SpeedrunSilentPatch

SpeedrunSilentPatch for

Grand Theft AutoSan Andreas

Installation

  1. Download and extract the ZIP

    Extract all archive contents into your game folder, beside gta_sa.exe.

    Overwrite vorbisFile.dll when prompted. Keep vorbisHooked.dll in the same folder.

  2. Check the files

    SpeedrunSilentPatchSA.asi and SpeedrunSilentPatchSA.ini should be directly in the main game folder, without an extra subfolder.

  3. Set your preferences and play

    Optionally edit SpeedrunSilentPatchSA.ini in a text editor for windowed mode, music replacement and other settings. Save the file, then start the game.

Settings won’t save? See the INI troubleshooting answer below.

Included fixes

The fixes included in SSP for San Andreas.

From SilentPatch

  • The mouse should not lock up randomly when exiting the menu on newer systems anymore.
  • DirectPlay dependency has been removed - this should improve compatibility with Windows 8 and newer.
  • Path to the User Files directory is now obtained using a dedicated API call rather than a legacy registry entry, future-proofing the games more.
  • Fixed a crash on car explosions - most likely to happen when playing with a multi-monitor setup.
  • Fixed a streaming-related deadlock, which could occasionally result in the game being stuck on a black screen when entering or exiting interiors (this is the issue people used to fix by setting CPU affinity to one core).
  • Fixed Skimmer not spawning on Windows 11 24H2.
  • The mouse cursor is now locked to the game window instead of getting re-centered constantly, so rapid mouse movements can no longer cause the cursor to leave the window in multi-monitor setups.
  • The mouse's vertical axis sensitivity now matches the horizontal axis sensitivity.
  • Num5 is now bindable (like in the 1.01 patch).
  • Dancing minigame timings have been improved, now they do not lose accuracy over time depending on the PC's uptime.
  • "Keep weapons after wasted" and "keep weapons after busted" are now reset on the New Game.
  • Pickups, car generators, and stunt jumps spawned through the text IPL files now reinitialize on a New Game. Most notably, this fixes several pickups (like fire extinguishers) going missing after starting a new game.
  • Mission title and 'Mission Passed' texts now stay on screen for the same duration, regardless of screen resolution.
  • 16:9 resolutions are now selectable (like in the 1.01 patch).
  • Free resprays will not carry on a New Game now.
  • Fixed ambulance and firetruck dispatch timers - they reset on New Game now.
  • Several stat counters now reset on New Game - so the player will not level up quicker after starting New Game from a save.
  • The "To stop Carl..." message now resets properly on New Game.
  • If the settings file is absent, the game will now default to your desktop resolution instead of 800x600x32.
  • Remade the monitor selection dialog, adding several quality-of-life improvements - such as remembering the selected screen, modern styling, and an option to skip the dialog appearing on every game launch.
  • EAX/NVIDIA splashes are now removed.
  • A 1.0 no-DVD-only bug where recruiting gang members would stop working after activating a replay has been fixed.

Added in SpeedrunSilentPatch

  • WASD-cheat preventer. By default, you have to hold Shift for any cheat to work. Other options are: Normal (like vanilla), Off (disable cheats entirely), CapsLock (cheats only work when Caps Lock is on), or ScrollLock (cheats only work when Scroll Lock is on)
  • Windowed mode, toggleable in ini. Inspired by III.VC.SA.WindowedMode.
  • Copyrighted ambience music in the casinos, Pleasure Domes, Stadium, Lowrider challenge, beach party and the strip club can be replaced with default San Andreas ambience to help prevent DMCA strikes on video and streaming platforms. Disabled by default, toggleable with setting in .ini file.
  • Cpu affinity mask (aka core pinning) setting through ini. No longer needed, because SpeedrunSilentPatch patches the bug that caused crashes when running on more than one core. Off by default.
  • The game writes a crash log after an unhandled exception. An optional full-process memory dump can also be written beside the executable. Full dumps are disabled by default because they can be large.

Frequently asked questions

Are runs with SpeedrunSilentPatch allowed on the leaderboard?

Yes. Runs using SpeedrunSilentPatch are legal and eligible for the leaderboard. SSP includes fixes selected for speedrunning and is optional to use. Follow the rules for your category when configuring optional settings.

View San Andreas leaderboards & rules
Why aren’t my INI changes working?

If the game is installed in Program Files, Windows may block or redirect writes to the INI. Copy the whole game folder to a location outside Program Files, such as C:\Games, and edit SpeedrunSilentPatchSA.ini in that copy. Make sure it stays beside the ASI file, save your changes, and restart the game. Also check that you are launching the copy you edited.

Can I use a custom resolution in windowed mode?

Not currently. SSP’s windowed mode uses the game’s supported resolutions. Unlike dxwnd, it does not add custom resolutions, because they could give an unintended advantage over runners who do not use the patch.

Does SSP unlock VSync in the menus?

No. Unlike dxwnd, SSP does not unlock VSync in menus. This could give an unintended speed advantage over runners who do not use the patch.

How do I enable windowed or borderless mode?

Open SpeedrunSilentPatchSA.ini in a text editor. Under [SilentPatch], set WindowedMode=Framed for a bordered window, WindowedMode=Borderless for borderless, or WindowedMode=Off for fullscreen. Save the file and restart the game. Press Alt+F while in windowed mode to switch between framed and borderless so you can reposition the window. You can also edit Documents\GTA San Andreas User Files\SpeedrunSilentPatchSA.WindowedMode.ini to adjust positioning to the pixel level.

Is this the same as the original SilentPatch?

SSP is a fork of SilentPatch with a curated set of compatibility and quality-of-life fixes for speedrunners, plus SSP-specific additions. The original SilentPatch includes a broader range of fixes and is the better choice for casual play.

Does it work with the Definitive Edition?

No. SpeedrunSilentPatch is for the original PC games. Check the supported executable version listed beside the download before installing.

I see some NG+ fixes,, do I still have to reset my game in between runs?

Yes. We’re not sure we’ve fixed all problematic instances of NG+ behavior, so a complete game restart is still required.

Can I replace music that may trigger copyright claims?

Yes. Set ReplaceDMCAMusic=1 in SpeedrunSilentPatchSA.ini to replace certain copyrighted ambience tracks, including music in certain minigames. This is disabled by default. It does not replace all of the game’s music or guarantee that a recording will avoid copyright claims.

Why do I have to hold Shift to enter cheats?

SSP prevents accidental cheats from normal movement inputs. By default, cheats only work while Shift is held. You can change EnableCheats to Normal, Off, Shift, CapsLock or ScrollLock in the INI.

Do I still need to pin the game to one CPU core?

No. SSP fixes the streaming deadlock that could hang the game when entering or leaving interiors. CpuAffinityMask is still available, but affinity forcing is disabled by default.

If you only support 1.0, is the homie recruiting bug still there?

No. SSP fixes all issues that the 1.01 patch also fixed.