Overall, it is the least compatible of the big three emulators, only being useful for a handful of games. It is generally recommended to stick to version 1.1 except on certain special cases. The last stable version released by the original team was 1.1, who then went on to remake it as a web emulator written in JavaScript, though some community members kept it going up to version 1.2 r146, with mixed results. Some of its iterations (such as 1964 Ultrafast) have the ability to overclock the N64's CPU, which results in smoother framerate on games that have a lot of slowdown, such as Perfect Dark and Conker's Bad Fur Day. 1964 - An open source emulator and long-time competitor to Project64.It is one of the best emulators for general use, with good compatibility with most of the popular games. The interface is slightly clunkier, and switching between RSP plugins is a pain (the desired RSP plugin must be named rsp.dll for the emulator to see it and use it), but timing issues are less severe, it has a more up-to-date RDB at the moment, and many of the later improvements were ported back through Jabo's 1.6.1 patch.
Some users have also reported problems with BSODs, which apparently may be an issue with outdated Windows system files.
Its RDB is somewhat outdated, and some games have issues with audio and timing regardless of plugin setup unless you mess around with timing settings.
Project64 2.3 - The most recent version of Project64, now public and open source (though the official download asks you to install useless toolbars).Where the two differ though, is that RetroArch intends on keeping its focus to the Nintendo 64. Similar to the Polymega, the RetroArch console would also be modular - a base unit to start, with additional modules for a range of console hardware to be mixed and matched at the user’s discretion.
In an announcement made this week, RetroArch has stated that it has “partnered with a hardware manufacturer for a commercial release,” which would achieve the vision of an open hardware and open software solution, working in tandem. Now another competitor will attempt to enter the field - RetroArch, a company that is know for its “frontend software for emulators, game engines, and media players,” seeks to produce a physical device. And then of course, the Analogue Pocket provides a prestige, retro handheld gaming experience at a price. Playmaji’s Polymega console might be one of the most recognizable devices in the space and offers compatibility with games from older systems that include the NES, SNES, Sega Saturn, and original Playstation. The market for functional emulation software/hardware is quickly expanding.