Should I be getting framerate drops with this system?

[mymee]

I have a custom $2000 pc. I installed Oblivion and a dozen or so mods, most of which are optimization mods like lowgraspoly and streamline, but when I began a new game I could see the framerate is below average. I know there's a lot of tuning and optimization I can do to video options and ini files, but I just wanted to make sure it's not my system, and that it can handle the mods I'm interested in.

 

Here are the dxdiag logs:

 

 

Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_gdr.110408-1631)

System Manufacturer: System manufacturer

System Model: System Product Name

BIOS: BIOS Date: 02/05/10 19:13:52 Ver: 08.00.10

Processor: Intel® Core i7-2600K CPU @ 3.40GHz (8 CPUs), ~3.4GHz

Memory: 16384MB RAM

Available OS Memory: 16364MB RAM

Page File: 2271MB used, 30455MB available

Windows Dir: C:\Windows

DirectX Version: DirectX 11

DX Setup Parameters: Not found

User DPI Setting: Using System DPI

System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)

DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled

DxDiag Version: 6.01.7601.17514 32bit Unicode

 

Card name: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580

Manufacturer: NVIDIA

Chip type: GeForce GTX 580

DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC

Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_1080&SUBSYS_15803842&REV_A1

Display Memory: 4063 MB

Dedicated Memory: 1503 MB

Shared Memory: 2559 MB

Current Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (60Hz)

Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor

Monitor Model: L1720P

Monitor Id: GSM437F

Native Mode: 1280 x 1024(p) (60.020Hz)

Output Type: HD15

Driver Name: nvd3dumx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvd3dum,nvwgf2um,nvwgf2um

Driver File Version: 8.17.0012.7061 (English)

Driver Version: 8.17.12.7061

DDI Version: 11

Driver Model: WDDM 1.1

Driver Attributes: Final Retail

Driver Date/Size: 4/7/2011 22:14:00, 12934248 bytes

WHQL Logo'd: Yes

WHQL Date Stamp:

Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-53C0-11CF-6740-8C351FC2C535}

Vendor ID: 0x10DE

Device ID: 0x1080

SubSys ID: 0x15803842

Revision ID: 0x00A1

Driver Strong Name: oem32.inf:NVIDIA_SetA_Devices.NTamd64.6.1:Section028:8.17.12.7061:pci\ven_10de&dev_1080

Rank Of Driver: 00E62001

Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_C ModeVC1_C ModeWMV9_C

 

Thanks

[MarkInMKUK]

Yes, you'll get framerate drops - with ANY system (depending on which mods you have installed). If you want to see how slow it can get, install Better Cities, Unique landscapes, any mods which add extra npc's , and something like QTP3. Then walk around Anvil Docks, or (worse) cut through the wheatfields in one of the UL mods. THAT will show you the slowest your system is likely to get in "normal" play.

 

For starters, REMOVE Streamline - on a high end system it actually adjusts everything in a way that reduces ALL the frame rates to handle the odd occasion when the framerate dips. It's designed to CUT framerate to a near constant level by dropping your graphics quality. Not a good mod for a power user system.

 

Secondly, you don't say whether you have a separate sound card? If you don't, fit one. The sound processing by the CPU for an onboard sound chip causes FPS problems when there are multiple feet in use - being attacked by a couple of wolves can make it stutter very badly.

 

Thirdly, apply the 3GB memory patch. You still won't use anything like all of the memory, but you WILL use a little more.

 

Oblivion is an old, nearly totally single-core game. Your base processor speed is great, but don't expect the game to use more than one core for very much.

 

Also, do a manual install of DirectX 9.0c, as well as the existing DirectX 11 (can make a noticeable difference) - and also see whether there is an EAX sound patch for the drivers for your sound card - Win7 doesn't handle EAX, and a few manufacturers have added the facility to their drivers to do so instead. Also keep tabs on the Omega drivers site for when he releases Win7 drivers - on XP the improvement using the drivers from there was startling.

Edited June 25, 2011 by MarkInMKUK