GTA IV wasn't ported too well. I'd say both games are good, but Yahtzee did a good job of measuring their individual quality through a simple little chart thingy for SR3.
Basically, SR3 is more insane, just pure stimulus. The problem is that it kind of lacks in other areas, no sense of gratification for anything you do, and while hitting someone with a **** is hilarious in SR2 (which seems at least somewhat grounded in reality, thus the humorous nature is more profound through the absurdity of such an act), SR3's crazy activities seem too commonplace and not as exciting as a result.
GTA IV doesn't let you whip people with ****s (without mods), but it does have MUCH better context and gratification then just pure stimulus. The act of shooting someone seems to have more weight, more of a physical response, and messing around and causing a big cabby riot is hilarious through the challenge of an act and the realism of the world contrasting the absurdity (which makes set pieces cooler like the bank robbery as a result, even if GTA IV's bank robbery isn't as hugely crazy as SR3's, its just somehow more satisfying).
Both are great games though. GTA IV is dated quite a bit at this point, but with Episodes its one of the best games this generation in terms of fun and has a great story and a lot of great set pieces and beauty, and SR3 is also a total blast and for the type of person who doesn't care about profound narratives or detailed and subtle little things and just wants to crotch punch old people while dressed as a furry with a buddy riding a jet just above you.
As far as just optimization though, I think SR3's lack of headaches in simply starting and more consistent frame rate give it a PC optimization edge.
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