Grand Theft Auto IV (GTA IV) remains a beloved title in the open-world genre, but its PC port is notoriously plagued by performance issues—especially on modern systems. From stuttering and low frame rates to fullscreen bugs and memory bottlenecks, players often struggle to get smooth gameplay. Fortunately, with the help of DXVK (a Vulkan-based translation layer for Direct3D) and a few strategic configuration edits, you can significantly improve performance.
This guide walks you through:
- Downloading and installing DXVK
- Fixing fullscreen issues
- Editing the DXVK config file
- Optimizing the commandline.txt file
- Tweaking the stream.ini file
- Understanding system requirements
🖥️ System Requirements for GTA IV (2025 Context)
Before diving into fixes, ensure your system meets the minimum specs. GTA IV was released in 2008, and with DXVK optimisations, it can run well even on modest hardware.
| Component | Minimum Requirements for DXVK |
|---|---|
| OS | Windows 7/8/10/11 |
| CPU | Intel Core 2 Duo 1.8 GHz or equivalent |
| RAM | 2 GB |
| GPU | NVIDIA 7900 / ATI X1900 or any Vulkan-compatible GPU |
| VRAM | 256 MB |
| Storage | 16 GB |
| DirectX | Version 9.0c / Vulkan support |
🔧 What Is DXVK, and Why Use It?
DXVK translates Direct3D 9/10/11 calls to Vulkan, offering better performance and compatibility on Linux and Windows. GTA IV’s native DirectX 9 renderer is inefficient on modern GPUs, especially with newer drivers. DXVK helps bypass these limitations.
Benefits of DXVK:
- Reduces stuttering and frame drops
- Improves GPU utilization
- Enables Vulkan rendering
- Compatible with ENB and ReShade mods
📥 Step-by-Step: Installing DXVK for GTA IV
You can download the latest DXVK version from GitHub Releases or Nexus Mods.
Installation Steps:
- Download DXVK 2.4 or latest version
- Extract the archive
- Copy the following files to your GTA IV root directory:
dxgi.dlld3d11.dlld3d10core.dlld3d9.dll- (all files in x32) copy all
- Paste all into GTA 4 Directory.
Download the ALL in ONE Pack mod:
Click here: 👉Mod PACK HERE
🖼️ Fixing Fullscreen Issues with DXVK
To simplify the process, you can download a preconfigured dxvk.conf file that includes fullscreen fixes and latency optimisations.
Download Instructions:
- Visit this Mediafire link: Download dxvk.conf
- Click the Download button
- Place the downloaded
dxvk.conffile in your GTA IV root directory
This file includes recommended settings to resolve fullscreen bugs and improve frame latency.
📄 Editing commandline.txt for Performance
GTA IV reads startup parameters from commandline.txt. You can create or edit this file in the root GTA IV folder.
Sample commandline.txt:
-nomemrestrict
-norestrictions
-availablevidmem 4096
-fullspecaudio
-forcehighqualitymirrors
-forcer2vb
-frameLimit 1Explanation of Flags:
| Flag | Function |
|---|---|
-nomemrestrict | Removes memory limits |
-norestrictions | Unlocks all settings |
-availablevidmem 4096 | Allocates 4 GB VRAM |
-fullspecaudio | Enables high-quality audio |
-forcehighqualitymirrors | Improves mirror rendering |
-forcer2vb | Forces vertex buffer usage |
-frameLimit 1 | Caps FPS to reduce stutter |
📁 stream.ini File: Unlocking RAM Usage
Located at:
GTAIV\pc\stream.iniThis file controls memory allocation for streaming assets.
Default Values:
[STREAMING]
memory=204800Optimized Values: (CHANGE THIS)
[STREAMING]
memory=409600This change allows GTA IV to use up to 4 GB of RAM instead of the default 2 GB, reducing texture pop-in and improving asset loading.
🧪 Performance Testing: Before vs After
| Scenario | Vanilla DX9 | DXVK + Tweaks |
|---|---|---|
| Average FPS | 30–45 | 60–100 |
| Stuttering | Frequent | Minimal |
| GPU Usage | ~60% | ~95% |
| VRAM Utilization | ~1 GB | ~3.5 GB |
| Load Times | Long | Short |
Tested on Ryzen 5 3600, GTX 1660 Super, 16 GB RAM
⚠️ Troubleshooting Tips
1. DXVK Not Working?
- Ensure
dxgi.dlld3d11.dlld3d10core.dlld3d9.dllare in the correct folder - Disable overlays (e.g., Discord, GeForce Experience)
2. FPS Drops After Modding?
- Check for ENB or ReShade conflicts
- Lower resolution or disable shadows temporarily
3. Vulkan Performs Worse?
- Some NVIDIA GPUs perform better with native DX9
- Try DXVK only if you have stuttering or low GPU usage
🧩 Optional Enhancements
Use Vulkan-Compatible ENB:
- Some ENB presets are DXVK-friendly.
- Avoid older ENBs that rely on DirectX hooks.
ReShade Compatibility:
- DXVK supports ReShade with the Vulkan backend.
- Use the latest ReShade version and enable Vulkan support.
🧠 Final Thoughts
GTA IV’s ageing engine struggles on modern hardware, but DXVK and a few smart tweaks can breathe new life into it. By adjusting memory allocation and command-line parameters and leveraging Vulkan rendering, you can enjoy smoother gameplay without sacrificing visual fidelity.
Whether you’re a casual player or a modding enthusiast, these steps offer a practical roadmap to optimizing GTA IV in 2025. And if you’re diving deeper into ENB, ReShade, or texture mods, these performance foundations are essential.