Bochs vs DOSBox-X

Bochs is a free, open-source emulator that models IA-32 x86 PC hardware. It can simulate Intel CPU families from 386 through x86-64, common I/O devices, and a custom BIOS, allowing users to run guest systems such as Linux, DOS, Windows, BSD, and other x86 operating systems. Optional command-line and graphical debuggers provide ways to inspect registers and memory or set breakpoints. Graphics support includes VGA, VESA VBE resolutions up to 2560x1600x32bpp, Cirrus Logic video, and four 3dfx Voodoo adapter models. Bochs also emulates USB controllers and devices, and can forward guest network packets to a physical network on several host systems. Multiprocessor simulation can be configured for up to 254 processor threads, but is experimental. The emulator uses a single-threaded simulation core and does not use dynamic code translation or virtualization. It supplies virtual hardware, not a setup wizard or guest installation disk, so users install guest systems themselves. Binary packages and source compilation are options; some features may require compiling it. It is available for Windows, Linux, and macOS, among other documented host systems.

DOSBox-X is a free, open-source DOS emulator for running DOS applications and games on Linux, macOS and Windows. It also supports DOS-based Windows guests, including Windows 3.x and Windows 9x/Me. The project emphasizes general emulation and accurate hardware behavior, with DOS/V services and emulation for NEC PC-98, AX and J-3100 systems. A graphical configuration tool and many virtual-machine options let users adjust the emulated environment. DOSBox-X provides up to 100 save slots, with automatic saving for selected programs or at user-defined intervals. Its emulated NE2000 adapter supports guest networking through PCAP and Slirp backends. Printing can use parallel ports and real or emulated printers, with PostScript or PNG output. Launching host applications from the emulator is disabled by default for security and can be enabled through configuration or a command-line option. The project describes use for DOS software, historical preservation, testing and continued DOS development; emulating Pentium 4-or-higher CPUs and post-2000 PC hardware are listed as non-goals.