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#1 2008-12-02 4:12 pm
- panicbutton
- Member

- From: Las Vegas, NV
- Registered: 2003-08-26
- Posts: 122
GTA4 for PC... will it run?
I have a 2.4GHz SR MacBook Pro with 4GB of RAM. I just want to know if you think (looking at the Sys Requirements) that GTA4 would run OK on a 8600M with XP SP3... or if I would have better luck just beating my head against the wall...
RECOMMENDED REQUIREMENTS
OS: Windows Vista - Service Pack 1 / XP - Service Pack 3
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad 2.4 Ghz, AMD Phenom X3 2.1 Ghz
RAM: 2.5 GB Vista / 2 GB XP
Hard Drive: 18 GB Free Space
Video Card: 512 MB Nvidia 8600 / 512 MB ATI 3870
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
OS: Windows Vista - Service Pack 1 / XP - Service Pack 3
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 1.8 Ghz, AMD Athlon X2 64 2.4 Ghz
RAM: 1.5 GB Vista / 1 GB XP
Hard Drive:16 GB Free Space
Video Card: 256 MB Nvidia 7900 / 256 MB ATI X1900
Any input helps...
-Thanks!
Go ahead, push it, make my day...
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#3 2008-12-02 5:43 pm
- Booksley
- Zombie Genocidest
- From: Toronto, Ontario
- Registered: 2001-02-16
- Posts: 5037
Re: GTA4 for PC... will it run?
Well, you meet the minimum requirements, so you'll be able to run it in one form or another. The only thing that could mess things up for you are the GPU drivers. You'll definitely need to upgrade those.
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#4 2008-12-02 9:33 pm
- panicbutton
- Member

- From: Las Vegas, NV
- Registered: 2003-08-26
- Posts: 122
Re: GTA4 for PC... will it run?
So, pardon my ignorance here, but does your post mean that I can get better performance from my MBP's 8600M with a different driver? I will admit, after installing boot camp, I just left it that way... so if there is anything else I should do to optimize, that info would be appreciated as well...
-PB
Go ahead, push it, make my day...
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#5 2008-12-02 10:39 pm
- dv
- Negusa Negest
- Moderator

- From: Minneapolis, MN
- Registered: 1999-08-30
- Posts: 18092
Re: GTA4 for PC... will it run?
Yeah, one should generally use the latest drivers for their video card, so update those if you can. Otherwise, you meet or exceed the minimum reqs, so the game should be plenty playable, though you will have to dial back the graphics settings for maximum playability.
And tbh, the 7900 listed as their "minimum" isn't really any less powerful than the 8600 overall - there's quite a bit of overlap. It's important to keep in mind that a mobile GPU is usually significantly weaker than it's desktop counterparts though.
So maybe you'll have to dial back the graphics settings a lot.
"Now commences the process of cutting off the head, which generally takes from an hour to an hour and a half by an expert workman with a sharp blade." -Reuben Delano, Wanderings and Adventures
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#6 2008-12-03 5:11 am
- Bat
- Flawless Cowboy
- Royal Wombat

- From: Björk, Björk
- Registered: 2001-05-14
- Posts: 28541
Re: GTA4 for PC... will it run?
dvpierce wrote:
.. So maybe you'll have to dial back the graphics settings a lot.
Likely. GTA4 has been punched up graphically for PC, and it was no slouch to begin with.
If the game was heavily multithreaded as seems likely from the recommended reqs and its 360 origins, the CPU will be adequate but cap framerates in the midrange anyway. It'll pay to experiment.
If all economists were laid end to end, they would not reach a conclusion - George Bernard Shaw
"Fire up a colortini, sit back, relax, and watch the pictures, now, as they fly through the air."
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#7 2008-12-06 10:55 pm
- Bat
- Flawless Cowboy
- Royal Wombat

- From: Björk, Björk
- Registered: 2001-05-14
- Posts: 28541
Re: GTA4 for PC... will it run?
What kind of CPU is necessary for Rockstar's game?
GTA 4 (PC): CPU benchmark review with 13 processors
Author: Marc Sauter (Dec 05, 2008) - GTA 4 (PC) seems to be quite demanding as hardware is concerned. Thus we tested the game with several processors to find out which CPU is best for a trip through Liberty City. Furthermore we give a short overview about the required graphics card power.
If all economists were laid end to end, they would not reach a conclusion - George Bernard Shaw
"Fire up a colortini, sit back, relax, and watch the pictures, now, as they fly through the air."
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#8 2008-12-07 11:07 pm
- panicbutton
- Member

- From: Las Vegas, NV
- Registered: 2003-08-26
- Posts: 122
Re: GTA4 for PC... will it run?
Once again, Bat rocks it... thanks dude. 
-PB
Go ahead, push it, make my day...
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#9 2009-01-28 1:56 pm
- aarongraff
- Member
- Registered: 2009-01-20
- Posts: 5
Re: GTA4 for PC... will it run?
So has anyone actually gotten it to run? Or is it simply a solid theory right now?
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#10 2009-03-03 10:34 am
- pregnant N proud
- Member
- Registered: 2008-12-07
- Posts: 8
Re: GTA4 for PC... will it run?
aarongraff wrote:
So has anyone actually gotten it to run? Or is it simply a solid theory right now?
I'm guna try it. waiting for vista 64bit (xp is too expensive).
Will let you know if it runs if your still intrested?
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#11 2009-03-03 12:04 pm
- LLEVIATHANN
- Itch you can't scratch

- From: 22 Acacia Avenue
- Registered: 2001-03-14
- Posts: 7158
Re: GTA4 for PC... will it run?
dv wrote:
Yeah, one should generally use the latest drivers for their video card, so update those if you can.
If you can being the key words here. ATI's Cats nor NV's Forceware support laptop GPUs. Laptop drivers are only updated by the Mfg.
I've been using http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/ for my Dell XPS M170 for continued driver support.
Let us be thankful for the fools; but for them the rest of us could not succeed. - Mark Twain
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#12 2009-03-03 1:39 pm
- dv
- Negusa Negest
- Moderator

- From: Minneapolis, MN
- Registered: 1999-08-30
- Posts: 18092
Re: GTA4 for PC... will it run?
LLEVIATHANN wrote:
dv wrote:
Yeah, one should generally use the latest drivers for their video card, so update those if you can.
If you can being the key words here. ATI's Cats nor NV's Forceware support laptop GPUs. Laptop drivers are only updated by the Mfg.
I've been using http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/ for my Dell XPS M170 for continued driver support.
Didn't used to be that way - my stepmom had a P3-based Inspiron. Not only was the video card on a daughterboard (I had to swap a couple in and out to find a "good" one after a motherboard swap, since the original was fried and the replacement board came with a video card with defective VRAM or something - artifacting was horrible) the standard nvidia driver package worked just fine with it.
Why did they smurf it up so bad?
"Now commences the process of cutting off the head, which generally takes from an hour to an hour and a half by an expert workman with a sharp blade." -Reuben Delano, Wanderings and Adventures
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#13 2009-03-03 4:03 pm
- LLEVIATHANN
- Itch you can't scratch

- From: 22 Acacia Avenue
- Registered: 2001-03-14
- Posts: 7158
Re: GTA4 for PC... will it run?
dv wrote:
Why did they **** it up so bad?
IMO I think the Mfgs wanted control over the GPUs in terms of power consumption and what not to offer better battery life. ATI and NV I think gave up the control to them.
Let us be thankful for the fools; but for them the rest of us could not succeed. - Mark Twain
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#14 2009-03-04 3:13 am
- Bat
- Flawless Cowboy
- Royal Wombat

- From: Björk, Björk
- Registered: 2001-05-14
- Posts: 28541
Re: GTA4 for PC... will it run?
LLEVIATHANN wrote:
dv wrote:
Why did they **** it up so bad?
IMO I think the Mfgs wanted control over the GPUs in terms of power consumption and what not to offer better battery life. ATI and NV I think gave up the control to them.
I seem to recall a recent [re]introduction of laptop-compatible drivers by one or both, but I'd need to verify that.
If all economists were laid end to end, they would not reach a conclusion - George Bernard Shaw
"Fire up a colortini, sit back, relax, and watch the pictures, now, as they fly through the air."
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