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Yet Another Performance Tweak (timecyc.dat)


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I take no credit for this tweak\mod. All credit goes to GTAForums member Belinda for showing me the commands and file.

 

I don't know if this will work well with old or low to mid range hardware. You can always try it and then revert the changes if it doesn't work. I tested this method on an Intel Q6600, 3GB of RAM and an 8800GTX using Vista 32 bit. (One of my sticks of RAM died about a month ago so that's why I am using 3GB)

 

You must have a mod-able GTA IV installation to use this. I have included the latest Magic.bat that is basically foolproof, simply follow the instructions. It also has a file verify system as well as an undo feature so you can't go wrong. There are others out there to allow GTA to be modded but they include hooking .dll's which open the possibility of your game becoming unstable. If you have a question about Magic.bat you can post it here or find the original thread HERE

 

This is a simple tweak that will allow you to play GTA IV with your in game draw distance to 0 yet still allow you to see distant buildings. This is done by way of tweaking the timecyc.dat and the "FarClip" setting which I've already done and provided three different versions plus the default for backup purposes.

 

FarClip 3500 - Longest View Distance before you can see the farthest reaches of the map (which show up a solid white).

 

FarClip 3000 - Medium Yet Still Double The GTA IV Default Distance

 

FarClip 2500 - Shorter Draw Distance But Still An Improvement

 

FarClip 1500 - The GTA IV Default Unmodified timecyc.dat (Backup)

 

There are two downsides to using this. The first is that the objects in the distance aren't as detailed at they would be using the in game draw distance. However you can balance this out by raising the detail distance. The second is that it will take about 5 FPS off the top. Again we can balance this out buy lowering the in game draw distance, freeing up some VRAM in the process.

 

Before this tweak I was using the settings below and barely scratching 30-40FPS. During heavy action it was often in the low 20's

 

The two screen shots below named Normal 7:00am and Normal 12:00am were using these settings.

 

Video Mode = 1280 x 1024

 

Texture Quality = High

Render Quality = Highest

View Distance = 20

Detail Distance = 65

Vehicle Density = 50

Shadow Density = 0

 

After the Tweak using the settings below the game almost never went below 35FPS and was usually around 50-60FPS. During heavy action it was a steady 25-30

 

The two screen shots below named FarClip 3500 7:00am and FarClip 3500 12:00am were using these settings.

 

Video Mode = 1280 x 1024

 

Texture Quality = High

Render Quality = Highest

View Distance = 0

Detail Distance = 35

Vehicle Density = 50

Shadow Density = 0

 

Play around with it if you want and see which works best for you.

 

Instructions

 

To install follow the instructions in the read me of Magic.bat or simply copy it to your main GTA IV folder and run it. You can use any method you want but the game must be able to be modified otherwise it won't start because of Rockstar's file check system.

 

When it's done simply copy your choice of timecyc.dat to \Program Files\Rockstar Games\Grand Theft Auto IV\pc\data\. Either backup the original or simply overwrite it. I've included a backup in case you want to return to the default setting. If you've already made your GTA IV mod-able then just drop it in the corresponding folder. Enjoy.

 

 

Download Links

http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=6d4f977...2db6fb9a8902bda

 

Mirror

http://www.sendspace.com/file/667oep

 

Pictures

 

NORMAL 7:00am In game draw distance 20

user posted image

 

NORMAL 12:00am In game draw distance 20

user posted image

 

FarClip 3500 7:00am In game draw distance 0

user posted image

 

FarClip 3500 12:00am In game draw distance 0

user posted image

Edited by Pixelated
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isnt it the same as setting DRAW DISTANCE to max without the detail?

 

how bad does it lagg u?

No it's not. There is less building detail using this FarClip tweak. If you try it you'll see what I mean. What do you mean lag? It doesn't lag at all anymore.

Edited by Pixelated
isnt it the same as setting DRAW DISTANCE to max without the detail?

 

how bad does it lagg u?

No it's not. There is less building detail using this FarClip tweak. What do you mean lag? It doesn't lag at all anymore.

does it give you better FPS to have FarClip... or Draw Distance 20?

 

 

Much better to use the FarClip tweak. It's less resource intensive that draw distance. I think the in game options draw distance also adds some sort detail level to everything it renders. This also frees up VRAM where Draw distance uses more to get the same level of sight.

 

whats that bag on Niko's shoulder????????

 

http://www.gtaforums.com/index.php?showtopic=389897&st=0

 

 

parachute sunshine.

 

ahhh smart man... also freeing up VRAM = great.

 

Im going to try it this evening.

 

Of course you have to install this tweak then lower your Draw Distance to free up VRAM. That's what I meant by that. Using this timecyc.dat tweak with your draw distance set to 0 will allow you to see more and farther then using the in game draw distance at 100 and the default timecyc.dat. It just won't be as detailed as it is using the in game draw distance. It's simply a trade off. Of course you can do both if your PC can handle it.

Edited by Pixelated
whats that bag on Niko's shoulder????????

You know I'm not sure where this mod is from. My GTA IV is heavily modded with textures and clothing so I tend to forget where each mod came from. I know for sure it was from the Mod Showroom here at GTAForums.net. If you want I can upload it for you since I save all the mods to my hard drive. Or you can try searching the Mod Showroom.

 

http://www.gtaforums.com/index.php?showforum=90

 

 

parachute sunshine.

 

ahhh smart man... also freeing up VRAM = great.

 

Im going to try it this evening.

 

Of course you have to install this tweak then lower your Draw Distance to free up VRAM. That's what I meant by that. Using this timecyc.dat tweak with your draw distance set to 0 will allow you to see more and farther then using the in game draw distance at 100 and the default timecyc.dat. It just won't be as detailed as it is using the in game draw distance. It's simply a trade off. Of course you can do both if your PC can handle it.

NO... my PC cant. lol

 

Im going to do this mate... Belinda & yourself did good

whats that bag on Niko's shoulder????????

You know I'm not sure where this mod is from. My GTA IV is heavily modded with textures and clothing so I tend to forget where each mod came from. I know for sure it was from the Mod Showroom here at GTAForums.net. If you want I can upload it for you since I save all the mods to my hard drive. Or you can try searching the Mod Showroom.

 

http://www.gtaforums.com/index.php?showforum=90

 

 

parachute sunshine.

 

ahhh smart man... also freeing up VRAM = great.

 

Im going to try it this evening.

 

Of course you have to install this tweak then lower your Draw Distance to free up VRAM. That's what I meant by that. Using this timecyc.dat tweak with your draw distance set to 0 will allow you to see more and farther then using the in game draw distance at 100 and the default timecyc.dat. It just won't be as detailed as it is using the in game draw distance. It's simply a trade off. Of course you can do both if your PC can handle it.

NO... my PC cant. lol

 

Im going to do this mate... Belinda & yourself did good

Neither can mine. I can bump the draw distance to 10 or 15 maybe but it really kills most of the positive effects this tweak offers.

you're instructions are piss poor

 

do it again, but right

I can't help it that you don't understand English.

 

1. Make your game mod-able. Use whatever method you want. I've included the idiot proof Magic.bat that even you can't screw up.

 

2. Copy the timecyc.dat you want to use to \Program Files\Rockstar Games\Grand Theft Auto IV\pc\data

 

3. Start the game.

 

It doesn't get any easier than that.

 

 

Awesome I'm glad it's working well for you. It really take a lot of stress of your system if you use this in conjunction with lowering your draw distance. The shadows and draw distance are what I've noticed that really hammer your PC.

 

Now if we can find a way to disable the shadows.

This is what we needed from the get go. The major resource killers in the game is the Draw Distance tied in with the Detail Distance. The Shadows are the biggest resource hog but once set to 0 i get a 10 fps gain. Im going to try this when i get home! Good job with this Discovery and modification good job to the both of you!

 

you're instructions are piss poor

 

do it again, but right

I can't help it that you don't understand English.

 

1. Make your game mod-able. Use whatever method you want. I've included the idiot proof Magic.bat that even you can't screw up.

 

2. Copy the timecyc.dat you want to use to \Program Files\Rockstar Games\Grand Theft Auto IV\pc\data

 

3. Start the game.

 

It doesn't get any easier than that.

Your original instructions are spot on mate - detailed, clear and easy to follow.

 

Some people. suicidal.gif

 

Great mod! I'll give this a go soon and see how it looks. I'm getting decent performance now but would love to try and up the textures to 'high' and stop it stuttering. Not sure if this will help that but it's worth playing with for any fps increase..

I tried this. Only gave me and extra 3-5 fps. With view distance at 0

 

 

How can it give your nearly 20 fps and only extra 3-5 fps for me

 

 

 

btw what we will do without the modding community? Good work to the both of you but I didnt get much gain.

Edited by badguy
I tried this. Only gave me and extra 3-5 fps. With view distance at 0

 

 

How can it give your nearly 20 fps and only extra 3-5 fps for me

 

 

 

btw what we will do without the modding community? Good work to the both of you but I didnt get much gain.

You're using an under spec card. The 9500GT isn't really a gaming card. That's why I said it might not work for older or less powerful hardware.

 

If either your CPU or GPU is holding you back that will definitely limit certain things. The idea is too have the best balance possible. Also If you're already playing the game with minimal draw distance then this tweak isn't going to help a whole lot.

 

I tried this. Only gave me and extra 3-5 fps. With view distance at 0

 

 

How can it give your nearly 20 fps and only extra 3-5 fps for me

 

btw what we will do without the modding community? Good work to the both of you but I didnt get much gain.

This is the Case.

 

 

 

 

 

BUT BETTER THAN ALL THOSE PERFORMANCE MOD TROLLS ON HERE

Edited by babarian225

 

I tried this. Only gave me and extra 3-5 fps. With view distance at 0

 

 

How can it give your nearly 20 fps and only extra 3-5 fps for me

 

 

 

btw what we will do without the modding community? Good work to the both of you but I didnt get much gain.

You're using an under spec card. The 9500GT isn't really a gaming card. That's why I said it might not work for older or less powerful hardware.

 

If either your CPU or GPU is holding you back that will definitely limit certain things. The idea is too have the best balance possible. Also If you're already playing the game with minimal draw distance then this tweak isn't going to help a whole lot.

Actually my draw distance was at 48 before I used your tweak. I know 9500gt isnt that good. Thought it was when I got my pc built since im not really a pc person. But meh at least it got me some more fps unlike other tweaks on here.

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