Graphical Performance Readme

[Malik]

 

I cant wait for the patches and drivers to start rolling in.

 

 

I don't have high hopes for a fix-it-all patch, but some more serious tweaking and new video drivers may improve the performance slightl.

Until the future generation PCs will be widely avaliable.

This game is actually an investment for the future

 

Wait..so why did i buy it now

[GamerJerome]

is there anyone who have a good grafical card that can run gta iv with all the highest settings? becuse with my geforce 9600 i somtimes see strange colors and it crashes to much my processor is a e8500 3.16ghz and so long as i know is there nothing wrong with only the grafics and things

[dudester123]

what was the traffic density setting at on consoles? 0?

[camdean]

is there anyone who have a good grafical card that can run gta iv with all the highest settings? becuse with my geforce 9600 i somtimes see strange colors and it crashes to much my processor is a e8500 3.16ghz and so long as i know is there nothing wrong with only the grafics and things

Yes, I managed to get it on about 32FPS on the highest possible texture and rendering settings, I prefer High + High settings though as I get a little more FPS (I'm fussy with it)

[Killer_Lee91]

My pc is pretty decent, heres my specs:

 

RAM: 2048MB

 

Processor: Genuine Intel® CPU 2160 @ 1.80GHz (2 CPU's)

 

Graphics card: NVIDIA XfX 8800GTS.

 

i cba goin through all of it but anyway my computer is pretty decent and yet the graphics arent as good and is blocky... is this all to do with the problems there having? will it be sorted when they bring out a patch?

 

Thanks =]

[dog_day_sunrise]

Only played briefly earlier. Really don't see why people are having such issues with the game. Runs well on high, very well on medium. Spec is:

 

Asus N2M32 Dx mobo

AMD X2 5000+ processor

800w PSU

Gainward Geforce 8800GTX

2GB DDR2 800+.

XP Pro (32bit) SP3

 

Only issue on high is with RAM. Easily resolved with about 20 quid and a screwdriver.

 

People trying to run the game on 8500/9600/8600 cards- you will be in for a disappointment. These cards are too low-spec to run it properly.

[lsb2008]

Malik, don't be a douchebag, you probably don't even have the game.

 

The game doesn't run at acceptable frame rates (25-35)

on medium settings by machines in the range between minimum and recommended.

Only acceptable play is with higher end PCs with higher memory capacity video card

(just to unlock the high tex) and a 3+ GHz Quad Core @ about 25-45 stable FPS

If that happened with the console release, R* would be legislated by MS and Sony to recall and reprocess.

As you have pointed out, they did rush the game before Christmas,

which is a marketing move to make sure all the PC kids out there get it in their wish lists.

R* does have a track record with patches coming out, and I'm 80% sure that the patch,

will be released before christmas and this is an essentially a public beta.

Combined with next video card updates this game will be workable at 30-40 fps on recommended

gaming hardware, and will run better with dual/tri/quad GPU configurations.

 

For now, it's a fact, if you're getting more then 30 FPS on whatever settings you're playing on

you're getting the tops of performance everybody else is getting. From my tweaking and poking around

I see some strange results. My frame rate ranges from 25-45 FPS (Avg. 27) @ 800x600 Low/Low/0.0.0.0 to

10-35 FPS (Avg 20) @ 1920x1080 High/Very High/30.40.15.16 (I like traffic density lower for easier driving)

I play on my Toshiba Regza 42" 120Hz LCD TV via DVI-HDMI connector, so I insist on 1080p, and that's the

sets I play on regularly.

 

Tweaking around showed minuscule improvements in performance when adjusting the resolution.

It's almost the whole scene is pre-rendered with CPU before it's passed onto the video card, then the

resolution is scaled into w/e you set up. Texture quality supposed to be the main video memory hog, but

gained me maybe 1-3 FPS per setting so a total of maybe 5 FPS difference on avg. Render quality affected

performance even less, so I left it on highest. Draw distance was my main performance tweak,

I just took a car on the highway off the safehouse, and tweaked it to how much was running ok for me,

I settled on 20-40 FPS with final setting of 35, and detail 40. I set traffic density to 15

to make streets nice and clean for fast driving. As well I have noticed no major performance loss

from number of shadows during the daytime, but at night it may prove good to turn the shadows

to half or one third, because the FPS will drop 3-5 frames on average.

 

I found that even though there is no major improvement in performance with the change of resolution,

that allowed me to stay on high res and still be able to play the game on High texture settings and

visually acceptable view of the scenery. I turned the brightness to 100% contrast to 40% and Saturation to 50%,

and did a lot of tweaks to find the sweet spot. Pressing "P" turns on depth of field and motion blur, which will

smooth out unAA'd edges in the far, but not on your car (which sucks), but will make your eyes and head hurt

after a while; as well that setting, against what logic dictates, virtually does not improve the frame rate.

I guess thats because the effect is applied globaly through hardware and goes on top of pre-rendered scene.

 

Finding the sweet spot was easy after I have changed some setting in my nVidia driver's 3D Settings.

(You might need to switch to advanced view)

I switched "Maximum Pre-rendered frame" to 8 and set texture filtering to high performance,

because it feels like the game does its own filtering on the textures...or completely substitutes them

(could be possible, because the game is much larger than the X360 one)

 

In conclusion, like I said before, the patch will probably happen before Christmas,

and might have some generalized optimizations, better use of DX10.1 filters,

better/highlighted effects, and hopefully an optimized texture processing design,

obviously they will have an SLI update, nVidia would make sure of that, with a

parallel drive release. But that doesn't mean every single core Celeron with a TI4200 will run this game.

You're still expected to have a Dual Core 2.0+GHz and min 8800GT 512MB to run at average 30 FPS.

 

My specs:

CPU: Intel C2D E6550 @ 2.33GHz

RAM: 2GB 1033MHz DDR2

GPU: 8800GT 512MB (Averaged at 20 FPS on 1280x720 Med/High/30.35.15.16/Benchmark: 29 FPS) Retired due to GTA4

GTX260 896MB (Averages at 23 FPS on 1920x1080 High/Highest/30.35.15.16/Benchmark: 27 FPS)

The game complains that this setting is out of my range, but it can go screw itself.

[Mr.Ruthless]

I have a single core processor and the game runs perfectly. I have only one problem - textures aren't appearing. I don't want to use all those DriverSweepers. Maybe I should install the newest (180.47) drivers?

[Sycuss]

I have a single core processor and the game runs perfectly. I have only one problem - textures aren't appearing. I don't want to use all those DriverSweepers. Maybe I should install the newest (180.47) drivers?

try the beta 180.60s from nvidia.or the 180.70

[TheGamerXxX]

THE ONLY good fix I've read so far is for NVIDIA Prerender frames set to one

 

And for everybody

 

In the "GAME" tab in the game turn off 'Recording'

 

And this after reading some 50 pages of people complaining and posting "MY PC is so great" blah blah blah

 

Do some research people

 

Original thread

 

http://www.gtaforums.com/index.php?showtopic=379469

 

Luke

[Dansov]

Who knows, that really to start the game on video card without support of Shaders 3.0? [ATI Radeon X800XL 256MB]

For example:

Emulate Shaders through a program.

 

I saw a screens with low graphics and I do not see the use of Shaders there.

Edited December 4, 2008 by Dansov

[Fotolabman]

i cant get high textures as well, and yes i have tried all combinations of command line parameters they give us in the readme

 

i have two 3870 X2's running crossfire X yet the game limits me to 500mb video ram

the only thing i can think of is that yes i have 512mb per GPU

but i have a total of 2048mb of video ram

 

also when i add the command line parameters it launches a GTAIV command prompt window, then closes

the only one that has worked is the -benchmark

I'm not running a D2D or Steam copy, I have a retail copy

 

 

Q9450

4GB ram

two ati 3870 X2 2048GB (4 * 512mb)

vista 64bit

[Jah.Volunteer]

I have a single core processor and the game runs perfectly. I have only one problem - textures aren't appearing. I don't want to use all those DriverSweepers. Maybe I should install the newest (180.47) drivers?

try the beta 180.60s from nvidia.or the 180.70

can someone tell me more about these beta drivers?

 

all i found on Nvidia's site were the following:

 

http://www.nvidia.com/Download/Find.aspx?lang=en-us

 

are they relatively stable?

[Dhatz]

i will run GTa IV tomorrow, so let's see how with 4GB ram q6600 and 8800GT OC will fight with it on 1280x1024!

[lents13]

NEED HELP!!

 

i just got this game , i go in , and i turn EVERYTHING down obviously, i play, single player seems alright, my average framerate was 8.4, which is horrible, then i try playing with my friend, and it absolutely looks like i am lagging in SLOW MOTION, that bad, and i couldnt undestand why, but here are my spec.

 

please anyone if you know about this , help me and tell me what is wrong with my system, or the game, or what i need better. thanks.

 

----my pc------

 

-AMD Athlon 64 3500+ - 2.21 GHz

- 2.5 BG ram

-Geforce 8500 GT

 

[The_Cheese_Man]

lents, your pc is a single-core right? The minimum is a core 2 duo....that is probably your biggest reason for the lag.

[lents13]

yeah it is single =[. what could i do???

[TheGamerXxX]

Short of upgrading MoBo/CPU... go play chess.

 

No really... untill they release a patch that 'might' speed the game up, you're kinda S.O.L. right now.

 

Pretty much your PC as sad as it is to say, is under the minimum I believe.

 

Try turning off "recording" in the "game" tab in the game that might give you a few fps but that's about it.

 

Luke

[AdmiralV]

I've been tweaking with the settings for awhile, and the best ive been able to get is 25ish fps on medium/medium. I have a GTX 260 with 2 GB ddr2 ram and a 3.2 Ghz dual core AMD. I get better frame rates in far cry 2 with the settings on they're highest. hope a patch at least alleviates some of these issues. Benchmark seems to be pretty useless as I actually get a lower fps when i turn the settings DOWN.

Just a question though, does any one know a command to display the frame rate?

[Knyte]

In conclusion, like I said before, the patch will probably happen before Christmas, and might have some generalized optimizations, better use of DX10.1 filters, better/highlighted effects, and hopefully an optimized texture processing design.

Hate to break it to you, but this is a DirectX 9 game, even in Vista. So, 10.1 filters are not going to do squat.

[raytracer]

NEED HELP!!

 

i just got this game , i go in , and i turn EVERYTHING down obviously, i play, single player seems alright, my average framerate was 8.4, which is horrible, then i try playing with my friend, and it absolutely looks like i am lagging in SLOW MOTION, that bad, and i couldnt undestand why, but here are my spec.

 

please anyone if you know about this , help me and tell me what is wrong with my system, or the game, or what i need better. thanks.

 

----my pc------

 

-AMD Athlon 64 3500+ - 2.21 GHz

- 2.5 BG ram

-Geforce 8500 GT

2.21 GHz thats your prob

[TomVDC]

I don't want to complain but if you see in what quality I have to play. All settings on minimum and I can't change it!!! I f*cking crazy because of it.

[redblonek]

THE ONLY good fix I've read so far is for NVIDIA Prerender frames set to one

 

And for everybody

 

In the "GAME" tab in the game turn off 'Recording'

 

And this after reading some 50 pages of people complaining and posting "MY PC is so great" blah blah blah

 

Do some research people

 

Original thread

 

http://www.gtaforums.com/index.php?showtopic=379469

 

Luke

man you are grateful! this game ups from 15 to 40-45 fps on medium now on the almost highest settings I have about 30-35 fps xD

[fufek]

Statistics

Average FPS: 39.07

Duration: 37.24 sec

CPU Usage: 74%

System memory usage: 29%

Video memory usage: 97%

 

Graphics Settings

Video Mode: 1280 x 1024 (60 Hz)

Texture Quality: Medium

Render Quality: Highest

View Distance: 63

Detail Distance: 100

Vehicle Density: 100

Shadow Density: 16

 

 

Hardware

Microsoft® Windows Vista" Ultimate

Service Pack 1

Video Adapter: eVGA NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS 512 SSC

Video Driver version: 180.48

Intel® Core2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40GHz

OCZ 8GB RAM 800MHz

 

[NecroViolator]

DO NOT BELIEVE THE LIES from Rockstar !!!

 

BLOOM is NOT Next Gen...

Bloom is total CRAP and kills any system...

BLOOM = SYSTEM KILL !!!... NOT NEXT GEN...

 

There SHOULD of been Options TO TURN BLOOM OOOOFFFF ingame...

PURE CRAP...

 

Also my Dual Xeon/Quad Core only uses 25% max 30% of CPU power on this crap game...

 

This means that Oblivion was Next Gen as well... Since it had Bloom + HDR...

[[email protected]]

Dear R*

 

I have purchased your game and quite happy with it.

 

However I have never seen such poor performance from a videogame in a long time.

 

I have tried everything.

 

Updates ,Drivers, defragging, tweaks, no background apps, min-max settings.

 

Nothing makes a difference and i am lucky to get 20fps at any setting, the usual slow crawl is 5-15fps.

 

I might as well go ahead and ask when that magical patch is coming out, or at least a solution to the performance problems.

 

Here is my computers specs: 939 Opteron 170 2.01Ghz 1.35v +CM Hyper TX+AS5 Abit KN8 Ultra Corsair VS1GBKIT400+VS1GB400C3 2GB (4x512mb) Auto DDR333 CL2.5 POWERCOLOR ATi HD3870 PCS 512 D3 2DH Seagate ST3500320AS 500gb/32mb Creative Audigy 2ZS+Inspire T7900 Antec BLK3000+Spire RockeTeeR IV 600W ATX2.02 Viewsonic VX2255WMB Xsonic Office Logitec MX510 Billion 7300A Australis IT 1.5mbit "30/10 Plan" XP Pro SP3 Final

 

CPU is below the recommended spec, however people with much slower Dual cores have been getting more FPS then me… WITH BETTER VIDEOCARDS!

 

So please hurry up on that patch and please don’t guide me through those typical support questions such as “Have you tried reinstalling the game”

 

Also MP does not work very well, FPS is worse and I get kicked out of servers saying “Your PC performance is too slow you have been kicked from the server”

 

As it stands now I have a 20GB Dual DVD $80 monstrosity that I am finding very hard to play, imagine now long it takes me to drive from one end of the map to the other? A Fnning long time!

 

I would of taken the game back or at least got a better computer, but in publishers infinite wisdom you have decided on Sony DADAC, uhh, sigh…

 

Anyhow, auto response pisses me off, please try not to send one.

 

Sean 

 

 

[Malik]

Dear R*

 

I have purchased your game and quite happy with it.

 

However I have never seen such poor performance from a videogame in a long time.

 

I have tried everything.

 

Updates ,Drivers, defragging, tweaks, no background apps, min-max settings.

 

Nothing makes a difference and i am lucky to get 20fps at any setting, the usual slow crawl is 5-15fps.

 

I might as well go ahead and ask when that magical patch is coming out, or at least a solution to the performance problems.

 

Here is my computers specs: 939 Opteron 170 2.01Ghz 1.35v +CM Hyper TX+AS5 Abit KN8 Ultra Corsair VS1GBKIT400+VS1GB400C3 2GB (4x512mb) Auto DDR333 CL2.5 POWERCOLOR ATi HD3870 PCS 512 D3 2DH Seagate ST3500320AS 500gb/32mb Creative Audigy 2ZS+Inspire T7900 Antec BLK3000+Spire RockeTeeR IV 600W ATX2.02 Viewsonic VX2255WMB Xsonic Office Logitec MX510 Billion 7300A Australis IT 1.5mbit "30/10 Plan" XP Pro SP3 Final

 

CPU is below the recommended spec, however people with much slower Dual cores have been getting more FPS then me… WITH BETTER VIDEOCARDS!

 

So please hurry up on that patch and please don’t guide me through those typical support questions such as “Have you tried reinstalling the game”

 

Also MP does not work very well, FPS is worse and I get kicked out of servers saying “Your PC performance is too slow you have been kicked from the server”

 

As it stands now I have a 20GB Dual DVD $80 monstrosity that I am finding very hard to play, imagine now long it takes me to drive from one end of the map to the other? A Fnning long time!

 

I would of taken the game back or at least got a better computer, but in publishers infinite wisdom you have decided on Sony DADAC, uhh, sigh…

 

Anyhow, auto response pisses me off, please try not to send one.

 

Sean 

Dear Sean,

 

TL;DR

 

 

Rockstar

[NecroViolator]

Im NOT pointing fingers at anyone BUT :

 

Remember when people was crying like babies "WE WANT SUPER GFX" "EYE CANDY" or we wont buy and such ???

THIS is what you GET, Bloom that kills your system...

 

No in order to fix this Rockstar must have a option to turn Bloom OFF, Ive tried editing the file with Bloom in it but then the game wouldnt start, so they think their SO smart Rockstar by :

 

Porting the game, and inserting Bloom and calling it "next gen" although it truly ISNT next gen, and NOT adding the options of turning Bloom OFF...

They are using Bloom = 10, which is a HUGE number to render also making the screen look totally pixlated and ugly on all shadows and gaming screens...

 

Damn, this really pisses me off to no extent... I HATE BLOOM because its Dark, Pixelated, KILLS systems, makes gameplay barf looking... Drag...

 

Gonna try other ways of getting rid of it...

[Malik]

Im NOT pointing fingers at anyone BUT :

 

Remember when people was crying like babies "WE WANT SUPER GFX" "EYE CANDY" or we wont buy and such ???

THIS is what you GET, Bloom that kills your system...

 

No in order to fix this Rockstar must have a option to turn Bloom OFF, Ive tried editing the file with Bloom in it but then the game wouldnt start, so they think their SO smart Rockstar by :

 

Porting the game, and inserting Bloom and calling it "next gen" although it truly ISNT next gen, and NOT adding the options of turning Bloom OFF...

They are using Bloom = 10, which is a HUGE number to render also making the screen look totally pixlated and ugly on all shadows and gaming screens...

 

Damn, this really pisses me off to no extent... I HATE BLOOM because its Dark, Pixelated, KILLS systems, makes gameplay barf looking... Drag...

 

Gonna try other ways of getting rid of it...

Dont forget the absence of AA and AF and the possibility to set the settings the way you want (dont give me the command parameter bullsh*t fanboys, not everybody knows about that)

[Sashko]

Playing with resolutions doesn't seem to have any performance impact for me. Biggest culprits are view distance and texture quality settings.

 

Running the game at 1680x1050

Medium texture quality

Highest render

View Distance: 75

Detail Distance: 100

Vehicle Density: 100

Shadow Density: 16

 

Specs:

2.4 Quad

4 gigs ram

eVGA GTX260 super cloak in SLI

Video Driver version: 180.48

10000rpm raptor HD

Vista Ultimate 32bit

 

 

I'm getting a playable experience, however with constant sound and graphical choke-ups and hiccups (seems to affect sound alot more than actual frame rate). Performance is not anywhere near what i expected from Nvidia's current #2 videocard (and even less so from 2 of those cards...no SLI support WTF were they thinking or smoking?!).

 

Changing texture settings to high, makes the game unplayable even with ~30 distance setting.