How GTA IV works, may solve your hardware problems

[ron123]

Many people can't run the game in the settings they want to, they experience low frame rates and slow loading time of models and textures, which couse the game look buggy and flickering.

 

I already tried many twicks and programs with different settings till I was able to play pretty great on 1280x1024 res in my old monitor - Click here.

 

Yesterday I bought new FullHD monitor (the Samsung T220P model) which will make me undrestand the way this bad ported game makes a use of different hardware.

 

My specs are: q6600 2.4 GHZ, 2 Gb of DDR2 RAM, 9800GT 512 Mb and Win XP SP3.

 

first of all here is a capture of 1280x1024 res in total max setiings with 40 fps using the commandes: "-nomemrestrict -norestrictions -novblank"

As you can see, I was able to play just fine in this settings.

 

The first thing that a gamer will do with 1920x1200 res monitor is to load GTA IV (of course) on total max settings, just when I loaded the game I was able to notice that most textures are missing and\or flickering. -just damn you rockstar.

 

I did few additional tests in max settings and discovered the way GTA IV works in different settings and commands.

First I should tell that I didn't have any low fps problems on the so called "buggy version" of the game, and second that it takes 30-50 sec to load most of the textures.

I discovered that the game requires two different hardwares aspects to run in the best way:

1. 3-4 core CPU

2. RAM memory (that system's RAM and the GPU VRAM)

Without one high performance hardware from the above you will have a bad botteleneck.

 

The low fps is a result of haveing non 3-4 core CPU (the q6600 2.4 GHZ works just fine on any settings) or going out from your total RAM memory.

The "missing\slow loading" models problem is coused by not using all of your RAM memory or not having enough RAM memory.

 

The first thing that you should know is that "-norestriction" command not useing at all extra RAM memory for game (using only the VRAM), which may couse the buggy game.

Here is an example of using the commend "-norestrictions" in 1920x1200 with total max settings (look at the RAM usage):

Note: I got good frame rate of 30-40.

 

For using extra RAM from your PC for GTA IV models we should use the "-availablevidmem x.xx" instead of useing "norestrictions" and "-nomemrestrict".

This way the game will use all empty RAM that is in your computer. for example:

Here is a 1920x1200 res game with max settings, using the commands "-availablevidmem 3.33 -novblank"

Note: the game runs with low fps and almost stopping when the PC RAM is dropping to zero.

 

I will add another 2 Gb of DDR2 RAM for playing on max settings in high frame rates.

 

Remember to use the "memturbo" program for avoiding crashes when you use your full RAM for GTA.

 

In addition use the next tips for better overall experience:

1. Download latest driver

2. Install patch.

3. Use in commandline: "-availablevidmem x.xx -novblank"

4. Close all programs and give GTA high priority in task manager.

5. Switch off the movie capture option in manu.

6. Installed the programs: "memturbo" and "catchboost" .

7. Close social club before loading save file for the first time in game.

 

This way you may get smoother game by far from everything you knew till present time.

[Ninfo]

I have tryed it and I must say that I have'nt felt any good change on the fps but:

 

ingame settings that was saying I have 2784MB vram so I could run the game on max settings..

that means that the performance goes very low and it was unplayable for me..

 

I think all what it does is just the same like using commandline nomemrestricts =\

 

 

 

I've played the game on max settings on 800x600 resolution on avg 20 fps but the game looks ugly

 

other resolution makes the frame rate going very low

 

sorry no help for me..

Edited January 3, 2009 by Ninfo

[YoungGun]

When I tried "-memrestrict 314572800" My textures and in game objects would load slower and cause more "pop in's"

So I don't use it and don't really have any problems besides the memory leak degrading performance after 30mins to an hour or so..

 

What does ""-availablevidmem x.xx " do? help that memory leak? how do I know what to put in for -availablevidmem ?

Edited January 3, 2009 by YoungGun

[ineemoney]

Ok good find man have a cookie its on me! just one question though...How would i know what to put for the x.xx? my pc has 10gb of ram so now i gotta put that extra bit to work!?

[ron123]

Ok good find man have a cookie its on me! just one question though...How would i know what to put for the x.xx? my pc has 10gb of ram so now i gotta put that extra bit to work!?

the x.xx is a multiplier of your free vram usage for the game , I had 472 free Mb of VRAM. so I used 3.33 for having 472x3.33=1573 memory which the 1920x1200 res on full max settings requires.

[ron123]

 

When I tried "-memrestrict 314572800" My textures and in game objects would load slower and cause more "pop in's"

So I don't use it and don't really have any problems besides the memory leak degrading performance after 30mins to an hour or so..

 

What does ""-availablevidmem x.xx " do? help that memory leak? how do I know what to put in for -availablevidmem ?

""-availablevidmem x.xx " -allows the game to use extra RAM to the GPU VRAM- this may improves extremely the quality of models and textutes, and in addition the low fps (will happen when game already used all the GPU vram and has 1-2 GB of free ram {DDR2 and DDR3})

 

The memory leak is a resolt of the low hardware performance (which "availablevidmem" may solve) and running the social club while in game (tip number 7 may help you).

[[ITA]Jack]

Spec : Intel C2Q 9300 2.5 GHz RAM 4 GB DDR2 800MHz (only detect 3.5 MB in Window XP 32 bit Service Pack 3) GeForce 9800GTX 512 MB

No overclocking.

 

I use "-availablevidmem 2.0" to max out on 1440*900

Got 43-45 FPS on Benchmark , In game a bit lower.

in game use about 930/950, should I set the number higher for extra RAM ?

 

Ps. I experienced fps drop and random crash (hang) after play about 1 Hr+. ==> so this program you mention may help me get rid of this problem , Right ?

And use both 2 program or just one ?

Edited January 3, 2009 by [ITA]Jack

[MaxVK]

Question:

You said "Close social club before loading save file for the first time in game."

 

How? The social club thing is where the game is launched from (The big Play button) right? How do we get rid of this - Iv read in other posts that its this social club thing that is the cause of the memory leaks in this game, rather than the game itself, so if its possible to close it and play the game that might cure some problems all on its own!

[HomoUniversalis]

Question:

You said "Close social club before loading save file for the first time in game."

 

How? The social club thing is where the game is launched from (The big Play button) right? How do we get rid of this - Iv read in other posts that its this social club thing that is the cause of the memory leaks in this game, rather than the game itself, so if its possible to close it and play the game that might cure some problems all on its own!

You launch the game from the Social Club application, then, when the main menu has come up (prior to the character loading screen) you alt-tab out of the game, press Ctrl-Alt-Delete, select task manager and terminate the Rockstar Social Club task. Do not terminate the GTA IV processes, obviously.

 

This fixes the memory leak (or whatever it is) somewhat.

 

 

""-availablevidmem x.xx " -allows the game to use extra RAM to the GPU VRAM-

 

My understanding of this command is that it tricks the game into believing that there is more VRAM available than there really is. I have seen no indication that the game resorts to more RAM. When is this command useful? If you are running a 32-bit version of XP or Vista, and have maxed out your maximum memory capacity, and the game subsequently recognises less VRAM than you actually have.

I have seen no evidence that this allows you to use RAM as VRAM.

[ron123]

Jack' date='Jan 3 2009, 09:24'] Spec : Intel C2Q 9300 2.5 GHz RAM 4 GB DDR2 800MHz (only detect 3.5 MB in Window XP 32 bit Service Pack 3) GeForce 9800GTX 512 MB

No overclocking.

 

I use "-availablevidmem 2.0" to max out on 1440*900

Got 43-45 FPS on Benchmark , In game a bit lower.

in game use about 930/950, should I set the number higher for extra RAM ?

 

Ps. I experienced fps drop and random crash (hang) after play about 1 Hr+. ==> so this program you mention may help me get rid of this problem , Right ?

Your specs is much better then main, you should be able to play at least on 1920x1200 on high text (only draw distance on 20-30) without problems.

 

Just choose the settings you want. check the memory usage of them and set your multiplier memory.

 

You can go as high as you want (going higher than your total amount of ram will couse drops of fps), however it's better to give your win xp 200-300 Mb of RAM.

 

The program "memturbo" will recover your RAM memory when it's going down to min level(I advice to set min level of 50-300 in the right bars {cheak my pics}), and yes it should put an end to crashes.

 

Extra tip: the program "cachboost" may extra help as well.

[ron123]

Question:

You said "Close social club before loading save file for the first time in game."

 

How? The social club thing is where the game is launched from (The big Play button) right? How do we get rid of this - Iv read in other posts that its this social club thing that is the cause of the memory leaks in this game, rather than the game itself, so if its possible to close it and play the game that might cure some problems all on its own!

You launch the game from the Social Club application, then, when the main menu has come up (prior to the character loading screen) you alt-tab out of the game, press Ctrl-Alt-Delete, select task manager and terminate the Rockstar Social Club task. Do not terminate the GTA IV processes, obviously.

 

This fixes the memory leak (or whatever it is) somewhat.

 

 

""-availablevidmem x.xx " -allows the game to use extra RAM to the GPU VRAM-

 

My understanding of this command is that it tricks the game into believing that there is more VRAM available than there really is. I have seen no indication that the game resorts to more RAM. When is this command useful? If you are running a 32-bit version of XP or Vista, and have maxed out your maximum memory capacity, and the game subsequently recognises less VRAM than you actually have.

I have seen no evidence that this allows you to use RAM as VRAM.

First, this is one way to close social club,

 

Second, you wrong, no tricks at all, the noristriction commande tricks the game. -availablevidmem gives rael extra RAM, my screens proved it, you should have 1-2 free GB of RAM while the game using 100% of VRAM to notice the resolts in low resolutions, this won't help good fps rate but help you load better textures if your game is "buggy".

[[ITA]Jack]

Jack,Jan 3 2009, 09:24] Spec : Intel C2Q 9300 2.5 GHz RAM 4 GB DDR2 800MHz (only detect 3.5 MB in Window XP 32 bit Service Pack 3)  GeForce 9800GTX 512 MB

No overclocking.

 

I use "-availablevidmem 2.0" to max out on 1440*900

Got 43-45 FPS on Benchmark , In game a bit lower.

in game use about 930/950, should I set the number higher for extra RAM ?

 

Ps. I experienced fps drop and random crash (hang) after play about 1 Hr+. ==> so this program you mention may help me get rid of this problem , Right ?

Your specs is much better then main, you should be able to play at least on 1920x1200 on high text (only draw distance on 20-30) without problems.

 

Just choose the settings you want. check the memory usage of them and set your multiplier memory.

 

You can go as high as you want (going higher than your total amount of ram will couse drops of fps), however it's better to give your win xp 200-300 Mb of RAM.

 

The program "memturbo" will recover your RAM memory when it's going down to min level(I advice to set min level of 50-300 in the right bars {cheak my pics}), and yes it should put an end to crashes.

 

Extra tip: the program "cachboost" may extra help as well.

thx. One more question where is "movie capture " option , I dont see one ?

 

Going to try now hope it works

[ron123]

I have tryed it and I must say that I have'nt felt any good change on the fps but:

 

ingame settings that was saying I have 2784MB vram so I could run the game on max settings..

that means that the performance goes very low and it was unplayable for me..

 

I think all what it does is just the same like using commandline nomemrestricts =\

 

 

 

I've played the game on max settings on 800x600 resolution on avg 20 fps but the game looks ugly

 

other resolution makes the frame rate going very low

 

sorry no help for me..

I explained already, that fps and quality of models is two different things .

 

Useing availablevidmem may help (if yoy have enough extra RAM) to the loading of textures but won't improve "above min" frame-rates!!!

[HomoUniversalis]

Question:

You said "Close social club before loading save file for the first time in game."

 

How? The social club thing is where the game is launched from (The big Play button) right? How do we get rid of this - Iv read in other posts that its this social club thing that is the cause of the memory leaks in this game, rather than the game itself, so if its possible to close it and play the game that might cure some problems all on its own!

You launch the game from the Social Club application, then, when the main menu has come up (prior to the character loading screen) you alt-tab out of the game, press Ctrl-Alt-Delete, select task manager and terminate the Rockstar Social Club task. Do not terminate the GTA IV processes, obviously.

 

This fixes the memory leak (or whatever it is) somewhat.

 

 

""-availablevidmem x.xx " -allows the game to use extra RAM to the GPU VRAM-

 

My understanding of this command is that it tricks the game into believing that there is more VRAM available than there really is. I have seen no indication that the game resorts to more RAM. When is this command useful? If you are running a 32-bit version of XP or Vista, and have maxed out your maximum memory capacity, and the game subsequently recognises less VRAM than you actually have.

I have seen no evidence that this allows you to use RAM as VRAM.

First, this is one way to close social club,

 

Second, you wrong, no tricks at all, the noristriction commande tricks the game. -availablevidmem gives rael extra RAM, my screens proved it, you should have 1-2 free GB of RAM while the game using 100% of VRAM to notice the resolts in low resolutions, this won't help good fps rate but help you load better textures if your game is "buggy".

Don't be silly.

 

Here's what the command does:

 

-availablevidmem: Set amount of physical Video Memory(ex. –availablevidmem 0.9)

 

--

 

The reason your game doesn't end in a blaze of 'Out of video memory error' is not due to the command, but due to the fact that the game moves 'processed information' from the VRAM to the RAM, provided you have enough RAM. If you do, you can technically play the game with an increased amount of video memory than you actually have.

Although, of course, this may still affect the stability of the game.

 

No, the command has nothing to do with the allocation of RAM as VRAM. Please - stop spreading around unfounded bullsh*t.

 

[iTA]Jack,

 

when you are playing the game, press escape, then go to the tab 'game' (where you quite the game), there you will find the Clip Capture option.

[ron123]

Jack' date='Jan 3 2009, 10:13']

Jack,Jan 3 2009, 09:24] Spec : Intel C2Q 9300 2.5 GHz RAM 4 GB DDR2 800MHz (only detect 3.5 MB in Window XP 32 bit Service Pack 3)  GeForce 9800GTX 512 MB

No overclocking.

 

I use "-availablevidmem 2.0" to max out on 1440*900

Got 43-45 FPS on Benchmark , In game a bit lower.

in game use about 930/950, should I set the number higher for extra RAM ?

 

Ps. I experienced fps drop and random crash (hang) after play about 1 Hr+. ==> so this program you mention may help me get rid of this problem , Right ?

Your specs is much better then main, you should be able to play at least on 1920x1200 on high text (only draw distance on 20-30) without problems.

 

Just choose the settings you want. check the memory usage of them and set your multiplier memory.

 

You can go as high as you want (going higher than your total amount of ram will couse drops of fps), however it's better to give your win xp 200-300 Mb of RAM.

 

The program "memturbo" will recover your RAM memory when it's going down to min level(I advice to set min level of 50-300 in the right bars {cheak my pics}), and yes it should put an end to crashes.

 

Extra tip: the program "cachboost" may extra help as well.

thx. One more question where is "movie capture " option , I dont see one ?

 

Going to try now hope it works

After you loading your save file, press "Esc", go to manu and swith the clip capture option from "on" to "off".

[ron123]

 

Question:

You said "Close social club before loading save file for the first time in game."

 

How? The social club thing is where the game is launched from (The big Play button) right? How do we get rid of this - Iv read in other posts that its this social club thing that is the cause of the memory leaks in this game, rather than the game itself, so if its possible to close it and play the game that might cure some problems all on its own!

You launch the game from the Social Club application, then, when the main menu has come up (prior to the character loading screen) you alt-tab out of the game, press Ctrl-Alt-Delete, select task manager and terminate the Rockstar Social Club task. Do not terminate the GTA IV processes, obviously.

 

This fixes the memory leak (or whatever it is) somewhat.

 

 

""-availablevidmem x.xx " -allows the game to use extra RAM to the GPU VRAM-

 

My understanding of this command is that it tricks the game into believing that there is more VRAM available than there really is. I have seen no indication that the game resorts to more RAM. When is this command useful? If you are running a 32-bit version of XP or Vista, and have maxed out your maximum memory capacity, and the game subsequently recognises less VRAM than you actually have.

I have seen no evidence that this allows you to use RAM as VRAM.

First, this is one way to close social club,

 

Second, you wrong, no tricks at all, the noristriction commande tricks the game. -availablevidmem gives rael extra RAM, my screens proved it, you should have 1-2 free GB of RAM while the game using 100% of VRAM to notice the resolts in low resolutions, this won't help good fps rate but help you load better textures if your game is "buggy".

Don't be silly.

 

Here's what the command does:

 

-availablevidmem: Set amount of physical Video Memory(ex. –availablevidmem 0.9)

 

--

 

The reason your game doesn't end in a blaze of 'Out of video memory error' is not due to the command, but due to the fact that the game moves 'processed information' from the VRAM to the RAM, provided you have enough RAM. If you do, you can technically play the game with an increased amount of video memory than you actually have.

Although, of course, this may still affect the stability of the game.

 

No, the command has nothing to do with the allocation of RAM as VRAM. Please - stop spreading around unfounded bullsh*t.

 

[iTA]Jack,

 

when you are playing the game, press escape, then go to the tab 'game' (where you quite the game), there you will find the Clip Capture option.

You dont understand, I told that systam RAM will help the GPU's VRAM when the game uses 100% of the VRAM.

Ofcourse "400 RAM Mb" + "400 VRAM MB" is not "800 VRAM\RAM mb", help means will do extra work but not same work (muchless).

VRAM memory is in most GPU a DDR3 tech.

RAM memory is in most rigs a DDR2 tech.

You can't compare them.

 

Note: if you dont believe me just tray yourself "buggy" version with "norestrictions" and compare it to same version with "availablevidmem" - It won't improve fps, only the textures quality in game with extra RAM to your already VRAM that in use.

Edited January 3, 2009 by ron123

[HomoUniversalis]

*Sigh*

 

"-availablevidmem x.xx " -allows the game to use extra RAM to the GPU VRAM-"

 

This is what you said. This is incorrect. What I said, was not incorrect, or as you put it wrong. It is, in fact, accurate.

 

 

[frank1138]

The way this game uses RAM is really dumb. My aging Pentium D bottlenecks this game pretty bad, but it only uses about 1 GB of my 3 GB of RAM without any tweaks. With the "availablevidmem" command I can make it use more, but only if I also turn the graphics up. Otherwise, that extra VRAM doesn't have anything to do so it doesn't help.

 

I bet this game would run much better for me if it would preload more textures into system RAM instead of streaming them. So far, I haven't found any way to force it to do that, and I doubt there is one.

[ron123]

 

*Sigh*

 

"-availablevidmem x.xx " -allows the game to use extra RAM to the GPU VRAM-"

 

This is what you said. This is incorrect. What I said, was not incorrect, or as you put it wrong. It is, in fact, accurate.

In the last time. "use extra RAM to the GPU VRAM" is not "use extra RAM for the GPU VRAM".

 

Last explanation: using this commande won't process more memory for the GPU but will help your game to show (maybe much) more textures that was processed in the GPU- this is why it won't boost fps but improve the quality of textures.

Edited January 3, 2009 by ron123

[HomoUniversalis]

 

In the last time. "use extra RAM to the GPU VRAM" is not "use extra RAM for the GPU VRAM".

 

LMAO

 

Sure, bub, sure!

 

 

[ron123]

To the devs of this forum:

 

Please stick this thread for others, many gamers have "buggy" problems and here is the solution for them.

 

This trhead will die soon, please do it faster.

 

If someone can send a link of it to the devs, I tell him "thanks".

Edited January 3, 2009 by ron123

[Kurgen]

The forum does not have "devs". The forum has "mods"... moderators, and "admin"... administrators. It is their job to decide whether a thread is worthy of sticky-ing or not. It would stand you in good stead to not tell them what to do on their forum.

 

...as regards your "fix" - if you'd care to browse through the myriad other "miracle-fix" threads, you'd discover that the vast majority are experimental at best, and outright placebo or potentially harmful at worst. Your "fix" is far from tried-and-tested, never mind proven.

 

 

[nicotin3]

To the devs of this forum:

 

Please stick this thread for others, many gamers have "buggy" problems and here is the solution for them.

 

This trhead will die soon, please do it faster.

 

If someone can send a link of it to the devs, I tell him "thanks".

Why? none of your tips are new and most are bogus anyway...

"-availablevidmem x.xx" tricks the game into "thinking" that your GPU has more video ram than it actually does, and will allow you to increase the settings behiond what is optimal for your system, wich is not a good tip to people already having problems.

"-memrestrict 314572800" might actually help those who have RESC10/out of memory errors.

 

Sorry but you just colected tips and info that have already been posted and discussed in detail in this forum and blunded everything together in hard to read ingrish language...

[Captain Hemorrhoid]

Using -availablevidmem 1.0 -novblank got me a BSOD error concerning atikvmag.dll. Trying 2.0 didn't give me any error, just froze the game. Have to try smaller numbers, but I doubt they work.

 

I can play a variable amount of time using nomemrestrict and norestrictions, but eventually the game grinds down to a halt after loosing textures, sound and even keyboard functions (some of them). So none of the 'solutions' really seem to work for my PC (Q9400, Asus K5Q Pro, 4GB ram, Asus 4850/512meg).

[ron123]

Using -availablevidmem 1.0 -novblank got me a BSOD error concerning atikvmag.dll. Trying 2.0 didn't give me any error, just froze the game. Have to try smaller numbers, but I doubt they work.

 

I can play a variable amount of time using nomemrestrict and norestrictions, but eventually the game grinds down to a halt after loosing textures, sound and even keyboard functions (some of them). So none of the 'solutions' really seem to work for my PC (Q9400, Asus K5Q Pro, 4GB ram, Asus 4850/512meg).

It should not happen to your rig, you have some big performane problem.

 

you should loss models in fullhd res with high textures only.

 

Check in win task manager the RAM memory usage and CPU usage while nothing special working on your computer, if you use more than 5% then you have some performance virus.

 

In addition you should check mem usage of your all running programs, some programs may cost to much peformance usage.

 

If most of your RAM is free you should download the "memturbo" program and set min level of recovery to your RAM memory (I used 50 Mb), -this will stop crashes.

 

Use all my 7 tips in this post.

 

warning:: you may have big general problem of software\hardware, and it has nothing with GTA IV.

 

 

[Kurgen]

[CptPusheen]

I have Q6600, HD4850 512MB, 2GB of system ram and play GTA at 1440x900. I don't use commandline. Is good composed commandline able to boost performance of GTA on my spec? If yes, how should it look(this commandline)?

[stan23]

It works! now i can play with high textures without any problems. i'm going to check it at everything maxed out.

[ron123]

I have Q6600, HD4850 512MB, 2GB of system ram and play GTA at 1440x900. I don't use commandline. Is good composed commandline able to boost performance of GTA on my spec? If yes, how should it look(this commandline)?

Create in your GTA IV folder text document that called "commandline", open it in type in the first line your commands.

Different commands you should put in one line with one space between them.

[CptPusheen]

I have Q6600, HD4850 512MB, 2GB of system ram and play GTA at 1440x900. I don't use commandline. Is good composed commandline able to boost performance of GTA on my spec? If yes, how should it look(this commandline)?

Create in your GTA IV folder text document that called "commandline", open it in type in the first line your commands.

Different commands you should put in one line with one space between them.

Hey, I know where to put commandline.txt but I don't know what commands put in this file to make game perform better. So i ask if somebody would post here or send me a pm with comandline that would boost performance of GTA on my rig. I ask this because I have never tried using commandline and i don't see the point of learning now all useful commands and its syntax when there are people who knows things better than me