GTA IV 1.0.4.0 long load times issue

[Omarock92]

Please describe your issue as accurately as possible.

My load times more than quadrupled in IV 1.0.4.0, (don't have this issue on patch 1.0.8.0). I'm on Win 10.
Tried previous DXVK version (2.3.1) that I'm 100% positive it was working fine before, but still exhibits the same issue.
I feel like this might be caused by a recent Windows or a GPU driver update.
Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

If you use Windows, please check the following page: https://github.com/doitsujin/dxvk/wiki/Windows

Software information

Name of the game, settings used etc.

GTA IV (Patch 1.0.4.0)

System information

• GPU: RTX 3070
• Driver: 566.14
• Wine version:
• DXVK version: 2.5.3

Apitrace file(s)

• Put a link here

For instructions on how to use apitrace, see: https://github.com/doitsujin/dxvk/wiki/Using-Apitrace

Log files

Please attach Proton or Wine logs as a text file:

• When using Proton, set the Steam launch options for your game to PROTON_LOG=1 %command% and attach the corresponding steam-xxxxx.log file in your home directory.
• When using regular Wine, use wine game.exe > game.log 2>&1 and attach the resulting game.log file.

LaunchGTAIV_d3d9.log

[K0bin]

Please make the apitrace that the issue template asks for. You can find a guide here: https://github.com/doitsujin/dxvk/wiki/Using-Apitrace

I don't have access to old builds of the game so I do need that Apitrace to take a look.

[Blisto91]

How is this compared to without dxvk?

Note that at least in some instances with this game loading dependent is on fps, such as when using the -managed option #2982 (comment). I don't know how the behavior is with older versions of the game.

Edit: I see you have a fps limit set for dxvk. Does it improved if you remove it?

[Omarock92]

Please make the apitrace that the issue template asks for. You can find a guide here: https://github.com/doitsujin/dxvk/wiki/Using-Apitrace

I don't have access to old builds of the game so I do need that Apitrace to take a look.

I tried this but the game wouldn't launch at all with Apitrace DLLs.

Edit: Nevermind, was able to launch it after unticking "disable fullscreen optimizations" but couldn't reproduce the issue because it's launching in DX9.
Here's the .trace files: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WSGpXTHWkTQsPoSYE6v1lw8ZlM7Bmp33/view?usp=sharing

[Omarock92]

How is this compared to without dxvk?

Note that at least in some instances with this game loading dependent is on fps, such as when using the -managed option #2982 (comment). I don't know how the behavior is with older versions of the game.

Edit: I see you have a fps limit set for dxvk. Does it improved if you remove it?

Without DXVK the loading times are fine, removing the fps cap helps but still not as fast as without DXVK.

[Blisto91]

I have been unable to reproduce this so far. There isn't much difference when i time the loading both on amd and Intel.

A thing to try would be inserting d3d9.cachedDynamicBuffers = True in to the dxvk.conf file

[Omarock92]

I have been unable to reproduce this so far. There isn't much difference when i time the loading both on amd and Intel.

A thing to try would be inserting d3d9.cachedDynamicBuffers = True in to the dxvk.conf file

Strange, I've tried d3d9.cachedDynamicBuffers = True but didn't made a difference. Btw, game loads almost instantly without DXVK, even with the same 75fps cap via RTSS.
Seems like load times become tied to framerates only with DXVK. I also tried capping fps with RTSS when using DXVK and that has the same negative effect on load time.

Edit: for clarification by "load" I mean the black loading screen when the game is loading the map.

[asdasd107]

I remember having the same issue years ago. Though not exactly a fix, enabling the in-game Vsync makes the game load faster. I recommend you use it in conjunction RTSS framerate limiter so you can achieve "Low-Lag VSYNC ON" and faster loading, at least until the issue is fixed.
https://blurbusters.com/howto-low-lag-vsync-on/

Edit: Even better, enable in-game Vsync and add "d3d9.presentInterval = 0" to dxvk.conf. The game should load fast and there should be no actual Vsync.

[Omarock92]

I remember having the same issue years ago. Though not exactly a fix, enabling the in-game Vsync makes the game load faster. I recommend you use it in conjunction RTSS framerate limiter so you can achieve "Low-Lag VSYNC ON" and faster loading, at least until the issue is fixed. https://blurbusters.com/howto-low-lag-vsync-on/

Edit: Even better, enable in-game Vsync and add "d3d9.presentInterval = 0" to dxvk.conf. The game should load fast and there should be no actual Vsync.

This worked, thank you!

[pchome]

heh, gta 4 issues still prevail

I didnt played it for years, not sure if it was updated to an remaster or enhanced or so, but

1. I can confirm some (most (?)) games load time depend on current fps limit (AFAIK mangohud have hotkey to enable/disable it on demand)
2. Maybe they did a great job back in the days to show how mach resources one or another option will take, but it heavily relay on system, integrated into the game and have almost nothing to do with nowadays dxvk settings/defaults

I recommend all gta4 users to go all-in with command line options: --help or https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Grand_Theft_Auto_IV#Launch_options, set everything you can and avoid other configuration changes.