In this post I'll discuss what a desync is, why it happens, and how to stop you from desyncing with others.
First of all, a desync occurs when something different is happening on both sides of the Netplay game. The inputs are still the same on both ends but perhaps the timing is slightly off, this ruins everything.
So how do you prevent them? Your settings with your partner must be, for the most part, identical.
Here are the most common reasons desyncs occur and how to fix them
~ Different ISOs / Bad Dump of your game (MOST COMMON) ~
For Melee: You must have a clean and proper version of NTSC 1.02 Melee. If you don't have the Faster Melee Netplay Settings (Under Melee > Properties > Gecko Codes), it is because you do not have the correct version. Sometimes you may not realize you have a bad dump of melee as it works just like 1.02 NTSC, but you will still desync.
To Check:
The MD5 Checksum you're looking for is:
- - 0e63d4223b01d9aba596259dc155a174 (Most common and preferred copy)
- Other hashes that seem to not desync but are to be used at your own risk:
- - 772730fd336927f4fd2be4e58785bc27
- - 82d58821dfb15708cf56eef64e362f34
- - 4cad086498f3f8b18bfa74a2066a2dc8 (Still being tested by @anther)
- - 2e34fc695b651df3cdb1e20aa520da1c
- Ones the DO NOT work:
- - 570f5ba46604d17f2d9c4fabe4b8c34d ***
- *** If you received this Checksum, you have to convert the .7z file/folder that you downloaded (NOT THE ISO YOU EXTRACTED). First you will need this program: NKit 1.4 + Gamecube Partitions. Next you will need to follow this process:
For Project M: you must have a clean dump of the Brawl ISO (Click Here For More Details). In addition, all mods desync on Project M, i.e. you cannot have custom music or textures. For more Project M Desynch Issues, Follow This Guide.
Different Aspect Ratios (Faster Melee/FM)
Right Clicking your melee ISO > Properties > Gecko Codes, make sure Widescreen 16:9 is deselected. 4:3 is the Ladder default:
FM5 Netplay Safe Kill Music Code not properly utilized
As mentioned above, the Netplay Safe Kill Music Code is now functional but has changed a bit. In order for this to work, you HAVE to have either Game Music ON or Game Music OFF for it to work. You CANNOT have both selected or neither selected. These codes are found: Right Click your Melee ISO in dolphin > Properties > Gecko Codes:
Dolphin will still report a false positive desync if you have different codes checked but most likely, you can ignore it.
Memory Cards Enabled
Disabling memory cards is required on newest builds of Dolphin because they do not sync like they did in 4.0-652. This is the only option you need to change when switching from 652 to the newest build. You can disable them by going to configure->gamecube->and setting memory cards to none in slots A and B. If you followed the above steps and you desync on the new builds, this is likely your issue.
Enable Cheats is not on (under configure)
This causes Netplay Community Settings to not get activated. If you swear you have the Netplay Community Settings enabled and it's still booting to "There is no memory card in slot A", this is most likely your issue.
Different cheats as your opponent
You must use the same cheats as your opponents. This applies to Gecko codes as well as AR codes. For Melee, you should only have Netplay Community Settings on. If you have any other codes on, disable them by right clicking your iso in Dolphin->properties->Gecko codes/AR codes->unchecking any that aren't Netplay Community Settings. This includes using Widescreen.
If you have other cheats on, this is your issue.
Different revisions of Dolphin
You must be running the same build of Dolphin as your opponent. Builds will not sync with each other. If you notice you and your opponent are on different revisions in the Netplay window, this is your issue.
Speed Limit set to anything but 100%
Your Speed Limit must be set to 100%. If it was anything else, this is your issue.
LLE Audio set instead of HLE
If you have a different DSP dump as your opponent, LLE audio will desync. You can switch back to HLE audio by going to configure->audio->set HLE. If you were on LLE for some reason, this is your issue.
Skip EFB Access From CPU in Graphics > Hacks is not on
Under Graphics > Hacks, make sure the top 3 checkboxes are checked. This includes: Skip EFB Access from CPU; Ignore Format Changes; and Store EFB Copies to Texture Only/
Clearing up some misconceptions
*Ping spikes do not make you desync.
*Your router does not make you desync.
I followed every Desync Guide on the Internet and I still desync. ANTHER HELP!
You most likely have a conflicting setting in dolphin somewhere so to ease things up, you will need to go into your Documents Directory, locate your "Dolphin Emulator" folder. You will need to either delete it, or rename the folder. When you start up dolphin again, it will recreate that directory. When you're done, you will have to follow the above guide to fix all your settings. For mac users: to find this directory: Click Here:
