Grand Prix 4

refer posts here:-
Grand Prix 4 intermittently crashing to desktop (CTD) resolved and getting GP4 running just right
GP4 Game Setup

19/Jan/2017:-

I can say without a doubt that this has resolved the issue.
No crash to desktop after more than 10 straight runs...woohoooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

Testing:-
I have run the game on two PC's in multiplayer mode.
Enabled the AI to control both cars by pressing the P key ingame. (this is if your using keyboard for controller, if your using wheel it will be space bar)
Then stepped away and let the race run on it's own.
Regarding the multiplayer, In gpxpatch select:- Use CPU 0 for the Host PC
and for the Join PC select:- Use CPU 1.
I observed that if you select Use CPU 0 for both PC's the gameplay will lag and game will be unplayable.

Resolution 4 steps:-

Step 1:-

-Disable the antivirus to stop it running in the background, affects gameplay, causes lag.
-Right click on GP4.exe, then properties and on compatibility tab set it to winxpsp2, and select:- Run this program as Administrator
-Right click on gpxpatch.exe then properties and select:- Run this program as Administrator, don't select Run this program in compatibility mode for
-In gpxpatch as mentioned select Use CPU 0 from drop down.


Step 2:-

Adjusting windows to use the highest CPU clock rate for the game

#Enable Maximum Performance Power Settings
Click Start, "Control Panel" and then "Power Options."
Click the "Show Additional Plans" drop-down arrow. Enable the "High Performance" option then click "Change Plan Settings."
Click the "Change Advanced Power Settings" link in the new window. The Power Options window appears.
Click the "+" symbol next to the "Processor Power Management" value, then "Minimum Processor State." Click the "Setting %" label, then change the value in the box field to "100."
Click "System Cooling Policy" then the "Setting" label. Change the value to "Active."
Click "Maximum Processor State" then "Setting." Change the value to "100."
Click the "Apply" button then "OK." Click the "back" arrow button in the Edit Plan Settings window. Close the Select a Power Plan window. Windows applies the changes to the power settings and utilizes 100 percent of the processor available power for the active application on the screen.

Step 3:-

Then To optimize gameplay, especially for multiplayer:-

This needs to be done just once:-
-Delete this file from your GP4 folder:- f1graphics.cfg
-Start the game using:- gpxpatch.exe, and in the 'Games' menu, click on exit, don't save on your way out
-You will notice a new f1graphics.cfg file created
-Open the f1graphics.cfg file in notepad and change the following values on the left for these options:-

1 ; f1graphics.cfg controls all settings (default 0)
1920 ; [RELEASE] Game 3D Horizontal Resolution
1080 ; [RELEASE] Game 3D Vertical Resolution
1920 ; [DEBUG] Game 3D Horizontal Resolution
1080 ; [DEBUG] Game 3D Vertical Resolution
0 ; Full dynamic video walls v2
0 ; TV style overlays on track cameras.
1 ; [DEBUG] Enable hardware T&L if available
1 ; [RELEASE] Enable hardware T&L if available
1 ; Low track geometry (1 on, 0 off)
1 ; Low res geometry track (1 low res, 0 normal)

-Start the game again:-gpxpatch.exe
-In the Games menu, goto Options---> Graphics
-click on Advanced
-Grab the 'frame rate' slider bar and adjust it 30fps
-Save the game when you exit i.e finished playing

note:-
Playing with the fps slider bar and starting the race, you will notice something when pressing the 'O' key
which is test of the processor utilisation, it will vary depending on what fps you choose.
keeping it less than 100% processor occupancy is where you want it to be.
on my FX6300 6 core cpu running at 3.5ghz at 30fps starting at the back of the race I get 45% processor occupancy
the race runs smooth.


Step 4:-

download this utility:-
PC Services Optimizer - Tweak Windows Services With a Mouse Click - Smart PC Utilities

It is free to download it has Gaming mode, explanation:-

Games Optimization
PC Services Optimizer comes with Gaming Mode that effectively boosts your computer gaming performance. Gaming Mode gives your system an immediate performance boost by temporary suspending unnecessary Windows features to free up computer resources and focus processing power on games you play.

This is pretty much it