Enabling Expanded Video Memory Usage In GTA IV

This guide will outline a simple fix for a common video random access memory (VRAM) bug and 60+ fps instability that affects the current build of GTA IV.

Symptoms:

The most clear indication that GTA IV is not taking full advantage of your system's available VRAM is that the game's graphics configuration menu will actively lock you out of setting adjustment.

Looking to the internet for solutions to this often yields fixes that fail to address the issue simply and without further complicating the game's computational environment.

Appending the game's command line to include individual graphical settings or to completely strip out VRAM usage limitations as so many other guides suggest often leads to more problems that muddy the waters of those simply trying to find a quick fix to this issue.

Diagnosis:

GTA IV's graphical configuration menu will present a low VRAM pool allowance. GTA IV will bar the user from making adjustments above a certain threshold.

GTA IV is failing to recognize proper VRAM availability and allocation thereof.

Solution:

In order to circumvent a failed VRAM query and allocation, the user must manually introduce a VRAM allocation value into GTA IV's command line.

This can be done without negatively impacting the core function or behavior of GTA IV's runtime environment, STEAM's core user settings, or the introduction of 3rd party executables.


TO MANUALLY ALLOCATE A LARGER VRAM POOL:

The user must navigate to GTA IV in their STEAM library.

The user must right-click on GTA IV and select "Properties".

The user will then locate the "General" tab.

The user will then locate the "LAUNCH OPTIONS" portion of the General tab.

The user will then ascertain the amount of VRAM available in their current system configuration.

The user will then take that calculation and enter a value no more than the MB equivalent value of their VRAM memory bus in the following commands:

"-managed -availablevidmem 3000"

Please note that the "availablevidmem" value ceiling may vary per system. However, keep in mind that GTA IV will report "Resource Usage" north of 1500 at 4K and max settings.

Additional Commands

Should the user encounter game instability, a quick and often overlooked solution can be to frame limit the game to 60 fps.

GTA IV's systems simply weren't built for a 60+ fps world. Any number of systems from animations, loading, and the speed of your vehicle within the game can be broken by frame pacing above 60 fps.

Simply append the following commands to your existing command line to address 60+ fps instability.

"-refreshrate 60 -framelimit 1"

Put together, a full command line would resemble the following.

"-managed -availablevidmem 3000 -refreshrate 60 -framelimit 1"

Conclusion:

What did this guide do?

- It identified a common VRAM allocation error in GTA IV, its symptoms, and a low-threat fix for the core issue.

How did this guide accomplish its purpose?

- It introduced the user to two simple and non-invasive command-line entries to manually set the value of a VRAM pool.

Was this guide helpful?

- Hopefully this guide provided an often overlooked solution to a common problem.

[SEBALIOUS]

@saint_1: I’m glad I was able to help!

[saint_1]

you're a Godsend. DXVK and fusion fix didnt do anything for me. it works perfectly fine now and i can play. God bless you bro ur the Goat.

[SEBALIOUS]

@tsum.mini213: "-managed" is required to force the usage of D3D runtime resources.

[tsum.mini213]

-avaliablevidmem didnt work, is -managed required? I havent seen anyone else ask so if it has been my bad

[SEBALIOUS]

@™® 目立たない ®™: I'm glad it helped.

[™®稲妻®™]

Thank you, this is very helpful and your masterpiece when it comes to the guide, cheers.

[SEBALIOUS]

@madman10mj, I'm glad this helped. Like I've said before, this guide is by no means comprehensive, but should introduce enough stability for most to be able to run the game without having to inject another program or download into the mix.

[♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥]

this is easier than having to use dxvk or dxwrapper

[madman10mj]

This fixed all my issues. I do get a frame drop here and there but not that bad compared with the other game breaking issues.

[SEBALIOUS]

@bigmoney420, The purpose of the "-framelimit" is to address several bugs and added instability related to the game running at over 60fps. While this is by no means a comprehensive list, these bugs include vehicle camera issues while using brakes, camera movement during normal gameplay, and framing issues during cut-scenes. While not typically game-breaking, these bugs often occur in tandem with CTD's around cut-scenes and failure to launch back to the game-world post cut-scene requiring a app restart.