simulates a console's hardware so your PC/phone can run that console's games.

The Three Essentials

Emulator (The Program): e.g., RetroArch (multi-system frontend), Dolphin (GameCube/Wii), PCSX2 (PS2), RPCS3 (PS3), Ryujinx/yuzu (Switch), PPSSPP (PSP), Citra (3DS), MelonDS (DS), mGBA (GBA), Snes9x (SNES).
Game Files (ROMs / ISOs): Digital copies of cartridges/discs. **Legal only if you dump them from your own physical games.** Downloading = piracy.
Compatible Hardware: See table below.

Recommended Specs by Target System

System	CPU (Min)	GPU (Min)	RAM	Best Emulator
NES / SNES / Genesis / GBA / DS	Any 64-bit (2010+)	Integrated (Intel UHD 620+)	4 GB	RetroArch / mGBA / MelonDS
N64 / PS1 / Saturn	i3-6100 / Ryzen 3 1200	GT 1030 / RX 550	8 GB	RetroArch (ParaLLEl, Beetle) / DuckStation
GameCube / Wii / PS2 / PSP	i5-8400 / Ryzen 5 2600	GTX 1050 Ti / RX 570	8–16 GB	Dolphin / PCSX2 / PPSSPP
PS3 / Switch / 3DS / Wii U	i5-10400 / Ryzen 5 3600	RTX 2060 / RX 6600 XT	16 GB	RPCS3 / Ryujinx / Citra / Cemu

Highly Recommended Extras

Controller: Xbox Wireless, DualSense, 8BitDo Pro 2, or Switch Pro (via Bluetooth/USB). Keyboard works but painful for action games.
BIOS / Firmware Files: Required for PS1, PS2, PS3, Saturn, Dreamcast, Switch (prod.keys). **Dump from your own console.**
Frontend: RetroArch (unified UI, shaders, netplay, achievements) or LaunchBox (pretty library manager).

Legal & Ethical Reminder

Emulators are legal (Sony v. Connectix, 2000). **Downloading ROMs/ISOs you don't own is copyright infringement.** Dump your own carts (GB Operator, Retrode, custom firmware) and discs (ImgBurn, Friidump). Support developers: buy re-releases (NSO, PS Plus Premium, Steam, GOG).

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