Limit FPS

[luceberg]

I have GTA 4 running very well on my TV monitor, which supports 30Hz. but need to run it on a 60Hz minimum monitor. Does anyone know a way to limit fps to 30 on a 60Hz monitor?

 

I have tried the commandlines -refreshrate 30 -framelimit 1, but it does not work. I think that assumes the monitor will support 30Hz, which it does not.

[mkey82]

Supposedly this app http://rapidshare.com/files/160642187/FPS_Limiter_0.2.rar does what you're looking for.

[luceberg]

Ah yes! I have tried that. It is an obscure piece of software that is beyond my comprehension. When I click on the GUI interface, it opens the Nokia Ovi Suite!

[mkey82]

Unpack the archive somewhere then use this to start the game

 

 

FPS_Limiter.exe /r:D3D9 /f:30 "C:\Program Files\GTAIV\LaunchGTAIV.exe"

 

 

Change the game install dir. Paste it into a text file, save it in the folder where FPS_limiter.exe is, rename it to something like

 

 

run_gta_iv.cmd

 

 

Obviously, doubleclick the cmd file.

[luceberg]

Ok, I put this in notepad.

 

FPS_Limiter.exe /r:D3D9 /f:30 "H:\Program Files (x86)\Rockstar Games\Grand Theft Auto IV\LaunchGTAIV"

 

Then put it in where i unpacked fps limiter to and renamed it to run_gta_iv.cmd.

 

I click on it and it just opens notepad.

 

What did I miss?

[luceberg]

Ok, I figured it.

 

Save the file as run_gta_iv.bat.

 

 

[luceberg]

I can get the program to launch now, but unfortunately it has no effect in limiting fps.

[mkey82]

http://www.gtaforums.com/index.php?showtopic=451256

 

There may be some issue with it, try using this

 

 

start FPS_Limiter.exe /r:D3D9 /f:30 /x:OFF /l:OFF "H:\Program Files (x86)\Rockstar Games\Grand Theft Auto IV\LaunchGTAIV.exe

 

 

Basically, without the trailing double quote as the included applet generates batch files without it.

[luceberg]

Ok, so I tried this;

 

start E:\FPS\FPS_Limiter.exe /r:D3D9 /f:30 /x:OFF /l:OFF "I:\Program Files (x86)\Rockstar Games\EFLC\LaunchEFLC"

 

It launches the game, but there is still no effect in limiting fps.

[mkey82]

Use EXACTLY this

 

 

start E:\FPS\FPS_Limiter.exe /r:D3D9 /f:30 /x:OFF /l:OFF "I:\Program Files (x86)\Rockstar Games\Grand Theft Auto IV\LaunchGTAIV.exe

 

 

[luceberg]

I didn't get it working, but thanks very much, mkey, for all your input.

[mkey82]

Maybe it doesn't work on 64 bit OSes, try it on some other game.

[BKwegoharder]

You don't have to go through all of that trouble

 

Just put this in your commandline.txt

 

-refreshrate 30(this has nothing to do with your monitor. Don't worry it won't break it)

-framelimit 1

 

Make sure you have Vsync enabled when you do it. Use fraps to check if it is working.

[luceberg]

Yes, I have tried that. It does not work for me. The only way it works for me is on a 30Hz monitor ie a HDTV screen. I have set up another pc for my son, to play GTA4, but he doesn't have a 30Hz monitor only 60Hz, hence I am looking for another way of doing it.

[TSH]

Yes, I have tried that. It does not work for me. The only way it works for me is on a 30Hz monitor ie a HDTV screen. I have set up another pc for my son, to play GTA4, but he doesn't have a 30Hz monitor only 60Hz, hence I am looking for another way of doing it.

after turning the adding new commands in a commandline.txt and enabling vsync, restart the game, then it should work

[luceberg]

Yes, vsync is turned on, but no go.

[Cr!minal]

Just a note - when you change in-game graphic settings while using frame limiting commandlines (-refreshrate 30 and -frameLimit 1) it automatically dismisses those (unlocks cap) when you apply new settings. Just make sure you have VSync ON and you dont modify anything when game is running. Works flawlessly here - capped at 30 fps.

[_corTEC]

Luceberg - Go into your graphics control panel and choose default settings, enable any features which you really need... and use these commandline switches:-

 

-refreshrate 30

-framelimit 1

 

Enable V-Sync as everyone has said, and it works! Trust me!

 

But, surely if your monitor is running at 30Hz then v-sync should lock it down to 30Hz anyway...

 

That's what v-sync does....

[luceberg]

Yes, I have the correct commandlines, v-sync on, stock settings, but it does not work for me, not on my desktop monitor anyway, which is a 19" lcd. I have tried it many times.

 

As I said earlier, I can run on 30Hz @ 30fps on my own screen, so I know what it is like, but I need to make it work on my son's pc , which has a 60Hz monitor.

 

Thanks for the help.

[_corTEC]

Then I suggest you persevere with that LimitFPS program. My batch file reads:

 

start "C:\FPS\FPS_Limiter.exe /r:D3D9 /f:30 /x:OFF /l:OFF "I:\Program Files (x86)\Rockstar Games\Grand Theft Auto IV\LaunchGTAIV.exe

 

Place THIS batch file in the same folder as the FPS_Limiter exe. That is C:\FPS\(!)

 

Notice how the speech marks open, but don't close?

 

Like this - "I_am_talking_now.exe

 

I don't close the speech marks. After you have created this batch file within the program's folder, create a shortcut to it and place this on the desktop. You should be able to run the game from there.

 

I am now going to unpack FPS_Limiter for you, take my commandline switches off, and re-test the program for you.

[_corTEC]

That FPS_GUI needs Java runtime, I am installing it now. I re-flashed Windows a while ago, but I have had this program working.

 

I am just re-creating my steps for you.

[_corTEC]

LUCEBERG: Just spent last two hours trying to re-create my steps.

 

I got the program to control OpenGL apps, but not D3D9. I'm really f**ked off. I have seriously had this motherf**kin' thing working before like three weeks ago, then WindedTrash told me to just use these;

 

Enter:

-minspecaudio

-refreshrate 31

-framelimit 1

into my commandline.txt file, located at "C:\Program Files (x86)\Rockstar Games\Grand Theft Auto IV", and my game is steady at 32FPS.

 

I just reset graphic panel to default, just applying my settings now... e.g. Triple Buffering, Ambient Occlusion...

 

I run the game from a shortcut, which is placed on my Desktop. The -refreshrate coupled with -framelimit works every time.

The only time it fails is when in-game settings are changed. (As mkey82 has said. :->) Then just restart the app to get that framecap back.

 

One thing I can suggest to you is: try forcing something within your commandline.txt file. Like

 

-width 1024

-height 768

 

or

 

-novblank

 

Make sure that your in-game settings contradict the commandline.txt file and then you can see whether or not it is actually f**kin' working. 'Cause I think something's seriously wrong at your end.

 

Please reply, Luceberg, I want to help you finally sort this out...

Edited June 28, 2010 by _corTEC

[luceberg]

I think you are right that no commandlines are working for me.

 

I just tried -novblank and when I started the game, vsync was still on.

 

Thanks for your efforts corTEC.

 

Sorry it's late.

 

 

 

 

[mkey82]

The only time it fails is when in-game settings are changed. (As mkey82 has said. :->)

 

Just a note - when you change in-game graphic settings while using frame limiting commandlines (-refreshrate 30 and -frameLimit 1) it automatically dismisses those (unlocks cap) when you apply new settings. Just make sure you have VSync ON and you dont modify anything when game is running. Works flawlessly here - capped at 30 fps.

Twas Cr!minal who said it, not me.

 

And yes, sometimes the commandlines don't work, I had it few times myself. Deleting the config files wouldn't help, usually by the next time I reinstalled windows it would get sorted by itself.

[_corTEC]

mkey - Sorry 'bout that misquote.

 

I have never had any trouble chopping and changing commandlines, and I struggle to understand how they might work on one PC and then not make a difference on another's.

 

I'm not trying to educate people here - but here's two important points;

 

a.) Command line switches are operating at user-level, the game uses these very SAME commands at engine-level. It is impossible for command line switches to not have an impact on the engine. Which leads to -

 

b.) The file (commandline.txt) must be placed within the GTAIV main folder. This is commonly "C:\Program Files (x86)\Rockstar Games\GTAIV".

(Note that in Windows, 'commandline.txt.txt' is very different to commandline.txt. Programs that open with Notepad by default already have the file extension '*.txt')

 

I have installed GTAIV approximately 12 times on different OS, revoking my licence each time, and have never encountered a problem with commands.

[luceberg]

I have finally got this working.

 

I was saving the commandline text incorrectly, named commandline.txt under "all files", should be under "txt files". That makes all the difference.

 

Thankyou all, especially corTEC , for your perseverance.

 

 

Actually, I tried saving in "all files", and it still working.

 

I was calling the file "commandline.txt", whereas it should just "commandline".

 

Hence, as you say, I was saving the file as "commandline.txt.txt".

 

Windows is misleading on this. There is already *.txt in the box, so you assume you need to put .txt after the name. Also, the properties of the file do not show what it is called.

 

Thanks again.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 29, 2010 by luceberg

[_corTEC]

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!!!!

 

In 'Folder Options' you can choose whether or not to hide file extensions. :->

[mkey82]

 

and I struggle to understand how they might work on one PC and then not make a difference on another's.

No need to struggle, GTA IV is a broken piece of crap.

 

 

and have never encountered a problem with commands.

I have played this game on XP SP3, Vista SP1, SP2, Windows 7 about 5 various builds (beta, RC, RTM, few builds in between and of course the final version). From these installs, I had a few various issues, like the sound looping problem (had it once and never again, the same drivers and OS, fresh OS install, but GTAIV just didn't like something about it) and of course the ignored commandlines. The same commandline.txt file as always, the same GPU driver version, the same game version (in fact, the same game install). It just refused to follow the commands. Then some time later (after a new OS install) it started working OK again.

[_corTEC]

That's weird.

 

Thing is, I was pissed at this game before I joined this forum, but with the help of certain members I have found settings which work well for my computer. At agreeable quality settings my FPS is 28-32.

 

(I lock it at -refreshrate 31)

 

I am currently very happy with GTAIV's performance under patch 1.0.4.0.

 

Current Settings

1440 x 900 (60Hz)

Texture Quality - High

Reflection Resolution - Medium

Water Quality - High

Shadow Quality - High

Texture Filter Quality - Highest

View Distance - 50

Detail Distance - 80

Vehicle Density - 33

Shadow Density - 5

Definition - On

VSync - On

Resource 986/1766MB

 

ForceWare 257.21 - Win7 x64

[luceberg]

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!!!!

 

In 'Folder Options' you can choose whether or not to hide file extensions. :->

Actually, I am still not sure what is going on here with windows.

 

I can save the file as "commandline.txt" or "commandline", and windows properties calls it "commandline.txt" either way. Also saved as "txt" or "all" files and no different.

 

I have tried the commandlines in game and either way they now work.

 

Something I did threw a switch?

 

I'm mystified!