Help with Grand theft Auto IV PC

[The_PC_Gamer]

Information Needed For Troubleshooting

Ok here you go!

 

-Where exactly in the game you experienced the issue (start screen, while playing the game, etc.)

While playing the game, I have big slowdowns, and just the general performance is poor. No AA, shadows look like spraypaint.

 

-What version of the game you have (retail, steam, other online store)

Retail store version

 

-What is your OS

Windows Vista Home Premium x86

 

-Benchmark info or DxDiag is also helpful

I have a Q6600, 8800GTX 768mb, 4GB ram, 50GB free HDD space. I just downloaded all the driver and software updates (including the fresh nVidia beta driver) before playing, and yet I still experience poor performance. As others have mentioned, I have no trouble getting better performance of much more demanding games. I am an IT major at University so don't tell me this is a user error... I have done many tests, disabling any kind of background applications (antivirus, etc) that could hinder my game performance.

 

my benchmark results are even more interesting..... I have the game running at 1680x1050 (60hz) which matches my monitor default. Texture quality at medium, Render quality at very high, View distance at 80 and detail distance at 100. I ran the benchmark, and my result was: 30fps Average, CPU Usage 76%, System memory usage 75%, Video memory usage 72%.

 

So my question is... why the heck does it lag??? According to the benchmark my full resources aren't even being used at all! And yet in-game, during driving or rainy/foggy nights I barely get above 20FPS! It's a code/optimization issue, so PLEASE acknowledge it and fix it. It's not unplayable for me, but it HURTS to look at and suffer through such terrible framerate. I even disabled the video capture thing and gained no performance.

 

Thanks....

[5m0k3y]

Anti aliasing and fixed shadows, plus the option to choose my own graphics settings witout the need for cmd line arguments.

 

Other than that I'm fairly happy with the game, and look forward to future improvements.

[Philll]

I'd also like to know how R* knows that 'only 1% of people are having problems' with the PC version as stated on the IGN interview.

 

How do you know? Why are you so full of crap? Obviously everyone is using different combination's of the same equipment, so I'd like to know what miracle equipment the other 99% of gamers are using to play this game, and again how you know this. I know its a ploy to make it not sound so bad - but if your going to try and convince people that a small number of people are having problems then don't use a frigging ridiculous number like 1%.

 

Now, 99% of people having problems and 1% of people being satisfied is something I can believe. Otherwise please post the configurations that 99% of people are using so we can prove how full of sh*t you actually are.

[Turdist]

THANKS FOR GETTING THE PATCH OUT FAST, BUT COULDNT YOU HAVE DONE THIS LAST MONTH???????

[[email protected]]

Thank god, i am up to the Mcgreedy brothers and finding in impossible to play further due to lag.

 

Cant wait for the fixes woogoo!

 

Also got a X360 controller, great for driving!

[greycat]

And how about ATI drivers for laptops? I can't believe how insanely difficult it is to find updates for my machine!

 

ASUS F8

ATI Radeon HD 3650, 1 gig VRam

Duo 2.0 Ghz

etc

 

Would it be so difficult for manufacturers to provide a deskstop AND mobility version of their display drivers?

 

[[Matan]]

So you think the patch will be released next week? You said in few days..

 

[Tekspdy]

Benchmark Results:

 

Statistics

Average FPS: 34.47

Duration: 37.34 sec

CPU Usage: 60%

System memory usage: 52%

Video memory usage: 76%

 

Graphics Settings

Video Mode: 1680 x 1050 (60 Hz)

Texture Quality: Medium

Render Quality: High

View Distance: 25

Detail Distance: 37

 

Hardware

Microsoft Windows XP Professional

Service Pack 3

Video Adapter: ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series

Video Driver version: 6.14.10.6891

Audio Adapter: Realtek HD Audio output

AMD Phenom 9950 Quad-Core Processor

 

 

Other Specifications notes:

ATI Radeon 4850 (512mb)

Motherboard does not support PCI-E 2.0, only standard 8x.

Using 3GB of DDR2 800 memory.

 

Problems I have experienced:

Mipmaps need to be on Quality or else I get black artifacts.

 

LOD Detailing issues, for instance in some places if I look behind me, then forward the LOD's have to re-draw themselves in the higher detail state. This, in certain places can be so bad that I don't even need to turn my view or look back/forward, it just happens by itself. (In this case redrawing themselves over and over in a loop) However this problem is somewhat rare. (Happens about once every 10 minutes, and only lasts in a specific area until I leave it)

 

Graphics settings revert to default upon restarting the game. (Not sure if I need to go into my apartment, sleep and save to make these stay)

Low framerates for such a recent card.

 

 

Thanks Rockstar for taking the role of providing personalized support for everyone. Even though I ran into quite a few issues I can't see myself ever bashing you guys cause you rock

Edited December 6, 2008 by Tekspdy

[oc student]

I do not believe how ignorant some people on this topic are. Who do they think R* are? God? I mean seriously your freaking card manufacturer provides driver updates not Rockstar. And if you do not have something of a problem to post, DO NOT POST IT. No more "dis is a sh*t gangbanging cock suckign game". Go somewhere else with your useless rantings.

[ah0i.bRAuSe]

 

Benchmark Results:

 

Statistics

Average FPS: 34.47

Duration: 37.34 sec

CPU Usage: 60%

System memory usage: 52%

Video memory usage: 76%

 

Graphics Settings

Video Mode: 1680 x 1050 (60 Hz)

Texture Quality: Medium

Render Quality: High

View Distance: 25

Detail Distance: 37

 

Hardware

Microsoft Windows XP Professional

Service Pack 3

Video Adapter: ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series

Video Driver version: 6.14.10.6891

Audio Adapter: Realtek HD Audio output

AMD Phenom 9950 Quad-Core Processor

 

 

Other Specifications notes:

ATI Radeon 4850 (512mb)

Motherboard does not support PCI-E 2.0, only standard 8x.

Using 3GB of DDR2 800 memory.

 

Problems I have experienced:

Mipmaps need to be on Quality or else I get black artifacts.

 

LOD Detailing issues, for instance in some places if I look behind me, then forward the LOD's have to re-draw themselves in the higher detail state. This, in certain places can be so bad that I don't even need to turn my view or look back/forward, it just happens by itself. (In this case redrawing themselves over and over in a loop) However this problem is somewhat rare. (Happens about once every 10 minutes, and only lasts in a specific area until I leave it)

 

Graphics settings revert to default upon restarting the game. (Not sure if I need to go into my apartment, sleep and save to make these stay)

Low framerates for such a recent card.

 

 

Thanks Rockstar for taking the role of providing personalized support for everyone. Even though I ran into quite a few issues I can't see myself ever bashing you guys cause you rock

so i've just registered to say that i've the same problem with the lod re-drawning itself the whole time.. but for me the problem persists whereever i am in the game.. when i turn the cam to the site oder backwards the lod always loads new and that looks really crappy

 

the game runs quite good for me with mostly 25-40fps and sometimes 20 fps.. my specs are [email protected], 4gb ram, hd4850 512mb, vista 64bit ! game settings are 1680 resolution, texutres medium, render highest, view distance 25, detail distance 100 (it doent matter if i make that 1 or 100 theres no change in game performance) vehicle density 50 and shadows 0

 

 

ati catalyst 8.11

 

 

truly the performance is sh*tty but its ok comparing to most of other users here. but the lod fade in is really unacceptable so plealse fix that !!

[Tekspdy]

I do not believe how ignorant some people on this topic are. Who do they think R* are? God? I mean seriously your freaking card manufacturer provides driver updates not Rockstar. And if you do not have something of a problem to post, DO NOT POST IT. No more "dis is a sh*t gangbanging cock suckign game". Go somewhere else with your useless rantings.

While your point may be valid in not wanting the useless rantings, the way you delivered it is not necessarily a way to dissolve the fire.

 

Also, some news to you about drivers vs. game. Rockstar provides the support for the game, and the card chipset company provides driver updates. If you are at all implying that Rockstar is 100% not responsible for the issues happening in the game you are wrong. Game developers have the ability to code a game to work well on a wide variety of systems.

 

In this case would I say Rockstar did a poor job? No, I think they did fine. They started making the game for Xbox 360, and the way I understand it, during development started getting it over to the PC. More could have been done to prevent many of the problems we are seeing now with more time. Though I would like to provide my own opinion in the matter as so many other people are.

 

So the way I see it, Rockstar could release the game 3 months from now with next to no problems, or Rockstar could release the game right now and see if problems arise. Through game updates and driver updates for the card chipset manufacturer we get the game quicker than that long awaited 3 months with a few bumps in the road.

 

Then again, I could be completely wrong, thus why this is just my opinion of things.

[notsofrisk]

Well, I for one must say that I am happy and impressed that Rockstar employees or the like makes themself so visible in these forums.

I have been around the web in different games.

 

I am usually a Simracer using ISI and Simbin made pruducts. They have never been so out there when problems arise.

 

And take EA fx...... when did you see them come out and take rant from the fans?

 

Good on you Toronto guys. Respect.

 

You might find it hard to see all the constructive problems in one place, but keep you eyes in here and you will get feedback on patches, updates, glitches and the lot.

 

The anger will slowly go away for most people and most will have a happy game xperiance..

there will always be someone who shouts highest, but you KNOW he/she will be sitting at home playing the crap out of the game when he/she is not busy ranting in here

 

Anyway. Good job on comming in here.

Do NOT let people down by leaving without a word.

[Stickymaddness]

Fantastic, nice to see Rockstar actually come out and address problems here on the forum, that's more than I've seen most game development companies do..

 

Hopefully the patch will sort out all the issues and everyone can get on with playing this fantastic game!

[yvesvdd]

What about the NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT?

 

Hello Rockstar, nice to see you here on the forums and helping us out.

 

In October these system requirements were announced:

 

Recommended System Requirements

* OS: Windows Vista - Service Pack 1 / XP - Service Pack 3

* Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad 2.4Ghz, AMD Phenom X3 2.1Ghz

* Memory: 2 GB (Windows XP) 2.5 GB (Windows Vista)

* 18 GB Free Hard Drive Space

* Video Card: 512MB NVIDIA 8600 / 512MB ATI 3870

 

 

This matches with my pc. These are my specs:

OS: Windows Vista Ultimate SP1

Intel Core 2 Quad @ 2.4 GHz

3GB RAM

Nvidia GeForce 8600 GT (dxdiag says Total Memory 1779MB)

 

I have the GTA IV box from my local shop.

 

I can play the game without problems, but I have to play it on 1024x768 whereas my screen resolution is 1440x900.

If I play it on 1440x900, the game doesn't run fluently.

 

My question is: Do I really have to buy a better GFX card or will the patch give me a better gameplay?

I hope for the last, because GFXs are quite expensive.

 

Many regards

yvesvdd

Edited December 6, 2008 by yvesvdd

[pinky]

I think too many people are taking the benchmark as gospel.

It deosn't have any real large draw distance moments, not with clear open areas to stress out the GPU properly. It is all done within city streets containing skyscrapers, this will have culling galore and wont stress the GPU out near as much as standing on a high roof and having a look around.

The benchmark needs changed for starters.

 

The mem leak and no SLi support are my biggest bones, the single GPU performance deosnt really surprise me much as it is slightly better than a heavily modded SA with graphical tweaks. I expected no better when I discovered there was no SLi support to be honest.

 

Adding AA and some more graphical options would be nice. Like the benchmark these are no biggy that could be done on a future patch.

 

I am running 1920x1200 res with framerates between 20-60FPS, 20 in rain and up 60 when stood still. I run it on the recommended auto settings and have left them as they yeild the best results so far for me.

 

Mem leak fail accurs after around 2 hours play.

Specs are in the sig. OS is Vista64Ultimate.

[apocalek]

quote from Steam forums

 

I respectfully ask this post not be hijacked for a Mouse/Keyboard vs Gamepad debate.

 

I am unable to use the Free Aim / Auto Aim feature correctly on my wireless Xbox 360 pad. On the console version of the game, you could press the left trigger down about halfway to enable Free Aim, and then fully press the left trigger to "lock" onto a target for Auto Aim. On my PC, pressing it halfway does not perform this function. In options I can turn Auto Aim on or off, this will allow me to use Auto Aim or Free look (one or the other), but does not help it to perform like the console did. I tried running the calibration wizard in control panel and everything seems to function properly. Any help? This might be specific to Windows XP and not Windows Vista.

 

Specs:

XP Pro 32bit SP3

Xbox 360 Wireless pad / receiver

Nvidia 9800GT

DirectX November 2008

No newer updates available for the 360 pad drivers.

 

[errorist]

Hey R*, i experienced floating teeth and other anomalies on cutscenes. I must say i havent seen them for a while now.

I think this was due to switching between windows and gta (alt tabbing) which is a killer for the performance, and obviously also resulted in missing textures.

 

My specs:

 

GTA IV Steam copy

Q6600 stock

Gigabyte HD4850 (1gb vram)

3gb ram

Win Vista sp1

 

screens:

 

 

[[Matan]]

ROFL THEY LOOK LIKE ALIENS!!!

[Jez261]

This is bullsh*t.. everyone here is so busy popping their load getting all excited that a rockstar employee actually posted.. its rather sad..

 

Moving on..

 

Seeing as at least someone from R* is reading this thread I would like to take you up on the offer to answer questions.. and I am being serious.. I'd like an answer..

 

Why did you release this game in the state you did??

 

Who the f*ck passed this game as gold?? It would be my opinion, and I'm sure one that many more of your customers share, that this game would barely be considered beta. Where do you get off taking our money then asking us to help identify bugs and provide you the information?? That is the job of your beta testers, right? Did you even have beta testers??

 

User poll - Less that 30% of users have had no issues with your game; that leaves a staggering 70% with issues. 50% claim to have major issues. Comment?

 

The packaging the game came in clearly says that the game is "Enhanced for" both 64bit and multi-core systems. I have a Q6600 with 4gb ram and an 8800GTS, I run Vista x64. Why is it that I can't run my game at even close to 720p resolutions with a draw distance even remotely comparable to the Xbox 360 version, let alone the PS3 one?? I stopped running my games at 800x600 years ago, yet the PC version seems to think it can't run any better despite my 360 with its 3yo tech running at 720p with half the pop-up. If this is enhanced then I truly pitty those of you who only have dual cores running on a 32 bit OS.. Comment?

 

As much as I appreciate the news that a patch is on the way and that nvidia have released a beta driver to help clean up some of your mess, you are addressing issues that should have been fixed months before release. I honestly feel like you have bent me over and raped me of the money I paid for this game..

[Mel_White]

Rockstar:

 

Have the follwoing set-up

 

Motherboard P5Q

4 GB DDR 1033

GTX 280 1GB

1TB SATA Drive

Q9550 Quad 2.83Ghz

 

Have updated Nvidia driver 180.84

 

Retail version of GTA IV

 

Benchmark:

Statistics

Average FPS: 46.06

Duration: 37.26 sec

CPU Usage: 70%

System memory usage: 82%

Video memory usage: 89%

 

Graphics Settings

Video Mode: 1680 x 1050 (60 Hz)

Texture Quality: High

Render Quality: High

View Distance: 32

Detail Distance: 70

 

Hardware

Microsoft® Windows Vista" Ultimate

Service Pack 1

Video Adapter: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280

Video Driver version: 180.84

Audio Adapter: Speakers (SoundMAX Integrated Digital HD Audio)

Intel® Core2 Quad CPU Q9550 @ 2.83GHz

 

GPU temperature when crach occurred: 80 deg C

 

I reduced View distance and draw distance to 22; traffic density to 35 and shadow density to 0.

 

The problems:

 

Often stutters. As the game progresses the stuttering gets worse. Finally after 30 minutes play I get an RESC10 (out of video memory). What is your response to this?

 

Thanks in advance

Edited December 6, 2008 by Mel_White

[Volum]

LMAO errorist, nice pics

[Hondara]

My main Problems:

 

1) "Login not possible.." all the time with Social club, but on the Socialwebite it's never a problem, please upgrade your servers, they are failing all the time!

 

2) PLEASE remove the silly restrictions in graphics menü, they are NOT necesessary with newer cards!

For example: with a gtx260 896MB its easy possible to run high textures, view distance 50% an 1920x1200, "Everest" shows only 720MB VRAM used!

But GTA4 thinks it is 1140MB in the menu and only with command line parameters i can run this settings...IF social club login is possible...seee "1)"

 

3) Please add a "Disable Shadows" option and/or improve them.

the shadows are so ugly,i just want to disable them at the moment but even with "0" in the menu they are still visible.

 

3) AA ist missed much!

 

4) Lowering the extreme copy protection terror would be appreciated!

Just one example: why activation AND having the disc in the drive??

 

5) last but not least, actually THE MOST IMPORTANT point:

PLEASE do everything you can to improve the poor performance and reduce the extreme CPU Requirements, this is REALLY NECESSARY!

It's absolutely ridiculous how slow GTA4 runs even with a quadcore @ 3GHZ and no i don't speak of silly settings like 100% view distance.

 

Please Rockstar show great patch support, GTA4 is a wonderful game an deserves it!

[microsnakey]

 

 

1. Make the graphics and everything else LESS DEMANDING not everyone has a 4870x2 ( and they run like crap anyway)

2. some nice Smooth shadows. Not Jaggys

3. Mod support I want some mods. Why don't you just make an addon folder that doesn't execute when you go in to multilayer

 

[Mr.Ruthless]

Can someone help me? The new Nvidia drivers didn't fix my texture problem.

 

 

I've tried everything - Driver Sweeper, RivaTuner, everything. Nothing works.

[Zeta]

*Cough *Cough Lets not forget about Dedicated Server's at least the option for people to set them up.

[GamerJerome]

nice let us know when the patch is out becuse i really need it

[Dexet]

Heya

On top of all the other problems listed here and there, I'm experiencing the "Fatal error: ZLIB20".

But it only occures when doing the "Concrete Jungle" mission to Little Jacob.

 

I'm running:

Vista 64bit (service pack 1)

GeForce 8800 GTS 512 (driver: 180.48)

Intel Core2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.4GHz

4 GB ram

 

Bought the game trough Steam if that has anything to do with anything

 

Hope you can solve the problems soon, because I realy enjoyed the first few missions i had a change to do.

 

- Dexet

 

PS: OH and WTF is wrong with the controller configuration?? Can't configurate my keyboard at all.. only some X-Box controller.

 

 

Edited December 6, 2008 by Dexet

[GTAMonkey2012]

Thank the lord for official responces! This forum was becoming a fragmented groundhog day, so we much apreciate some order

 

 

Ok to keep it simple if you look at my signature I have links to 2 of my threads, one is all the tweaks ive done to clear up choppyness, but I realy shouldnt have to do this I dont feel to smooth it out. The other thread link is all about the video editor with requests and some bugs Ive found.

 

The main thing for me after installing the new nvidia driver is not so much "laggy FPS" but more stutter an pause in vista on this game (not the new driver causing this, its helpes but I feel stutter is more buffering). If I run raw its a stutter fest with high textures, running as -DX9 in vista seems to releave it more, but again I still get stutters when driving and some times in places where if I move and the levels loaded all is cool then I might get an inconsistent pause ... then release moving say 2 meters.

 

Anyway for my rig, specs, setup, setting check my signature link.

 

I would like to see optimisation for the streaming, if stream.ini can be modified in some way and also so its doesnt effect DRM.

 

- One thing also is the big question of, how will we ever mod this game? .. so far any smal tweaks = DRM fail.

Edited December 6, 2008 by GTAMonkey2012

[ozziuss]

- the game is not completely compatibility for graphic card ATI (HD 4850, HD 3870, HD 3850)

[SlingShotUK]

Since 180.84, I saw NO boost in fps, BUT the game does run much smoother. Stuttering has decreased significantly. I highly recommend this patch to all Nvidia users.

+1

 

I have not seen an FPS increase but the game is *much* smoother and responsive.. Less stutter..

I'm very impressed.

 

I've only got a 4600+ at the moment and get 27fps which is great.

My 8800GTX obviously does alot of the work but still, I didnt expect to be able to play at all based on all the negative comments.

 

All this in 1920x1080 as well.. The game looks sensational on my 50 inch plasma.. Far superior in every way to my PS3.. In fact it almost feels like a different game..

 

Big thank you for R* Toronto for posting there and commiting themselves to improving the game.

Works great for me now so after the patch things can only get better..