best ways to identify mods that are causing slow load times and lower frame rates

[Fractalbase]

I have a large mod build, with probably too many mods.  My game takes a few minutes to load to the main menu, and often has low FPS.  I've tried a lot of the tricks listed on the mod page "Free FPS".

I'm convinced that the long load times and low fps are caused from one or more mods with too many scripts or too large scripts or just poor performance scripts in general.

Can someone offer some advice on how I might go about and diagnose my mod build to avoid script lag?

[anjenthedog]

Well...for instance

in exterior locations (interiors not usually as subject, probably because in general, their asset numbers are miniscule in comparison to contiguous outdoor cellgroups), high res assets for one. (those oh so sweet 4 and 8K textures!)

Also, (Mainly outdoors as well), complex weather/environmental-related assets can increase load

Mods that add opponents (increase NPC counts....AND event counts, not just with player but in the wild among themselves) like Unlimited World encounters

Mods that have fast loop times (If button pressed do something, if data changes do something, etc) and large numbers of managed assets using those values.

[radiusrsatti]

loading to main menu, to my understanding, by default takes a lot longer than vanilla... takes my comp about 3-5 mins to get to main menu, haven't timed it, but I certainly have enough time for a drink/snack or bathroom break

if it's specifically script lag you're focused on, the only real way to isolate the sources would be the 50-50 method... disable half of your script heavy mods, test run, see if lag's reduced, disable half again if not, etc etc

if you're not sure it's strictly because of scripts, then there are multiple other areas to consider... is the fps drag pervasive, or does it spike in certain areas/directions or with specific actions, then you can focus troubleshooting in those regards

how are the specs of your comp in relation of what you're trying to do, enough RAM, VRAM, etc etc, you can monitor with task manager while running, or this if you like https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/3826 to see performance impact while playing

I once had heavy overworld lag issues that were resolved with Dyndolod and grass pre-caching, as I use a lot of mods that alter landscape, grasses, and add structures... that's now a mainstay of my load order, have to edit/regen it whenever you make area/landscape changes, though