GTA San Andreas Beautification Project

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Beautification Project 4.30
Note: If you are upgrading from 3.13, please re-install the game and mods before upgrading to 4.30
by Tore Andersen

The GTA San Andreas Beautification Project is a small enhancement guide with step-by-step instructions for modding the 7th Grand Theft Auto game. It will significantly improve both graphics & effects, and optionally add some new content. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is not designed to be modified, but it's still possible with the use of some editing tools. The game was released in 2005, and the graphics are very far from current GTA games. Some of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas takes place in the same fictional area as GTA V, but has significantly less detail. With this modification guide, San Andreas will get better graphics & effects. It won't bring it near the graphical sophistication of GTA V, but it will definitely make the game more immersive for a re-play.

1: Preparation
2: Mods
3: Screenshots
4: Game Art

1 - Preparation
Before installing the mods, a few things needs to be setup

As Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was not designed for using mods, I recommend backing up the game before starting. That way, if something goes wrong, or if you want to tryout different mods, you don't have to re-install the entire game again.
The game uses an old DirectX technology that is not installed on newer versions of Windows by default, which can cause crashes at startup, unless installed. GTA: San Andreas was actually recently, but the important issues were still not fixed, only more issues added. Because of this, all mods are made for the most stable version to date, the US 1.0, which can be downloaded from this site.

1: Backup (Optional)
Make a backup. Create another folder and copy all files from within the San Andreas game-folder into it.

2: Loading Fix
If the game loads without crashing, just skip this part. If the game crashes on launch, which is most likely to happen on Windows 10, then you need to install the now outdated DirectPlay component of DirectX.
Open "Programs and Features" from the control panel, and click "Turn Windows features on or off".

Check "Legacy Components" and "DirectPlay" inside. Click OK.

San Andreas will startup just fine.

3: Downgrade to US version 1.0 (DOWNLOAD)
Download and unpack into the San Andreas game folder. Overwrite.
The game is now downgraded to US version 1.0, which is more stable and has less restrictions.
Note: Absolutely needed for the game to run with mods.

2 - Mod-List

The following mods need to be installed one by one, in the order they are listed. This is important, as some mods overwrite files from others.

Mods 1: Game Fixs & Tools

4GB Patch (LINK)
Download and unpack into the San Andreas game-folder. Run the program and patch "gta-sa.exe". After it says "Successfully Patched", exit.

Widescreen Fix (LINK)
Download both "GTASA.WidescreenFix.zip" and "GTASA.WidescreenFrontend.zip".
Unpack both files into the GTA San Andreas game-folder.
*This is needed if you use ANY other aspect ration than 4:3, and don't like the picture to by stretched-out and flat.

Cleo 4.4.0 (LINK)
Download the file for GTA SA to any folder.
*Unpack into the San Andreas game-folder.
Note: Without this tool, GTA San Andreas will not be able to load scripted mods at all.

Texture Stream Fix (DOWNLOAD)
Download and unpack into the game-folder.
*This will fix the games texture streaming technology to handle bigger textures.

60 FPS Frame limiter (LINK)
Before downloading & installing this mod, start the game and make sure that "Frame Limiter" is set to "On".
Now download and unpack into the game-folder.
*Unfortunately some of the animations in the game are tied to the frames, so the Frame Limiter HAS to be set On for the game to work properly. With or without mods.

Flickering Fix (DOWNLOAD)
Download and unpack into the game-folder.
*This will fix some scenarios with flickering shadows.

Mod Loader (LINK)
Download and unpack into the game-folder.
*This is a tool that makes it possible to copy mod-files into a certain folder instead of overwriting game-files. Making it easier to install/remove mods.

Silent Patch SA (LINK)
Download and unpack into the game-folder.
*This patch fixes a lot of smaller issues. It's not absolutely necessary, but recommended to install.

Silent Patch SA - Better Ini File (DOWNLOAD)
Download and unpack into the game-folder.

Windowed Mode (LINK)
Download and unpack to a temporary folder.
Move the "III.VC.SA.WindowedMode.asi" into the "scripts" folder inside the San Andreas game-folder. Don't copy any other files.

Rhino Tank LOD Fix (LINK)
Download and unpack to a temporary folder.
Move the "gta3.img" folder into "\modloader\models\"

Random Crash Fix (DOWNLOAD)
Download and unpack into the game-folder.
Note: For whatever reason, some of the audio tracks were removed from the Steam version of GTA: San Andreas. This can cause crashes when entering vehicles, if the radio was at a point where one of the removed tracks were suppose to play. This fix restores the removed content, and eliminates the crashes.
NOTE: If you use the censored version of the game, don't install this fix. It will actually cause the game to crash after some missions, and it will work fine without.

Mods 2: Game-play Changes

First Person V3 (DOWNLOAD)
Download and unpack into the game-folder.
Note: To change view in-game, press "V". This will cycle through 4 different view, including first person.

Increased Population (DOWNLOAD)
Download and unpack into the game-folder.
*I increased the population about 4 times.

Mods 3: HD Textures

Rosa Project (LINK)
Download and unpack to a temporary folder.
Move all texture files into: "\modloader\models\gta3.img\".

SAUR - San-Andreas Ultimate Re-Texture Full Version (LINK)
Download, unpack and install to a temporary folder.
Move the content of the "gta3.img" folder from inside the default folder, into "\modloader\models\gta3.img\". Overwrite.

GTA V Textures for GTA SA V3 Final (LINK)
Download and unpack to a temporary folder.
Move all texture files into: "\modloader\models\gta3.img\". Overwrite.

Insanity Vegetation (LINK)
Download and unpack to a temporary folder.
Move all texture files from within "INSANITY Vegetation Light" into: "\modloader\models\gta3.img\". Overwrite.

Insanity Vegetation Update (DOWNLOAD)
Download and unpack into: "\modloader\models\gta3.img\". Overwrite.

GTA V Weapon Pack (LINK)
Download and unpack to a temporary folder.
Move all texture files from the "gta3.img" folder into: "\modloader\models\gta3.img\".

Brazilian S Shop Final (LINK)
Download and unpack to a temporary folder.
Move "cj_sex.txd", "genintintsex.txd" and "rc_shop_figure.txd" into: "\modloader\models\gta3.img\". Don't copy any other files. Overwrite.

Charra Wall Poster (DOWNLOAD)
Download and unpack into the GTA SA game-folder. Overwrite.

PLAYBOY Magazines (LINK)
Download and unpack to a temporary folder.
Move all texture into: "\modloader\models\gta3.img\".

Mods 4: Skins

Skin Pack (LINK)
Download and unpack to a temporary folder.
Move all files from the "273 Skin Mods" folder into: "\modloader\models\gta3.img\". Overwrite existing files.

Mods 5: ENB

Boris ENB (LINK)
Download version 4.30 and unpack to a temporary folder.
Move the content of the "WrapperVersion" folder into the game-folder.

GTA San Andreas Beautification Project ENB 4.30 (LINK)
Download and unpack into the game-folder. Overwrite existing files.

If you are not a fan of the puddles, download this version instead:

GTA San Andreas Beautification Project ENB 430 - No Wet Puddles (LINK)
Download and unpack into the game-folder. Overwrite existing files.

Mods 6: New Cars (Optional)

There are literally thousands of car replacement mods for GTA San Andreas. (LINK) or (LINK)
Replace as many or as few as you like. Follow installation instructions for each mod.

End of Mod-List

If the game crashes at startup or after completing a mission, try these fixes:

Uninstall "Random Crash Fix". This has been reported to help some, while others crash without it.. Seemingly at random.

Install Direct X 9 standalone version: (LINK) This won't overwrite or replace later versions of Direct X.

Double check that you are using US 1.0 exe file. It's absolutely necessary that you use US 1.0.

Double check that the 4GB patch was applied correctly.

Double check that DirectPlay is enabled.

Rename the "gta-sa.exe" to "gt.exe". This will help a potential conflict with Windows game explorer.

If you find this, or any of the other guides useful, please consider supporting me on Patreon

By becoming a Patron you will participate in a monthly drawing for a Premium Steam Game-Key, and you will help me provide more frequent content

For more game modification projects and guides, please visit the main page. New and old games are added regularly

3 - 4.30 Screenshots

Comparison: Original GTA: S.A. Screenshots

3.13 Screenshots

4 - GTA San Andreas Art

Fan Artwork

Brief info about Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is an open world action game from RockStar Gaming. The games is made from with the same style and game-play as the previous GTA3 games. It's played in third-person with focus on shooting and driving. The open world environment is based on the real world Los Angeles area, but with all fictional names like in a parallel universe. The main story-line is linear, but the player can roam around freely at any time, and there are plenty of side quests and mini-games around the world. The graphics and style of San Andreas is very similar to GTA 3 and GTA 3: Vice City. San Andreas just don't have loading-time in between areas, which makes it more immersive. However, the biggest difference between the previous GTA games, is that it doesn't revolve around stylish Italian gangsters, but instead follows a mediocre guy with poor speech-skills. Disappointing at first, but with RockStars amazing storytelling abilities and flair for making up crazy personalities, it actually makes for a lot of funny moments.

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - Map

GTA San Andreas area is based on the real world's Southern California, mainly Los Angeles, and parts of Nevada around Las Vegas. It shares Los Angeles with GTA V, and some of the beach and country side, but GTA V focus on the Palm Springs area instead of Las Vegas, Nevada.