REAL PERFORMANCE FIX!

[Spider-Vice]

and as i said, unless you are using a 120 hz monitor it is absolutely 100% impossible, i dont care if your computer is capable of those fps, your monitor isnt and your video card matches your monitor to not damage it, and even with vsync off you cant, again youll ruin your monitor.

 

also to prove a point, because you can see my hardware kills yours, i tried your trick, went to the exact same spot, no fps increase.... 56 fps steady. so please stop talking smack, i am trying to be nice about this. also i hate to throw this in the mix, but this is what i do for a living, i know my hardware, you?

LMAO, not if you have VSync disabled.

[CharmingCharlie]

Ok guys how about we cool it in here, fraps is well known for showing outrageous frame rates. I mean hell I get 4000fps on the loading screen. As for the topic Smiler_16 is entitled to share what he has done to make his GTA work better and good for him. Naturally you are entitled to show your results too and if it doesn't work for you then by all means share your results.

 

However can we keep the immature name calling out of the topic.

[Aleksandr1995]

4000fps on the loading screen.

wow thats gunna give a fast load lol

[Chevyboy]

I won't link it as I'm sure someone would be foolish enough to over volt there card and come crying that I said to do it but if you want an alternative to FRAPS that also acts as an alternative to the various graphics card control panels in many regards, MSI Afterburner is a great piece of software.

 

It works much the same as Rivatuner however it also has on screen display support which you can set various options to show on screen while gaming. GPU work load, fan speed, GPU and Memory clock rates and yes even FPS.

 

Thought I'd throw it out there as some people dislike Fraps and this is a fantastic alternative. It also seems to use less resources than Fraps however we are talking already minuscule amounts so not really worth worrying over.

 

If your interested just search goggle. MSI Afterburner. 1.40 as of my typing this is the most current non beta version.

 

*Works with all GPU's not just MSI, including Nvidia cards.

[Smiler-Online]

 

show us a benchmark

I've tried running the benchmark by setting the -Benchmark command, but it crashed ('GTAIV has stopped working' error) then tried it from the Graphics menu in game, but I get the same...

 

it does the loading screen fine, then the 'Loading -- Benchmark Test' screen fine, then the 'loading...' screen loads fine, but just after the final loading message it crashes

 

 

*EDIT*

 

I recall that there was a file that you could just replace to make your own benchmark, I was wondering if any of you remember the files install location (So I can check if the default file is there or whether it has corrupted)

 

although, this may not be the problem, just something that came to mind a moment ago.

 

 

 

*EDIT#2*

 

FIXED (It turned out to be my modded Vehicles.img file that caused the benchmark to not load properly, now that I've put the default backup in there it works!).

 

----------

 

Benchmark Results:

 

Statistics

Average FPS: 59.44

Duration: 37.16 sec

CPU Usage: 67%

System memory usage: 59%

Video memory usage: 51%

 

Graphics Settings

Video Mode: 1440 x 900 (60 Hz)

Texture Quality: High

Texture Filter Quality: Highest

View Distance: 35

Detail Distance: 35

 

Hardware

Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate

Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate

Video Adapter: ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series

Video Driver version: 8.14.10.708

Audio Adapter: Speakers (High Definition Audio Device)

AMD Phenom 9600 Quad-Core Processor

 

File ID: Benchmark.cli

Edited November 22, 2009 by smiler_16

[GTA-Bobski]

I recall that there was a file that you could just replace to make your own benchmark, I was wondering if any of you remember the files install location (So I can check if the default file is there or whether it has corrupted)

The benchmark clip files can be found in:

 

\Grand Theft Auto IV\pc\data

 

You can replace them with any *.cli + *.tag from your GTA IV Video\Clips\ map as

long as you rename them to benchmark.cli and benchmark.tag

[Smiler-Online]

I recall that there was a file that you could just replace to make your own benchmark, I was wondering if any of you remember the files install location (So I can check if the default file is there or whether it has corrupted)

The benchmark clip files can be found in:

 

\Grand Theft Auto IV\pc\data

 

You can replace them with any *.cli + *.tag from your GTA IV Video\Clips\ map as

long as you rename them to benchmark.cli and benchmark.tag

Don't need it now, I just thought that the file had a problem, but it turned out to be the Vehicles.img file that was causing the issue...

[supermortalhuman]

DEP being disabled did not help you at all.

 

Anyone can get a high frame rate being on the outskirts of the map, looking out.

 

You should not tell people to turn off DEP and one can only assume you did so because you know of vulnerabilities being exploited in plugins or something.

 

Call me noid, but the feature should not be turned off. Many crashes are from that protecting you (as opposed to something wrong with GTA IV) from all the plugins that certainly are not just being made "for the love of modding", as a love of modding no longer exists among code slingers.

 

Turn your DEP back on.

Edited November 22, 2009 by supermortalhuman

[noid449]

Call me noid,

wtf .... why call you me ? lol

 

[mkey82]

OK, some people don't know the basics

 

1) with GTAIV being as sensitive as it is and with people's OSes being often in a really shoddy state, it's absolutely possible that some random odd "tweak" might influence your performance. At least for a while This being said, I agree with supermortalhuman, nobody should be telling people to shut off DEP or others stuff that might hinder their system reliability. And if you do, at least plaster WARNING all over the place and waive your responsibility for anything that might occur with a nice disclaimer.

 

2) FPS as shown by fraps is the number of frames rendered by your machine (GPU) and yes, it can be well over your screen refresh rate. The first being a completely software term, the other is related to hardware constraints as every screen is limited by a maximum number of refreshes per second. That is, the screen can receive loads of images, but it will display only, say, 60 of them per second. So, if you run some game (like SA that on my machine runs on 90FPS outdoors, 120 indoors, in FEAR in some places I get over 300 FPS, in COD4 over 90 on Vista, PES, X3 reunion, all of these games run well over 60 FPS) with higher FPS then it's your actual refresh rate, you will see some tearing instead of your monitor burning down :silly: . Basically, what's going on, you have your machine sending, say, 1.5 pictures per frame, that is 90 FPS. Your screen will display one of those frames and discard the other so you can see some ugly tearing going on, as frames shift. No screen burning or damage whatsoever. If you turn on Vsync, you are practically telling the GPU to limit the number of sent frames to the screen refresh rate, sad fact it's one of the usually broken things in GTAIV as it will (in many cases) result in loooooong loading times, go figure.

 

3) When fraps gives you ultra high FPS is menus and such, this is a correct value as the system will always render as many FPS as it can and then let the display device sort them out. This can't possibly be a fraps issue, as many apps will show you the same figure - ATT and Everest being among those that I have tried, I usually get 400-800 FPS on legal screens in GTAIV.

[supermortalhuman]

That is all true. On a side note since you mention it mkey, since title update 5, vsync on has been great for me! I don't know if it's a fix to the game or just something I've done on my end, but from my ATI 3850 to now my GTS 250, vsync doesn't seem to slow my loading anymore, nor freeze it - I can't promise everyone will notice vsync working better, but it has been for me, so if anyone has been hoping to give it a try later down the road, title update 5 seems to have helped there

[luceberg]

 

4. Select the option 'Turn on DEP for all programs and services except those I select:'

 

This is what the op said, ie. on not off.

[Qumulys]

OK, some people don't know the basics

 

1) with GTAIV being as sensitive as it is and with people's OSes being often in a really shoddy state, it's absolutely possible that some random odd "tweak" might influence your performance. At least for a while This being said, I agree with supermortalhuman, nobody should be telling people to shut off DEP or others stuff that might hinder their system reliability. And if you do, at least plaster WARNING all over the place and waive your responsibility for anything that might occur with a nice disclaimer.

 

2) FPS as shown by fraps is the number of frames rendered by your machine (GPU) and yes, it can be well over your screen refresh rate. The first being a completely software term, the other is related to hardware constraints as every screen is limited by a maximum number of refreshes per second. That is, the screen can receive loads of images, but it will display only, say, 60 of them per second. So, if you run some game (like SA that on my machine runs on 90FPS outdoors, 120 indoors, in FEAR in some places I get over 300 FPS, in COD4 over 90 on Vista, PES, X3 reunion, all of these games run well over 60 FPS) with higher FPS then it's your actual refresh rate, you will see some tearing instead of your monitor burning down :silly: . Basically, what's going on, you have your machine sending, say, 1.5 pictures per frame, that is 90 FPS. Your screen will display one of those frames and discard the other so you can see some ugly tearing going on, as frames shift. No screen burning or damage whatsoever. If you turn on Vsync, you are practically telling the GPU to limit the number of sent frames to the screen refresh rate, sad fact it's one of the usually broken things in GTAIV as it will (in many cases) result in loooooong loading times, go figure.

 

3) When fraps gives you ultra high FPS is menus and such, this is a correct value as the system will always render as many FPS as it can and then let the display device sort them out. This can't possibly be a fraps issue, as many apps will show you the same figure - ATT and Everest being among those that I have tried, I usually get 400-800 FPS on legal screens in GTAIV.

Im quoting this ENTIRE post, in the hope that ppl will actually read it all. YES it is long and wordy kiddies, but READ it! You will learn many things, quite frankly simple things. The fact mkey82 has to actually post all of this stuff in a performance tips thread is rather embarassing to those of you bickering about things you think you know. Look, I think its great your trying to improve your system, its how we learn afterall, but take some time out. Read some computing books from a library! Read performance tips from trusted websites by trusted authors!! Its too easy to take Joe Bloggs twitter on how he turbo charged his PC with an electric eel and then some idiots start believing it, forum posts are very often wildly wrong so triple check anything your about to do. I'd even urge you to check up on what Mkey82 is saying, it will help you understand your PC's better and you will gain confidence in what your doing.

 

 

Great post Mkey82!!

 

[mkey82]

Thanks man, I'll be checking that electric eel stuff right now XD

 

 

 

That is all true. On a side note since you mention it mkey, since title update 5, vsync on has been great for me! I don't know if it's a fix to the game or just something I've done on my end, but from my ATI 3850 to now my GTS 250, vsync doesn't seem to slow my loading anymore, nor freeze it - I can't promise everyone will notice vsync working better, but it has been for me, so if anyone has been hoping to give it a try later down the road, title update 5 seems to have helped there

Good news, it's not like I actually need it though. Only here and there does the FPS rise above 60 in open areas.

Edited November 22, 2009 by mkey82

[WTFX]

 

Thanks man, I'll be checking that electric eel stuff right now XD

 

 

 

That is all true. On a side note since you mention it mkey, since title update 5, vsync on has been great for me! I don't know if it's a fix to the game or just something I've done on my end, but from my ATI 3850 to now my GTS 250, vsync doesn't seem to slow my loading anymore, nor freeze it - I can't promise everyone will notice vsync working better, but it has been for me, so if anyone has been hoping to give it a try later down the road, title update 5 seems to have helped there

Good news, it's not like I actually need it though. Only here and there does the FPS rise above 60 in open areas.

yeah, most probably won't raise above 60 fps often for most of the ppl.. [indoors i often get 60-80 but what u gonna do inside, watch tv?]

but vsync also prevents tearing even when ur fps isn't surpassing ur display refreshrate.

 

but it indeed killed off a few fps at least before title update 5. [and i couldn't stand TU5 'cos of the shadows issue]

[Ranjith]

Here is something that is mentioned before

 

it gave me 10 fps

 

Create a commandline.txt file where gta iv is installed

 

and paste this on it

 

-width 512

-height 384

 

It will make your game 600*348 or something according to your monitor

 

 

P.S - Decrease visual quality slightly

[hn333]

I don't get this. I swear DEP is turned on by default in all current versions of Windows.

[noid449]

i think he meant turn off all except what he selected or only turn off what he selected ...

[residentgta]

I found a way for major FPS improvement for AMD users.It's called AMD Fusion Utility for Desktops

I have it on my rig and now my GTA IV works like a charm with the latest patch,but now i get grey people.Anyone have a solution for grey people?

[noid449]

 

but now i get grey people.Anyone have a solution for grey people?

isnt that old age you cant beat it , j/k there is a post about amd fusion somewhere, i dont use it, but you could try searching maybe the problem has been seen before . good luck

 

http://www.gtaforums.com/index.php?showtopic=433462 try there

 

[Lollercoaster]

Well I tried this tweak, and it gave me 1 more FPS in the benchmark.

 

Not worth the risk imo.

[Trevor_]

After beating my brains out trying to get my previous C2D6420 XP Pro 32 system to play GTA well, I pretty much gave up on that system, and moved to a Phenom 9600 system my friend had built for me last year. Moved over my Sapphire 4850 1GB, clean install of w7 64, prayed for better results. I got worse results. I tried some of the command line items but nothing really made much improvement. Frame rate with fraps was about 23-35 in game.

 

Of course, if I made the game lower res, took all the detail and draw distance to basically zero, set the graphics to low or off, then I'd get 30-40 in game. Something seemed wrong. I tried new catalysts... game booster, nothing would change it.

 

Then I saw this thread. I thought, yeah right... but then I saw that the OP's sys was similar to mine.

 

I turned off DEP No sh*t, I gained 15fps, its night and day. The game feels like I knew it should. I raised all the graphics settings, now am running 1920x1200 High/medium/high with detail turned on, no vsync and I am getting 30-40fps in game, and it is so much smoother... and no stuttering! Maybe its the 9600 that has probs with DEP? Anyway, thank you to the OP for the suggestion, you just saved my GTAIV experience.

[GhostStorm]

Xfire can also give you FPS details.....

 

What would some one with Vista do, you have only put XP and Win 7

[[email protected]]

Here is something that is mentioned before

 

it gave me 10 fps

 

Create a commandline.txt file where gta iv is installed

 

and paste this on it

 

-width 512

-height 384

 

It will make your game 600*348 or something according to your monitor

 

 

P.S - Decrease visual quality slightly

Wait, wont this just lower the resolution? correct me if I'm wrong.

 

800x600 looks terrible on my 21 inch monitor I can't imagine how bad 512x384 would look.

 

And in game I would just switch it back to 1920x1080 defeating the purpose of forcing a resolution... am I missing something here?

[WTFX]

Here is something that is mentioned before

 

it gave me 10 fps

 

Create a commandline.txt file where gta iv is installed

 

and paste this on it

 

-width 512

-height 384

 

It will make your game 600*348 or something according to your monitor

 

 

P.S - Decrease visual quality slightly

Wait, wont this just lower the resolution? correct me if I'm wrong.

 

800x600 looks terrible on my 21 inch monitor I can't imagine how bad 512x384 would look.

 

And in game I would just switch it back to 1920x1080 defeating the purpose of forcing a resolution... am I missing something here?

yea, it's called sarcasm.

[disposeablehero]

My performance fix?

 

I got me a Core i5 750 @ 2.66 GHZ, what a difference, can now max out the game and it still runs smooth, and looks great. Yup.

[gta_pk]

My performance fix?

 

I got me a Core i5 750 @ 2.66 GHZ, what a difference, can now max out the game and it still runs smooth, and looks great. Yup.

care to share the price and what video card you are using ?

 

I upgraded to C2D for GTA as a prime reason, cause CPU + motherboard for Core i5 750 @ 2.66 GHZ was

damn expensive.

[Murcchachosa]

Time to share my experience with using DEP.

"DEP for all programs except the one I choose."

 

Well, this "fix", my game used for 99% CPU, 70% system memory

and 87% for GPU.

 

The 99% goes the top for me.

And the FPS stays always the same.

 

Conclussion, a big waste of processes and memory are useless.

So the DEP have to be default.

 

[MaLDo]

Ok, I think all efforts must be point to real performance bugs the game has.

 

I have very great framerates, 150 fps inside niko house, 80-90 driving in streets at day. But in some points at some times, framerate divides by 2 and I can see 50 fps with nothing special in screen, and 10 meters near, 100 fps with similar graphic scenario.

 

With some test I can see the worst scenario is night time in zones with a lot of trees. Testing with graphic options, the most intensive option is shadows. Let's see

 

Critical point without moving the camera, night and a lot of trees:

 

1920x1200 All very high and no moving distance slides and dinamic shadows = 0 -> 50 fps

Same but lowering reflections -> 51 fps

Same but lowering shadow quality to low -> 52 fps

Same but lowering distance slides a lot -> 53 fps

Same but disabling shadows -> 98 fps

 

So, there is a big important performance bug with trees shadows while night.

 

Shadows are cpu calculated, so reducing resolution don't solve the performance hit. Somebody with a no-top gpu, can reduce resolution to increase framerate, but when shadows performance bug enters in scene, is very difficult fight against it. I have a 4,6 ghz i7-xeon, so I can't imagine a most powerful cpu today.

 

I think a mod that can reduce the shadow distance can increase the performance at great levels. The shadows are more power demanding at night (i think is the combination of 2 kind of shadows plus a lot of lights.

 

 

[Murcchachosa]

Those FPS are big and load of full pissholes.

150-150FPS???

Ow come on, thats unbelieveable.

Startup the game and FRAP, record, place them on Youtube.

We all people complaining about lagg and choppy and some

lack of braincells come to here and says

 

"ZMOG!!11one, i haz übermega spinazz fpz

i gut mai frs orgazm wit huge fpz n gtagme

 

 

People with Quadcore 2.4GHz and GTX200 series only got around 40-50FPS.