COMPARISON · OLD GAMES · DXVK 3.1.1
dgVoodoo2 vs DXVK: which one does your old game need?
How we checked this
What each one does
| Feature | dgVoodoo2 | DXVK |
|---|---|---|
| Takes in | Glide (2, 3, Napalm), DirectDraw, Direct3D 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 | Direct3D 8, 9, 10 and 11 |
| Outputs | Direct3D 11 or 12 | Vulkan |
| Platform | Windows | Windows (unsupported upstream) and Linux (Wine, Proton) |
| Licence | Freeware, closed source (our understanding; not checked on its page) | zlib, open source |
| Maintainer | Dege; its GitHub README says the repository is in an archived state for a while | Philip Rebohle and contributors |
| Configuration | A control-panel app, or a config file edited by hand | dxvk.conf |
| Extras | Forced resolution and MSAA, windowed mode, colour management, upscaling filters | No resolution forcing; its options are compatibility and memory settings |
No rows match.
Where to get it: dgVoodoo2 is its author’s project; its GitHub page is github.com/dege-diosg/dgVoodoo2. We could not reach the project’s own website to confirm its address, so we do not link one. Get it only from the author’s pages, never from re-upload sites.
Which games suit which
| Game uses | dgVoodoo2 | DXVK |
|---|---|---|
| Glide | Yes | No |
| DirectDraw, Direct3D 3 to 7 | Yes | No |
| Direct3D 8 | Yes | Yes since DXVK 2.4; Direct3D 8 also uses d3d9.dll (F07) |
| Direct3D 9 | Yes | Yes |
| Direct3D 10 and 11 | No (output side) | Yes |
No rows match.
| Scenario | Start with |
|---|---|
| A game older than DirectX 8 on Windows | dgVoodoo2: DXVK does not handle it. |
| A Direct3D 8 game on modern Windows | Either; test both. Direct3D 8 games are 32-bit (F08). |
| A Direct3D 9 game with stutter on AMD or Intel | DXVK first, then dgVoodoo2 if it fails. |
| A Direct3D 9 game that needs a forced resolution or anti-aliasing | dgVoodoo2: it offers both; DXVK has no such option. |
| An old game on Linux | DXVK for Direct3D 8 to 11; for older APIs there is no tested route here. |
No rows match.
We tested both on the same games: not yet
A fair comparison needs real old games and a real GPU: for each game, native vs dgVoodoo2 vs DXVK, noting whether it starts, glitches and average FPS. Our lab has neither, so there are no results and no screenshots here. We will not make a verdict out of guesses.
Using dgVoodoo2 and DXVK together
The idea: dgVoodoo2 turns the old API into Direct3D 11, and DXVK then turns Direct3D 11 into Vulkan. In that setup DXVK would need only d3d11.dll and dxgi.dll (a Direct3D 11 game needs that pair, F40). We have not run the combination, and we did not verify the exact set of files dgVoodoo2 adds; read its own documentation.
Is dgVoodoo2 safe?
Safe from its author’s pages as far as we know; we have not scanned it. Wrapper DLLs sit in a game’s folder and replace system files, which is what makes antivirus tools suspicious of any wrapper, DXVK included; see the safety page for how to check a file. Avoid re-upload sites.
Which should you use?
- Older than DirectX 8, or Glide: dgVoodoo2.
- Needs forced resolution or anti-aliasing: dgVoodoo2.
- Direct3D 8 or 9, with driver problems or stutter: try DXVK first, with the Windows guide.
- Direct3D 10 or 11: DXVK only.
- Linux: DXVK (already in Proton); dgVoodoo2 is unsupported there.
Questions people ask
What is dgVoodoo2?
A Glide and DirectX wrapper that runs old games on Direct3D 11 or 12, so they work on current Windows. Its README lists Glide, DirectDraw, Direct3D 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, with forced resolution and MSAA.
DXVK or dgVoodoo for my game?
For anything older than Direct3D 8, dgVoodoo2, because DXVK starts at Direct3D 8. For Direct3D 8 and 9 games either may work. We have not compared them in a game.
Does dgVoodoo work on Linux?
Its author states that Wine and Proton are not a target, that such reports are known, and that issues about them will be closed. Treat any chain on Linux as unsupported.
Can I use both together?
In principle: dgVoodoo2 outputs Direct3D 11 and DXVK translates Direct3D 11 to Vulkan. We have not tested it, and dgVoodoo2's author does not support Wine.
Is dgVoodoo2 safe?
Download it from its author's pages only, and check files as you would any wrapper DLL. Wrapper DLLs can trigger antivirus false positives; the safety page explains the general case.
Sources
- dgVoodoo2 README (GitHub, dege-diosg) · accessed 2026-11-07
- DXVK README at v3.1.1 · accessed 2026-11-07