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BIOS Files
Some systems require BIOS files to emulate — these are firmware dumps from the original hardware. Without them, the system will not run at all or will run incorrectly.
Important: Do not manually copy files into the BIOS folder. The only supported installation method is drag-and-drop into the OpenEmu library window, same as adding a game. If a file isn't being accepted, the MD5 hash is wrong — you have incorrect files.
- Make sure the relevant system core is installed (check OpenEmu → Preferences → Cores).
- Drag and drop the BIOS file onto your OpenEmu library window — just like adding a ROM.
- OpenEmu will validate the file and copy it to the correct location automatically.
If OpenEmu alerts you that a BIOS is needed, it means it couldn't find a valid file — recheck the filename and MD5.
BIOS files must match the exact MD5 listed below. To check yours:
md5 /path/to/bios/file
In Terminal, you can drag the file onto the window instead of typing the path.
| Core | File | MD5 |
|---|---|---|
| Atari800 | 5200.rom |
281f20ea4320404ec820fb7ec0693b38 |
| Core | File | MD5 |
|---|---|---|
| Mednafen | lynxboot.img |
fcd403db69f54290b51035d82f835e7b |
| Core | File | MD5 |
|---|---|---|
| Nestopia | disksys.rom |
ca30b50f880eb660a320674ed365ef7a |
| Core | File | MD5 |
|---|---|---|
| Bliss |
exec.bin (Executive ROM — required) |
62e761035cb657903761800f4437b8af |
| Bliss |
grom.bin (Graphics ROM — required) |
0cd5946c6473e42e8e4c2137785e427f |
| Bliss |
ivoice.bin (Intellivoice — optional) |
d5530f74681ec6e0f282dab42e6b1c5f |
| Bliss |
ecs.bin (Entertainment Computer System — optional) |
2e72a9a2b897d330a35c8b07a6146c52 |
| Core | File | MD5 |
|---|---|---|
| O2EM | o2rom.bin |
562d5ebf9e030a40d6fabfc2f33139fd |
All three regional variants are supported. You only need the one(s) matching your game's region, but having all three is recommended.
| Core | File | Region | MD5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mednafen | scph5500.bin |
Japan (v3.0) | 8dd7d5296a650fac7319bce665a6a53c |
| Mednafen | scph5501.bin |
North America (v3.0) | 490f666e1afb15b7362b406ed1cea246 |
| Mednafen | scph5502.bin |
Europe (v3.0) | 32736f17079d0b2b7024407c39bd3050 |
| Core | File | Region | MD5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genesis Plus GX | BIOS_CD_E.bin |
Europe (v1.00) | e66fa1dc5820d254611fdcdba0662372 |
| Genesis Plus GX | BIOS_CD_J.bin |
Japan (v1.00p Rev E) | 278a9397d192149e84e820ac621a8edd |
| Genesis Plus GX | BIOS_CD_U.bin |
USA (v1.10 Rev B) | 2efd74e3232ff260e371b99f84024f7f |
The Dreamcast requires two BIOS files. Both must be present.
| Core | File | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Flycast | dc_boot.bin |
Main boot ROM (~2 MB) |
| Flycast | dc_flash.bin |
Flash ROM (~128 KB) |
MD5 hashes vary by hardware revision. Most commonly circulated dumps will work. If you have the files and Dreamcast still doesn't launch, double-check both files are present in the BIOS folder (~/Library/Application Support/OpenEmu/Flycast/).
| Core | File | Region | MD5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mednafen | sega_101.bin |
Japan (v1.01, 1994-12-28) | 85ec9ca47d8f6807718151cbcca8b964 |
| Mednafen | mpr-17933.bin |
North America / Europe (v1.01a) | 3240872c70984b6cbfda1586cab68dbe |
Only needed for three specific games. Most SNES games do not require any BIOS.
| Core | File | Game | MD5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| BSNES/Snes9x | dsp3.rom |
SD Gundam GX | 484908d68405d44e2be757b4e1e75d15 |
| BSNES/Snes9x | st011.rom |
Hayazashi Nidan Morita Shogi | 5c209ce0283632b6574ad835bf862bee |
| BSNES/Snes9x | st018.rom |
Hayazashi Nidan Morita Shogi 2 | dafae0e0c71c924075811c595c61a30e |
| Core | File | MD5 |
|---|---|---|
| Mednafen | syscard3.pce |
38179df8f4ac870017db21ebcbf53114 |
Use the Japan BIOS — the US version won't play some Japan-region games.
If your syscard3.pce has MD5 ff1a674273fe3540ccef576376407d1d, it contains a 512-byte header and needs to be stripped:
dd bs=512 skip=1 if=syscard3.pce of=syscard3fix.pce
Use syscard3fix.pce going forward.
These systems work out of the box with no BIOS required:
Atari 2600, Atari 7800, Atari Jaguar, ColecoVision, Game Boy / GBC, Game Boy Advance, Game Gear, MSX, NES / Famicom, Nintendo 64, Pokémon Mini, Sega 32X, Sega Genesis / Mega Drive, Sega Master System, Sony PSP, Super Nintendo (SNES), Vectrex, Watara Supervision, WonderSwan, 3DO
PSP note: PPSSPP does not need a PSP firmware file to run most games. It has its own built-in HLE BIOS.