Why GTA IV runs so badly

This guide will give you insight on why the game runs so bad even with its low-tier recommendded specs.

The Basics

The video is GTA IV running on the recommended System spec a 7900gt-

As you can see the game runs terrible on the recommended specs so why is it so bad?
First lets go over some of the components that make a pc- to start there is the CPU, (Central Processing Unit) This does many math calculations usually Millions or Billions of times a second.
Then there is the Graphics Card (The 7900gt is the Graphics card) This renders (or draws) all the games objects- Liberty City, Niko Bellic, Lighting System, etc. Also many laptop users do not have a Graphics Card since a Web-browsing laptop doesn't need such power, If you don't have a Graphics Card, then the CPU does the math and the drawing.

Under the hood

First I need to discuss Draw Calls. Draw Calls is when the game (GTAIV.exe) calls for something to be rendered. The Draw Call is first sent to the CPU, think of the CPU as eyes, reading the calls for the computer. After this (if the computer has a Graphics Card) it will be sent to the Graphics Card to Render or Draw it.

The Problem

These Draw Calls actually overload the CPU even if you have one that costs $1000+. Especially since Grand Theft Auto IV is an open world game, It needs to make 1000s of Draw Calls (or even more) to get everything to display.

DirectX

Your probably wandering: "Couldn't they just call multiple items per Draw call in order to reduce the total draw calls? Unfortunately, NO. This is because the Graphics API (Application programming Interface) is DirectX 9 by Microsoft Doesn't Support this. This is also the reason GTA San Andreas is so badly optimizied to as it also runs on DirectX 9.

What YOU can do.

-Upgrade your PC or hardware
Of course getting a new PC (or new compenents) can help with GTA IV, but that is expensive so that is not the best option.

-Unlock your Graphics
Create a file in the GTAIV directory called, "Commandline" in notepad and you can unlock your game by typing that file: "-availabevidmem 2.0", "-norestrictions" and "-nomemstrict" Also put each on a separate lines and save the file as a .txt. Also make sure to not include the quotation marks.

-Download RealityIV by DKT70
RealityIV is a Graphics mod that will enhance the lighting of GTA IV by Magnitudes and Doesn't reqire any more performance. Click Here to Download[www.gta4-mods.com]

Conclusion

In the end, not much can be done as the game doesn't comply with almost any PC config well at all.

My Grand Theft Auto IV Recommended Specs:
•Processer: Intel Core i5 2500k @ 3.2Ghz or AMD FX-8350 @4.0Ghz
•Memory: 4GB Minimum, 8GB Recomended
•Graphics: Nvidia GTX 570 or AMD Radeon 6950
•DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c Compliant Card
•Hard Drive: 16GB of Hard Disc Space

Note that the parts on this list are capable of running the game at 1920x1080 (1080p) 40-50fps at Highest Settings. (This config was tested on patch 1.0.7.0)

Grand Theft Auto IV Recommended Specs (3840x2160):
•Processer: Intel Core i7 5960X @ 3.5Ghz
•Memory: 8GB of RAM
•Graphics: Nvidia GTX 980 or AMD R9 290X
•DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c Compliant Card
•Hard Drive: 16GB of Hard Disc Space

This config should be able to run GTAIV at 3840x2160 (4K) 40-70fps Maxed out. (This config was tested on patch 1.0.4.0)

(Shoutout To NTAuthority, GTAForums for assitance in the creation of this guide.)

[Pablithough]

the game doesnt run perfectly fine on PS3 nor XBOX 360 the game doesn't manage to get 30fps and lag in intense moments while not managing to load textures especially if you have an old xbox 360 or PS3 which are the only ones that exist as far as is know

[NotoriousPyro]

Considering this game runs perfectly fine on PS3, Xbox 360 and so on, and to this date runs incredibly poorly even on modern hardware, disproves the entire theory of the game running slow based on supposed limitations of DX9... the problem exists in how poorly the game was ported.

[TurboSnail446]

Also don't use Very High Shadows or view/detail distance over 50

[251515125]

@tzukasa
they were released at VERY different times and also gta 4 revolutionized the gaming industry bydoing things no other developer has done before

[Femboy Marcos Sr.]

Thanks for this amazing guide

[Tzukasa]

I love how ppl shitted on watchdogs for it's optimization, which after the patches is fairly identical to this games, but yet they give rockstar a pass for the Same thing.

[giberr]

Conclusion: The game has shitty optimization.

[Sang]

Apparently, my Xbox Live account worked for Windows Live as well, so it never really bothered me. Games for Windows Live was never a problem for me.

[grubite]

...or disable GWFL with the dll addon if you are willing to give up the multiplayer function.

[Gabbe]

If your game wont start, install Windows Games Live and sign in. That program was always installed on Windows 7, newer versions has removed it.