Grass causing all lag

[Tank0123]

Simply put, if I use the console to toggle grass off (tg) the game gets around 20 fps -- sometimes 40 if I'm looking at an interior's wall that has no objects or anything in it (although that's rare; stick with 20).

Outdoors however, it gets around 4-10 fps with grass on, assuming I'm facing grass. Toggle off -- back to 20 instantly.

I'm even using a low-poly grass mod, but it's not cutting it. Suggestions? Or just keep toggling?

[Bean3613]

What are your PC specs? It may simply be that your PC can't handle it.

[Tank0123]

I'm trying to get them, it's just I have to jump through hoops to get them. Stupid Microsoft. Just wait a few more minutes and I'll have them.

[Tank0123]

Well it's not letting me copy and paste the info, so I'll try to type what I can word for word.

Edited July 28, 2013 by Tank0123

[Tank0123]

So not exactly word for word, but I just shortened some things for time:

Intel® Core i3-3110M CPU @ 2.40 GHz

RAM: 4.00 GB (3.82 usable)

Type: 64 bit OS, x64-based processor

[ripple]

20 FPS is not good to begin with. What's your GPU? What's the grass density setting in your ini? Are you using any graphic mods? More grass mods?

[Bean3613]

It's likely that it is your GPU. Can you give us details on that?

[prod80]

Try this;

 

Open My Documents\My Games\Skyrim

 

Open the file "Skyrim.ini"

 

Find [Grass]

 

Change/add this under it;

iMinGrassSize=128

Install this mod after it; http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/33582/

[Sigurd44]

The following settings are already ultra settings for grass in the Skyrim.ini and the SkyrimPrefs.ini:

 

Skyrim.ini:

 

[Grass]
bAllowLoadGrass=0
bAllowCreateGrass=1
bDrawShaderGrass=1
iMinGrassSize=20 (ultra setting, displays the most grass)
iMaxGrassTypesPerTexure=6 (needed only for the mod SFO to deliver even more density to the shown grass)

 

SkyrimPrefs.ini:

 

[Grass]
b30GrassVS=0
fGrassStartFadeDistance=7000.0000 (ultra value)
fGrassMaxStartFadeDistance=7000.0000 (ultra value)
fGrassMinStartFadeDistance=400.0000 (ultra value)
bDoTallGrassEffect=1
bShadowsOnGrass=1
bGrassPointLighting=1

If you want to decrease the system pressure the following values are the ones with the most impact:

 

iMinGrassSize=20 (maybe set it to 40 or higher, or to 128 as prod80 suggested)

fGrassMinStartFadeDistance=400.0000 (this value has a real big impact on your performance, 400 is already really high)

bShadowsOnGrass=1 (if there are many objects like trees etc. or NPCs around that draw their own shadows, the shadows will be displayed on grass too, maybe set that to 0, give it a try)

 

Another value that might have the biggest impact on performance (in combination with the other values posted above) is uGridtoLoad. uGridtoLoad dramatically changes the visible structures and objects in your Skyrim. As higher as more distant structures and objects are loaded and this will happen with highest possible LOD (lvl 1 LOD?) resolution. At moment a value of uGridsToLoad=7 and uExterior Cell Buffer=64 is too much even for ultra high end rigs, IF you use a lot of texture mods and maybe some ENB or other high grafic settings in addition. In combination with the 3.1 GB RAM limit due to the x32 bit structure of the Skyrim engine in most cases a save game won't load at all or results in a CTD or endless loading loop maybe even on launch or maybe while fast travelling or zoning into an exterior cell the first time.

 

 

uGridsToLoad=5
uExterior Cell Buffer=36

 

The above values are the default settings (if you want to use the default settings you don't have to write them down in your Skyrim.ini explicitely, they will be used automatically) and I recommend to use them, if you use other texture mods in addition and/or do not have a high end rig.

[Tank0123]

I do not use texture or graphics mods. Thanks for all the replies. Don't abandon me yet -- I'll go check the GPU.

Also, I tend to play on medium as far as graphics go.

I found something:

Intel® HD Graphics 4000

 

I don't know anything about computers so I don't know. All I know was that this computer was supposed to come with 4GB of RAM.