Skyrim Graphics Modding

[stevosn95]

Using all of these settings and mods could bring your PC to its knees. You have been warned.

Combination of mods and INI tweaks to improve skyrims graphics. *Note: No blocky low res shadows inside or out*

 

 

HIGH RES SCREEN SHOTS --------------------------> https://picasaweb.google.com/116684894681857339285/SkyrimPCGraphicTweaks?authuser=0&feat=directlink

(Remember to blow up and zoom for full detail)

 

PC Specs:

 

Intel I7-860 @ 2.8ghz

8GB Rippjaw DDR1600

Asrock P55 Extreme

2x SLI GTX 560 TI OC

Corsair TX 750

Asus Xonar STX 7.1

OZC Vertex Turbo SSD

 

Game Settings: 1920x1200 8xAA 16AF everything maxed out.

 

Mods Used:

 

Nvidia SSAO profile with extra 16x AF filtering (High Quality)

Alpha resampled/filtered textures

High Res Armor textures

Enhanced Blood Textures

Antialiasing and Sharpening

Detailed Faces

No more blocky noses or chins

 

INI settings: *Note: to get sharper shadows change fShadowDistance= From 8000.0000 to 2500.0000 and fInteriorShadowDistance= 3000.0000 to 2500.0000* (This was a dramatic improvment) If you change any graphics settings in your launcher after you set this you will notice NO improvement. Set game grahics first then modify your INI.

 

[Display]

iTexMipMapSkip=0

bFXAAEnabled=1

fMeshLODLevel2FadeDist=10000000.0000

fMeshLODLevel1FadeDist=10000000.0000

fSpecularLODStartFade=2000.0000

fLightLODStartFade=3500.0000

fTreesMidLODSwitchDist=10000000.0000

iShadowMapResolution=4096

iShadowMapResolutionPrimary=4096

iShadowMapResolutionSecondary=4096

fShadowBiasScale=0.1500

iShadowMaskQuarter=4

iBlurDeferredShadowMask=3

fShadowDistance=2500.0000

iMaxDecalsPerFrame=100

iMaxSkinDecalsPerFrame=25

iAdapter=0

iSize W=1920

iSize H=1200

iMultiSample=8

iMaxAnisotropy=16

iPresentInterval=0

bFull Screen=1

sD3DDevice="NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti"

fInteriorShadowDistance=2500.0000

bFloatPointRenderTarget=1

fGamma=1.0000

iShadowFilter=4

fDecalLOD2=1500.0000

fDecalLOD1=1000.0000

fShadowLODStartFade=1000.0000

iTexMipMapMinimum=0

bTransparencyMultisampling=1

iWaterMultiSamples=4

iShadowMode=3

bTreesReceiveShadows=1

bDrawLandShadows=1

bDrawShadows=1

fLeafAnimDampenDistEnd=4600.0000

fLeafAnimDampenDistStart=3600.0000

fMeshLODFadePercentDefault=1.2000

fMeshLODFadeBoundDefault=256.0000

fMeshLODLevel2FadeTreeDistance=2048.0000

fMeshLODLevel1FadeTreeDistance=2844.0000

iScreenShotIndex=0

bShadowMaskZPrepass=0

bMainZPrepass=0

[imagespace]

iRadialBlurLevel=1

bDoDepthOfField=1

iPresentInterval=0

[LOD]

fLODFadeOutMultActors=15.0000

fLODFadeOutMultItems=15.0000

fLODFadeOutMultObjects=15.0000

fLODFadeOutMultSkyCell=1.0000

[Grass]

fGrassStartFadeDistance=7000.0000

b30GrassVS=1

fGrassMaxStartFadeDistance=7000.0000

fGrassMinStartFadeDistance=400.0000

[Decals]

bDecals=1

bSkinnedDecals=1

uMaxDecals=1000

uMaxSkinDecals=100

uMaxSkinDecalsPerActor=60

[TerrainManager]

fTreeLoadDistance=75000.0000

fBlockMaximumDistance=250000.0000

fBlockLevel1Distance=70000.0000

fBlockLevel0Distance=35000.0000

fSplitDistanceMult=1.5000

bShowLODInEditor=0

[blurShaderHDR]

bDoHighDynamicRange=1

[blurShader]

bUseBlurShader=0

[Launcher]

bShowAllResolutions=0

uLastAspectRatio=4

[Water]

iWaterReflectHeight=1024

iWaterReflectWidth=1024

bUseWaterDisplacements=1

bUseWaterRefractions=1

bUseWaterReflections=1

bUseWaterDepth=1

[MAIN]

fSkyCellRefFadeDistance=150000.0000

bGamepadEnable=1

bCrosshairEnabled=1

fHUDOpacity=1.0000

bSaveOnPause=1

bSaveOnTravel=1

bSaveOnWait=1

bSaveOnRest=1

[GamePlay]

bShowFloatingQuestMarkers=1

bShowQuestMarkers=1

iDifficulty=2

[interface]

bDialogueSubtitles=0

bGeneralSubtitles=0

bShowCompass=1

[Controls]

bMouseAcceleration=0

fMouseHeadingSensitivity=0.0125

fGamepadHeadingSensitivity=1.9000

bAlwaysRunByDefault=1

bInvertYValues=0

bGamePadRumble=1

[Particles]

iMaxDesired=750

[saveGame]

fAutosaveEveryXMins=15.0000

[AudioMenu]

fAudioMasterVolume=1.0000

fVal7=1.0000

uID7=0

fVal6=1.0000

uID6=0

fVal5=1.0000

uID5=0

fVal4=1.0000

uID4=0

fVal3=0.5000

uID3=466532

fVal2=0.8000

uID2=554685

fVal1=0.8000

uID1=1007612

fVal0=1.0000

uID0=94881

[Clouds]

fCloudLevel2Distance=262144.0000

fCloudLevel1Distance=32768.0000

fCloudLevel0Distance=16384.0000

fCloudNearFadeDistance=9000.0000

[General]

iStoryManagerLoggingEvent=-1

bEnableStoryManagerLogging=0

[Trees]

bRenderSkinnedTrees=1

uiMaxSkinnedTreesToRender=40

bUseWaterReflectionBlur=1

bReflectExplosions=1

iWaterBlurAmount=4

bAutoWaterSilhouetteReflections=0

bForceHighDetailReflections=1

fBlockLoadDistanceLow=50000.0000

fBlockLoadDistance=125000.0000

fHighBlockLoadDistanceLow=20000.0000

 

The improved shadows alone makes a massive difference. Hope this helps!

Edited November 12, 2011 by stevosn95

[redtails]

>Asrock P55 Extreme

 

Seriously?

 

You spent THAT much money on a computer and you chose asrock? Have you ever even heard of the word "bottleneck" and what it implies in the world of computing? The slowest part will ultimately determine the speed of the overall system. By utilizing an asrock mainboard, you will not be able to use the full speed of your GPU, ram, SSD nor CPU. Additionally, you will probably not be able to successfully overclock your system, while the i7 has enormous OC potential

 

That computer is such a waste of good money

 

On topic: very delicious screenshots

[JimboUK]

Thank you, I shall give these a try.

[AnoMecha]

>Asrock P55 Extreme

 

Seriously?

 

You spent THAT much money on a computer and you chose asrock? Have you ever even heard of the word "bottleneck" and what it implies in the world of computing? The slowest part will ultimately determine the speed of the overall system. By utilizing an asrock mainboard, you will not be able to use the full speed of your GPU, ram, SSD nor CPU. Additionally, you will probably not be able to successfully overclock your system, while the i7 has enormous OC potential

 

That computer is such a waste of good money

 

On topic: very delicious screenshots

 

Opinions are like a$$holes everyone has one and their so eager to share, causing the whole world to stink. You could have easily been more tactful about discussing with him that his choose of main board was bottle-necking his PC without being a complete jackass. I don't know, like explaining why it is and offering a good quality argument to your "opinion" verse passive aggressively calling him a dumba$$. This is why I don't usually post but lurk.

 

stevosn95-

 

The pictures are pretty nice, I've done the same with my game as well and it improves the visuals quite well. You can also up the render distance of the grass from 7000 to 20000

 

look for these in the skyrimprefs.ini

 

[Grass]

fGrassStartFadeDistance=7000.0000

fGrassMaxStartFadeDistance=7000.0000

 

change to this

 

[Grass]

fGrassStartFadeDistance=20000.0000

fGrassMaxStartFadeDistance=20000.0000

 

20000 seems to be the max, performance hit for me was negligible, but your mileage may vary.

[zer0morph]

fShadowDistance= From 8000.0000 to 2500.0000 and fInteriorShadowDistance= 3000.0000 to 2500.0000

 

This worked perfectly, thanks a million man!! No more blocky shadows interior or exterior! I only wanted to play at night because daytime shadows were ruining my experience. Great job!! Sticky this!

 

@Redtail

 

You're a freakin dick man. Shame on you. :down:

[stevosn95]

>Asrock P55 Extreme

 

Seriously?

 

You spent THAT much money on a computer and you chose asrock? Have you ever even heard of the word "bottleneck" and what it implies in the world of computing? The slowest part will ultimately determine the speed of the overall system. By utilizing an asrock mainboard, you will not be able to use the full speed of your GPU, ram, SSD nor CPU. Additionally, you will probably not be able to successfully overclock your system, while the i7 has enormous OC potential

 

That computer is such a waste of good money

 

On topic: very delicious screenshots

 

Didn't really ask for your opinion on my motherboard. I've been building computers and gaming rigs for 18 years... so, I quite familur with what a bottleneck is. This isn't my main board for my gaming PC, this is a board I used for my budget home Theatre pc. My Asus P7P55D Deluxe burnt up last month and I haven't bought a replacement yet becuase I'm thinking for jumping to a 1155 setup. But then again i'm sure your the expert jumpimg on my ass about a "waste of good money" guess my setup is complete s***. lol

Edited November 14, 2011 by stevosn95

[stevosn95]

>Asrock P55 Extreme

 

Seriously?

 

You spent THAT much money on a computer and you chose asrock? Have you ever even heard of the word "bottleneck" and what it implies in the world of computing? The slowest part will ultimately determine the speed of the overall system. By utilizing an asrock mainboard, you will not be able to use the full speed of your GPU, ram, SSD nor CPU. Additionally, you will probably not be able to successfully overclock your system, while the i7 has enormous OC potential

 

That computer is such a waste of good money

 

On topic: very delicious screenshots

 

Opinions are like a$$holes everyone has one and their so eager to share, causing the whole world to stink. You could have easily been more tactful about discussing with him that his choose of main board was bottle-necking his PC without being a complete jackass. I don't know, like explaining why it is and offering a good quality argument to your "opinion" verse passive aggressively calling him a dumba$$. This is why I don't usually post but lurk.

 

stevosn95-

 

The pictures are pretty nice, I've done the same with my game as well and it improves the visuals quite well. You can also up the render distance of the grass from 7000 to 20000

 

look for these in the skyrimprefs.ini

 

[Grass]

fGrassStartFadeDistance=7000.0000

fGrassMaxStartFadeDistance=7000.0000

 

change to this

 

[Grass]

fGrassStartFadeDistance=20000.0000

fGrassMaxStartFadeDistance=20000.0000

 

20000 seems to be the max, performance hit for me was negligible, but your mileage may vary.

 

 

Thanks man! I'm gonna give these a try now!

[Mukor]

Hi!

 

Witch ini i need to change? I changed the .ini at this directory: c:/users/xyz/documents/mygames/skyrim . Am i right when i think i dont have to change anything at the steamapps/common/..... .ini ?

 

Thank you :)

[AnoMecha]

Hi!

 

Witch ini i need to change? I changed the .ini at this directory: c:/users/xyz/documents/mygames/skyrim . Am i right when i think i dont have to change anything at the steamapps/common/..... .ini ?

 

Thank you :)

 

You should not need to change anything in the steam apps directory.

[Mukor]

Hi!

 

Witch ini i need to change? I changed the .ini at this directory: c:/users/xyz/documents/mygames/skyrim . Am i right when i think i dont have to change anything at the steamapps/common/..... .ini ?

 

Thank you :)

 

 

Yeah, thats what i tought :) thx

 

Btw fShadowDistance and fInteriorShadowDistance can be at 1000? the lower the number the better the shadow quality? Has it any bad effect or its just make the shadow to looks smoother.