GTA IV Performance sucks LOW FPS

[eldan]

I remember hearing about GTA IV performance issues when the game was released, but I figured it wouldn't be an issue because my COMPUTER is pretty good . Well I was wrong, the performance sucks.

Specs:
I7 930
HD 5850 1GB
6GB RAM

Is it just my PC, or does performance just plain blow for this game? I'm on HIGH settings and the FPS is around ~35fps When I am driving a car or just running. Any fixes?

 

[God Mode]

Try disabling the shadows.

 

[bamacre]

I'm running the game on a Q6600 (stock), 6GB, and a 1.8GB GTX 260, and playing with these spec's...

The View Distance and Detail Distance may look low, but they're both high compared to what the console version can do. You may have to knock them down a little bit as I have more VRAM than you do. Also, turn off the "Clip Capture," it'll give another small boost in performance.

Generally, yes, the performance of this game is not good, but on your system, it should be very playable.

 

[LumbergTech]

Try disabling the shadows.

definetly disable shadows....instant 15-20 fps gain

 

[simonizor]

You have to remember how horribly it ran on consoles. If it runs even half decent on your PC, it's an improvement over how it ran on consoles.

 

[zerocool84]

You REALLY need to tweak the game. It tells you how much RAM stuff will take up. You need to get it under 1GB of RAM when it's in the green.

 

[WaitingForNehalem]

It runs really smooth with these settings. Make sure you are using the latest patch.

 

[minmaster]

hmm i ran it at 1680x1050, med texture (the game wouldn't let me use high), everything else high except shadows medium, no night shadow, distance/density at 70, 60, 50 on my 8800GT and Q6600 @ 3.0 and i actually got like 30 fps...

i guess this game really doesn't utilize the newer GPUs and relies on CPUs?

btw, definition OFF makes the game look horrendous, it's not worth it. just turn down shadows, turn off night shadows and turn off vsync.

 

[WaitingForNehalem]

hmm i ran it at 1680x1050, med texture (the game wouldn't let me use high), everything else high except shadows medium, no night shadow, distance/density at 70, 60, 50 on my 8800GT and Q6600 @ 3.0 and i actually got like 30 fps...

i guess this game really doesn't utilize the newer GPUs and relies on CPUs?

btw, definition OFF makes the game look horrendous, it's not worth it. just turn down shadows, turn off night shadows and turn off vsync.

I didn't mean to have it turned off, I turned it back on. The game runs really smooth except when there a lot of lights which causes the framerate to drop a little.

 

[Cheesetogo]

If you're on the newest patch (1.0.4 maybe?) set shadows to medium. Setting them to high causes the game to perform terribly for some reason. With shadows on medium, I can max out all the other settings (except for view distance due to lack of video memory) with a GTX 280 at 2560x1600. I probably play at about 30-40 fps.

 

[AndroidVageta]

Id say to make sure you are on the latest patch. If its just a fresh install it will run terribly...like, it was the worst port ever. Now with something like 4-5 patches out it runs MUCH more smoother!

 

[theprodigalrebel]

Actually, it was Patch #5 that totally messed up things for me. It's still acceptable for me with Patch $7 installed but I remember things being much smoother up until 1.0.4.0.

Don't really have the patience to uninstall everything, test things with only Patch #4 installed. Haven't felt like replaying it in a long time.

I have a similar config to OP. i5 750 (modest OC to 3 GHz), 4GB RAM and a stock 5850. I run the game at 1920x1080, View/Detail/Vehicle Density 50/50/50, everything set to Very High except shadows are at High.

 

[bamacre]

http://a.imageshack.us/img294/8250/gta4settings.jpg

It runs really smooth with these settings. Make sure you are using the latest patch.

Why do you have more options than I do?

 

[theprodigalrebel]

I believe the additional options (mainly two new Shadow options instead of the 16-point slider) appeared with the 1.0.5.0 update. I'd recommend not patching the game unless something is broken.

 

[Firsttime]

So I have the steam version and my performance is god awful. I set things low at 1280x720 and it still chugs. I have an X2 @2.9 and a GTX460. I wasn't expecting to run things high, but I was at least expecting the game to be playable. Does the steam version patch automatically? Or do you need to manually do it?

 

[zerocool84]

So I have the steam version and my performance is god awful. I set things low at 1280x720 and it still chugs. I have an X2 @2.9 and a GTX460. I wasn't expecting to run things high, but I was at least expecting the game to be playable. Does the steam version patch automatically? Or do you need to manually do it?

This game NEEDS a quad to run the best and you also need to set the video settings to well under 1GB of RAM until the numbers are in the green.

 

[minmaster]

hmm does steam not automatically patch to latest version? i don't see some of those options in my steam version either.

 

[StinkyPinky]

I really can't understand how this game is so highly lauded.

I've put 40 hours into it, and while it is mostly fun it is hardly groundbreaking or worthy of a perfect 10 that some reviews have given it.

The last mission is a massive pain in the ass. You can't even freaking save the game.

 

[Elganja]

hmm does steam not automatically patch to latest version? i don't see some of those options in my steam version either.

No it does not... i just updated to the latest version and now I can turn everything up ... everything is on very high (except textures where "high" is highest setting), 16xAF, 50/50/50 (distance, detail, car density), 2560x1600... etc...

Before the latest patch, there was no way I could do that!

 

[Firsttime]

which patches did you use?

 

[Elganja]

Link to the English version: 1.0.7.0

 

[zerodeefex]

I like how OP came and never posted back. I am guessing he had the view and draw distances cracked out.

 

[richierich1212]

thanks for the headsup on the patch. With my 1055T @ 3.5GHz (so darn hot right now) and shadows off I'm avg. 70-100fps now.

 

[Firsttime]

Yeah, this is just frustrating I guess. My roommate can play it at 30fps pretty steady @1920x1080 with most of his details high and view distance in the 50's with a 3.1 tri core and a 4850. I'm stuck in single digit FPS with a 2.9 dual core and a GTX460 @1280x720 with all the details at low and a view distance in the 10 range. I'm guessing there is something wrong there, but I don't know what it is.

 

[minmaster]

i'm still shocked that steam doesn't auto-update this game