Outdoor FPS in FCOM Nearly Halves After Reinstall!

[Lowk]

So, here I am again after having gotten FCOM running smoothly on the third try, with minimal crashes. So much fun!

 

.........as long as I stay indoors. That's right, my FPS is a very shaky 10 (lower limit set by OSR) every time I step outside into the wild blue yonder of Cyrodiil. Normally, I realize this would be a rather redundant issue; everyone who pops that disc in the drive is risking some serious headaches over performance, and will come whining here or elsewhere on the internet about how their computer "should be able to run this."

 

But here's how I'm special, yay! I'm using exactly the same mod list, Bash patched and BOSS ordered exactly the same way as my previous install. I hadn't done anything different this time around. Literally, a week ago my FPS was twice what it is now in exactly the same spot. I've fiddled with graphics settings, both in-game and through the Nvidia control panel, to no avail. I've Googled my brains out and found no similar issues, but tried out other tweaks for the ini, for OSR, and for Streamline along the way. Nothing seems to eliminate the horrible stutter and slowdown that simply was not there a few saves ago. It's making a large portion of the game unplayable even with all the graphics settings turned all the way down. Particular problem areas are the IC Waterfront, all of Bruma, and west of Lake Rumare, but it's pretty much bad everywhere.

 

I'm going to begin the arduous process of activating my mods one at a time, in load order, to see if anything hits particularly hard. After starting a new vanilla save, I have noticed considerable improvement; so, my guess is that either the CPU is overloaded by all the AI and meshes used in FCOM's mods, my savegame Abomb of 30% is affecting it somehow, or gnomes are eating my computer's insides. I guess.

 

Here's my specs and modlist; I'm really hoping someone has insight into this. The only thing I've done to my system since the last install was a nvidia driver update, because I've heard that's important. Thanks in advance to the godly godperson who can figure this one out:

 

• 00 Oblivion.esm

 

• 01 Francesco's Leveled Creatures-Items Mod.esm

 

• 02 Francesco's Optional New Items Add-On.esm

 

• 03 Cobl Main.esm [Version 1.73]

 

• 04 Oscuro's_Oblivion_Overhaul.esm [Version 1.34]

 

• 05 Mart's Monster Mod.esm [Version 3.7b3p3]

 

• 06 FCOM_Convergence.esm [Version 0.9.9MB3]

 

• 07 No Lights Flicker.esm

 

• 08 Progress.esm [Version 2.2]

 

• 09 Unofficial Oblivion Patch.esp [Version 3.3]

 

• 0A UOP Vampire Aging & Face Fix.esp [Version 1.0.0]

 

• 0B DLCShiveringIsles.esp

 

• 0C Unofficial Shivering Isles Patch.esp [Version 1.4.0]

 

• 0D Francesco's Optional Chance of Stronger Bosses.esp

 

• 0E Francesco's Optional Chance of Stronger Enemies.esp

 

• 0F Francesco's Optional Chance of More Enemies.esp

 

• 10 Francesco's Optional Leveled Guards.esp

 

• ++ FCOM_Francescos.esp [Version 0.9.9]

 

• ++ FCOM_FrancescosItemsAddOn.esp [Version 0.9.9]

 

• 11 FCOM_FrancescosNamedBosses.esp [Version 0.9.9]

 

• ++ no_wind-2578.esp

 

• ++ Item interchange - Extraction.esp [Version 0.76]

 

• 12 Enhanced Economy.esp [Version 4.3.1]

 

• • • Enhanced Economy - Soulgems.esp [Version 4.2.2]

 

• ++ EVE_StockEquipmentReplacer.esp

 

• 13 Cobl Glue.esp [Version 1.73]

 

• 14 Cobl Si.esp [Version 1.63]

 

• • • OOO 1.32-Cobl.esp [Version 1.72]

 

• ++ FCOM_Cobl.esp [Version 0.9.9]

 

• 15 Bob's Armory Oblivion.esp

 

• 16 Cheat Bob's Armory Oblivion.esp

 

• 17 FCOM_BobsArmory.esp [Version 0.9.9]

 

• 18 Loth's Blunt Weapons for Npcs.esp

 

• ++ FCOM_LothsBluntWeapons.esp [Version 0.9.9]

 

• 19 Oblivion WarCry EV.esp [Version .]

 

• 1A FCOM_WarCry.esp [Version 0.9.9MB3]

 

• 1B Oscuro's_Oblivion_Overhaul.esp [Version 1.34]

 

• ++ OOO-DLT_Remover.esp [Version 1.33]

 

• ++ OOO-Container_Trap_Instant_Effects.esp [Version 1.33]

 

• 1C FCOM_Convergence.esp [Version 0.9.9Mb3]

 

• ++ FCOM_EntropicOrderRebalance.esp [Version 0.9.9beta2]

 

• 1D FCOM_RealSwords.esp [Version 0.9.9]

 

• 1E FCOM_DurabilityAndDamage.esp [Version 0.9.9]

 

• 1F Mart's Monster Mod - More Wilderness Life No Gates.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]

 

• ++ Mart's Monster Mod - More Passive Wildlife.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]

 

• ++ FCOM_SaferRoads.esp [Version 0.9.9]

 

• ++ FCOM_LessRats.esp [Version 0.9.9]

 

• ++ FCOM_LessReaversInGates.esp [Version 0.9.9]

 

• 20 Mart's Monster Mod - Extra Wounding.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]

 

• ++ Mart's Monster Mod - Less Reavers.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]

 

• ++ Mart's Monster Mod - Less Bone Loot.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]

 

• 21 Mart's Monster Mod - Safer Quest Locations.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]

 

• 22 Mart's Monster Mod - Dungeons of MMM.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]

 

• 23 Mart's Monster Mod - Gems & Gem Dust.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]

 

• 24 Mart's Monster Mod - Hunting & Crafting.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]

 

• 25 Mart's Monster Mod - Farm Animals.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]

 

• ++ Mart's Monster Mod - Slof Horses Complete.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]

 

• ++ Mart's Monster Mod - Diverse Runeskulls Loot G&GD.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]

 

• ++ FCOM_DiverseGuardUnity.esp [Version 0.9.9]

 

• ++ FCOM_BobsGuardUnity.esp [Version 0.9.9]

 

• ++ FCOM_HungersUnitySI.esp [Version 0.9.9]

 

• ++ FCOM_Archery.esp [Version 0.9.9]

 

• ++ FCOM_FriendlierFactions.esp [Version 0.9.9]

 

• 26 FCOM_MoreRandomSpawns.esp [Version 0.9.9]

 

• 27 FCOM_MoreRandomItems.esp [Version 0.9.9]

 

• ++ Mart's Monster Mod - Shivering Isles.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]

 

• ++ MMM-Cobl.esp [Version 1.73]

 

• 28 Mart's Monster Mod - City Defences.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]

 

• 29 Harvest [Flora].esp [Version 3.0.0]

 

• ++ Harvest [Flora] - Shivering Isles.esp [Version 3.0.0]

 

• 2A EVE_ShiveringIslesEasterEggs.esp

 

• 2B SupremeMagicka.esp [Version 0.90]

 

• 2C SM_ShiveringIsles.esp [Version 0.86]

 

• ++ SM_OOO.esp [Version 0.89]

 

• ++ SM_MMM.esp [Version 0.89]

 

• ++ SM_COBL.esp

 

• 2D SM_EnchantStaff.esp [Version 0.80]

 

• 2E ProgressGSD.esp [Version 2.0]

 

• 2F ProgressSBSP.esp [Version 1.0]

 

• 30 ProgressRBSP.esp [Version 1.0]

 

• 31 ProgressRacial.esp

 

• 32 ProgressArmorer.esp [Version 1.0]

 

• ++ Mart's Monster Mod - Resized Races.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]

 

• 33 Cobl Races.esp [Version 1.52]

 

• • • Cobl Races TNR.esp [Version 1.53]

 

• • • Cobl Races TNR SI.esp [Version 1.53]

 

• 34 bgMagicEV.esp [Version 1.7EV]

 

• ++ bgMagicSpellTomes_for_WryeBash.esp [Version 1.68EV]

 

• ++ bgMagicItemSigil.esp [Version 1.68EV]

 

• ++ bgMagicEVStartspells.esp [Version 1.68EV]

 

• 35 bgMagicBonus.esp [Version 1.7EV]

 

• ++ bgMagicEVAddEnVar.esp [Version 1.68EV]

 

• 36 bgMagicEVPaperChase.esp [Version 1.68EV]

 

• 37 bgMagicAlchemy.esp [Version 1.57]

 

• 38 bgMagicPotionNumberSoulGemValue.esp [Version 1.68UV]

 

• ++ Cobl Races - Balanced.esp [Version 1.52]

 

• • • bgMagicEVShader.esp [Version 1.7EV]

 

• ++ bgMagicShaderLifeDetect.esp [Version 1.68]

 

• 39 bgMagicLightningbolt.esp

 

• 3A Bashed Patch, 0.esp

 

• 3B Streamline 3.1.esp

 

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+

3.0 GB RAM

NVIDIA GeForce GT 220

--my rig is essentially a Dell 531s, with an upgraded graphics card. I've been able to play FCOM at an average of 20 FPS very smoothly, so long as the graphics settings were about medium.

[Lowk]

Well, uhh........I did it, I guess. Dumb luck prevails again! FPS is back to normal, and no longer suffers from a slo-mo throttling at the hands of my OSR settings. I'm getting a very smooth 20-30 indoors and in town, and an only occasionally shaky 10-20 outdoors. Wanna know how I did it, imaginary people I'm assuming will one day run into this extremely obscure issue? Brace for the genius:

 

1. In Wrye Bash, unchecked all mods by un-checking oblivion.esm.

2. Opened Oblivion through Wrye Bash and loaded previously buggy save.

3. Noticed immediately that FPS was back to normal, but hesitated to celebrate. Saved game in NEW SLOT and exited.

4. On a whim, re-activated all mods previously unchecked in step 1.

5. Loaded save again, this time through OBSE as usual.

 

Ta-da! Somehow that fixed it. I did a few other small and unrelated things, like re-tweaking my OSR, Streamline, and .ini settings after installing some additional performance-enhancing mods (in anticipation of my fool's errand foolishly failing), running BOSS, and just generally being a good maid, and maybe sweet-talking the monitor a bit. A little tongue never hurts.

 

If anyone still has info on how this happened to me, I'd love to hear it. It's just a bit less urgent now. I'd like to do all I can to prevent anyone else from going through this nightmare, but for now, there are some Hill Giants with my name on them. In blood. Or marinara. Mmm, pasta..........

 

Peace!

[Hickory]

It's possible that you suffered from the animation bug, or ABomb in your saved game. Tweaking FPS settings to extreme limits is one reason this bug occurs. Creating a new save with all mods disabled will have removed this. You can also remove it with Wrye Bash. That one theory to your problem, anyway.

[Lowk]

Thanks, that did seem to be the issue, because creating the new save did fix it. The issue I'm having now, however, is that the problem keeps returning after only an hour or so of play. Even if I turn all the graphics settings to their minimum, the game is throttled at 10 FPS. What gives?

[Hickory]

Your oblivion.ini has probably been edited to the point where the game is now unstable. Replace your ini with the Oblivion_default.ini, found in the main Oblivion folder. Re-run the game from the launcher so that your hardware is re-detected, and be less liberal with the edits and tweaks -- there are surprisingly few that have any meaningful effects without having a detailed knowledge and understanding of the game engine.

[Lowk]

Hrm.....yes, I have kinda been going balls-out with every .ini tweak I see somewhere. Haven't defaulted it in a while. That also helped, although performance still isn't where I want it to be. I'll keep trying.

 

Thanks again!

[ArmeniusLOD]

Don't enable or change any of the "threaded" options in the .ini. While it may seem like a good idea, this will practically cripple the game engine. Oblivion Stutter Remover takes care of any multi-threading anyway.

 

Couple of comments on your load order:

 

23 Mart's Monster Mod - Gems & Gem Dust.esp [Version 3.7b3p3] (remove, not compatible with FCOM)

 

• ++ Mart's Monster Mod - Diverse Runeskulls Loot G&GD.esp [Version 3.7b3p3] (not compatible with FCOM, use Mart's Moster Mod - Diverse Runeskulls Loot OOO.esp instead)

Edited September 15, 2010 by ArmeniusLOD

[Lowk]

Ah yes, I had on several occasions messed with that "threaded" crap in my ini. After defaulting both the Oblivion ini and the ones for OSR and Streamline, I'm back to 20-ish FPS pretty much everywhere outside! That's a damned miracle on my four-year-old rig. Although I wound up starting a new game because the old save developed some oddities (missing Cobl Race Rebalancing bonuses, missing SM spells, missing items--likely the result of my overwriting the save with no mods active. Doh!), I'm confident that this time around if I don't start fiddling in there just because I want more than 50% Actor Distance, it'll be fine.

 

Tonight I just finished a session that lasted nearly 4 hours before it CTD'd, easily three times what I was getting before. Huzzah!

 

Also, thanks for the notes on my load order--I'll switch those incompatible things around.

[Chappi55]

Glad to hear you solved it. I had similiar problem with my rig. I somehow solved it by fiddling with grass settings in the .ini All I have done was reducing the grass ammount, but increasing it's size. I have been running like 20 fps outdoors and 30 indoors. Now when I have uninstalled all of mods and started making my own big pack I realised that I no longer need that tweak because I run everything on highest and constant 30 fps.

 

 

By the way - you have really big mod list ( in my opinion ), do you crash often?

[Lowk]

Yeah, I'd say I'm running FCOM+, or something like that, so the list is getting a bit out of control. Nothing compared to some others I've seen on here, though. I used to get CTD's pretty much every 20 minutes or so before, but not now. The only crashes I experience seem to be from the memory limitations of the engine, and not system instability from mods. So, to answer your question, not anymore!

 

.....and, to ask another question back, what do you mean when you say that you "uninstalled all of mods and started making my own big pack"?