Playing gta iv is impossible on this computer or at least fighting the lag makes it seem that way i have tried so many things from youtube videos and just from searching around on google.com 

I've used several versions of gameboosters all kinds of different commandline.txt and fps booster downloads that i've downloaded and stuck in my gta iv directory and with or without mods make no difference disabling my security programs doesn't work, nothing i have tried has worked so i got on gta iv and clicked on the benchmark tool, i had no idea what it was until i exited out of the benchmark tool and got some results so i am now posting them hoping someone can help me or at least give me some suggestions as to what i need to do. Any further information on my system, game, or mods will be posted upon request, i used to play the lcpdfr mod on my old computer that ran windows vista until my sister used it and downloaded some crap and crashed it, bestbuy said to just buy a new computer because that one is toast, so my dad passed his old down to me being this computer, and well it doesn't like gta iv. 

Here are the gta iv benchmark results. 

 

Statistics

Average FPS: 7.27

Duration: 13.90 sec

CPU Usage: 44%

System memory usage: 80%

Video memory usage: 94%

 

Graphics Settings

Video Mode: 800 x 600 (60 Hz)

Texture Quality: Low

Shadow Quality: Low

Reflection Resolution: Low

Water Quality: Low

Texture Filter Quality: Tri-Linear

Night Shadows: Off

View Distance: 1

Detail Distance: 5

 

Hardware

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 

Service Pack 1

Video Adapter: NVIDIA GeForce 9600 GT

Video Driver version: 6.14.11.8084

Audio Adapter: Speakers and Headphones (IDT High Definition Audio CODEC)

AMD Phenom II P960 Quad-Core Processor

 

File ID: Benchmark.cli

You have a bit faster computer than mine (the processor anyhow), and I get an average of 30FPS...drops to 20-24 sometimes when things are very active, but not often and very playable.  Not as smooth as some of these guys get with their nice rigs, but it does the trick for now.  My game is modded pretty good too.

 

Try this command line, it is why I'm able to get higher FPS...allows my graphics card to use 2 of the 4-gig of vRam I have available.  Without the command line I get like 15FPS.

 

-availablevidmem 2

-noprecache

-novblank

-norestrictions

-nomemrestrict 

 

Some here will say the last two lines contradict the first line (the first line maximizes the ram usage of the vid card), but when I remove either or both of those lines, my FPS drops by 10.  I've played around with it and it works well for my machine.

 

EDIT:  I also use lower res trees and whatnot...there is a pack at GTA4-mods that downgrades the resolution of certain ancillary models, like trees and distance drawing, ect.  I don't even notice any of it at all, but perked up my FPS by several points.  

 

I also shut down all unnecessary background programs via Task Manager, and I also run MemTurbo4, which helps with texture loss, when I use too many high-poly cars.

 

Good luck!

 

DrDetroit

Edited April 10, 201412 yr by drdetroit

Video Adapter: NVIDIA GeForce 9600 GT

Video Driver version: 6.14.11.8084

AMD Phenom II P960 Quad-Core Processor

 

Yeah read the stats,  your system can't handle it. You don't meet the minimum requirements. Your CPU runs at 1.8GHZ, the minimum required is 2.4GHZ. You're also maxing your video and system memory usage. The PC won't be able to do it, period. Buy another one.

Playing on low specs can cause lag... I would recommend not using some texts in the commandline.

-AJ

Funny, when I reduce textures and some other settings, it seems to lag my game a bit.  I bump it to max, runs smoother.

 

Looking forward to a proper gaming rig very soon.

 

DrDetroit

This is probably the best way to reduce lag, I use it and it works perfectly 

 

 

Try disabling shadows and night shadows, that should give you some more FPS, it helped me if not, try using a command line, my system crashes when I use one though

 

Edit: I didn't see your full post, apparently you did, but instead of having blurry and low quality shadows, can't you just disable them? That should help a bit.

 

It's also weird that you have a stronger PC than mine (in some hardware parts) and it's slower, my PC can run 50 FPS with medium or high texture quality and use high quality reflections.

Edited April 11, 201412 yr by sergiyj

How many mods are you using? And what kind of mods are you using? 

What does View and Detail distance do?
I have both on max. My computer lags only a slight bit sometimes.
Mine lagged quite bit when I first played the game and for about the first year or less.
I think upping the setting a bit helped some.

CPU Usage: 44%

System memory usage: 80%

Video memory usage: 94%

This itself shows you the problem, your GPU (Graphics/Video card) is too slow compared to your CPU (Central Processor Unit).

Try getting a faster one & IV will run better.

 

However, based on your specs, I would say better buy a new PC.

Try not to go with pre-made PCs (Dell, Acer, etc.  Select PCs from BestBuy, eBay, Amazon, etc.).

Find a computer shop that makes Custom PCs (shouldn't be hard, they should be a lot no matter wherever you live) & give them your budget, let them make a PC for you. Trust me, it's 1,000 times better & you get the MOST Bang for your Buck.