🚀 How to Fix GTA 4 Lag & Low FPS on Modern PCs Using DXVK

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Grand Theft Auto IV is a legendary open-world game 🎮, but playing it on modern PCs can be frustrating. Despite having powerful hardware, many players face low FPS, stuttering, crashes, and poor performance. This happens because GTA 4 relies on older DirectX technology, which doesn’t work efficiently with today’s GPUs and CPUs.

Thankfully, there’s a powerful solution called DXVK that can dramatically improve GTA 4 performance. Let’s break it down step by step 👇

❌ Why GTA 4 Runs Poorly on Modern PCs

GTA 4 was designed for older systems and uses DirectX 9, which:

Overloads the CPU 🧠
Causes inconsistent frame pacing
Leads to stuttering and sudden FPS drops

Even high-end graphics cards struggle because the game simply isn’t optimized for modern APIs.

✅ What Is DXVK & How It Helps

DXVK is a compatibility layer that translates DirectX calls into Vulkan API calls, which are far more efficient on modern hardware.

🔧 How DXVK Works

GTA 4 (DirectX 9)
        ⬇
      DXVK
        ⬇
   Vulkan API
        ⬇
   Modern GPU 🚀

🌟 Key Benefits

Higher and more stable FPS 📈
Reduced CPU bottlenecks
Smoother gameplay with fewer stutters
Better GPU utilization

📥 Step-by-Step DXVK Installation Guide

1️⃣ Download DXVK

Visit the official DXVK GitHub page
Download the latest release (.tar.gz file)

You Can Download here: DXVK.Zip

2️⃣ Extract the Files

Use 7-Zip or WinRAR
Open the extracted folder

3️⃣ Copy Required Files

Navigate to the x32 folder (GTA 4 is 32-bit)
Copy these files:
- d3d9.dll
- dxgi.dll

4️⃣ Paste into GTA 4 Folder

Paste the DLL files directly into the main GTA 4 installation directory

🖥️ Fix Fullscreen & Aspect Ratio Issues

Sometimes DXVK may cause:

Black bars 🖤
Broken fullscreen
Incorrect aspect ratio

🛠️ Solution

Create a file named dxvk.conf in the GTA 4 folder and add settings to force correct resolution and fullscreen mode.

✔️ This ensures proper display scaling and a true fullscreen experience.

⚔️ Performance Comparison

Feature	Before DXVK ❌	After DXVK ✅
FPS Stability	Very Poor	Smooth & Stable
Stuttering	Frequent	Almost None
CPU Usage	Extremely High	Reduced
GPU Usage	Inefficient	Optimized
Playability	Frustrating 😡	Enjoyable 😍

⭐ Final Results & Rating

After installing DXVK, GTA 4 feels like a remastered version on PC.

🔥 Overall Improvement Rating

Category	Rating
Performance Boost	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
Ease of Installation	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
Stability	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
Visual Smoothness	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

🎯 Final Verdict

If you want to play GTA 4 smoothly in 2025, DXVK is a must-have fix. It transforms a poorly optimized game into a fluid, enjoyable experience with minimal effort.

💡 Pro Tip: Always use the latest DXVK version and keep your GPU drivers updated for best results.

Happy gaming! 🎮🔥