Precise Timing, Root Counter ?

[Orion_]

I need to have a precise timer on Playstation (for example to measure things)
For the moment I use the VSync, so each VSync I increment a counter and depending on 50 or 60Hz I compute my timer.
But this is not very accurate, so I searched for a timer on psx, and the only thing I found was the Root counter.
Unfortunately the documentation on this is a bit confusing, and I really don't understand how to use the Psy-Q functions in order to get it working.
can someone help me on this ? thank you

[Shendo]

There are four root counters available on PlayStation: DotClock, HBlank, SyClock/8, VBlank.

VBlank is used by many BIOS functions (Pad access, Memory Card access, etc...)
so beside using VSync() function it's not advised to mess with it.

However, other counters are freely available to the programmer, you just have to set them up properly.

First add this macros to your project:

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#include <libapi.h>

#define RCntCNT0		0xf2000000   	/*display pixel*/
#define RCntCNT1		0xf2000001   	/*horizontal sync*/
#define RCntCNT2		0xf2000002   	/*one-eighth of system clock*/
#define RCntCNT3		0xf2000003   	/*vertical sync target value fixed to 1*/

#define RCntIntr		0x1000				/*Interrupt mode*/

Now, let's set up HBlank counter:

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int CounterMaxValue = 240; /*This means this counter resets every 240 HBlanks*/

SetRCnt(RCntCNT1, CounterMaxValue, RCntIntr);
StartRCnt(RCntCNT1);

To read the value of the counter call this function:

Code: Select all

GetRCnt(RCntCNT1);

So to measure something you could do something like this:

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ResetRCnt(RCntCNT1);
OldValue = GetRCnt(RCntCNT1);
DoSomething();
NewValue = GetRCnt(RCntCNT1) - OldValue;

printf("It took %d HBlanks to execute DoSomething", NewValue);

There is also a possibility of using events for running a certain function when counter reaches zero.

[Orion_]

Thank you for detailed explanation.
it seems that the rootcounter are small and reseting fast, I guess it will not be compatible with my system.
I have a timer reference function which gives me a timer reference, so I can do difference between two time even if several minutes passed. I guess I would need an interrupt function who would increment a value each time a rootcounter reset or something like that.

[alexfree]

There are four root counters available on PlayStation: DotClock, HBlank, SyClock/8, VBlank.

VBlank is used by many BIOS functions (Pad access, Memory Card access, etc...)
so beside using VSync() function it's not advised to mess with it.

However, other counters are freely available to the programmer, you just have to set them up properly.

First add this macros to your project:

Code: Select all

#include <libapi.h>

#define RCntCNT0		0xf2000000   	/*display pixel*/
#define RCntCNT1		0xf2000001   	/*horizontal sync*/
#define RCntCNT2		0xf2000002   	/*one-eighth of system clock*/
#define RCntCNT3		0xf2000003   	/*vertical sync target value fixed to 1*/

#define RCntIntr		0x1000				/*Interrupt mode*/

Now, let's set up HBlank counter:

Code: Select all

int CounterMaxValue = 240; /*This means this counter resets every 240 HBlanks*/

SetRCnt(RCntCNT1, CounterMaxValue, RCntIntr);
StartRCnt(RCntCNT1);

To read the value of the counter call this function:

Code: Select all

GetRCnt(RCntCNT1);

So to measure something you could do something like this:

Code: Select all

ResetRCnt(RCntCNT1);
OldValue = GetRCnt(RCntCNT1);
DoSomething();
NewValue = GetRCnt(RCntCNT1) - OldValue;

printf("It took %d HBlanks to execute DoSomething", NewValue);

There is also a possibility of using events for running a certain function when counter reaches zero.

I had this same exact problem and Googled it, was not expecting such a detailed and simple explanation. Thanks.