Build a computer to play GTA:IV at best ability

[anus]

Do you have a budget for the video card and power supply?

[maraca2020]

idk how much a power supply would cost, but for the video card alone around $150

[anus]

Get this HD4850, which is far better than the 9800GT.

 

And for a power supply, this would do.

 

Totals to $199.98 for both.

Edited February 14, 2009 by Warlord.

[maraca2020]

thanks but i just realized that i have to convince my mom cause it would be on her comp. now I probably cant do anything.

[sgtmay]

i am getting a new quad core setup some time this year to replace what i am using now..... but it also needs to be able to use all my old peripherals and hardware so i can save some bucks on that end.

 

That price in the link is irrelevant because i can get it cheaper than that right down the road from my local computer store..... they mainly deal with MSI and AMD products.

 

The crossfire setup on that board is kinda less than i wanted but fits my budget.(16X with a single card forced 8X with dual)

[aidan87]

Hey guys, I've managed to overclock my CPU to 4.18GHZ, here are some benchmarks!

 

at 3.8GHZ:

 

 

StatisticsAverage FPS: 56.33Duration: 37.06 secCPU Usage: 77%System memory usage: 14%Video memory usage: 93%Graphics SettingsVideo Mode: 1680 x 1050 (60 Hz)Texture Quality: HighRender Quality: HighestReflection Resolution: Very HighWater Quality: Very HighShadow Quality: Very HighView Distance: 100Detail Distance: 100Definition: OffVSync: Off

 

 

At 4.18GHZ I gained a whopping 3FPS! Hurray!

 

 

StatisticsAverage FPS: 59.27Duration: 36.94 secCPU Usage: 72%System memory usage: 16%Video memory usage: 95%Graphics SettingsVideo Mode: 1680 x 1050 (60 Hz)Texture Quality: HighRender Quality: HighestReflection Resolution: Very HighWater Quality: Very HighShadow Quality: Very HighView Distance: 100Detail Distance: 100Definition: OffVSync: Off

 

 

Now obviously in the benchmark test there is no big difference, not even in gameplay, but the only difference I could tell is that when I blow up alot of cars simultaneously the frame rate stays a little more stable.

 

There you go thales, I've beaten your benchmark by 0.31FPS!

 

Now it's clear that even in an unoptimized game like GTA IV, which doesn't benefit from SLI/crossfire, the 4870x2 is on par with the 280, but in other games 4870x2 obviously gets the higher framerates.

 

However, at the time being, if you are playing at a resolution below 1920x1200, I really wouldn't recommend it over the 280 (or better yet, 285) to someone who wants to "Build a computer to play GTA:IV at best ability". Why, you ask? okay..

a- The difference is hardly noticeable in GTA IV, even in other games, I can't really tell the difference between 60FPS and 50FPS.

b- Price.

c- Power consumption.

d- This thing runs really hot, I set the fan at 100% so that the temps stay below 50 at idle and when I do that my computer sounds like a f*cking jet on take off, that's unbearable!

 

So, to play GTA IV at best ability without having to break the bank, pair a GTX 285 with a good quad and at least 4GB of ram and you're good to go. Don't waste your money on a 4870x2 if you are planning to play at a resolution below 1920x1200.

[thales100]

There you go thales, I've beaten your benchmark by 0.31FPS!

 

 

Nice one !

[thales100]

Back to the throne ! 60+ FPS !

 

Qx9650 at 4 Ghz

 

 

StatisticsAverage FPS: 60.21Duration: 37.16 secCPU Usage: 67%System memory usage: 71%Video memory usage: 64%Graphics SettingsVideo Mode: 1680 x 1050 (60 Hz)Texture Quality: HighRender Quality: HighestReflection Resolution: Very HighWater Quality: Very HighShadow Quality: Very HighView Distance: 100Detail Distance: 100Definition: OnVSync: OffHardwareMicrosoft® Windows Vista" Ultimate Service Pack 1Video Adapter: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280Video Driver version: 181.22Audio Adapter: Alto-falantes (2- Razer Barracuda AC-1 Gaming Audio Card)Intel® Core2 Extreme CPU X9650  @ 3.00GHzFile ID: benchmark.cli

 

 

 

 

 

[1LT.Reason]

i havent read the full topic , bbut i read the Original Post ...

 

i am kicking myself because i have a 2 year old computer i could have made with SLi support , now i know there are times when SLi doesnt blaze so fast but i am at the limit of my pc unless i swap out the motherboard and cpu , get ram that is supported , and of course this would have to be Nforce mobo , intel chip and 4 gigs ram , 64-bit ready and have that 4 gigs of ram...

 

i was an ATi buyer until i finally listened to my advisors , but it was manily the choice of in-between video ram storage , i got an 8800 GTS supercloked EVGA 640 mb PCI-E... it handles everything well , but GTA 4 is so new it would need 2 of them to reach around 25-30 fps which is my target range.

[thales100]

sh*t man youtube sux monkey balls, it takes hours to include a 6 seconds clip

[Red'uh70]

 

Look, To play GTAIV you first need a quad core, You don't have to buy the most expensive, even a cheap quad should do the job, The most important hardware for GTAIV is the CPU cooler, that is why you have to buy a CPU water cooler (even a cheap one) and OC your quad to 4.2-4.6 GHZ, and in addition you have to buy a GPU with high memory bandwidth (search for it). Today the best for GTAIV is a singal 285GTX with 1 GB of video memory (not enough but this is what me have in the market right now), You can try to buy an "HD4850 2GB GDDR3" and OC the memory clock (with water again) to have a usage of some 1.5 GB of video memory.-this OC card won't be graet for other games, just for GTAIV.

 

The rig shouldn"t be very expensive just 700$-800$ without the screen.

 

 

say if u get a wc and overclock a 5200+

i'll rather get a E8400 with stock cooler,

why are you so stupid, if you don't overclock but u use something like TRUE 120,

 

The Most Important of GTA IV is Multiple Core, With High Frequencies,

Phenom 9950 performs same as E8400 @3.6GHz,

 

while my E7200 @4.0GHz never stutters, with 45FPS average

 

my bench

 

 

StatisticsAverage FPS: 59.12Duration: 37.06 secCPU Usage: 91%System memory usage: 90%Video memory usage: 91%Graphics SettingsVideo Mode: 1440 x 900 (60 Hz)Texture Quality: HighRender Quality: HighReflection Resolution: HighWater Quality: MediumShadow Quality: HighView Distance: 20Detail Distance: 20Definition: OffVSync: OnHardwareMicrosoft Windows XP ProfessionalService Pack 3Video Adapter: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT Video Driver version: 182.05Audio Adapter: Realtek HD Audio outputIntel Pentium III Xeon processorFile ID: benchmark.cli

 

 

using AMD Fusion Hack for Intel,

Edited February 15, 2009 by Red'uh70

[thales100]

while my E7200 @4.0GHz never stutters, with 45FPS average

 

my bench

 

 

Looking real good considering you have a c2d.

[emcax24]

more hit and miss bullsh*t with this game. doesnt seem to matter what you have. the most important thing to have with this game is PLENTY OF LUCK.

[thales100]

more hit and miss bullsh*t with this game. doesnt seem to matter what you have. the most important thing to have with this game is PLENTY OF LUCK.

Mmm if PLENTY OF LUCK = oc quad at 4 Ghz + 4 Gb RAM + 1 Gb VRAM GPU, f*ck yeah man ...

[maraca2020]

are these compatible with an HP Pavilion a1540n?

 

It has an NVIDIA nForce6150 Motherboard

 

Can I add an;

 

GTX 280/85?

 

ASUS EAH4850 TOP/HTDI/512M Radeon HD 4850 512MB?

 

Intel i7, quad core, or a dual core?

 

otherwise what would be the best options? Thanks

[thaCURSEDpie]

A small advice: never buy a sh*tty/low-budget powersupply. It's the thing that keeps your PC alive! If your powersupply gets f*cked up, it can take your whole PC with it. (short-circuit / voltage spike is very unhealthy for a PC)

[TruXter]

Based on today's specs (Intel's Core i7, AMD's Phenom II for starters) what is the best computer can build to play GTA:IV to its best ability?

go with the the phenomii.

Nvidia

dual GeForce GTX 295 vid

 

asus mobo that is compatible.

what 4 gigs of the best ram suited to match your processor.

Monitor that can handle your dual video cards with the lowest response time.

comfortable mouse and keyboard combo ( not most expensive, but what is better form to your finger size.)

12 pack of redbull and a deep dish ashtray.

 

don't forget to feed the cat.

[maraca2020]

I like it but don't forget psu and a MASSIVE COOLER

[Waynio]

those screens look awesome thales100

i'm gonna try out the tweaks you use, i just hope it don't get me banned on multiplayer

i am running

Gigabyte p35-dq6

q6600 @ 3.6

4gb ddr2 @1000

ati 4870x2

enermax galaxy 1000

everything is really nicely cooled by custom chassis i made.

and am not getting great results, pretty good but not wow standards

 

i'll report back once i have tried the tweaks, looks promisingly great thou

 

the MagicIV.exe did not work for me, i'm on 1.0.2.0 gta iv the 2nd patch

Edited February 16, 2009 by Waynio

[thales100]

 

those screens look awesome thales100 

i'm gonna try out the tweaks you use, i just hope it don't get me banned on multiplayer

i am running

Gigabyte p35-dq6

q6600 @ 3.6

4gb ddr2 @1000

ati 4870x2

enermax galaxy 1000

everything is really nicely cooled by custom chassis i made.

and am not getting great results, pretty good but not wow standards

 

i'll report back once i have tried the tweaks, looks promisingly great thou

 

the MagicIV.exe did not work for me, i'm on 1.0.2.0 gta iv the 2nd patch

Thanks, you have a great rig (quad at 3.6Ghz, 4 Gb RAM, 1 Gb effective VRAM GPU), should also be able to max the game at 1680 x 1050 i.e., btw to use the farclip tweak and the blur tweak you dont need the Magic tool, simply backup the original files yourself and add the new tweaked ones.

If you can post a benchmark result at 1680 x 1050 all GFX maxed high - highest - vh - vh - vh - 100 - 100.

Edited February 16, 2009 by thales100

[Waynio]

bench result

 

here in motion

 

plays fairly well for a few minutes but game still gets so far and then it crashes back to desktop saying out of memory and seems a bit unstable

i'll post back trying 1680x1050

[Waynio]

here it is at 1680x1050, pretty much the same result, strange but i driven all the way round the middle island fast and seems completely stable with decent solid frame rate even when crashing the car badly hehe , so really a massive improvement over what i was running with before, thank you and all the other people who work these tweaks out

 

this will do brilliant until there are high end 2gb graphics cards out so i can run it at my monitors native res 1920x1200

[emcax24]

you might as well just max it out. its not gonna effect your fps much if at all and you can play it in max details.

[ron123]

To Waynio: the "out of memory" is a rare problem, it means that your ram usage getting full doring playing, I will advice to clean the background processors.

In addition, you can download the "memturbo" program and try to clean the memory doring the gameplay itself.

[Waynio]

seems to run max settings nicely @ 1680x1050 without crashing and saying out of memory

on 1920x1200 it really does look awesome but it does not take long before it crashes, it is much more unstable so 1680x1050 it is for now

 

ron123, i'll give memturbo a try, but i don't know what processes are ok to shut down, i use vista 64bit premium, there is quite a lot compared to a fresh os install over 50 processes when i check task manager but scared of closing something important down, i've done that before and had to press reset, if you know an ok guide for what processes are not necesary would be a good help

 

edit, wow ron123 you get that good of performance with 9800GT on full settings this is an amazing tweak, i just checked your youtube vid i'm gonna have to apply this tweak to my bro's pc, he's got a q6600 at 2.4 will not overclock probably due to poor psu 4gb and 8800gtx

Edited February 16, 2009 by Waynio

[ron123]

 

seems to run max settings nicely @ 1680x1050 without crashing and saying out of memory

on 1920x1200 it really does look awesome but it does not take long before it crashes, it is much more unstable so 1680x1050 it is for now 

 

ron123, i'll give memturbo a try, but i don't know what processes are ok to shut down, i use vista 64bit premium, there is quite a lot compared to a fresh os install over 50 processes when i check task manager but scared of closing something important down, i've done that before and had to press reset, if you know an ok guide for what processes are not necesary would be a good help

I am using the "AlacrityPC" program for killing the processes, it gives you info about which processes is unnecessary for gaming and you can choose to cancel them, you can save a profile for gaming and reload it before starting the game.

[Waynio]

hey thank you ron123 i'll look into the app you mentioned AlacrityPC sounds perfect , i really need to go to sleep now it is 04:47am in uk

[anus]

I prefer Blackviper for shutting down unnecessary services. I use the barebones config and have been able to get Vista's processes down A LOT.

 

Besides, it's more permanent this way and doesn't require any profiles or anything like that. So it's easier too. Just fire up the game and play as the services are already disabled .

[mkey82]

 

The 4870 is better than the 280.

 

Mmm , dont think so. The GTX 280 is the best card to run GTA 4 and also rapes a 4870 running any other game.

It's better (the 280), but it doesn't rape it. Especially not on higher res and especially not in the way the price difference would suggest.

 

source 1

source 2

source 3

 

No doubt about it, 280 is the better card, but not two times better.

 

warlord, the best method out there is by usage of msconfig.exe and services.msc which are included with the OS. Of course, some brains are needed as well

[thales100]

this will do brilliant until there are high end 2gb graphics cards out so i can run it at my monitors native res 1920x1200

 

Yes, thats the point, the new GPU generation youll be able to max the game at 1920 x 1200 w/o issues. I think your FPS is a bit lower than what we could expect at 3.6 Ghz, maybe a little optimization and you can take it from 44 to 54+/- FPS, since at 3.67 Ghz i get 58 FPS running the benchie, but my RAM is a bit faster, and our GPUs should have a similar performance running GTA 4.