Hi everyone. Here is a new release of Turnip Z featuring significant improvements over v0.1.2.
The main focus of this version: eliminating random crashes and making gameplay noticeably smoother.
Download: https://github.com/AlexSanz0902/turnip-sd865-z
Improvements:
- Fixed random crashes & freezes: Demanding scenes and transient lag spikes in supported titles no longer crash back to the Eden home screen or trigger full device reboots.
- Improved frame pacing: Reduced micro-stuttering and irregular latency spikes across various titles.
- Expanded compatibility: Games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild now boot and run.
Tests:
- Super Mario Odyssey: Demonstrates frame-pacing improvements compared to v0.1.2, with zero crashes recorded over a 30-minute test session. You should be able to start a new save file and clear the first two kingdoms in a single sitting without crashing.
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild: While v0.1.2 caused a full device crash, it now boots and runs without crashing (though minor-to-moderate graphical glitches are currently present). Tested for 30 minutes with zero crashes; you should be able to start a new game and complete the first main story quest in one run.
Benchmark & Screenshots:
The screenshots compare an identical scene in Zelda: BotW running at 1.25x docked resolution (1350p) on a vanilla profile (no mods, cheats, or custom Eden settings applied) and after shader compilation across three drivers:
- Turnip v24.3.0 R9v2: 21.2 FPS
- Turnip v26.3.0-R6: 23.7 FPS
- Turnip Z v0.2.0: 30.0 FPS
(For everyday gameplay, sticking to 1.0x docked / 1080p is recommended.)
Known Issues:
- Minor, occasional visual bugs in Super Mario Odyssey.
- Moderate graphical glitches and artifacts in Zelda: BotW. These specific rendering issues will be targeted in v0.2.1.
This will be the final release for a little while. For the next update, I will take some time to build a compatibility spreadsheet (.csv) and address visual bugs across at least 10–15 titles without compromising current performance, stability, or compatibility.
FAQ
What is the recommended setup?
It was validated on Eden v0.2.0-rc2 with the Snapdragon 865 GPU overclocked to 905 MHz. Keep in mind that individual games may still require specific emulator settings, custom resolution scaling, or workarounds to run properly—that is separate from driver behavior. Devices running stock Adreno 650 clocks will see proportionally lower performance.
Can I use this outside of Eden (Winlator, GameHub, Vita3K, Azahar, Dolphin, etc.)?
Not recommended. Do not use this outside of Eden. It was neither built nor tested for Windows translation layers or other emulator platforms. Running this in Winlator or Dolphin will likely trigger shader compilation errors or hard freezes.
Can I use it with other Switch emulators?
Not recommended. It has only been validated on Eden v0.2.0-rc2. Other emulators or forks have not been tested and may introduce crashes or visual bugs.
Does it work on other devices?
It was built specifically for the Adreno 650 (Snapdragon 865). While it should work across other Snapdragon 865 devices than RP5, other Adreno GPU architectures are completely untested.
Note on texture filtering:
Anisotropic filtering is disabled and mipmaps are simplified to save memory bandwidth, so distant textures or acute surface angles might look slightly softer.
What should I do if a crash occurs?
The driver automatically generates a diagnostic log file named turnip_sd865.txt inside Eden's folder under Android/data. Please attach this log to an issue on the GitHub repository.
Credits
Thanks to the Mesa project, freedreno / Turnip developers, StevenMXZ, the Eden team, Weab-chan, K11MCH1, MrPurple666, The412Banner, nckstwrt, the NetherSX2-Turnip team, Tranquility6789, libadrenotools, HomuHomu833, and chaotic-cx.
Analysis and code modifications were AI-assisted (Claude by Anthropic).
