emulator: mednafen_pce_fast
type: libretro
core_classification: community_fork
source: "https://github.com/libretro/beetle-pce-fast-libretro"
upstream: "https://mednafen.github.io/"
profiled_date: "2026-03-24"
core_version: "v1.31.0.0"
display_name: "NEC - PC Engine / CD (Beetle PCE FAST)"
cores: [mednafen_pce_fast, pce_fast, beetle_pce_fast]
systems: [nec-pc-engine]
verification: existence
notes: >
  Fork of Mednafen's pce_fast module (speed-optimized, no SuperGrafx support).
  Separate codebase from beetle_pce (mednafen/pce_fast/ vs mednafen/pce/).
  BIOS loaded via HuCLoadCD() at CD-ROM load time. Core option "pce_fast_cdbios"
  selects which card image to use (default: System Card 3).
  No Games Express auto-detection (unlike beetle_pce); user must select manually.
  No hash or size validation on BIOS load.
  Upstream pce_fast module only has a single pce_fast.cdbios string setting;
  the 6-option dropdown is a libretro addition.

files:
  - name: "syscard3.pce"
    description: "CD-ROM System Card 3.0 (Japan)"
    region: "NTSC-J"
    required: true
    source_ref: "libretro.cpp:67, libretro.cpp:1755-1760"
    notes: "Default value for pce_fast_cdbios option."

  - name: "syscard2.pce"
    description: "CD-ROM System Card 2.0 (Japan)"
    region: "NTSC-J"
    required: false
    source_ref: "libretro.cpp:1762"
    notes: "pce_fast_cdbios = 'System Card 2'."

  - name: "syscard1.pce"
    description: "CD-ROM System Card 1.0 (Japan)"
    region: "NTSC-J"
    required: false
    source_ref: "libretro.cpp:1764"
    notes: "pce_fast_cdbios = 'System Card 1'."

  - name: "gexpress.pce"
    description: "Games Express CD Card"
    region: "NTSC-J"
    required: false
    aliases: ["gecard.pce"]
    source_ref: "libretro.cpp:1765-1766"
    notes: "pce_fast_cdbios = 'Games Express'. For unlicensed Games Express titles."

  - name: "syscard3u.pce"
    description: "CD-ROM System Card 3.0 (US / TurboGrafx-CD)"
    region: "NTSC-U"
    required: false
    source_ref: "libretro.cpp:1767-1768"
    notes: "pce_fast_cdbios = 'System Card 3 US'. Not in .info."

  - name: "syscard2u.pce"
    description: "CD-ROM System Card 2.0 (US / TurboGrafx-CD)"
    region: "NTSC-U"
    required: false
    source_ref: "libretro.cpp:1769-1770"
    notes: "pce_fast_cdbios = 'System Card 2 US'. Not in .info."