GTA 4 steam in windows 8 won't recognize 7950 thinks its nvidia 9600 gt.

issues is while I've found work arounds to play the game I cannot get the game to utilize my gpu properly creating frame rate issues with medium settings where my old nvidia 460 had none.

You didn't uninstall your nvidia software correctly. Use Drver Fusion...select nvidia graphics and delete all it finds. Reboot. Then follow this>

http://forums.amd.com/game/messageview.cfm?catid=444&threadid=162444&enterthread=y

Intel I7 960 @ 3.87ghz *Intel DX58SO *HIS HD6970 2gb *Corsair TX650M *2x4gb Corsair XMS3 *WD Black 1TB *Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit *Gateway HD2401 24" 2ms 1920x1200  ***Asus N71Jq laptop *Intel I7 720QM Processor *Mobility Radeon HD5730 1gb *8gb Ram *Windows 7 64bit  ***Acer 5750 laptop

* A clear conscience is usually a sign of bad memory *

This is a new system build, new HDD, new mobo, new install, fresh everything no reason for it to think I have a Nvidia GPU.  This 7950 GPU is the only GPU to have been on this particular build.  

With the wealth of information you supplied..this stood out "" windows 8 won't recognize 7950 thinks its nvidia 9600 gt""

""issues is while I've found work arounds to play the game I cannot get the game to utilize my gpu properly creating frame rate issues with medium settings where my old nvidia 460 had none.""

There is a sticky called Please Read Before Posting

Intel I7 960 @ 3.87ghz *Intel DX58SO *HIS HD6970 2gb *Corsair TX650M *2x4gb Corsair XMS3 *WD Black 1TB *Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit *Gateway HD2401 24" 2ms 1920x1200  ***Asus N71Jq laptop *Intel I7 720QM Processor *Mobility Radeon HD5730 1gb *8gb Ram *Windows 7 64bit  ***Acer 5750 laptop

* A clear conscience is usually a sign of bad memory *

I'm sorry for the confussion it is my fault.  But thanks for the recomendation non the less. 

http://forums.amd.com/game/messageview.cfm?catid=444&threadid=162444&enterthread=y

Intel I7 960 @ 3.87ghz *Intel DX58SO *HIS HD6970 2gb *Corsair TX650M *2x4gb Corsair XMS3 *WD Black 1TB *Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit *Gateway HD2401 24" 2ms 1920x1200  ***Asus N71Jq laptop *Intel I7 720QM Processor *Mobility Radeon HD5730 1gb *8gb Ram *Windows 7 64bit  ***Acer 5750 laptop

* A clear conscience is usually a sign of bad memory *

Maybe I'm off base and, I don't know where you find what card GTA4 thinks you are running, but GTA4 has a problem with cards that have more than 1GB VRAM (drap port that it is).                                                                                    The game thinks my HD7970 has only about 200+ MB VRAM.

Quote from Rockstar follows - (the Steam version instructions are at the bottom)

Create a text file named ‘commandline.txt’ in the main GTAIV folder and put the following statement inside it:

-availablevidmem 2.0

If that doesn't work, try increasing the number to one of the following. 

-availablevidmem 3.0

-availablevidmem 4.0

-availablevidmem 5.0

-availablevidmem 6.0  ( I used the value of 6.0)

etc.

Note that these command lines can be added immediately after the last quotation mark in the target parameter of the program shortcut.

• Locate the shortcut to the video game on your desktop.
• Right click the file and select Properties.
• Under the shortcut tab, you will see an area that says Target, this will list the exact location of the file within quotation marks.
• Modify the Target adding the command line variables after the last quotation mark.
• Press apply and start your game via the shortcut.

If you are using Steam, please try:

Properties of game>Launch Options>Add: -nomemrestrict -norestrictions

-Now if AMD/ATI could develop an AA that works in the game as well as Nvidia's FXAA, or works at all in this and some other AA deficent games, I'd be a lot happier.

.