Changing MSAA option crashes the game!

[JohnnyGui]

Hello,

For some reason, when I choose the 4x MSAA option in the graphics settings and click on Apply (or pressing the spacebar) GTA V freezes for a bit and then crashes to the desktop. A prompt from Social Club then shows that GTA exited unexpectedly.
I have tried the following:

- Disabling any FPS counter overlays
- Deleting the settings.cfg file
- Verifying integrity of game files
- Using safe mode and enable 4x MSAA from there

Specs:
Gigabyte 1070 Windforce OC with latest nVidia drivers
i5-8600K
16GB RAM
Windows 10 Pro 64x

How can I enable 4x MSAA without it actually crashing the damn game?

EDIT: Apparently it crashes the game even when choosing and applying ANY MSAA option.

[D4YM4N]

is that the nvidia 'optimized setting'?

[JohnnyGui]

Originally posted by MoarOrLes:

is that the nvidia 'optimized setting'?

No just the in-game MSAA

[JohnnyGui]

No one who has this problem?

[psykoteky]

Is it "only" 4x msaa causing the problem or any other changes to graphic settings causing issues? Sometimes deleting settings.xml isn't enough. Sometimes background programs can cause problems (geforce exp, cam, fraps, msi, razer, rtss, the list goes on...) - overlays or not. Even the pagefile not set as system managed can screw around with graphic settings -.-

For sorting this out - I'd open msconfig, services tab, hide MS services - disable EVERYTHING else. Then to the startup tab in msconfig, disable EVERYTHING, apply and restart.
Then test gtav again.

Sometimes permissions for the settings file can also cause problems. I'd rename my documents / rockstar games to rockstar games-old and then try running steam as admin, and seeing if that helps. I'd be curious to also see the contents of my docs / rockstar games / gtav / launcher.log - as well as the crash report from eventvwr.

And, gpu driver / directx files can also cause issues. I'd look into uninstalling/clean reinstalling them - possibly (preferably) even using DDU in windows safemode uninstall the gpu drivers. Do not use the garbage windows automatically installs. I also would NOT install geforce experience while you test.

As for directx----
Remove all the dx files. Use a janky .bat file I wrote from this link --- it will move the files to backup folders for you - make sure to exit steam, rightclick the .bat and run as admin.
(yes, you can rightclick/edit the .bat - to look and see what it does -.-)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rJvafaYjKDOZia5IBMeeIOU5sVZPfzKW/view

After you've moved them with my .bat - install directx again from the websetup - making sure to rightclick/run as admin. (from steam/steamapps/common/gtav/_commonredist/directx/2010)
(preferably - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35 )
I'd suggest a pc restart - but some users report it working immediately after.

On a rare occasion people have also reported malware/adware being a cause - never personally seen it (cause problems with saving settings.. that is) - I chalk those instances up to trying too many fixes and only remembering the last thing done. Either way - adwcleaner from toolslib has done a good job in the past.

Some users have also had issues with incorrect monitor/hz settings/etc.
And, of course you could try opening settings.xml - and editing it there to turn 4x msaa on.

And of course all the other usual fixes - section 3 in the link -.- (already gave you in private)
http://steamcommunity.com/app/271590/discussions/0/451848854986690187/#c451848854986692215

[UK_l0nd0nerupnorth]

Originally posted by JohnnyGui:

No one who has this problem?

I also have this problem, not found a soloution yet

[UK_l0nd0nerupnorth]

Okay. I now found the soloution, with the game closed go into documents/rockstar/GTA then open the "settings.xml" file, look for MSAA and change the value to 4. Then load the game and it'll be set to 4x MSAA

[Rem4rk4ble]

why are you usingf 4x msaa? whats your res? I hope you know MSAA is extremely detrtimental to your fps

[Caped Crusader]

Originally posted by Goose Kaboose:

why are you usingf 4x msaa? whats your res? I hope you know MSAA is extremely detrtimental to your fps

This. I use a GTX 1080 OC and leave MSAA turned off. In my tests having that enabled at 2X cut my fps in half and made only a very small visual improvement. Better to crank up the other settings.

[Rem4rk4ble]

Originally posted by Caped Crusader:

Originally posted by Goose Kaboose:

why are you usingf 4x msaa? whats your res? I hope you know MSAA is extremely detrtimental to your fps

This. I use a GTX 1080 and leave MSAA turned off. In my tests having that enabled at 2X cut my fps in half and made only a very small visual improvement. Better to crank up the other settings.

If you go to my profile and checks my specs you will see my PC is what some would call a nasa PC yet i still have to keep MSAA off to keep my fps at 60 while at 4k and maxed out otherwise.

[ZombieHunter]

Be very careful with advanced shadow settings and AA settings in this game. It is very touchy when it comes to those features. I set them long long ago and got them working and let them be. I still get weird odd color flashes when looking at the ferris wheel or water or bright areas but it is tolerable.

[Michael]

AA is not your friend when playing online games, it can sscrew with yoour fps and ping.

[ZombieHunter]

Originally posted by Michael:

AA is not your friend when playing online games, it can sscrew with yoour fps and ping.

The two should be decoupled. Online ping has nothing to do with how fast your local GPU can render the scene. Lockstep P2P went out in the late 1980s. It isn't used anymore.

[JimNightshade]

Everyone on earth know msaa will slow your frame rate down, it requires a lot of VRAM but it shouldn't be crashing the program ... that is strange and never heard of it before .. are you simply overtaxing your system?

[psykoteky]

Crashing while changing graphic settings is commonly a conflict with optimizing programs, permissions, etc for the settings.xml file. As well as other assorted causes - already listed above.
(and probably more that I'm forgetting atm -.-)

[JimNightshade]

Originally posted by psykoteky:

Crashing while changing graphic settings is commonly a conflict with optimizing programs, permissions, etc for the settings.xml file. As well as other assorted causes - already listed above.
(and probably more that I'm forgetting atm -.-)

That makes sense