20 replies to this topic

[prod80]

Same stuff m8 your VRAM is also for a good part saved in your RAM... DirectX 9 does that. So your large textures also directly influence your RAM usage, not just your VRAM.

 

You can easily show this behavior using monitoring software...

 

PS (edit). If im not mistaking you have a 4GB card right (GTX680)? You will not be able to fill up that VRAM using textures in normal play... a bit over 3GB, and than it's CTD because the application is not able to handle more. You can push the limits of the amount of textures to load... but you'll only get an unstable game as a result. Monitor your RAM/VRAM usage using Skyrim Performance Monitor... and for stability's sake try and stay under 3GB RAM usage, rather around 2.8GB. When you reach that you'll need to make other gameplay changes in the way you save games... you might not be able to open outside saves anymore because the resources to open the save aren't available - you'll need to make save games inside. Youll have to disable auto saves, because you don't wanna end up in a situation where your game crashed and your auto save will not open - you have to get used to manual saving.

 

To reduce load, use 2K textures for outside areas. You can mix a few high res ones in... I for example have 4K tree textures and 2K (uncompressed) rock textures which look awesome. On top the Flora in my game is greatly expanded. I do however seem to be able to run at  uGrids @ 7 now. Peak RAM usage has been around 2.77GB with those settings, occasionally hitting 3GB.

 

Of course this only counts towards outside textures. You can do whatever you want in cities / dungeons as you most likely will never be hitting anywhere near 3GB RAM in those area's.

[Shredy777]

Well...I'm using Project Parallax as well as a mash up of all kinds of HD overhauls. Guess that's where the problem is....There is a program called texture optimizer. It's supposed to compress textures or something like that. I'm really a noob when it comes down to visual stuff.

 

Edit: Oh and guess what....I seem to be just fine in Tamriel areas. I often seem to get stuck in the bigger hold capitals (lots of Parallax stuff in there) and crowded Inns. Any advice?

Edited by Shredy777, 23 June 2013 - 08:30 PM.

[prod80]

I use Project Parallax as well... Just don't install Project Parallax Windhelm, it causes crashes when going to Windhelm.

 

When you run this kind of heavy modding you better watch your resources... I also am still troubleshooting my installation and handpicking textures to get a balance...

Coming back to this uGrids thing... it appears to be too high on my system, so too bad (I spoke too soon) .. so im on uGrids 5 now again.

[Shredy777]

Did anybody of you guys reading this ever use the Texture Optimizer?

I always keep my Ugrids at 5

[prod80]

Have tried it, didnt really like it...

Was going to try this one: http://skyrim.nexusm...com/mods/13529/  but havent really got to it yet, maybe ill give it a go

[Shredy777]

Hmmm...I've downloaded your Performance Monitor...Guess what? Game stops loading and gets stuck in loading screen with only 2.8 GB of RAM in use... Does this put an end to your theory?

[Shredy777]

Bump?

[Shredy777]

Hmmm...I've downloaded your Performance Monitor...Guess what? Game stops loading and gets stuck in loading screen with only 2.8 GB of RAM in use... Does this put an end to your theory? 

 

Also, is it true that this 3.2 Gig problem is caused by mainly texture mods? Or is it just a "too many, heavy mods" problem?

[prod80]

No it does not, 2.8 is high

 

Performance Monitor only shows the working RAM usage, not everything Skyrim is using. And it's not "My Theory" you can read a lot about RAM usage in DX9 applications, for instance try the STEP forums, there has been a lot of testing on VRAM/RAM usage of Skyrim, or Microsoft databases on how DX9 handles memory, and why it sucks for modern games like Skyrim.

[Mason69]

Did you solve it? I'm having the same problem.