Looking for Stability in My Skyrim

[RussianRanger]

Good Morning all! I'm trying to find the root cause of what is destabilizing my game (Causing random freezes/CTD without error), unfortunately I'm not sure where to start and if its something on the graphics/memory side of things, or on the script side of things.

 

Exact Problem: In the outside world space, when sprinting/running to a location or on horseback, I will CTD or freeze, no error prompts or anything. This is random and happens more noticeably when a NPC is just about to attack me, but happens without that as well, sometimes mid-combat. This problem does not happen, or has yet to happen, in an interior (dungeon, house, etc). My character has been in the Western side of the map during these crashes (from Markarth to Whiterun, and Whiterun to Morthal to Solitude). This does not mean I haven't crashed in other parts of the map, but this is where I've been the past week or so when facing these problems.

 

Quick Specs:

GPU - AMD Radeon 7950 3GB

CPU - AMD Phenom II X6 1090T 3.20 GHz

RAM - 16BG

OS: Windows 7 Home 64 Bit

 

Details:

 

I'm running 137 plugins (according to BOSS, includes official .esp's as well)

Everything is loaded via BOSS.

Every plug in that was denoted as needing cleaned by BOSS has been cleaned (via TES5Edit)

All leveled lists merged via Wrye Bash.

All textures/BSAs have been compressed to 2048x2048 or less via "Optimizer Textures" from http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/12801//?

I'm using RealVision ENB (Performance version, Option A) from http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/30936/?tab=1&navtag=%2Fajax%2Fmoddescription%2F%3Fid%3D30936%26preview%3D&pUp=1

When monitoring my VRAM via MSI Afterburner, right before CTD/Freeze, it is ~2985mb before dropping everytime.

 

Graphical Enhancements/Texture Replacers I'm using:

 

RealVision ENB

(Unofficial) Skyrim HD - 2K Textures v 1.5 (Dungeons, Landscape, Misc, Towns) NOTE: I do not use the Riften 2k

SMIM (v 1.5)

Better Dynamic Snow (v 2.20)

Realistic Smoke and Embers RSE High (v 1.4)

aMidianborn Book of Silence (Armor, weapons, Unique) (v 1.85)

Ruins Clutter Improved (v 2.5)

Ultimate HD Fire Effects (v 1.9)

Grass on Steroids, normal version (non SFO) (v 1.3c)

Realistic Lighting Overhaul (v 4.07c)

Climates of Tamriel (v 3.1)

WATER (v1.75)

Moss Rocks (v 1.31)

Skyrim Bigger Trees (v 11.4)

Supreme Storms (v 3.1)

Trees_HD (1k resolution version)

Sexy Boats v1

Sexy Riften v2

Sexy Solitude v1

Sexy Windhelm v2

Sexy Winterhold v2

 

Below is my Skyrimpref.ini, if that would help as well. I'm fairly certain that the issue is graphical and related to memory usage, but I can provide the papyrus log later if that would help.

 

[General]

sLanguage=ENGLISH

fBrightLightColorB=1.0000

fBrightLightColorG=1.0000

fBrightLightColorR=1.0000

iStoryManagerLoggingEvent=-1

bEnableStoryManagerLogging=0

fDefaultFOV=85

bMultiThreadMovement=1

bUseThreadedParticleSystem=1

bUseThreadedBlood=1

bUseThreadedMorpher=1

bUseThreadedTempEffects=1

bUseThreadedTextures=1

bUseThreadedMeshes=1

bUseThreadedLOD=1

bUseThreadedAI=1

bUseHardDriveCache=0

[imagespace]

bDoDepthOfField=1

iRadialBlurLevel=0

bDoRadialBlur=1

[Display]

iBlurDeferredShadowMask=5

fInteriorShadowDistance=3000.0000

fShadowDistance=4500.0000

iShadowMapResolutionSecondary=2048

iShadowMapResolutionPrimary=4096

iShadowSplitCount=4

iMaxAnisotropy=0

bUse Shaders=1

bAllow30HairShader=1

bUseRefractionShader=1

iTexMipMapMinimum=4

iTexMipMap=2048

iTexMipMapSkip=0

iUseTexHiRes=1

iNormalMapQuality=4096

iTexNormalMapMinimum=2048

iTexMipMapResolution=4096

iTexMipMapQuality=4096

iMipMapResolution=4096

iMipMapSize=4096

bFaceMipMaps=1

bFaceGenTexturing=1

bFaceGenTexturingQuality=4096

bHighQualityTexMipMaps=1

bDynamicWindowReflections=1

fLeafAnimDampenDistEnd=6000.0000

fLeafAnimDampenDistStart=4600.0000

fTreesMidLODSwitchDist=10000000.0000

fGamma=1.1200

iShadowFilter=4

fDecalLOD2=1500.0000

fDecalLOD1=1000.0000

iActorShadowCountInt=12

iActorShadowCountExt=20

fSpecularLODStartFade=3000.0000

fShadowLODStartFade=2000.0000

fLightLODStartFade=5000.0000

iTexMipMapMinimum=4

iTexMipMapSkip=0

bTransparencyMultisampling=0

iWaterMultiSamples=4

iMultiSample=0

iShadowMode=4

bTreesReceiveShadows=1

bDrawLandShadows=1

bDrawShadows=1

bFull Screen=1

iSize H=1080

iSize W=1920

fMeshLODFadePercentDefault=1.2000

fMeshLODFadeBoundDefault=256.0000

fMeshLODLevel2FadeTreeDistance=10000.0000

fMeshLODLevel1FadeTreeDistance=10000.0000

fMeshLODLevel2FadeDist=10000000.0000

fMeshLODLevel1FadeDist=10000000.0000

iScreenShotIndex

bShadowMaskZPrepass=0

bMainZPrepass=0

iMaxSkinDecalsPerFrame=25

iMaxDecalsPerFrame=100

sD3DDevice="AMD Radeon HD 7900 Series"

bFXAAEnabled=0

iShadowMapResolution=4096

iShadowMapResolutionInt=8192

iActorSelfShadow=1

iActorSelfShadowResolution=8192

fShadowBiasScale=0.1500

iShadowMaskQuarter=4

iAdapter=0

iPresentInterval=1

bFloatPointRenderTarget=1

bShadowsOnGrass=1

bDeferredShadows=1

iScreenShotIndex=91

[Grass]

b30GrassVS=1

fGrassStartFadeDistance=13000.0000

fGrassMaxStartFadeDistance=15000.0000

fGrassMinStartFadeDistance=0.0000

bGrassPointLighting=0

bDrawShaderGrass=0

bShadowsOnGrass=1

[MAIN]

bGamepadEnable=0

bCrosshairEnabled=1

fHUDOpacity=1.0000

bSaveOnPause=0

bSaveOnTravel=0

bSaveOnWait=0

bSaveOnRest=0

fSkyCellRefFadeDistance=150000.0000

[GamePlay]

bShowFloatingQuestMarkers=0

bShowQuestMarkers=1

iDifficulty=5

[interface]

bDialogueSubtitles=1

bGeneralSubtitles=1

fMouseCursorSpeed=1.0000

bShowCompass=1

[Controls]

fGamepadHeadingSensitivity=1.0000

fMouseHeadingSensitivity=0.0400

fMouseHeadingYScale=0.02

fMouseHeadingXScale=0.02

bAlwaysRunByDefault=1

bInvertYValues=0

bGamePadRumble=0

bMouseAcceleration=0

bUseKinect=0

[Particles]

iMaxDesired=250

[saveGame]

fAutosaveEveryXMins=60.0000

bDisableAutoSave=0

[AudioMenu]

fAudioMasterVolume=0.6500

fVal7=1.0000

uID7=0

fVal6=1.0000

uID6=0

fVal5=1.0000

uID5=0

fVal4=1.0000

uID4=0

fVal3=1.0000

uID3=94881

fVal2=1.0000

uID2=466532

fVal1=1.0000

uID1=554685

fVal0=0.8000

uID0=1007612

[Clouds]

fCloudLevel2Distance=262144.0000

fCloudLevel1Distance=32768.0000

fCloudLevel0Distance=16384.0000

fCloudNearFadeDistance=9000.0000

[TerrainManager]

fTreeLoadDistance=75000.0000

fBlockMaximumDistance=262500.0000

fBlockLevel1Distance=70000.0000

fBlockLevel0Distance=43750.0000

fSplitDistanceMult=1.5000

bShowLODInEditor=0

[NavMesh]

fObstacleAlpha=0.5000

fCoverSideHighAlpha=0.8000

fCoverSideLowAlpha=0.6500

fEdgeFullAlpha=1.0000

fEdgeHighAlpha=0.7500

fEdgeLowAlpha=0.5000

fTriangleFullAlpha=0.7000

fTriangleHighAlpha=0.3500

fTriangleLowAlpha=0.2000

fLedgeBoxHalfHeight=25.0000

fEdgeDistFromVert=10.0000

fEdgeThickness=10.0000

fPointSize=2.5000

bUseThreadedMeshes=1

[Trees]

bRenderSkinnedTrees=1

uiMaxSkinnedTreesToRender=24

bUseMultiThreadedTrees=1

bShadowMaskZPrePass=1

bEnableTreeAnimations=1

[Decals]

uMaxDecals=1000

bDecals=1

bSkinnedDecals=1

uMaxSkinDecals=100

uMaxSkinDecalsPerActor=60

bDecalMultithreaded=1

[LOD]

fLODFadeOutMultObjects=15.0000

fLODFadeOutMultItems=15.0000

fLODFadeOutMultActors=15.0000

fLODFadeOutMultSkyCell=1.0000

[Launcher]

bEnableFileSelection=1

bShowAllResolutions=0

uLastAspectRatio=3

[blurShaderHDR]

bDoHighDynamicRange=1

[blurShader]

bUseBlurShader=0

[Camera]

fOverShoulderAddY=0.0000

fOverShoulderPosZ=-10.0000

fOverShoulderPosX=0.0000

fOverShoulderCombatAddY=0.0000

fOverShoulderCombatPosZ=-10.0000

fOverShoulderCombatPosX=0.0000

[Water]

iWaterReflectHeight=2048

iWaterReflectWidth=2048

fWadingWaterTextureRes=1024

fSurfaceTileSize=1024

bUseWaterDisplacements=1

bUseWaterRefractions=1

bUseWaterDepth=1

bForceHighDetailReflections=0

bAutoWaterSilhouetteReflections=1

bUseWaterReflectionBlur=1

bReflectExplosions=1

iWaterBlurAmount=4

bUseWaterHiRes=1

bUseWaterShader=1

bUseWaterHDR=1

bUseWaterLOD=1

bReflectLODObjects=1

bReflectLODLand=1

bReflectSky=1

bReflectLODTrees=1

bUseWaterReflections=1

iMinMemoryPageSize=100000

iMaxMemoryPageSize=5000000

[backgroundLoad]

bUseBackgroundFileLoader=1

bUseMultiThreadedFaceGen=1

bBackgroundCellLoads=1

bUseMultiThreadedTrees=1

bUseBackgroundFileLoader=1

bBackgroundLoadLipFiles=1

bLoadHelmetsInBackground=1

bLoadBackgroundFaceGen=1

[HAVOK]

iNumThreads=5

 

 

[bben46]

Freezing is often caused by something outside of the game - such as a background process ( VIOP, Skype and instant messaging programs are bad about stealing focus when they check for messages. All background processes steal a few clock cycles from time to time. Usually they give back the focus quickly enough that you don't even notice. But if it takes too long for the processor to return to the game it can cause the game to be out of sync - which can cause a freeze or a Crash.

 

There are several programs that are designed to remove as many background processes and other stuff as possible to leave a clean computer for playing - then restore the removed stuff when you quit the game - Some people swear by them and others swear at them - here is a link to one I have used with some success. http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/iobit_game_booster.html There are others, but this is one that I am familiar with.

[RussianRanger]

I sincerely appreciate the reply and I'll definitely give it a shot, at the very least that will solve the freezing issues! Have it downloaded and running! Altthough I do have an update:

 

I took out the d3d9.dll ENB wrapper to see if that would help. It certainly increased performance, and my VRAM was only going to ~1970mb, BUT I still managed to CTD, now leading me to believe something is causing that in the scripts. Posted below is the last bit of the log right before the crash. Please note I was flying aboard the Dev Aveza heading from Solitude to Markarth and was just going over Dragonbridge. It seems I consistently crash around that region. I'm using the Dev Aveza as its a good way to make distance in a short time to test the memory capabilities of my machine.

 

From the log:

 

[08/25/2013 - 07:32:23AM] =====Wet and Cold is finished refreshing itself and searching for addons!=====

[08/25/2013 - 07:32:23AM]

[08/25/2013 - 07:33:25AM] VM is freezing...

[08/25/2013 - 07:33:25AM] VM is frozen

[08/25/2013 - 07:33:25AM] Saving game...

[08/25/2013 - 07:33:26AM] VM is thawing...

[08/25/2013 - 07:33:39AM] VM is freezing...

[08/25/2013 - 07:33:39AM] VM is frozen

[08/25/2013 - 07:33:40AM] Saving game...

[08/25/2013 - 07:33:40AM] VM is thawing...

[08/25/2013 - 07:33:51AM] VM is freezing...

[08/25/2013 - 07:33:51AM] VM is frozen

[08/25/2013 - 07:33:51AM] Saving game...

[08/25/2013 - 07:33:52AM] VM is thawing...

[08/25/2013 - 07:34:33AM] Warning: Property _TB_DiseaseBoneBreakFever on script _TB_EastWestLineScript attached to (830102BD) cannot be initialized because the script no longer contains that property

[08/25/2013 - 07:34:53AM] Warning: (FF00194B): Ref is in an unloaded cell, so it cannot cast spells..

stack:

[ (000F23D1)].SPELL.Cast() - "<native>" Line ?

[Active effect 1 on (FF00194B)].SprigganFXSCRIPT.OnEnterBleedout() - "SprigganFXSCRIPT.psc" Line 72

[08/25/2013 - 07:35:09AM] Warning: (FF00194A): Ref is in an unloaded cell, so it cannot cast spells..

stack:

[ (000F23D1)].SPELL.Cast() - "<native>" Line ?

[Active effect 1 on (FF00194A)].SprigganFXSCRIPT.OnEnterBleedout() - "SprigganFXSCRIPT.psc" Line 72

[08/25/2013 - 07:35:12AM] Warning: Property hitpoints on script FishingNetScript attached to Item 1 in container (1E02593A) cannot be initialized because the script no longer contains that property

[rattlehead5000]

I have a similar issue, and I'm not sure what the cause is.

 

I also CTD in the worldspace, but never in cells. I also CTD most when sprinting or riding a horse.

I've tried running the default 1k textures, tried disabling most script-heavy mods, I have ended all non-critical processes running in the backround etc.

Nothing helps. I'm not even using that many mods at present.

I do notice that my card's fans (card is AMD 7950) really ramp up in the worldspace, but not the cells.

The only thing I haven't tried yet is disabling ALL mods, then enabling them one by one, but that seems like the most logical step I guess.

So in any event...you're not alone.

Edited August 26, 2013 by rattlehead5000

[battou]

I'm also experiencing frequent freezes, and rarely ctd. Only using texture mods and SkyRe, frostfall, rnd, hunterborn and SkyTest. Enb. Have 4gb vram card and 8gb DDR3 ram. i5 4670k. Will try to disable all but texture mods and see if it helps.

[zoggie206]

my game ctds every few minutes now started sunday after i put a few mor mods on , im only runnin 12 or so its definately something to do with mods like i havent got right supports or something but i am not tech minded. :blush: but i dont wanna get rid o the fancy pants etc :laugh:

[RussianRanger]

Alright all, I figured out what was causing my CTDs, and this may also apply to some of you as well. First let me preface what I did (and how I came to isolate the issue):

 

What I did:

 

I deleted my skyrim directory under steam (where all the data files, exe, etc is included).

 

I redownloaded it from Steam, reinstalled all the mods, cleaned all my mods, ran the respective jar files (dual sheath, reproccer), made a bashed patch. I did not redownload my ENB however, I started my game without any ENB files touching my directory.

 

I toggled collisions off and started running (as I have done before). Although the framerate was better due to the lack of ENB, I still crashed! And then I noticed the water being a tad quirky and remembered... I had not reset my skyrimpref.ini/skyrim.ini.

 

After creating backups of these files (to maintain the archery combat values), I deleted them (if you've never seen them before, they are located in Documents/My Games/Skyrim). Then I started up Skyrim via the steam route, the .ini files were recreated with their vanilla values. Then I exited the launcher and ran it via the SKSE.

 

Result:

 

I have not experienced a CTD/Freeze yet, even after loading my old save and walking (well, running mid air with collisions toggled off) from Solitude to Markarth, and taking a carriage (Using the Touring Carriages Mod) from Markarth to Winterhold. I then flew from Winterhold to Riften (This time installing a different ENB, Project ENB v 1.19) and still no crashes.

 

Keep in mind, I have not edited the .ini files other than the absolutely necessary changes for Proper Aiming mod (arrow values), Skyrim Flora Overhaul (grass textures), and 4 lines for Project ENB.

 

It makes sense that the skyrimprefs.ini was causing the trouble for me, as I had heavily modified all the values in both .ini files to "optimize" my Skyrim. Little did I know, at least one, if not several of the "optimizations" I made were counter intuitive and crashing/freezing my game.

 

My Recommendation:

 

I recommend you BACKUP your ini files first and disable your ENB by cut/paste the d3d9.dll in a seperate folder. Then have Skyrim generate new .ini files for you and try that. If that doesn't work, then perhaps it is something else. I hope that this can at least help some of you in identifying your own problems.

Edited August 27, 2013 by RussianRanger

[rattlehead5000]

I've let the program generate new .ini files for me, but it hasn't helped at all.

 

In fact, despite a fresh install and a new game, things are actually getting worse. :sad: Okay, I have installed all the DLC in the meantime, but still. )

 

I'm using Skyrim Performance Monitor, and I'm well under the 3.1Gb cap...the most I've seen is 2.6Gb in RAM.

I had an infinite loading screen in Markarth trying to exit, but I believe that to be a problem with SFO. I'm going to try the smaller 2048 LOD version tonight.

 

But I'm getting CTD when I didn't have them before, and randomly and ones I can't replicate. For instance, giving my follower arrows in the Ratway it crashed, riding toward Solitude it crashed, fighting a Spriggan near Falkreath it crashed, exiting the Bannered Mare it crashed....and so on.

 

I monitor my RAM usage like a hawk and it's usually about 2.3Gb on average, so I should be in the safe zone? I don't understand it.

 

I have all the unofficial patches for Skyrim and the DLC, I use Boss to sort my load order, I've created a bashed patch and have it at the bottom of my load order, my game is of course fully up to date. I have not messed with ugrids or my config files, I don't run any ENB...?

 

The one thing I have not tried is cleaning my mods, but unless all the DLC introduced a bunch of new bugs, I'm pretty clueless as to what's causing it.

 

I have a bunch of mods, but the main ones are:

Frostfall (up to date)

Realistic Needs & Diseases (up to date)

Convenient Horses (up to date)

Skyrim Immersive Creatures (up to date)

SFO 1.8 Summer Edition

2K Texture pack (Using the Lite version)

CoT

Amazing Follower Tweaks (up to date)

 

Those are the major ones. I'm not including body replacers or smaller texture replacers because I don't think they're in any way part of the problem.

 

Anyway, yeah. At this rate I'll soon just stop modding and play the vanilla game again.

 

I'm glad that your problems are solved though. :)

Edited September 3, 2013 by rattlehead5000

[vlaka]

I've let the program generate new .ini files for me, but it hasn't helped at all.

 

In fact, despite a fresh install and a new game, things are actually getting worse. :sad: Okay, I have installed all the DLC in the meantime, but still. )

 

I'm using Skyrim Performance Monitor, and I'm well under the 3.1Gb cap...the most I've seen is 2.6Gb in RAM.

I had an infinite loading screen in Markarth trying to exit, but I believe that to be a problem with SFO. I'm going to try the smaller 2048 LOD version tonight.

 

But I'm getting CTD when I didn't have them before, and randomly and ones I can't replicate. For instance, giving my follower arrows in the Ratway it crashed, riding toward Solitude it crashed, fighting a Spriggan near Falkreath it crashed, exiting the Bannered Mare it crashed....and so on.

 

I monitor my RAM usage like a hawk and it's usually about 2.3Gb on average, so I should be in the safe zone? I don't understand it.

 

I have all the unofficial patches for Skyrim and the DLC, I use Boss to sort my load order, I've created a bashed patch and have it at the bottom of my load order, my game is of course fully up to date. I have not messed with ugrids or my config files, I don't run any ENB...?

 

The one thing I have not tried is cleaning my mods, but unless all the DLC introduced a bunch of new bugs, I'm pretty clueless as to what's causing it.

 

I have a bunch of mods, but the main ones are:

Frostfall (up to date)

Realistic Needs & Diseases (up to date)

Convenient Horses (up to date)

Skyrim Immersive Creatures (up to date)

SFO 1.8 Summer Edition

2K Texture pack (Using the Lite version)

CoT

Amazing Follower Tweaks (up to date)

 

Those are the major ones. I'm not including body replacers or smaller texture replacers because I don't think they're in any way part of the problem.

 

Anyway, yeah. At this rate I'll soon just stop modding and play the vanilla game again.

 

I'm glad that your problems are solved though. :smile:

 

script heavy mods are a pain in the behind :(

I stopped using wet and cold, frost fall and also considering not reinstalling Realistic needs and diseases just for the fact they all run scripts in the background etc

 

maybe start a new game with those disabled and see how you go? :)