Anyone running this? Guy in work is having lag isues running it on a 2.6core2 with 9800GT. I've got the game but not installed it.

I've not played it but has he got the latest nvidia drivers? Possibly worth trying the beta drivers too and see if those help?

Hi Irf. He says he's using the latest driver, probably not the beta ones. Was wondering if anyone on here was having performacne issues with it. A quick google shows up people reporting performance issues. Think I might install it tonight and she how it goes.

tbh having played this and all the other games in the series on consoles i bet it'd very heavy on a PC and would push pretty much any system, you'll need a monster to run it on max and smooth. stick to consoles for this type of game as you'll buy the console for the same money as buying the video card alone needed to run it.

Yup... it is VERY heavy on a pc, although its mostly CPU bound.. powerful dual core and bags of ram are a minimum.

it runs smooth as silk on my C2Q, but uses all the CPU and memory

It is a monster game.. in order to run it in full detail you would need 1.5gb of video memory! :eek:

EDIT: yes... the latest 180 series vid drivers make a difference.. also take a read of this:

Here is an interesting README i found on R* website, looks like performance problems might be "intentional"

THE GRAPHIC SETTINGS OF GRAND THEFT AUTO IV PC

Most users using current PC hardware as of December 2008 are advised to use medium graphics settings. Higher settings are provided for future generations of PCs with higher specifications than are currently widely available.

Graphics settings are limited by system resources by default. 256MB video cards force minimum settings by default. If a user bypasses these safety measures using command line arguments and exceeds their system resources, the users gaming experience may be compromised.

Video Mode

Resolution scaling effects water, reflections, shadows, mirrors and the visible viewable distance. The resolution settings relate to the amount of available video memory. At 2560*1600 the game will require 320MB of video memory in addition to all the memory required for content. At 800*600 the game will require 32MB of video memory in addition to the content. Medium resolution settings are recommended for most users as higher settings are only usable if there is available video memory.

Texture Quality

Texture quality affects the visual quality of the content of the game. High setting for textures will require 600MB of video memory at a setting of 21 View Distance in addition to the memory taken by the Video Mode. A medium texture setting is recommended for most users.

Render Quality

Render quality is the texture filter quality used on most things in the world rendering. Most people would know this as anisotropic filtering. Medium settings are recommended for most users and will provide filtering beyond what the console versions can execute.

View Distance

View distance scales the distance in which different objects in the world such as building and cars are seen. Raising this option increases the distance in which high quality objects must be loaded and will increase the memory it requires. Restrictions are established to ensure the game runs optimally for most users. A setting of 22 or more will provide PC users an enhanced experience over the console versions.

Detail Distance

Detail distance scales aspects of the environment that the View Distance setting does not including vegetation, trash and other moveable objects. A setting of 10 would be the equivalent to the performance on a console. This setting has little effect on memory.

Vehicle Density

Vehicle density scales the traffic density of the traffic in the game. It has no effect on the mission vehicles or difficultly of the game, but can have a significant impact on CPU performance

Shadow Density

Shadow Density controls the number of shadows generated for positional lights in exterior environments. These shadows are exclusive to the PC version and can have a major impact on CPU and GPU performance.

Crossfire/SLI

With the latest ATI driver (8-11 series) the game supports crossfire modes (ie. 4870x2)

SLI is currently unsupported. Support will be added through a future game patch as well as an updated Nvidia driver.

NOTE: Background Processes

Certain background processes can have a detrimental effect on system performance when playing GTA IV, especially on systems with minimum required system memory. Users should ensure they disable their Virus scans when running the game to maximize performance.

Edited 29 December, 200817 yr by Neo_VR

Just tried it tonight on my htpc. e6320, ati 1950xt oc and at 1360x768 is runs pretty smoothly ok setting wasn't on high but was very playable. Guy at work is saying he can't get it to run smoothly at all. Probably got somthing eating his resoucres.

Off topic but what a pain in the *** it is choosing a gametag name.

I noticed it's a re-hash of the game mafia, well the maps are the same anyway, just modernised.

If it wont play smoothly then other than drivers, I would be looking at other installed software getting in the way. He could have a virus or spyware for example.

as it says in the readme CPU power is paramount.. so there are lots of FPS to be had by gettin rid of any crap in the background like MSN, on-access scanning, itunes etc.

I noticed it's a re-hash of the game mafia, well the maps are the same anyway, just modernised.

GTA3 was out a year before Mafia was

Mafia was a great game!.. very compelling and beliveable story... cant wait for mafia 2

as it says in the readme CPU power is paramount.. so there are lots of FPS to be had by gettin rid of any crap in the background like MSN, on-access scanning, itunes etc.

Thats the first thing I thought. Told him yesterday to turn off his AV. Will speak to him today to see how he got on. Probably point him in the direction of sysinternals processor explorer to find out whats he got running in the background.

I noticed it's a re-hash of the game mafia, well the maps are the same anyway, just modernised.

i think you've got that the wrong way round there, the GTA series has been going for about 10 years

i think you've got that the wrong way round there, the GTA series has been going for about 10 years

GTA1 with the escort cosworth

GTA1 with the escort cosworth

it was a Cossie*

*any similarities to production vehicles is purely coincedental

i always liked the porka turbo myself

:rofl:

Rofl!!!

awesome pic!!

Incedentely GTA1 and GTA2 are now free to download from HERE for anyone who fancies a bit of nostalgia...

PS, switching the frame-rate limiter off on GTA1 makes things "interesting" lol

Incedentely GTA1 and GTA2 are now free to download from HERE for anyone who fancies a bit of nostalgia...

PS, switching the frame-rate limiter off on GTA1 makes things "interesting" lol

Booo, no GTA London (not that it was as good as the original, I still liked it though)

Booo, no GTA London (not that it was as good as the original, I still liked it though)

Never did play GTA London. GTA3 on the PC use to do my head in. Great game but very unstable.

i think you've got that the wrong way round there, the GTA series has been going for about 10 years

Na, what I mean is the game Mafia, a Take Two/Illusion game had the same layout for the city as GTA4 has only it's today rather than 1930, game came out about 2002 and is wicked, well in advance of it's time tbh, here's a couple of sample pics, if you see a copy laying around I advise you to grab it.

Edited 1 January, 200917 yr by Supurbia

Na, what I mean is the game Mafia, a Take Two/Illusion game had the same layout for the city as GTA4 has only it's today rather than 1930,.

It makes sense as Take 2 are the parent company of rockstar, so it saves them money and time if there is already a layout.

I'm just loading it up, i'll do a couple of screenshots later so ppl can see the similarities, if anything it was a good map anyway, more challenging to negotiate than the previous ones, more urban and built up.

aren't they just copies of new york anyway?