[PC Help] Grand Theft Auto IV looks like this...

[flash113]

(This is on the recommended settings by GTAIV)
-------------------------------------------------------------
System requirement labs says i'm in the middle

My System as follows

CPU:Intel Pentium D 850 Smithfield 3.0 GHz (Duel Core)
GPU:ATi Radeon HD 3650
RAM:2GB
OS:Windows XP Service Pack 3
-------------------------------------------------------------
Please give me some guidance.

 

[JDV28]

Gfx card definitely needs to be upgraded.

 

[flash113]

Link

this is my card

 

[JDV28]

Yea, I looked it up, it's not that bad of a card, but to play GTA IV you're going to need to upgrade it. Unfortunately it is late here so I cant help you until the morning, i hope i helped.

 

[Confused Stu]

Where most games are GPU-limited as long as your CPU is OK, GTA4 is the opposite - it's CPU-limited provided your GPU is OK.

I'm afraid you're looking at a complete upgrade to be able to run GTA4 reasonably. You will need to upgrade your GPU to at least a 9800GT or 4830, but then you will also need to upgrade to a quad core, preferably one running a decent clock speed. If your motherboard won't support a quad, then you're looking at upgrading your motherboard, CPU and GPU - just to play one game!

As well as personal experience on this game (Q6600 & 4870), I'm basing my statements on this test:
http://www.pcgameshardware.com/aid,669595/GTA-4-PC-CPU-benchmark-review-with-13-processors/Reviews/

Also, when I ran GTA4 with 4GB of RAM, it would use it all and there would be a delay when I quit when the PC re-loaded my desktop. Since changing to 8GB, this doesn't happen. This could mean your PC will struggle with 2GB even with a new CPU & GPU! This is turning into an expensive upgrade for one game.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I didn't want you buying a new expensive GPU and then wondering why the game still won't run with a playable FPS.

 

[JDV28]

Wow, i didnt realize that the game took that much power to run.

 

[Confused Stu]

Wow, i didnt realize that the game took that much power to run.

And more!! :lol:

I'm running it currently with a Q9400 @ 3.6GHz, 8GB DDR2 and 2x 1GB 4870's in Crossfire and it still drops to 20-ish FPS at night when the action heats up! This is the only game that makes me look longingly at an i7!!

 

[JDV28]

Thats so weird... I would never have thought that it would take that much. ....I wonder if i could run it....

 

[Confused Stu]

Thats so weird... I would never have thought that it would take that much. ....I wonder if i could run it....

With the beast listed in your signature?!?! Think you'll be fine mate!
http://www.pcgameshardware.com/&menu=browser&image_id=959256&article_id=672218&page=1&show=original

 

[JDV28]

Hehe thanks, I've put all my money into it hehe, but idk what to upgrade next.

 

[flash113]

I turned off all my apps and put on gameboost and it runs fine i just turned shadows off and it dosn't chug as much. Only think lagging is view distance which is why we all long at a i7 i dont have 550 to spend on it

 

[flash113]

Well i just bench marked it.

Statistics
Average FPS: 20.15
Duration: 37.87 sec
CPU Usage: 100%
System memory usage: 80%
Video memory usage: 26%

Graphics Settings
Video Mode: 1024 x 768 (60 Hz)
Texture Quality: Low
Texture Filter Quality: Very High
View Distance: 100
Detail Distance: 50

Hardware
Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Service Pack 3
Video Adapter: ATI Radeon HD 3650 AGP
Video Driver version: 6.14.10.6973
Audio Adapter: Realtek AC97 Audio
Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU 3.00GHz

File ID: Benchmark.cli

 

[kislen]

GTA IV is a very demanding game. I had to turn quite a few things down to get it to run decently on my i7 920/ GTX 260.

And I always have to manually crank my fan speed up to like 60%-80%, because it makes it run HOT!

 

[kislen]

Flash, you really need to upgrade your PC. That game is going to murder that old pentium.

Or at least crank the view/detail distance down significantly. I only run those on like 25/25 on my set up, and I don't have either texture settings on more than high, either. Drop everything to low if you want to have any fun ;p

 

[jaguarskx]

GTA IV is a very demanding game. I had to turn quite a few things down to get it to run decently on my i7 920/ GTX 260.

GTA IV is a poor port of a console game.

 

[kyzar]

GTA IV has to be one of the most dissapointing games in history - all the good parts of San Andreas are missed out and the port is terrible to the PC.

My Phenom II 955 / 4GB RAM / GTX285 on XP-Pro plays it okayish at 1920x1200 but to be honest it's only on par with my PS3 version for graphics quality and it does bog down sometimes. Add on all the Windows Live bollocks you have to go through to even get to single player and it's a terrible shame. I've nearly finished IV on the PS3, about 10% through on the PC but I replay San Andreas when I need a GTA fix these days - so much better - more variety, huge recognisable voice cast, great story line and better music ;o)

Kyz

 

[isamuelson]

GTA IV has to be the worst optimized game in history on the PC. I have other games that look just as good if not better than it does and they run just fine on the rig I have and my PC is NOT top of the line. It's pretty much near the bottom compared to some of today's systems.

 

[flash113]

Alright i'm upgrading this pc. This is what im getting

Motherboard: ASUS P5Q SE PLUS LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q8300 Yorkfield 2.5GHz LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor - Retail

Graphics Card: PNY GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Suppored Video Card - Retail

Thermal Paste: Artic Sliver 5 Thermal Compound OEM - Retail

CPU Cooler: Rosewill RCX-Z2 7 Blades 80mm reverse ball bearing CPU cooler - Retail

RAM: OCZ Gold Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Duel Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

Computer Case: Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Subtotal: $603.94

 

[Dirtman73]

Alright i'm upgrading this pc. This is what im getting

Motherboard: ASUS P5Q SE PLUS LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q8300 Yorkfield 2.5GHz LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor - Retail

Graphics Card: PNY GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Suppored Video Card - Retail

Thermal Paste: Artic Sliver 5 Thermal Compound OEM - Retail

CPU Cooler: Rosewill RCX-Z2 7 Blades 80mm reverse ball bearing CPU cooler - Retail

RAM: OCZ Gold Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Duel Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

Computer Case: Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Subtotal: $603.94

Nice setup, but I'll bet straight cash you're still gonna have problems with GTAIV. The game is just badly implemented for anything but the most tricked-out, top of the line PCs.

 

[isamuelson]

I've posted this elsewhere, but go to the following website (set up by Futuremark who publishes the 3dMark benchmarking programs) and you can have the site test your rig (CPU, GPU, etc) to see if it meets the min, suggested and optimal specs to run the game. It's pretty spot on from what I've seen.

http://www.yougamers.com/

 

[flash113]

Instead of upgrading to that i'm changing its cheaper and from what ive researched should help.

~~~~ Computer Specifications ~~~~
AMD Phenom II X4 965 Deneb

Sapphire Radeon HD 5770 (Juniper)

OCZ Gold Edition 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin 1066 Duel Channel DDR3

APEX TX-381-C Black Steel Micro ATX Tower Computer Case

ASUS M4N68T-M AM3 nForce 630a Micro ATX AMD Motherboard

COOLER MASTER RR-H101-22FK-RA 80MM Long Life Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler

APEVIA CF12SL-4C 120mm Multi-Color LED Case Fan

Rocketfish 550w Power Supply