How does one tell which scripts are firing, when, and how often?

[thumbincubation]

I've noticed lately that my fps goes back and forth from 60 to 55 regularly, in precisely 1 second intervals, causing lag. Because of the regular timing, I thought it might have been a background program of some sort, so I've stopped or shut down every background program I can think of. I've watched task manager and performance tab, have tried to play without antivirus, etc., and I just can't pinpoint what is doing it. I wonder if there is some script trying to check something every second, but I don't know how to find that out. Is this possible? I have enabled papyrus logging, though I don't know how to read the reports or if that will even be where I should look. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[IsharaMeradin]

Papyrus logging would be the place to look, if the scripts running produce an error or print trace statements to the log. Otherwise, there is no idea to know what script is running at what time.

[thumbincubation]

Thank you, Ishara. I feared that might be the case. I found the log and it's gigantic. I am just going through and trying to see if I can spot the same mod name at 1 sec intervals.

[ReDragon2013]

In additional to IsharaMeradins answer:

 

1) To check windows running threads use (windows own TaskManager or) this program
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/process-explorer

2) To check Skyrim (you should have already enabled papyrus logging) open the console ingame (with key ^) and put in
DPS - to track currently running active script instances
DPU - to track scripts which are waiting for OnUpdate() or OnUpdateGameTime() event

 

The leading byte tells you where is the place of this script in load order, except it has

0xFF?????? - that means there is another script (like critterSpawn) which placed an Object to Skyrim, and this object has a script attached (like critterfish,, crittermoth, firefly), which is active

 

To understand Skyrims load order (.esm, .esp, .esl) look at this overview: https://www.afkmods.com/index.php?/topic/5079-plugin-files-and-you-esmeslesp/

Edited June 6, 2021 by ReDragon2013

[thumbincubation]

Thank you, ReDragon. I appreciate it. I did enable papyrus. I can't test in game yet, though, because I have stripped out my load order and haven't run LOOT and all that, this time. I hope to have that done in a day or so, and then I'll be able to go in game and see if the issue persists and if I can spot it. These will help also.