Help on hardware upgrades for optimal modding experience

[WhyLebronWhy]

Hello everyone I've recently been saving up money and decided I may want to upgrade my computer to further improve my modding experience. I'm aware of SKSE and I'm using the memory patch of a default heap of 768 to help push my plugins to work. But I have the money to spare I feel and want to know if it's worth upgrading to what I currently have and if so what do I upgrade :D

My knowledge on what to upgrade to greatly help my skyrim modding is limited so I ask you. With my current specs:

i5-2500k CPU @ 3.30GHz 3.60 GHz
RAM 8 GB
64 bit OS
GPU: GTX 970

And my current modlist (it reads bottom to top):

+Audio Overhaul for Skyrim 2
+Artificial Intelligence Limit Increaser
+VioLens - A Killmove Mod
-Vanilla Tree Billboards
-DynDOLOD Resources
-PapyrusUtil - Modders Scripting Utility Functions
+A Quality World Map and Solstheim Map - With Roads
+Timing Is Everything - Afflicted Fix
+Timing is Everything - Quest Delay and Timing Control
+Better MessageBox Controls
+Better Dialogue Controls
+Sands of Time Sleeping Encounters Standalone Module
+Realistic AI Detection (better sneaking)
+Honed Metal -NPC Crafting and Enchanting services-
-Dual Wield Blocking Animation
-Dual Wield Parrying
+Legendary Skyrim Crossbows
+Hunterborn Patches
+Hunterborn
+SkyTEST Patches
+SkyTEST - Realistic Animals and Predators
+More Tavern Idles
+Serana Dialogue Edit
+Marriable Serana
+Relationship Dialogue Overhaul - RDO
+Holidays
+Immersive Citizens - AI Overhaul
+Immersive Children - child mortality and burial and animation fixes
+Suspicious City Guards
+Multiple Floors Sandboxing
+Heart of the Beast - Werewolf Sound and Texture Overhaul
+Bloodmoon Rising - Moonlight Tales Werewolf and Werebear Expansion Pack
-Moonlight Tales - Werewolf and Werebear Essentials
+Imperious - Races of Skyrim
+Skyrim Immersive Creatures - Unofficial Patch
+Skyrim Immersive Creatures
+Simple Follower Mount
-Automatic Variants
+HD Werewolves - Vanilla Meshes
+DIVERSE SKYRIM
+Immersive Patrols
-SkyTweak
+Immersive Horses
+Immersive Amazing Follower Tweaks
+The Notice Board
+Enchanted Arsenal
+Hold Border Banners
+Immersive College of Winterhold
+Perseids Inns and Taverns - Realistic Room Rental Basic
+Trade and Barter
+Simply Knock
+Grimy Plugin
+FileAccess Interface for Skyrim Script - FISS
+Lost Grimoire of Skyrim
+Forgotten Magic Redone
+Bandoliers tight to Male bare body
+Bandolier - UNP Fix and CBBE
+Bandolier - Bags and Pouches
+Winter Is Coming - Cloaks
+Scoped Bows 3.1.1_Marksman Edition
+Unique Uniques
+Unique Weapons Redone
+Guard Dialogue Overhaul
+Seranaholic
+Skyrim Darkness Immersive corpse
+RS Children Overhaul
+Inconsequential NPCs
+Bijin NPCs
+Bijin Warmaidens
+Bijin Wives
+ShowRaceMenu Precache Killer
+RaceMenu Paints Plugin
+RaceMenu
+Inhabitants of Skyrim - NPC Overhaul Visual
+Vampire Lord Retexture
-Horsemen - Mounted Combat Enhancement
-Dual Sheath Redux
+XP32 Maximum Skeleton Extended
+Immersive Animations
+Realistic Ragdolls and Force
+Craftable Horse Barding
-FNIS PCEA2 - Player Exclusive Animations (dynamic)
-Fores New Idles in Skyrim - FNIS Creature Addon
-Fores New Idles in Skyrim - FNIS
+Improved closefaced helmets
+3DNPC
+No More Ugly Bronze Shine
+Smile in HD Normalmap
+Smile in HD
+The Eyes Of Beauty NPC
+The Eyes Of Beauty
+SkySight Skins - Ultra HD Male Textures and Real Feet Meshes (4K2K HIGH)
+Mature Skin 2 UNP(B)
+All in One Face Pack for UNP
+UNP BLESSED BODY- UNPB REDUX PROJECT
+DIMONIZED UNP female body
+ApachiiSkyHair ALL
+Immersive HUD - iHUD
+Skyrim - Enhanced Camera
+Weather Control Center
+Wonders of Weather
+Lightning during Thunder Storms
+Natural Lighting Vivid Atmospherics True Storms Patch
+True Storms - Thunder and Rain Redone v1.5
+Vivid Weathers
+Enhanced Lights and FX
+Enhanced Blood Textures
+Roadsigns Redone
+Point The Way
+High Definition Ivy
+RUGNAROK
+Dust Effects
+Immersive Armors
+Immersive Weapons
+Hidden Hideouts of Skyrim
+Immersive Roads
+Immersive Fallen Trees Mod
+Cinematic Fire Effects 2 HD
+Vivid Landscapes - Rocking Stones and Mountains Parallax
+Complete Crafting Overhaul Remade
+aMidianBorn Book of Silence
+Pine Tree Fix for Complete Solitude - USLEEP Fix
+Solitude Reborn
+Dawn of Markarth
+Dawn of Windhelm
+JK's Riverwood
+Shezrie's Old Hroldan Town Ver 2.0
+Beautiful Whiterun
+Cutting Room Floor
+Verdant - A Skyrim Grass Plugin
-Skyrim Flora Overhaul Billboards
+Skyrim Flora Overhaul - No grass
+Watercolor for ENB and Realistic Water Two
+Pure Waters Landscape Textures
+Transparent Waves
+Realistic Water Two - ENB Textures
+Realistic Water Two
+Skyrim HD - Terrain Parallax Tribute
+NobleSkyrimMod HD-2K SMIM Patch
+NobleSkyrimMod HD-2K
+Static Mesh Improvement Mod
+ENB Subsurface Scattering Patch
+ENB Particle Patch
+Wet and Cold
+iNeed - Food, Water and Sleep
+Frostfall 3.4 Release
+Campfire - Complete Camping System
+Better Jumping
+Random Alternate Start Reborn USLEEP
+SkyUI
+Enchantment Reload Fix
+Clothing and Clutter Fixes
+Weapons and Armor Fixes Remade
+Memory Blocks Log
+SafetyLoad
+BugFixPlugin
+Unofficial Skyrim Legendary Edition Patch
+Natural Lighting Vivid Atmospherics Increased Weather Variety
+Natural Lighting Vivid Atmospherics
*Unmanaged: HighResTexturePack01
*Unmanaged: HighResTexturePack02
*Unmanaged: HighResTexturePack03
+Dragonborn esm - Clean
+HearthFires esm- Clean
+Dawnguard esm - Clean
+Update esm - Clean
+SKSE Scripts


I plan on adding ultimate combat and perkus maximus, and thunderchild soon so I will endure more scripts. When I finalize and optimize my mod list some mods may end up getting deleted to make room for others in terms of how much my game can handle, especially from a script side as I do experience script lag. I have read online on fixes for script lag meaning carefully tweaking papyrus numbers and what not, but I havn't done any of that yet.

With the current information provided I just want to know what you more experienced individuals say can use some upgrading to help make my game more playable and smooth.
Whether it's my RAM, GPU, etc.

Thanks for those willing to read/reply!

[HeyYou]

What you have isn't really all that bad. Trouble is, the socket 1155 is going to be the problem. Unless you change the system board as well, about the best you can do for the processor is a 3rd gen i7, for almost 500 bucks..... it would be an improvement, but, in my opinion, not worth the money.

 

Now, if you want to change the the System board as well...... then you could get a nice bump, but, that would likely also require upgrading your ram. (I don't think it would go in the new MB.)

 

So, question becomes, how much are you willing to spend? (and what country are you in?)

[WhyLebronWhy]

What you have isn't really all that bad. Trouble is, the socket 1155 is going to be the problem. Unless you change the system board as well, about the best you can do for the processor is a 3rd gen i7, for almost 500 bucks..... it would be an improvement, but, in my opinion, not worth the money.

 

Now, if you want to change the the System board as well...... then you could get a nice bump, but, that would likely also require upgrading your ram. (I don't think it would go in the new MB.)

 

So, question becomes, how much are you willing to spend? (and what country are you in?)

 

Country: U.S.

 

I'm willing to spend a reasonable amount, but nothing too absurd haha. Like 500 bucks isn't so appealing. So what would a new motherboard provide for me in terms of modding. I also heard more RAM allows me to add more default heap which I find can be useful. I'll of course lower the default heap as I optimize and test my game so my Skyrim can spend the unused MB elsewhere.

[HeyYou]

New motherboard would allow you to upgrade to a newer, more powerful, processor. Down side is, ram would need to be replaced as well.

 

You will still be looking at 6-700 bucks to make the upgrade worth while, and last for quite some time..... I am thinkin' a sixth gen i7 (around 300) MB, (likely another 200 or so, possibly less, and then RAM. Cost there just depends on how much you want. 8gb is probably still plenty, though, 16 has a certain amount of appeal to it. :) Though it costs more.... Of course.

[WhyLebronWhy]

New motherboard would allow you to upgrade to a newer, more powerful, processor. Down side is, ram would need to be replaced as well.

 

You will still be looking at 6-700 bucks to make the upgrade worth while, and last for quite some time..... I am thinkin' a sixth gen i7 (around 300) MB, (likely another 200 or so, possibly less, and then RAM. Cost there just depends on how much you want. 8gb is probably still plenty, though, 16 has a certain amount of appeal to it. :smile: Though it costs more.... Of course.

 

 

So my CPU is whats lacking I'm assuming. I can see that as I've had it for quite awhile. I know having more RAM allows for more default heap to be upgraded. I wonder if my 8GB is enough, what can the 16GB offer for skyrim modding aside from it's 8GB counterpart? I'm trying to run this game as smooth as possible with as little CTD's with the mods I currently have installed, it will take some optimization as I know hardware isn't everything. I just want to know if it is worth the upgrades for what I'm trying to do here.

Edited July 1, 2017 by WhyLebronWhy

[HeyYou]

I really don't think you will see much of a difference between 8, and 16 gig of RAM. I can run Oldrim on ultra, with UGrids set to 9, and it is butter smooth, even around open towns. SE likely handles memory 'better'..... but, I am still using a utility for FO4 (same engine) to improve it. I run 30 or so mods, and the game runs great, and I think it has crashed on me twice. Both times were heat related.... (machine shut itself down...) And my hardware is also pretty old. (AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black.)