GTA IV performance

NotAGolf · 3 Jan 2011 at 16:06

I got GTA IV in the steam sales the other day and have been playing it for a few hours. I knew the game was poorly optimised for the pc after reading comments.

On my system ([email protected], 4gb, GTX 460) it runs ok, fraps is reporting 40-50fps but it just doesn't feel it, slight stuttering and just not really smooth.

Are there any graphics/config files that can be tweaked to improve things? Maybe even a mod, although I don't fancy faffing for hours and losing saved games.

I've seen a couple of threads on here from about a year ago but was wondering if anything has happened recently?

Thanks.

Confused · 3 Jan 2011 at 16:09

Taken from this post:

Xbox 360 settings
Resolution 1280 x 720 @ 20 -30 fps
Texture Quality Medium
Reflection Resolution Medium
Water Quality Medium
Shadow Quality High
Render Quality Low
View Distance 21
Detail Distance 10
Vehicle Density 33
Shadow Density does not exist on the Xbox 360
Definition off
Vsync off

That should give you a good basis to start from (ie, as good as a 360 looks!)

(first tip - turn Definition ON)

arknor · 3 Jan 2011 at 16:11

turn view distance down.

i usually have everything maxed but if i turn the view distance all the way even though im still getting good fps it doesnt feel smooth.

i think much above 60 and you render half the island.....

TheCenturion · 3 Jan 2011 at 16:15

Same for me.
I'm running i7 @4ghz and a GTX480. I have everything turned to the absolute max, res is 1920x1080. It runs fine most of the time, running at 45-60fps (vsync is on). It stutters very occasionally when driving at high speeds, and stutters quite bad on missions where I have to drive 4 people around in a car, dropping to around 20 fps. Other than that, it's pretty good for me. As Arknor suggested, view distance should be turned down. My fps took a bit of a hit when I turned it up to max.

Cooper · 3 Jan 2011 at 16:28

Lol, what a steaming POS this port is, i cant even get it to draw water ffs.....

What with this and BC2, 2 out of 3 of the games i bought in the Steam sale have left me feeling dissapointed...

TheCenturion · 3 Jan 2011 at 16:31

I don't have the steam version, I've got the retail version, but it renders water perfectly fine on mine. Have you got the latest patch?

Everyone slates the pc version of this game, I think it's top notch. The only problems are poor performance and no anti aliasing :\

gronf · 3 Jan 2011 at 16:32

Aaaaaaagh! My eyes!

alex24 · 3 Jan 2011 at 16:33

Mine stutters on all settings, so don't worry! Spec in sig. Apparently runs better on nvidia cards.

sunlitsix · 3 Jan 2011 at 16:38

TheCenturion said:
Everyone slates the pc version of this game, I think it's top notch. The only problems are poor performance and no anti aliasing :\

I agree! I've been playing it on an Athlon II 640 with a 9600GT and its been more than playable and definately looks better than the Xbox version.

Although saying that I do prefer playing it on my Xbox!

(I must be well over 300 hours playtime on it now

)

Cooper · 3 Jan 2011 at 16:39

TheCenturion said:
I don't have the steam version, I've got the retail version, but it renders water perfectly fine on mine. Have you got the latest patch?

Everyone slates the pc version of this game, I think it's top notch. The only problems are poor performance and no anti aliasing :\

I thought the Steam version was the very latest version patched up... :confused:

As it stands right now, i will probably just delete it and have 15GB Hdrive space back for better stuff...

I sure as hell wont bother downloading the 2 expansion packs, another 15GB!!!!....

Barzini · 3 Jan 2011 at 16:43

I copped it on steam a few days ago and it runs okay on my system, a bit of stutter here and there but it's pretty minimal.

richb93 · 3 Jan 2011 at 16:43

It is the latest patched version. Before it would only run at 1600x900 on my 8800GS but now I can run it on medium at 1080p with a decent framerate. If you think it's bad now you should've tried the original PC version! :eek:

Braka · 3 Jan 2011 at 16:48

how do we install this patch? if steam doesnt automatically do it?

MoNkEyMiKeY · 3 Jan 2011 at 16:48

Cooper said:
Lol, what a steaming POS this port is, i cant even get it to draw water ffs.....

What with this and BC2, 2 out of 3 of the games i bought in the Steam sale have left me feeling dissapointed...

Well obviously the tides gone out, didn't you know the PC versions has a fully simulated tidal sytsem?!

Cooper · 3 Jan 2011 at 16:55

MoNkEyMiKeY said:
Well obviously the tides gone out, didn't you know the PC versions has a fully simulated tidal sytsem?!

lol...look, apparently the tide being out, allows you to fly Superman styleeeeeeeeee...

MoNkEyMiKeY · 3 Jan 2011 at 17:01

Can't quite remember but is that maybe due to graphics memory. I recall GTA 4 being a pain with not loading roads sometimes.

alex24 · 3 Jan 2011 at 17:02

Yeah if you fiddle with the -memrestrict settings and stuff you can get missing textures too. It was a problem with ATI cards and the initial release iirc.

trickycurve · 3 Jan 2011 at 17:15

I'd say the only setting to stay clear of is Shadows on Very High -- absolutely obliterates performance. High is fine and still looks decent, though.

Aleksandrs · 3 Jan 2011 at 17:17

It works on my PC, but on my Mac while in Windows, I can't get it to work. You can only see about 3 feet ahead and does about 1 frame per few seconds.

I love this game on consoles, but they messed up big time porting this to the PC. You can't even do anti-aliasing for crying out loud!

Margaret · 3 Jan 2011 at 17:19

TheCenturion said:
I don't have the steam version, I've got the retail version, but it renders water perfectly fine on mine. Have you got the latest patch?

Everyone slates the pc version of this game, I think it's top notch. The only problems are poor performance and no anti aliasing :\

How can it be top notch when it has poor performance and no anti-aliasing? Lol