System for GTA IV

[gamor]

Hi everyone, I'm from a small town in Argentina, and want to build a system to play GTA IV, but need some help for the hardware. The PC I've choosen is: a GIGABYTE GA-A55M-S2V, an AMD A8-3850, 4GB RAM, and a half terabyte HD. It's this system capable of running GTA IV? Can't find info about shaders, direct3d, opengl, etc. on the net, so I need the help of the specialists.

Thanks in advance.

[anus]

You need a good, dedicated video card for IV. Onboard won't cut it.

 

You also need a good CPU, a quad core atleast.

 

What's your budget?

[unc13bud]

no, it isn't. there is a thread about that exact same processor i think:

http://www.gtaforums.com/index.php?showtopic=481830&hl=3850

like another poster, said. you have to add a good video card to enjoy this game with that system.

[gamor]

Thanks for replay guys.

Warlord. the A8-3850 IS a quad core processor.

I need to explain something, the system is for a cybercafe. In the small town I live GTA San Andreas was a big hit, everyone loves it, BUT, like I said, is a small town. Almost anyone has a computer, kids play games at cybercafes. What I want to say is that we don't have serious gamers here; just for you to know, any, and I want to emphazise ANYone has ended San Andreas, they loved the sandbox and played hours and hours without saving...

You are serious gamers and play on systems that we can't even imagine.

GTA IV will be played on a 17' CRT monitor (they will broke LCD, trust me...) at a resolution of 1024x768.

I want the game to look good a run smoothly of course, but not on a gigantic LCD, just a 17' CRT.

This integrated graphics will run the game on slow motion? Will the game crash because of lack of resources?

I've been dazzled by the advertising of GIGABYTE: "Most Powerfull Integrated Graphics Ever", is this correct?

I can afford a dedicated card, but the kids here end up playing Counter Strike 1.6, so I'll have a card just for a moment.

This system and GTA IV are strategies to force the closing of the other cybercafe on town.

Hope you understand what I want do, so you can help me build the necessary system to accomplish that goal.

[unc13bud]

i wouldn't say that i am a hardcore gamer, i go weeks sometime without playing any game. but i am hardcore about playing GTA, and other sandbox games, like Need for Speed Most Wanted. and i am hardcore about installing them on different systems to test their performance on each.

 

ok, i understand, but the GPU in the a8-3850 has only 400 stream processors, and it is ATI's version of counting, not nvidia's (which is also rockstar toronto's standard).

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cpus/2011...-3850-review/10

 

The two series are differentiated by both their CPU clock speeds and their on-board GPUs; the pair of A8 processors sport a Radeon HD 6550D GPU with 400 stream processors, while the A6-series chips have a Radeon HD 6530D GPU with 320 stream processors.

i like your last post... you gave us exactly the types of specs most users leave out in these forums, when seeking assistance.

 

just a 17' CRT.

you might be able to run it at 800x600, especially if you overclock.

but first, why not test TBOGT? rockstar toronto did something different to the engine, it runs much different than GTA IV, sometimes to its benefit. and the protagonists are hispanic with plenty of spanglish thrown in all of their conversations. the missions are less, but i find the drug wars the most fun anyway, similar to the gang wars from San Andreas (trying to find the most efficient avenue of attack and the sheer randomness of the enemies). i have been finding greater compatibility with AMD chipsets of late (x4 925 and 64 x2 3800+/4000+).

please post your results whatever you decide, and good luck.

btw, do you know anything about buenos aires? i am thinking about trying to visit there before the illuminati outlaws world traveling, snd it seems like one of the more safer locations...

 

edit: oh yes, i meant to link this earlier in my response:

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2011/07/0...ory-for-llano/1

 

and another benefit of TBOGT/LOST is that all three cities are unlocked from the beginning, so there is more exploration possible...

 

edit again: this is the thread that i have been wanting to link

http://www.gtaforums.com/index.php?showtopic=498617

he doesn't post the resolution of his monitor 9or more importantly his graphic settings - whether he has shadows turned to low/off), but...

Edited January 28, 2012 by unc13bud

[gamor]

I'm a bit confused now. First of all, thanks for the insights unc13bud.

All the "Most Powerfull Integrated Graphics Ever" were an advertising strategy from GIGABYTE? Were I'm about to buy the hardware tell me that it will run GTA IV without problems! (of course they want to sell), but the conclusions in the links you gave me says the opposite (I mean, not suitable for hard demanding games like IV). 400 stream processors are not enough? GTA IV is a late 2008 game, this IGP is much newer...

Never overclock, but I'm not affraid to try, but only for 800x600? I was hoping more without overclocking...

If this IGP will crash or run on slow motion the game, what you suggest? Don't want a dedicated card, like I said before, kids end up playing CS1.6, I need a powerful mother with integrated graphics and if I don't get you wrong, a better processor (although I thought it'll be far enough with that one).

Thanks for the TBOGT recommendation, but wanto to install GTA IV too, I mean, first IV then the expansions, otherwise I'll never install IV because of lack of resources.

My damn english man... I was reading my second post and realize that make a mistake explaining my plan. What I wanted to say when I said: "ANYone has ended San Andreas", is NOBODY get to finale, also, almost NOBODY has a PC... hope is clearer now, that way you'll get an idea of how hardcore are gamers here.

About the safety in Buenos Aires, were I live is safe (Santiago del Estero), not Bs. As. Anyway I'm not the right person to tell that, you need to find a more sofisticated one, one who has traveled a lot.

Hope you can help me my friend.

[unc13bud]

 

All the "Most Powerfull Integrated Graphics Ever" were an advertising strategy from GIGABYTE?

 

YES, of course. but it is perhaps the most powerful integrated graphics ever. Intel HD graphics are not as good, also nor the AMD or nvidia motherboard integrated video chipsets.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4448/amd-lla...mance-preview/3

 

Overall the Radeon HD 6550D in AMD's A8-3850 APU performs a lot like a discrete Radeon HD 6450 card.

However, that is still not enough to run GTA IV and make it look good (imo). even if you could get it to run at 30 fps (not sure), i THINK you would have to turn shadows down or turn them off completely. the shadows are what make GTA IV look realistic.

i have an hd 4850 with 800 stream processors (which is twice the a8-3850's number) and i remember playing GTA IV [email protected], but just barely-it never played EFLC TBOGT to my satisfaction so i swapped it with an 8800gt. then again, that was a dual core x2 6000+ windsor as a CPU... so don't just take my word for it.

search google for systems with an athlon x4 640 (edit: the CPU seems to be similar in performance to) and hd 6450 playing GTA IV. better yet

http://www.gtaforums.com/index.php?act=Sea...s&highlite=6450

man, i am getting tempted to build this machine just so i can test it myself! must calm down...

Edited January 30, 2012 by unc13bud

[Slamman]

You can run ONBOARD if you have a spendy Asus computer like the Asus G73S, has 1.5GDDR5 video Ram, kids, get yourself one of those laptops for $800 on eBay!

 

For one computer to run for all patrons, you're still asking for some mega demands, since one person can forgive what another cannot! hahaha

Edited January 30, 2012 by Slamman

[luceberg]

According to this review, the AMD A8 will work on medium settings with GTA 4,

 

http://www.notebookcheck.net/AMD-A8-3850-T...ew.57650.0.html

 

From above review:

 

"Since the processor and the integrated graphics card have to make do without level 3 cache, the performance is very dependent on the used memory modules. With faster 8 GB DDR3-1600 memory modules we were able to measure a significant performance improvement of 13% during the graphics and gaming tests. We therefore definitely recommend the use of more expensive DDR3-1600 memory instead of the usual DDR3-1333 memory."

 

DDR3-1600 Ram may be worthwhile.

Edited January 30, 2012 by luceberg

[gamor]

I'm reposting this evening guys, thanks for replay (I'll try to build another then let it to you).

[gamor]

Hey guys, there was a terrible blackout last night, so can't search the net to find a new system neither post here. I'm running out of time, I'll need a little of help from you people. Suggest me a system capable of running GTA IV in a VERY decent way (take into account that MUST be integrated graphics, for running the game at 1024x768).

Thanks in advance...

[luceberg]

If you insist on integrated graphics, the AMD A8 is the only possible choice. Intel integrated graphics is less powerful.

 

Here is an article on AMD A8 with GTA 4 test( scroll down):

 

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/sear...n&ct=clnk&gl=uk

 

So, looking at that, it will not run all that well. You need a proper graphics card to make it happen.

 

 

 

Edited January 31, 2012 by luceberg

[Slamman]

Ivy Bridge MAY run GTA IV, but it's still a wait to get to that point, since the GPU internal improvement has been a long time coming, just this year. AMD has their ARM processors, IIRC, not sure if that's been translated to more then portable devices, but they've been also trying to step up internal graphics demands, having ownership of ATI as part of AMD means they can marry graphics better, one would summize

[gamor]

I'm done with integrated graphics! let's do it your way.

ATI Radeon HD 5450: will be capable of run it? which processor and motherboard suggest me?

[unc13bud]

 

ATI Radeon HD 5450: will be capable of run it? which processor and motherboard suggest me?

 

that's no better than the integrated GPU of the a8-3850 (6550D)

if you might wait two weeks, i ordered an a8-3870k and some corsair xms3 memory last night, and probably will order a biostar TA75 variation motherboard tonight (doing research still).

if it is possible to get either GTA IV/ or EFLC to run at 30fps @1024x768, i'm hoping to be able to do it.

[gamor]

Thanks for reply unc13bud, Wikipedia says: MINIMUM = NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GS 256 MB or ATi Radeon X1900 256 MB; RECOMENDED = NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GS 512 MB or ATi Radeon HD 3870 512 MB; is it correct?

The ATI Radeon HD 5450 will be dedicated instead of integrated, it's not enough?

[yoječ]

Nah. IMHO If you want to run it decently, don't go below HD5770/HD6770.

[gamor]

Listen yojo2, I'll go with the HD 5750. This is my old system: ASUS M2N-VM HDMI (GeForce 7050 integrated), AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 4200+, 1GB DRR2, can I add it the HD 5750? will GTA IV run OK?

I have 6 PCs with that old configuration, and like to build 6 more but with other specs.

Need your approbation people.

[luceberg]

Your old system will not run GTA4, as the cpu is below minimum spec for the game and not enough ram. You could replace the cpu with an AMD quad core and add extra ram, then a HD5770 would work. You may need to upgrade the psu also.

 

As for a new system, it depends what you have to spend. Either Intel i3/i5/i7 or AMD quad core system.

 

Yojo2 or Warlord are good on specifics.

[creative2]

Hi, guys or the PC launch gta iv?

 

intel duo 2x2.89ghz

2 gb ram

nvidia geforce9400 gt 1gb

 

'm Going to buy this PC.

 

Sorry for bad english

[yoječ]

GTA4 will run, albeit very poorly. I don't see a point in buying this PC unless it's dirt cheap.

 

@gamor: GPU upgrade alone will make a collosal difference, though 1GB of RAM won't cut it, I suggest buying an extra 2GB stick. CPU upgrade wouldn't hurt either. You'd have to replace the motherboard too though... If you plan to replace the CPu in near future don't buy more RAM since you won't be able to use it with new motherboard (newer mobos use DDR3, as opposed to DDR2).

[creative2]

Yes it is very cheap,only 144$

 

But then GTA IV will go only to the minimum?

 

Ahh,thats bad

[yoječ]

I wouldn't expect anything more than minimum.

[creative2]

What would be the fault of the processor or video card?

 

I want to take this pc, but I do not know whether it's worth it.

[yoječ]

Both, though GPU sucks a bit more than the CPU.

[gamor]

Thanks yojo2;

CPU: AMD A8-3850

video card: HD 5750

RAM: 4GB

Motherboard: which one? help me with this, I need a good one but not so expensive.

[creative2]

Ok tnx

 

But how about this?

 

Motherboard : Asrock H67M or Asrock H61M-HVS

Proccesor : Intel Core i5-2400 (3.10 GHz, 6MB Cache, LGA1155)

RAM : Kingston 4GB, DDR3, 1333MHz, CL9, Single Stick

Videocard : Gainward GeForce GTS450, 1GB, GDDR3

+ HDD 500gb

 

Will this pc runs gta iv?

[yoječ]

@creative2: this one is much better, though GTS450 GDDR3 is not worth buying (only GDDR5 models are). This rig is pretty unbalanced anyway, you'd be better off with cheaper CPU (like Phenom 960T for example) and faster graphics card, like HD6850/HD6870.

 

@gamor: I'd go for ASRock A75 PRO4-M.

Also, you can buy Athlon II X4 631 instead of A8-3850. They're almost the same CPUs, with the most significant difference being lack of IGP on Athlon (which is not a big deal since you won't use it anyway). You'll save some money which will allow you to purchase better graphics card, like HD5770/HD6770 or even HD6790.

[unc13bud]

i kind of agree with most of what's been said, except that i have a machine that runs TBOGT almost as good as my q6600 + GTX 285 system and its only an athlon 64 x2 3800+ with a PCI-E plug powered 512MB 8800gt.

Texture Quality: Low

Shadow Quality: Off

Reflection Resolution: Off

Water Quality: Low

Texture Filter Quality: Tri-Linear

Night Shadows: Off

View Distance: 6

Detail Distance: 5

Operating system is Winodows XP SP 3 with 2 GBs of PC 3200 (DDR) ram. Enabling shadows (Low) always drops two or three frames off the benchmarks. Playing TBOGT on this machine at 1024x768

edit:

@gamor: I'd go for ASRock A75 PRO4-M

this is what I have ordered from Newegg:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDet...st=Combo.815417

i just bought it Thursday and Newegg dropped the price $5!

and this

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16820145324

the biostar bios has three AUTOMATIC overclocking modes: v-6, v-8, v-12. on my biostar ta780g M2+ ver [email protected] setting, the Phenom x4 925 (stock speed = 2.8 Ghz) runs at 3.21 Ghz, verified by CPU-Z upon EFLC game start. the v-12 setting got to 3.36 Ghz but would crash in game soon as I drove the Cavalcade out on the bridge to Bohan, so we know what's up.

Edited February 4, 2012 by unc13bud

[luceberg]

@gamor: I'd go for ASRock A75 PRO4-M.

Also, you can buy Athlon II X4 631 instead of A8-3850. They're almost the same CPUs, with the most significant difference being lack of IGP on Athlon (which is not a big deal since you won't use it anyway). You'll save some money which will allow you to purchase better graphics card, like HD5770/HD6770 or even HD6790.

That makes good sense to me.