My screens & settings & performance

[GTAMonkey2012]

** Most important link of all ... R* own support page : >>>>>>>> HERE <<<<<<<<<<<<

 

 

USEFULL INFO ON BACKING UP GAME SAVES AND GETTING IT WORKING ON FRESH INSTALL

 

1. Goto you game saves and back them up:

 

Game save locations:

 

Saves are located here in XP:

 

 

C:\Documents and Settings\(USERNAME)\Local Settings\Application Data\Rockstar Games\GTA IV\savegames

 

In vista:

 

 

:\Users\(USERNAME)\AppData\Local\Rockstar Games\GTA IV\savegames

 

All game saves will be under the latest created user_XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX folder, copy and paste that someplace safe. The newest date of files/folder will be the one your using if you see more then one.

 

** Also back up the "settings" folder **

 

2. Now delete just the user_xxxxxxxxxxxxx folder (or uninstall game if you doing that and reinstall etc).

3. Go into the Game/login to Live/Social club (important for it to create the right folder to be fully logged in on game start)

4. Start a fresh new game.

5. Play through to first save point (at Romans house) & exit the game.

6. Go to you save game folder again (locations as above)

 

You will see a fresh created user_XXXXXXXXXXXXXX folder with one game slot file with recent date and time stamp.

 

6. Copy all the save game slot files from your backed up saves into this folder and overwrite if prompted.

7. Also depending on how far you have got copy back Limits.dat & Xstring.dat and overwrite those under the "settings" folder.

 

Load back into game as normal either online/offline in GFWL and you should get it loading from your last saved game no problem.

Ive installed this game 3 times doing the same thing and all works no problem in this way.

 

 

 

______________________________>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

 

 

 

NEW TWEAKS - USING XP INSTEAD OF VISTA ** READ ITS WELL WORTH IT FOR XP vs VISTA PEOPLE **- AS OF 14/12/08

 

Final tweaks for today 14/12/08 under xp32

 

- Overclocked my AMD x2 6000+ from 3.01ghz to 3.25ghz in my bios (asus mobo).

- Installed AMD fusion onto XP (had it already in vista):

 

AMD Fusion Utill (kills processes with profile setups)

http://game.amd.com/us-en/drivers_fusion.aspx?p=1

 

- added the following either in the shortcut or in "commandline.txt" in GTA IV folder:

 

-fullspecaudio -novblank -availablevidmem 1

 

- Installed the latest patch :

 

http://www.rockstargames.com/support/IV/PC/patch/index.html

 

NOTE: if you cant get online with GFWL and its always "offline" and you keep getting update message and error and cant login, or you never have a message at all about an update and still cant login to GFWL as of 13/12/09 ... then definitely download the patch manually from that links, then install. Once you start up it will log back into GFWL ok as normal.

 

.. in SP I turn off AV software ans sys tray things, run AMD fusion on the highest profile then load game, im now getting steady into the high 30's fps and some dips in obvious places. Simply put Im now playing the game as if it were normal and what I would expect as of now, so follow the tips it may help you folks (dependent on CPU obviously etc).

 

In game setting I now stick to and happy with as a final setting I don't touch anymore: .. (to make a comparison with what I did have set in vista and early on read the post further.)

 

RES - 1280x960 - 75hz (wide screen monitor) - Upping this to native 1400x900 60hz takes 1-3 fps but I like it in higher "hz".

Textures - High

Render level - High

Draw distance - 31

Draw detail - 31

Traffic - 51

Shadow Volume - 0 <<< ... to me makes it look crap, adds nothing great and takes CPU, never been a fan since day one of this.

 

NOTE: Follow these new steps if they help after the following (posted backwards due to being an update/final tweak):

 

 

----------->> Continued ... my XP32 experience as of the 10/12/08

 

 

Ok, if you have read this thread i've been tweaking like mad since day one of release (the 2nd) and all can be read in this thread and everything is documented further down this first post of what I did/settings.

 

I haven't been happy with what ive needed to do in order to get it working with tweaks (shouldn't have to), even with tweaks I have still suffered introductions or random pauses and stutters, which is even worse if I don't tweak and run vanilla. Ive been reading allot of posts and one in particular was specific asking about the same processor I have (AMD Athlon 64 2x 6000+ 3ghz) and in that post allot had higher fps with lesser graphics cards than me and same ram as me. Then one poster posted performance the same as me as "ditto" basically, after looking further he had vista the others with better fps had XP ...hmmmmm .. got me thinking.

 

I have dual boot PC and all games run smoother in Vista that I have, but I have never tested this game on my rig under XP, i installed under vista right away from day one. Today I spent the time making a second install on my XP partition and heres my findings and full documented steps.

 

First to repeat, heres my rig this games installed on since the 2nd (no overclocking etc never have):

 

Asus m2n-sli deluxe 800fsb mobo

AMD 6000+ 3.ghz 2x core CPU

2 Gig ram

Nvidia GTX260 BFG OC (216) core 896MB

Xfi Xtreme Gamer

O/S - Vista 32 bit SP1 fully updated

Now using beta 180.84 Nvidia Driver

 

 

Under Vista when I installed it release day it auto detected settings, and these values are here in this pic:

 

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/9213/gt...21165392vq3.jpg

 

Loaded game, choppy intro credits, got to driving, stuttery, general fps was about 25-28 driving home (night time)

 

Did all my tweaks over the days since (see entire details and first post) ... fps didn't seem to change much but it did stop blatant stuttering although never rid itself especially in mid areas and fly over near tower blocks in the game (sometime 17 fps). I found that running with high textures caused more stutters than running in medium, also I was forces to render movies more often than not with medium textures, "20" draw distance and detail in order to not get "need more resources" issues and crap outs with unknown errors. Infact making my latest 2 movies it crapped out more than 10 times untill I found a happy medium on render.

 

So all that considered (drivers up to date, background crap gone, extra extensions ... again see my fist post about all that). I ended up settling over the week with settings of:

 

Textures - Medium

Render level - High

Draw distance - 21

Draw detail - 18

Shadow Volume - 0 <<< most particular was this one, anything more than 3 and it hit fps allot, my thread shows this if you read through.

 

So during this week ive settled with 18-25 fps in built up places over fly overs center of town, then generally 25-29 day time. Night time 29-32 and wobbly in places, in rain around 21-28 day or night. Plus stutters random (like 1 second pauses etc) and having to have medium textures to render videos to escape crapouts and not enough resources errors ... ok, bear this all in mind with vista 32.

 

XP

 

Steps as of today:

 

If you have AMD processor in XP before you start:

 

 

AMD dual core optimiser (must have) and other tools:

>> AMD TOOLS PAGE <<

 

 

1. Already had SP3 installed (if you dont then google or run windows update)

2. Uninstalled Nvidia driver, safe mode to use drive sweeper, rebooted back, download the latest nvidia for XP 32:

http://www.nzone.com/object/nzone_gtaiv_downloads.html

3. Installed rebooted.

4. Ran a windows update (there are some security updates folks BTW today) plus a service pack 3 update ... installed, rebooted.

5. Needed Framework 3.5 (only had 3.1) .... grabbed and web installed with this link :

 

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details...&displaylang=en

 

.. installed, done.

 

6. Installed the service pack 1 for framework 3.5:

 

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details...&displaylang=en

 

.. installed, done, rebooted.

 

7. Installed the game, but ... installed it to my second drive, not the drive with both my operating systems on, done.

8. Went to nvidia control panel: All to app settings, Vsync FORCED OFF.

9. Loaded the game ... using these exact same detected setting:

 

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/9213/gt...21165392vq3.jpg

 

I did no other tweaks, no extra fiddling

 

Loaded game, no chops or noticeable stuttering ... hmmmm. FPS was much better it "felt" ... hmmmm, it was the intro at night so didnt jump to conclusions. Ok got to the point of walking outside in the day .. FPS wasnt great like before, ran around ..ok not stuttering. Got in a car and then drove as fast as I could all around middle of town and the fly over section that im used to fps hits all this week (also moving the mouse view around like mad) ... fps wasn't great and did drop but was what i expected not any worse.

 

But ... it then sunk in, this is running with the SAME fps rates ive expected and used too in vista, BUT ... with the detected settings far higher than after tweaks and the settings I ended up with in Vista!?

 

To recap, vista (after all tweaks in the first post of thread, running as DX9 bla bla bla)

 

Textures - Medium

Render level - High

Draw distance - 21

Draw detail - 18

Traffic - 50

Shadow Volume - 0

 

and again to recap :

 

 

So during day ive settled with 18-25 fps in built up places over fly overs center of town, then generally 25-29 day time. Night time 29-32 and wobbly in places, in rain around 21-28 day or night. Plus stutters random (like 1 second pauses etc) and having to have medium textures to render videos to escape crapouts and not enough resources errors ... ok, bear this in mind with vista 32.

 

XP ....

 

HIGH Textures

HIGH render Quality

View = 32

Detail = 65

Vehicle density = 46

Shadow density = 16

 

... same fps results as vista BUT with higher settings AND I can run high textures and stutters are so limited I hardly have them getting in my way and now when it does they are pauses more "slight nudges" which I expect for streaming high textures like other games.

 

So as you probably worked out, by bringing setting down to my Vista setting I ended up with .... Im getting at least another 6-7 fps in my averages and no annoying jolts. Put even simpler ... better fps and performance over the map driving day and night under XP with my rig. It then gets better, I went into the editor (migrated over all my files) and loaded some MP grabs from last night with explosions and far more action than ive used in a video so far, all in all 1.5 mins long ... exported at high res ... with all the higher detected settings than vista (high textures remember), .... rendered with not on issue at all or errors, or resource messages ... i was very happy I can tell you.

 

For those who want benchmarks, I think they are unrealistic, this test here is everything you can read in this thread and the first post, plus in my sig my video editor thread and the proof with vidz ive done so far through GTAIV, plus driving around (as of now) in both XP AND Vista on same rig using fraps fps while testing all over the map, all weathers day and night ... a proper bloody test.

 

Conclusion, it seems extra ram is need for vista with video editor that's for sure, but it seems that for me and this spec using a different install drive and simply putting it under xp = better, and thats a FULL rounded test too. I have come to a conclusion not that "it needs optimising" that's true anyway, but, was it ever optimised for vista? We know officially its stated its only DX9 game, so bearing this in mind through DX10 I noticed having to put it as -DX9 in vista to be better ... it makes it a little clearer, well for me anyway.

 

I am sticking with XP now with "this" game until patch then I can test both again and report back. So far im starting to feel that optimising more for mem is needed and other things in the engine, but alot of testing via vista is needed with my kind of specs thats for sure. Im at a stage where if I had this kind of performance from the day I installed it i wouldnt have posted half of this thread and would be in a "lucky ones" bracket. So im now happy to wait for more patches and can play with more confidence that it more robust under XP.

 

I hope this helps you fellas, take from it what you will, im making no suggestions just reporting my findings to share the info, in not a "kid" or a benchmark pissing contest person ... proper testing on this, no knee jerk reaction posts.

 

 

EDIT: see very top for final tweaks if you missed it under "Final tweaks for today 14/12/08 under xp32".

 

 

---------------------------------------------------------------------->>>>

 

TWEAKS - USING VISTA FROM RELEASE DAY

 

 

** UPDATED FIRST POST FROM WHAT IVE DONE SINCE 2/11/09 - 8-11-09**

NOTE: this is my own experience with my own rig specs, this isnt a solution for missing texture bugs, ati, 64bit, mouse issues etc just about repertong the exact things ive done since teusday to now have the game running as well as I can untill any patches without wanting to throw it out of the window like I did do on first few hours after install. Please dont post in this thread "still runs crap" and "doesnt work" this wasnt about that, post if some things help and spread the word a little.

 

Ok ... first off my rig:

 

Asus m2n-sli deluxe 800fsb mobo

AMD 6000+ 3.ghz 2x core CPU

2 Gig ram

Nvidia GTX260 BFG OC (216) core 896MB

Xfi Xtreme Gamer

 

O/S - Vista 32 bit SP1 fully updated

Using WHQL 180.48 Nvidia Graphics driver. <<< I havent moved from this driver at all so far.

Now using beta 180.84 Nvidia Driver >> DOWNLOAD HERE - SPECIFIC FOR GTAIV <<

 

 

Things I have done to get petter beformance but retain eye candy:

 

 

If you have AMD processor also try these utils:

 

 

AMD dual core optimiser (must have) and other tools:

>> AMD TOOLS PAGE <<

 

AMD Fusion Utill (kills processes with profiile setups)

http://game.amd.com/us-en/drivers_fusion.aspx?p=1

 

DEFRAG AFTER INSTALL (yout choice on tool but here mine to JUST defrag the game folder)

 

1. Download and check the details HERE (download link is a the base of the page).

2. Copy "contig.exe" to the following location:

 

 

 

(*Drive Letter*):\Program Files\Rockstar Games\Grand Theft Auto IV

 

Drop it into the root here along side the game exe's.

 

3. Right click over the copied contig.exe and "create shorcut to desktop".

4. Right click and select properties on the new created shortcut and in the target add these addition flags at the end:

 

 

"E:\Program Files\Rockstar Games\Grand Theft Auto IV\Contig.exe" -s *.* -v

 

So after the tagets last > " < add a space, then -s, then a space, then *.* then a space. then -v

 

Then ok it. BTW my drive letter happens to be "E" where I installed, dont read into that yours will be wherever you installed.

 

5. Double click and it will do its thing.

 

NOTE: In Vista it wont run you have to right click over the shortcut and then select "run as administrator" .

 

It will open a black DOS window, contig will then start to check every folder and file under its location where its ran from (thats why you stick it in the root of the game folder) ... you will see on screen each file it finds, how fragmented and whats its doing. Once its complete the dos window will simply close and all complete. It will show if nothing needs to be done.

 

This is a big game and yes it may take time so run it and make lots of cups of tea biggrin.gif , but the best part is it is ONLY defragging the game folder or what you tell it too than say defragging an entire drive for the sake of just 18gig install, it does work and does help. This will only defrag what it finds anything else gets skipped. You can use the exact procedure on anything not just games. so any game just do the same procedure but for that game folder.

 

VISTA (can also be XP related)

 

Clearly run an update mines fully updates with SP1 (or SP3 if your XP fully updates)

 

>> HERES << a good tweaks guide for vista i used this after installing vista to remove crap.

 

>> HERES << a place to check all all services you can remove and what they do in vista also.

 

Another idea is stopping the "superfetch" feature in vista(details and how to links are in the following thread:

 

http://www.gtaforums.com/index.php?showtop...entry1058742845 ** NOTE: use with caution this isn't a "must do" option **

 

 

So ... Turned off processes not needed that you can and any sys tray crap and earo etc.

 

I installed the game to a separate drive to my system install and also put the swapfile to a different drive to my system and game install.

 

Updated Direct X (november 08 update) its for Vista & XP:

 

>> DOWNLOAD UPDATE <<

 

Nvidia control panel setting

 

This is for the individual "Grand Theft Auto 4" Profile.

 

- Everything set to application control

- Vsync forces OFF

- Maximum pre rendered frames set to "8". <<< NOTE: Debatable of benefit so try default to "3" as usual. ** .. ignore this, only try it with v sync ON only. **

 

Game Launch Tweaks

 

1.Create a shortcut from the file in rockstars main folder of the exe which is called "LaunchGTAIV.exe"

 

2. Open with "properties" on desktop of that shorcut and in the target add the following additions:

 

"E:\Program Files\Rockstar Games\Grand Theft Auto IV\LaunchGTAIV.exe" -norestrictions -DX9 /high

 

-norestrictions = lets the game not restrict your settings, this wont do anything for FPS or performance as-is and is just helpfull when testing, some say it doesnt work for them (they still get restrictions) but again this is all about my own experience with my rig and it does work for me.

 

-DX9 - Runs the game in Driect X 9 mode under vista, I do know that this actualy may help things as I have tried this with Crysis Warhead and it was more stable, so those saying "Install XP vista is crap" .. if you have vista and want to try it under DX9 this is it.

 

/high - Runs the game under vista at highest priority, gives mem and cpu access to this over all other processes.

 

For those with xp still try "/high" even if your in DX9 by default and give it a go.

 

-DX9 & /high have made it so I dont get stutters it runs, before I had same fps without these flags but having to set textures to medium (yuck) ... so I know for a fact this has helped and made a difference.

This is what i came up with finaly

 

-norestrictions -fullspecaudio -novblank -DX9 /high

 

NOTE: Running this with the "commandline.txt" method seemed to ignore the -DX9 option so if you use -DX9 add all these via a shortcut.

 

NOTE 2: Using -fullspecaudio fixes the frame cap limit problem also.

 

In-game settings

 

- 1280x1024 75hz (or 1280x800) (native is 1440 x 900 60hz) but lowered as it helps as higher refresh.

- 16:10 Aspect

- Textures : HIGH

- Render Detail : HIGHEST <<< UPDATE, have to make this meduim to help with stutters currectly 9/12/08

- View Distance : 23

- View Detail : 20

- Vehicle Density: 50

- Shadow Density : 3

NOTE : Shadow Density = CPU hit, View Detail = CPU hit, View Distance = CPU hit, Texure setting = buffering stutters hit.

 

We sadly still have no AA support thus far, but you can introduce back the console on-screen blur and the motion blur effects but pressing "p" on the keyboard to toggle at any time. I am sticking with it, quick movement on a JUST loaded section can stutter but not for long. I keep this on most of the time in-game certainly helps keep those jaggies from annoying you when playing thats for damn sure.

 

Shadow Density I normaly switch to 0 ... all it does it adds fps hits via cpu and brings more detail to casting shadow. Now that would be a good thing, but, so far in the game the casting shadows look sh*t. Griddy pixely, smudgy shimmering without it you dont switch standard shadows off .. its just fancy cast shadow enhancement that is known by most people as "crap", so zero isnt a bad thing and wont kill eye candy

 

The other CPU stuff is normal it will hit CPU higher, my setting are about or just above xbox, but passed console with render/texture level so it looks real nice.

 

Turn video capture recording to - OFF in "game" menu before play.

 

When im in the editor or capturing vid I turn textures to medium and lower view distance very low. You dont need these things for capture clips because you can up them before rendering later, but when capturing at high it will either report not enough resources or stutter bad, remember its not cpturing the "video look" its capting position data etc so look itsnt an issue although car density is need as it captures car positions and you can to change that. That said always switch capture OFF when you know your simply going to play game only.

 

Also I turn off post process blur when capture is on and switch it on as im about to render, it does need to be "on" to render for video to see it.

 

OK ... this is prett much everything I have done to get passed my horror on first install and play of the game, cut scenes are fine, driving is fine but can stutter when moving real fast into dense area .. but I can resolve that alot by just moving to medium texture level If I want too but I dont do it often and stay high .. I like my textures crispy

 

If you want some idea on how mine looks while playing steady 30fps with "some" stutters that are acceptable to me adn im happy playing until and patched heres my videos (screen grabs are all in this thread already so read further on).

 

HD ones which needed medium textures to render but still nice on the eyes:

 

 

"No matter what, just keep walking"

Rain Over Me - HD Vimeo

 

 

"Just another day for Nico in Liberty City"

J-Walk - HD Vimeo

 

You can also download from in the desciption in vimeo the full 720p wmv files for large screen playback if you want to compare with your own game graphics levels etc.

 

High texture levels which I could render for web use:

 

Social Club Upload Versions << same videos but using high textures as I play in game.

 

 

 

Heres my thread about using editor bugs, manual links etc etc :

 

http://www.gtaforums.com/index.php?act=ST&...entry1058711592

 

 

 

Last night (4th) I first saw the awe of driving for full thunder and bad weather settings ... man is was fking awsome! Now that DID look superb abnd next gen, even with blur on (using "p") I got some jiggers but could drive around walk, fight with cops without being pissed off too much, the full bad weather in this game is

 

To finish off you can see im running as DX9 in vista and running high priority too, so as much as its better should I have to do all this? No, it should run like im running it now WITH AA and maybe 10 precent more draw distance an 1 stutter or so if im flying about out the box, so its also clear it needs optimising. If I had a Quad and more mem then yes draw distance maybe upped a little, capturing I wouldnt need to switch levels, but again as we have seen even quads have there problems currently so lets see how it progresses.

 

FPS is getting better now being realistic about settings, but some pause stutters etc could be better and without me having to go medium textures, as thats not CPU.

 

 

 

_________________________________

 

 

Orignal first post posted 2/11/09

 

Ok got my copy in UK early and to anyone else it activates no problem as of today if you get it today in UK.

 

Ok, first off im not totaly happy your tied right into Live to be able to save SP progress, was my worst fear and its true but that down to personal opinion if that annoys you or not. Yep you are asked to login otherwise no SP saves.

 

Ok .. on load and intro, choppy, jittery watchable, jaggy no AA. Go to the main house FPS inside lovely, get to door to street FPS chugg, in stream pretty stupid performance. So I started messing with all the level etc .. what I did.

 

Nvida control panel all app controlled but overide AA to 2X vsync forced off.

 

Back to game pretty much the same not much differnce jaggy wise.

 

So ... long story short, I started to get a nice smooth play when I turned down shadow density, I feel this part of it is the bitch of the whole lot. When I turned it up it smudges thicker shadows in distance and to me makes not much visual difference near field much at all so that got chopped down and to me it all still looked real nice without, plus this setting alone will start to crawl back performance .. it realy need to be looked into just how taking it is for such small visual pleasure. Car desnity kind of had a wobble with fps but is passabe and view distance could be raised more if shadow desnity is lowered.

 

So ... heres my final anal tweaking running aroun in the street and by river under tunnel setting with decent fps (around 30 stable) with it looking as nice as I feel it should to be happy, but, slighly peeved at the jaggy side.

 

Settings:

 

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/7973/gt...15330884ag2.jpg

 

Before you cry out . nooooo, in all honesty with higher shadow density and draw distance detail the FPS hit vs visual beuty are worlds apart in density, its just as good like this and im pretty anal about games and eye candy. So heres some grabs spinning around and showing view distance at these settings:

 

http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/7510/gt...15263516eo9.jpg

 

http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/5198/gt...15263689tw6.jpg

 

Then street local near field shots ...

 

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/2130/gt...15264223xb3.jpg

 

(see more jaggies in this one) >>

 

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/534/gta...15264705bg5.jpg

 

 

Ok so this is just walking out of the house without driving, explosions chasing, ive yet to see how that handles, but the setting I show here for my rig is steady running around in the street and near long distant views, and it doesnt look crap ... but ... if AA jaggies get in the way for you it might piss you off. After playing for a bit it tends not to get too much in the way, but on first load and play expect it to play jittery and be jaggy.

 

** Those early posters cimplaining had things set to 100 .... thats a JOKE, that will KILL any system with shadows hands down and no question. **

 

It does need a patch or more optomising in my view, if feels like shadow desnity is the real killer here, removing that still looks great and then you can up other levels. Hope this helps, im off to play now and report back any other finding. Sorry mods if this thread needs to be merged but its so fragmented you need a sticky!!!

 

I will try upping my fan speed, also trying some of those setting flags from the readme and try to get some scaling that fits, one I get something nice with eye candy I will post back stpes I took and settings info. I cannot speak for ATI users or lower spec systems, in all honesty lower than mine im not sure what you will get im just about happy with this as it is and thats on my rig.

Edited December 16, 2008 by GTAMonkey2012

[GTA_XP]

Very great at least someone post reviews!!!!!

[Drag_Drift]

GTX260 and not everything maxed out? Weird.

[GTAMonkey2012]

Im quite helpfull as I got annoyed at the crap being posted, seeing as I have it running Im glad to help and report back, but dont ask lots of questions as im not going to be logged in for a wee bit (more playing and testing to be done!).

 

 

GTX260 and not everything maxed out? Weird.

 

When you get it and play it it becomes apparent you dont "NEED" to max it out to look nice, its as if this game is built for systems a year or more ahead to max it out and even not maxed out and low its at a level most will be happy with (apart from th AA part of it though).

 

Its like (aprt from AA) this game is stunning from low, maxing will get you long distance detail with HUGE fps hits but its not realy "needed" in order to enjoy.

Edited December 2, 2008 by GTAMonkey2012

[Big Danny K]

Can someone post a screenshot with the Independence FM logo?

Im very curious to see it

[Dajinn-]

I almost guarantee if you had some sort of 45nm Core 2 at the bare MINIMUM you would see enhanced results almost immediately and probably give you a bit more leeway when it comes to traffic density and viewing distance alone just so it can render all of the ai that you can't but "can" see. Against a 6000+ model cpu the C2D already has a L2 cache that is 6 times larger and a much better architecture for performance no matter what.

 

But anyway, thank you for the review it helps a lot.

[xero01uk]

which exe do i have to add to get the nvidia cp to work with the game?

[GTAMonkey2012]

 

I almost guarantee if you had some sort of 45nm Core 2 at the bare MINIMUM you would see enhanced results almost immediately and probably give you a bit more leeway when it comes to traffic density and viewing distance alone just so it can render all of the ai that you can't but "can" see. Against a 6000+ model cpu the C2D already has a L2 cache that is 6 times larger and a much better architecture for performance no matter what.

 

But anyway, thank you for the review it helps a lot.

This I assumed reading reviews and before getting the game so its no shock and normal, but having said that the density is enough at this level it realy is, anything more is kind of super duper but not a game killer at all.

 

Bottom line if you interested in near filed then shadow density hardly kills it and traffics about the same as GTASA for me.

[SlingShotUK]

Brilliantly constructive and useful review Monkey - thanks for that.

 

What screen resolution are you running in?

 

I'm hoping to get something useable at 1920x1080 for playing on my plasma but have a feeling I'll have to lower the settings massively. I have a 8800GTX but only a crappy AMD 4600+.

I intend to upgrade to a Phenom 9950 soon though which should help some.

 

I'm sure as time goes by either we will a) get a patch to fix alot of the problems or b) mutually agree the best settings for each rig...

[Natix]

Great Bro!

thanks:)

[GTAMonkey2012]

 

Brilliantly constructive and useful review Monkey - thanks for that.

 

What screen resolution are you running in?

 

I'm hoping to get something useable at 1920x1080 for playing on my plasma but have a feeling I'll have to lower the settings massively. I have a 8800GTX but only a crappy AMD 4600+.

I intend to upgrade to a Phenom 9950 soon though which should help some.

 

I'm sure as time goes by either we will a) get a patch to fix alot of the problems or b) mutually agree the best settings for each rig...

Look at the settings screen grab 1400x900 ... I notice coming down to 1280x1024 didnt realy add or take away from AA jaggyness and again more performance ... one people get the idea about the setting that MAX = anal and LOW = mint anyway .. and kind of skip over no AA (which will piss people off I know) then things might settle a little, then we can get into tweaks and other things to help.

 

I was pretty down on it after reading initial posts, but its simple ... in this game MAX = optional LOW = realy good anyway, and makes GTA SA and consoles still look lesser ... so dont worry folks lets see how things progress its VERY early days yet.

 

If we can get tweak balanced to bring up overiding AA then i would be 100 percent happy, right now im 70 percent and looking under the hood for more. A patch or two and after tomorow a week of people running and reports, plus driver updateas as they come Im not thinking of taking the game back.

Edited December 2, 2008 by GTAMonkey2012

[SLAYERMAGGOT]

Thanks so much for this review

[GTAMonkey2012]

Have to still stress, once you grapple with it and understand the max levels side and whats messing with FPS all becomes aparent, but you WILL be pissed off when you fist run it

 

If you have massive high standards and cannot be budges you will take this game back, if you understand it to lower settings you wont and will stick with it.

Edited December 2, 2008 by GTAMonkey2012

[spectre01]

Well, Rockstar Toronto ported it. They also ported Bully to pc, which in my view, is not optomised very good. I've yet to try gta4 on my mobility HD3650.

[GTA_XP]

Well, Rockstar Toronto ported it. They also ported Bully to pc, which in my view, is not optomised very good. I've yet to try gta4 on my mobility HD3650.

Oh no! It cant be!!!!

R* Toronto must get failiet!

[abcadgfawghaeheheahaeh]

wow much options to choose between

[GTAMonkey2012]

I dont realy want this thread to be a bashing.console port slagoff, theres plenty of threads already, try to keep this for performacne with what we have, thanks

 

Im trying to be constructive becuase all I see here is slander and bashing and complaining with no one actualtt tweaking the damn thing to report what DOES make it run better.

 

It prety clear out the box on self detect it runs crap, you have the controls to change it .... post them

Edited December 2, 2008 by GTAMonkey2012

[Countdown]

Has someone tried what difference it makes when You turn off Video Editor ?

[Motanum]

i think you should try to lower your resolution, i dont mind the way shadows look i like to think is the artistic style.

i am more happy to hear from you, as about everything is the same between our pcs, exept that i have a lower graphic card. which is still passable..

i am more pissed about the delay through steam, i think is confusing, as they say release date on 3rd of december but the countdaown is so tht it hits 4th in the early morning.

i hate it, that r* lied about performance and looks, and damnm they should had worked more on performance than looks! cant believe peopl with 4 gb ram and 500mb graphics card are complaing that the game runs and runs crappy on low gprahics.

thanks! MORE REVIES SHOULD FOLLOW THE FORMAT OF THIS GUY! with specs first!!

[GTAMonkey2012]

I will try that, you reminded me I did turn it off right away and BTW thats another question answered you CAN turn it off in back ground.

 

Will flip it on and try.

 

Ok, this is early posts and im now going off to mess around for a few hours, will take notes and post back, I do hope this helps in some way folks.

 

DO NOT PISS AND MOAN HERE ... post here if it helps you and if you can help.

 

 

PPS - the way the games integrated with menu and the live side/cut scenes and audio is very polished indeed I have to say.

 

EDIT forgot to add, I installed all latest updates for vista and SP1 and the newest direct X (even though it updated anyway on install) ... it didnt install live you have to grab that and it also has an update for it via social club as you go to run the game so go get that from social club now. Installation took around 15-20 mins or less I have a fast DVDRW ... all installed ok and had no issues ... get those updates in first folks.

 

 

and damnm they should had worked more on performance than looks!

 

Once you fiddle you get the best of both ... BUT .. still needs to be working a little better especialy without much AA thats then another bag of tests.

Edited December 2, 2008 by GTAMonkey2012

[aragond]

Thanks for the decent review. Screenshots, explanations, it all helps.

 

But, I can't shake the feeling the game (from your SSs) looks soooooo much like the Scarface port.

 

The Scarface port sucked. Awesome game killed by a really sh*tty port to PC.

[texan1985]

I know this might not help that much, but it's worth a shot. Have you tried lowering the quality of windows to give the best performance? For example: adjusting the visual effects to run with the best performance in the control panel? Also stop programs from running in the background? Good luck

[Frostshocker]

one thing that really bothers me is those shadows they look like they have been put there with MS paint

 

 

 

also since your able to play i was wondering if you could confirm if the swingset glitch is still in this port?

(if you have no idea what im talking about youtube will have a few vids im sure)

[GTAMonkey2012]

 

I know this might not help that much, but it's worth a shot. Have you tried lowering the quality of windows to give the best performance? For example: adjusting the visual effects to run with the best performance in the control panel? Also stop programs from running in the background? Good luck

Good point, and sure enough all that Vista sh*t is dead on my pc ... Im a tweak nut and earo and all that crap is gone, loads of processes killed. This is deffo game based and not so much outide the game causing it thats for sure. I dont have heavy atni virus just Zonalarm Suit which isnt much of a hog (plus I have other games like ARMA with FULL mods and that runs nice on large draw distance etc under vista).

 

Good question, so that clears that part. Oh also ......

 

I installed onto a different partition, and also my swap file is on another drive so I tried to exclude any of that too.

[SlingShotUK]

Brilliantly constructive and useful review Monkey - thanks for that.

 

What screen resolution are you running in?

 

I'm hoping to get something useable at 1920x1080 for playing on my plasma but have a feeling I'll have to lower the settings massively. I have a 8800GTX but only a crappy AMD 4600+.

I intend to upgrade to a Phenom 9950 soon though which should help some.

 

I'm sure as time goes by either we will a) get a patch to fix alot of the problems or b) mutually agree the best settings for each rig...

Look at the settings screen grab 1400x900 ... I notice coming down to 1280x1024 didnt realy add or take away from AA jaggyness and again more performance ... one people get the idea about the setting that MAX = anal and LOW = mint anyway .. and kind of skip over no AA (which will piss people off I know) then things might settle a little, then we can get into tweaks and other things to help.

 

I was pretty down on it after reading initial posts, but its simple ... in this game MAX = optional LOW = realy good anyway, and makes GTA SA and consoles still look lesser ... so dont worry folks lets see how things progress its VERY early days yet.

 

If we can get tweak balanced to bring up overiding AA then i would be 100 percent happy, right now im 70 percent and looking under the hood for more. A patch or two and after tomorow a week of people running and reports, plus driver updateas as they come Im not thinking of taking the game back.

LOL, I really should have checked out the screenshots for res... I quickly read your excellent review then posted that question before I worked out..

 

Hopefully I'll be able to get a useable set of settings for 1920x1080.. Once I get the phenom and lower the settings as you recommend I imagine it'll be superb..

 

I did think that if it's still better looking than on the consoles on lower settings it'll be fantastic..

[besa]

Hey GTAMonkey2012

 

Nice review, but can u do me a favour? Try to disable "video editor recording" function. The readme.txt clearly said: Note that if you have a

slower machine, you also have the option to turn off this feature altogether.

 

 

I have a feeling this function is a nasty resources hoag.

[GTAMonkey2012]

one thing that really bothers me is those shadows they look like they have been put there with MS paint

 

 

 

also since your able to play i was wondering if you could confirm if the swingset glitch is still in this port?

(if you have no idea what im talking about youtube will have a few vids im sure)

Hmm shadows, now, unde the bridge thay have this strange griddy phase look which isnt nice I admit, but when I turned down density they became alot better like over doing it stressed the shadows entirely, im not saying they are wonderfull but I would say they are by far better and up too date like most games.

 

The swing thing isnt my bag mate im just opening this about performance and my tweaking, those things maybe someone else can answer.

[GTAMonkey2012]

Hey GTAMonkey2012

 

Nice review, but can u do me a favour? Try to disable "video editor recording" function. The readme.txt clearly said: Note that if you have a

slower machine, you also have the option to turn off this feature altogether.

 

 

I have a feeling this function is a nasty resources hoag.

Did that mate before I even started the game all this is with that off ... I did mention previously.

[SlingShotUK]

Hey GTAMonkey2012

 

Nice review, but can u do me a favour? Try to disable "video editor recording" function. The readme.txt clearly said: Note that if you have a

slower machine, you also have the option to turn off this feature altogether.

 

 

I have a feeling this function is a nasty resources hoag. 

Did that mate before I even started the game all this is with that off ... I did mention previously.

Have you tried turning the replay functionality on and seeing how it affects performance?

 

Good idea to start from a clean slate, but might be useful to test with it on as well so that you've got a baseline defined.

[Frostshocker]

one thing that really bothers me is those shadows they look like they have been put there with MS paint

 

 

 

also since your able to play i was wondering if you could confirm if the swingset glitch is still in this port?

(if you have no idea what im talking about youtube will have a few vids im sure)

Hmm shadows, now, unde the bridge thay have this strange griddy phase look which isnt nice I admit, but when I turned down density they became alot better like over doing it stressed the shadows entirely, im not saying they are wonderfull but I would say they are by far better and up too date like most games.

 

The swing thing isnt my bag mate im just opening this about performance and my tweaking, those things maybe someone else can answer.

fair enough i shoudl have the game between tomorow and friday hopefully depending on play.com i guess ill find out then

 

thanks and a very nice thread