Requesting help - Shadows and .ini settings

[h0rsel0ver]

RESOLVED - see second post. The .ini files I linked are functional, and will work on any quad-core CPU that has been unparked. 2GB+ VRAM highly recommended.

 

Skyrim.ini

SkyrimPrefs.ini

 

 

So at some point last December, I followed this guide, and felt that the shadow tweaks were perfect. Coming back to and modding the game after a hiatus, I find my shadows look like this:

http://imageshack.us/a/img189/752/2013060900002.jpg

All my shadows appear to be functioning at default "Ultra" settings.

Also, (what I think are) the specular maps are loading at a low resolution, like on that slush

Below are my .ini files

Relevant SkyrimPrefs.ini shadow settings:

[Display]
bDeferredShadows=1
bDrawLandShadows=1
bDrawShadows=1
bTreesReceiveShadows=1
bShadowMaskZPrepass=1

fInteriorShadowDistance=3000.0000
fShadowBiasScale=0.1500
fShadowDistance=8000.0000
fShadowLODStartFade=4000.0000
iShadowMaskQuarter=4

iShadowMapResolution=4096
iShadowMapResolutionPrimary=4096
iShadowMapResolutionSecondary=4096
iShadowMode=4
iShadowSplitCount=2
iBlurDeferredShadowMask=3

(If you wonder why my shadow resolutions are so high, it's because I have a MSI R7950 3GB twin frozr; latest beta drivers, 55-60fps at 1440x900. These settings, and higher settings, have worked fine in the past)

 

Full files:

Skyrim.ini

SkyrimPrefs.ini

 

My mod list (out of load order; load order has been optimized with boss, mods have been cleaned with TES5edit. Some folder names are present, I just made a .txt of the directory in cmd)

 

No post-injection shaders. SKSE is used.

 

Here is the same location with no mods active on a new character (different weather/time of day):

 

http://img203.imageshack.us/img203/3747/2013060900009.jpg

 

I've followed a lot of guides in the past on .ini tweaking, and I feel that it should work. However, it seems that these settings are being overridden somehow.

 

If anyone has experience with fixing shadows or .ini settings in general, and recognizes the issue, please let me know, I would be grateful.

 

Thanks for your time.

Edited June 10, 2013 by h0rsel0ver

[h0rsel0ver]

Bumping this, I could really use some insight.

Further gameplay leads me to believe that the entirety of my SkyrimPrefs.ini is being ignored by the game. Is there a way that can happen?

 

Edit: I can confirm that the game is ignoring my SkyrimPrefs.ini. I think it's conflicting with a Skyrim.ini setting, but I'm not seeing it.

 

 

Resolved

 

it seems doubling all the shadowmaps up to 8192 gives me much better shadows. There are still some crappy shadows being cast by brushes, but characters and objects are casting fairly crisp shadows now.

Edited June 10, 2013 by h0rsel0ver