This is how looks and works perfection!

[ron123]

As you can know, I am "RON123" for you, have always wanted to play perfectly GTA IV -the most difficult PC game to run on your computer.

Few days ago I found the last twick that will boost PFS for me, the one that will give me the best GTA IV experience that I have ever had.

 

Not only that I probably can play better then you and 99% of gamers, I am also getting one of the best quality frames in the world.

 

First of all the results: I able to play a very smooth gameplay in the next settings:

1920x1200 res, max settings gameplay.

 

 

GTA requirements:

 

First I must explain what high edge hardware GTA IV requires.

This is the only game in the market that

requires any 3-4 cores normal CPU and in addition high amount of VRAM.

As a result, one of the above is a common "bottleneck", It means that upgrading your rig without solving the bottleneck won't really improve performane.

I for example, OC my q6600 to 3.00 GHZ (while using the stock cooler) and did'nt get big improvement, and in addition OC my GPU:

core speed 600 to 642

Shader clock 1500 to 1605

memory clock 900 to 1070

Note: numbers in MHZ, OC while using the stock cooler

 

This upgrades won't change much for me, because my bottleneck in max settings is the 512 VRAM MB.

The normal framerate (not my) depends mostly on the CPU speed.

However, the quality of the frames depends mostly on amount of VRAM, as textures quality and resolution go up then VRAM requirement will increase either. .

Bad CPU will cause low framerate and shortage of VRAM will cause all the known bugs and poor image quality (all bugs can be solved).

 

 

There are many performace mods that cost game quality for increasing the framerate, I choose not to use them, because I want to play perfectly as Rockstar originally intended.

Now I will post all the useful twicks that won't harm the quality of the frames:

 

First, the common twicks:

1. Use windows XP/7 ,-Vista is killing the framerate (some 25%-50% in average).

2. Close all running programs, including GTAbrowser.exe and RGSC.exe (social club, if you use it).

3. Download the last driver and patch.

4. Give to GTAIV.exe high priority in task manager

5. Switch off the capture movie option (in game's menu).

6. Clean all the unnecessary services, can be done in two ways:

A. use msconfig: press "start", then "run", type their "msconfig", in "genetal" press "selective startup" uncheck first second and fourth marks, then look in this window for "services", press it, than mark "hide all microsoft services", after it press "Disable all", then press apply and restart windows in a clean mod, you will see that most of your games will run better, in the new mod don't enter the Internet and other programs (only games), from "msconfig" you can choose "Normal startup" for going beck to all of your programs (will restart windows).

B. Download AlacrityPC program (link ), which allow you do save a clean profile and load it before lunching the game without restarting Windows (my favorite).

 

Second,the less common twicks:

7. use Xliveless mod (link) just to get rit of social club and windows live, it won't change performance.

8. I using the RMClock to lock the throttle of the CPU while in game, it seems that gta iv doesn't know to do it itself like any other game.(link)

9. To improve the overall frames quality it better to force AA (I did it from Nvidia's control penal). Do it only if you got some 30 frame in gameplay, because it uses resources and will harm the framerate(the improvement is really nice but not like an original AA)

10. Now I will explain how to use the commandline, the most importent twicks for best performances:

"-norestrictions": will allow the game to use max settings but wont boost performance.

"-novblank": Won't limit your framerate and will allow it to go as high as it can, very useful.

"-availablevidmem x.xx": this command will solve magically all the bugs (missing textures/ slow loading textures/ flickering shadows and more) and can improve any quality of frames. Use it only if you has really bad quality (otherwise ignore it). This twick uses your RAM in addition to your VRAM, as a result it costs in a lower framerate, as more RAM you use then the drop in framerame will be bigger. You don't need to use a lot of VRAM just 200MB-300MB of extra RAM will solve all the missing textures and 50MB-80MB of ram will solve all the little bugs like flickering objects. x.xx is a multiplier of your RAM. For example 2.00 will make 500MB VRAM to "500MB VRAM" + "500MB RAM" = "1000MB totul memory" usage.

"-percentvidmem xxx": I thought that this command is useless, but I found out few days a ago, that this commande is just want I needed for perfect framerate, you must use it while using "-availablevidmem x.xx" in order to get 100% of your VRAM usage, which will boost extremly the framerate for users of ""-availablevidmem x.xx". Set xxx to 100.

11. This is a optional twick, it will change the way your rig uses memory, it should improve the min framerate but will cost in a lower max framerate,I advice to just try it for a 15-20 fps gameplay. Change this: "Open regedit (from "run") and go to hkey local machine/system/current control set/control/session manager/memory management and change disablepagingexecutive and largesystemcache to 1". -you can test it and change it back to 0 like it was before.

 

My experience: The q6600 2.4 GHZ will give 35-50 frames in any settings, 512MB of VRAM is too low for even 1680x1050 high textures gameplay, the result is many bugs including the missing textures,a 1920x1200 max settings gameplay requires 750MB of memory in order to be free of even small bugs, I set "-availablevidmem 1.5" for usage of 749MB, my framerate drops to 28-32 while driving in an OC Q6600 to 3.00, This OC gave me just extra 3-4 FPS. this is my full commandline: "-norestrictions -novblank -percentvidmem 100 -availablevidmem 1.5".

It's very hard to test the unstable framerate of this game, I advice to test with fraps (benchmark won't give real results) while normaly driving the town in daylight.

 

proof: here is a gameplay (20-25 fps) in max settings , I used the stock speeds of my CPU and GPU (no overclockig), Fraps takes some 4-5 frames from game, so add them (in your mind).(I used all the twicks above without number 11) -

 

I hope I really helped to most of you, and if you already knew it all, so this guide is for an average gamer.

Note: I ready to prove all I sayed above, and I will post extra staff in this thread later.

 

edit :

I said in the post, that this is not a real/original AA, GTA won't support it. forcing AA from nvidia, even a high AA of 8xQ is not the real thing, it is just looks a little better, the camera moves smoother, it is not a big change, just the overall is better, I will try to capture it and post, I dont have an HD camera.

I looked pixel by pixel and this is not a real AA, I shound't even use this word.

it looks like it is filtering better when this option is on, the colours looks sharper.

I just should say better image quality and that is it.

Edited March 3, 2009 by ron123

[thales100]

First of all the results: I able to play a very smooth gameplay in the next settings:

1920x1200 res, max settings gameplay + AA/8XQ (anti-aliasing of 8XQ for noobs).

 

 

 

Ron123, GTA 4 doesnt support AA, why do you include it in your post ?

[Shof]

 

1. Use windows XP/7 ,-Vista is killing the framerate (some 25%-50% in average).

Not True. Considering Windows 7 is a carbon copy of vista with performance improves. Also, you can tweak vista to remove the bloat and i bet you can get more framerates then xp

 

  A. use msconfig: press "start", then "run", type their "msconfig", in "genetal" press "selective startup" uncheck first second and fourth marks, then look in this window for "services", press it, than mark "hide all microsoft services", after it press "Disable all", then press apply and restart windows in    a clean mod, you will see that most of your games will run better, in the new mod don't enter the Internet and other programs (only games), from "msconfig" you can choose "Normal startup" for going beck to all of your programs (will restart windows).         

  B. Download AlacrityPC program (link ), which allow you do save a clean profile and load it before lunching the game without restarting Windows (my favorite).

 

Using a service guide like Black Viper, you can leave unwanted services disabled, preventing alot of bloat on startup

 

 

10. Now I will explain how to use the commandline, the most importent twicks for best performances:

"-norestrictions": will allow the game to use max settings but wont boost performance.

"-novblank": Won't limit your framerate and will allow it to go as high as it can, very useful.

"-availablevidmem x.xx": this command will solve magically all the bugs (missing textures/ slow loading textures/ flickering shadows and more) and can improve any quality of frames. Use it only if you has really bad quality (otherwise ignore it). This twick uses your RAM in addition to your VRAM, as a result it costs in a lower framerate, as more RAM you use then the drop in framerame will be bigger. You don't need to use a lot of VRAM just 200MB-300MB of extra RAM will solve all the missing textures and 50MB-80MB of ram will solve all the little bugs like flickering objects. x.xx is a multiplier of your RAM. For example 2.00 will make 500MB VRAM to "500MB VRAM" + "500MB RAM" = "1000MB totul memory" usage.

"-percentvidmem xxx": I thought that this command is useless, but I found out few days a ago, that this commande is just want I needed for perfect framerate, you must use it while using "-availablevidmem x.xx" in order to get 100% of your VRAM usage, which will boost extremly the framerate for users of ""-availablevidmem x.xx". Set xxx to 100.

11. This is a optional twick, it will change the way your rig uses  memory, it should improve the min framerate but will cost in a lower max framerate,I advice to just try it for a 15-20 fps gameplay. Change this: "Open regedit (from "run") and go to hkey local machine/system/current control set/control/session manager/memory management and change disablepagingexecutive and largesystemcache to 1". -you can test it and change it back to 0 like it was before.

this has been posted before, search the forums for all of these tweaks

[Gfunk]

Thanks i added all those lines to the commandline. Ill test it later

[bukkit]

setting AA in nvidia control panel doesnt mean that it would affect gta .... gta simply doesnt support AA

its just a myth. but u can surely post a comparing scrshots with and without AA to shut our mouths.

i would be very curious

[thales100]

but u can surely post a comparing scrshots with and without AA to shut our mouths.

i would be very curious

Wont work, this has been discussed and tried 4536787499 times

[bukkit]

 

but u can surely post a comparing scrshots with and without AA to shut our mouths.

i would be very curious

Wont work, this has been discussed and tried 4536787499 times

i know

its just fun to demand it from this ron guy. he posted it hundred times that he plays it with AA

i just want to see 'his AA'

[thales100]

 

proof: here is a gameplay (20-25 fps) in max settings + AA, I used the stock speeds of my CPU and GPU (no overclockig), Fraps takes some 4-5 frames from game, so add them (in your mind).(I used all the twicks above without number 11) -

 

Ron are you sure youre not using any tweak that will drop the GFX quality of the game, boosting your FPS ? Could you post some few screenshots with FRAPS enabled to include hte FPS on the sc, so we could check the GFX quality youre playing ? Its impossible, even in HD, to make sure you have the game all maxed watching a youtube video.

[ron123]

I said in the post, that this is not a real/original AA, GTA won't support it. forcing AA from nvidia, even a high AA of 8xQ is not the real thing, it is just looks a little better, the camera moves smoother, it is not a big change, just the overall is better, I will try to capture it and post, I dont jave an HD camera.

[thales100]

i know

its just fun to demand it from this ron guy. he posted it hundred times that he plays it with AA

i just want to see 'his AA'

[bukkit]

 

Fraps takes some 4-5 frames from game, so add them

not when fraps isnt recording something ... and as i can see , the fraps isnt recording ...so u can take those 4-5 frames back

 

smooth gameplay while running fraps

as i said the fraps is irelevant in your case. and anything beyond 30fps is considered laggy

in your case the fps is about 23-24 or lower ... so that is anything that smooth my dear

 

so whats the point fella ? demanding attention ?

look at your post ...non of those tweaks isnt yours ... AA is bullsh*t , and ur saying ur running it smooth , but as we all can see, its lagging as hell. so whats your point ?

[thales100]

I said in the post, that this is not a real/original AA, GTA won't support it. forcing AA from nvidia, even a high AA of 8xQ is not the real thing, it is just looks a little better, the camera moves smoother, it is not a big change, just the overall is better, I will try to capture it and post, I dont jave an HD camera.

You dont need a HD camera ron, use Fraps to capture the screenshots dude.

[ron123]

proof: here is a gameplay (20-25 fps) in max settings + AA, I used the stock speeds of my CPU and GPU (no overclockig), Fraps takes some 4-5 frames from game, so add them (in your mind).(I used all the twicks above without number 11) -

 

Ron are you sure youre not using any tweak that will drop the GFX quality of the game, boosting your FPS ? Could you post some few screenshots with FRAPS enabled to include hte FPS on the sc, so we could check the GFX quality youre playing ? Its impossible, even in HD, to make sure you have the game all maxed watching a youtube video.

yes, it will take few min to upload.

[bukkit]

 

forcing AA from nvidia, even a high AA of 8xQ is not the real thing, it is just looks a little better, the camera moves smoother

i bet when u search for 'placebo effect' in the dictionary ... u will find there that quote as an example

[thales100]

i bet when u search for 'placebo effect' in the dictionary ... u will find there that quote as an example

I like ron guy, its all fun ...

[chngdman]

 

This is the only game in the market that

requires any 3-4 cores normal CPU and in addition high amount of VRAM.

 

No, it doesn't. Appreciate the help you may be giving people, but you are wrong about that .I have minimum specs, runs great...

[bukkit]

i bet when u search for 'placebo effect' in the dictionary ... u will find there that quote as an example 

I like ron guy, its all fun ...

his that funny nerdy kid next door this is i think his 3rd post ...exactly the same ...gta on full with AA ....absolutely smooth (23fps smooth ) and his arguments ? mmmmmm top class

[nvr2fst]

 

 

Not only that I probably can play better then you and 99% of gamers, I am also getting one of the best quality frames in the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I dont think so. Not on either point. Are you allright? Feeling a little.......off? Illusions of grandeur.

Edited January 21, 2009 by nvr2fst

[Creed Bratton]

Another troll attempt...

[GTA_XP]

Well, nice idea to set GTA4 in High Piority.

Then your CPU will get much heat and OC GPU is not

always the best option to keep the warranty and the GPU's life.

To me is it useless, yes for me.

And Vista is very stable and good on rig, I have'nt any problems and I get

nice FPS.

Installing Windows XP is (for me)

I need an admin who can changes my nickname into GTA_Vista

 

And second, R* cant let this game down, they have to release second (greatfull) patch.

[ron123]

see my edit 2 in the first post.

look very good on them.

[GTA_XP]

Still same

Even with binoculars I cant see AA.

[ron123]

I looked pixel by pixel and this is not real AA, I shound't even use this word.

it looks like it is filtering better when this option is on, the colours looks sharper.

 

I just should say better image quality and that is it.

[badguy]

ron123 you are a geek. Now f*ck off.

[EXTACY]

Still same

Even with binoculars I cant see AA.

Damn, I'd even used a microscope and I didn't even find a tiny single AA....

[christinme7890]

yeah i am skeptical as well. I realize that you are trying to squeeze every ounce of processor/gpu power out of your computer, but GTA4 was just poorly ported and it has so much going on in the background that you won't get much better in quality. the command lines are good but just make sure you aren't destroying your gpu.

[eagle016]

1. Use windows XP/7 ,-Vista is killing the framerate (some 25%-50% in average).

Not True. Considering Windows 7 is a carbon copy of vista with performance improves. Also, you can tweak vista to remove the bloat and i bet you can get more framerates then xp

FYI, Windows 7 (32 and 64) work better for me than either XP or Vista (32 or 64). I gain an additional 15fps when I go to Windows 7 over the others.

 

This is all including a fresh install of each OS, same PC specs, no unneeded programs (only Firefox was additionally installed) and unmodded GTA with the 1.0.1.0 patch.

[Kurgen]

so whats the point fella ? demanding attention ?

That's what he's all about, and has been since day-one. He posts a list of "twicks" [sic], claiming he discovered them when in fact they've been doing the rounds for months now, claiming falsely that he gets great performance boosts, and blathers on about "sort-of-AA", and even has the cheek to demand recognition for his heroic acts in saving GTAIV from oblivion...

 

Yep. Attention-whore for sure, and a deluded one at that.

 

 

[mkey82]

Look guys, loads of people don't know what they are talking about. So they think 24 FPS is smooth as hell, but the fact is they don't know any better.

 

This topic should be deleted as it doesn't offer anything even remotely useful. Also, ron you obviously posses the ability to visit the web. Use it and do some reading. This can not be stressed enough. Read.

[Nillansan]

 

I said in the post, that this is not a real/original AA, GTA won't support it. forcing AA from nvidia, even a high AA of 8xQ is not the real thing, it is just looks a little better, the camera moves smoother, it is not a big change, just the overall is better, I will try to capture it and post, I dont jave an HD camera.

Statements like these make it quite difficult to take your tweak guide seriously LOL. Oh Lawd you're so funny.