GTA V PC - Graphics Settings
  POSTED April 15, 2015
While playing GTA V we found that from time to time you get micro stuttering. Currently testing with a AMD R9 290x and trying to keep FPS above 50-60 we found that most of the micro stuttering activity cames from Distance Scaling and V Sync settings. Check out more in this article.
Distance Scaling sets 3D models level of detail according to distance. Check out the screenshot and check the bridge. Setting this to lowest level possible reduces dramatically the micro stuttering and increase FPS specially when you are driving fastest cars. Of course this is to improve your gameplay at expense of graphic quality but I guess it´s worth if that micro stuttering issue botthers you.
V-Sync is also another setting that could help. Stuttering occurs when frame rates fall below the VSync frame rate cap, which is typically 60 frames per second, matching the 60Hz refresh rate of most monitors and screens. When frame rates dip below the cap VSync locks the frame rate to the nearest level, such as 45 or 30 frames per second. As performance improves the frame rate returns to 60.Remember that if you are playing with a Nvidia GPU you have the chance to enable adaptative VSYNC that unlocks the frame rate when below the VSync cap, which reduces stuttering, and by locking the frame rate when performance improves once more, thereby minimizing tearing.
Of course is up to you to set other settings like texture, shaders, shadows quality according to your GPU ( specially take care with Grass Quality that really takes lot of resources ) Playing with R9 290x we have set most of those settings to max. We have also set MSAA to 2x and FXAA on. Tessellation and Ambient Oclussion to normal.
Play with those settings, specially with Distance Scaling that seems to be the key about the micro stuttering problem.
