Skyrim Crossfire Optimization Tips

[wormish]

Skyrim Crossfire Optimization tips.

 

First off, Hi!

I am new to these forums, and like many other members have come to really love this site. The amount of community based support is astounding. So, with that being said, I would really like to contribute what I have learned so far about optimizing crossfire and graphics for Skyrim. Mainly this is a compilation of my own personal tests and findings, but it is also combined with info I gained from reading threads similar to this.

 

Tools -

 

Radeon Pro

If you haven't already downloaded this, it will dramatically reduce the # of headaches you get

 

 

AMD System Monitor - This application will tell you exactly in real time, the processor load/usage, GPU load, and memory Load. Hopefully, BOTH of your cards will be showing cooperative activity.

 

 

Remember, I know we all want to play Skyrim ASAP, but only change ONE step at a time! Everyone's computer is different, and the only way to find out what settings positively or negatively affect the performance of YOUR computer, is to change one setting at a time. Troubleshoot.

 

 

First steps

 

Open AMD System Monitor

 

1. Check for driver updates for your system. I mean audio, chipset, and video. Depending on the age of your hardware or PC, you will often times find more recent drivers than what came installed.

 

2. Performance Testing :

-Start off by playing skyrim on the LOWest settings and moving your character to a spot in the world, I like to choose one that has a few different environments.

-Example: a piece of a town or castle or fort (for shadows), a view of VERY distant land, and maybe a view with NPC's.

-Once you find that spot, save the game.

-Now, we are going to test performance using North, South, East, and West reference points.

-look north, record fps. look south, record fps. look east, record fps, look west, record fps. This will give you a well rounded average, or general idea on where your performance is good vs. where it is pretty much s***.

-Close Game

 

3. Open Radeon Pro - There is a tab at the top where you click to make a new profile. Do that.

- Select TESV.exe as you executable.

- Navigate to Tweaks-

 

-Force Anti-aliasing Profile, choose Elder Scrolls, Obvlivion.

-VSync Control Always off

-Untick Process High Priority, its effects are negligable.

-Make sure that Catalyst A.I. is set to Normal. If it is set to Disabled, Crossfire too becomes disabled.

 

4. If you have Catalyst Control Center:

 

-make sure crossfire is enabled

-AA + AF, set to use application settings.

-Make sure A.I is turned to Standard.

-Vertical Refresh, Off, or Unless App. Specifies.

-Forget about adaptive and opengl.

-Oh and bump your fan speeds up. Inside GPU at about 70%, outside GPU at about 60-65%

 

5. Open SkyrimLauncher, and ensure that Everything is set to Low or Med.

-Ideally, if you're patient enough, choose low so you're baseline is untampered.

-Make sure that AA and AF are OFF

 

*Open AMD System Monitor. Check back on system monitor as soon as you quit skyrim. Scroll to GPU Activity and make sure BOTH cards are showing activity

 

6. Run Game and load your North South East West save - and Try Not To MOVE!

-Look in every direction and record the fps for each.

-close game

 

7. Now this is the fun part.

-Open the Visual tab in Radeon Pro and set AA and AF to 2x and 8x respectively. (Don't change in SkyrimLauncher)

-Open Skyrim, and your saved game. Repeat the looking test (north,south,east,west) and Record results.

-Any Drop in FPS?

 

*Your Frames WILL lower from your baseline, that's fine. Adjust to your liking mmkay?

 

8. From here on out it is strictly adjusting AA and AF in Radeon Pro, and adjusting the graphics options in Skyrim Launcher.

 

I am running 4870's in crossfire with an unlocked Phenom II x3 740,

So, follow my settings if you would like

 

Radeon Pro -

AA 4x

AF 16x

AA Mode Multi-Sample (Try Adaptive too)

Catalyst A.I Standard

Mipmap High Quality

 

Skyrim Launcher -

Texture High

Radial Blur Medium

Shadow Detail High (performance killer in towns)

Decal Quant. Medium

FXAA off

water reflect Land, Objects, Sky

 

Object Fade 12

Actor Fade 8

Grass Fade 4

Spec Fade 15

Light Fade 25

Item Fade 5

Dist Object Detail High

Object Detail Fade off

 

Last but not least, if you REALLY want an awesome gameplay experience, Some_dudes FXAA Post Process Injector. (barely effects performance) is a must have

 

Also, make sure to update/patch the game. Many times one major problem is fixed in one minor patch.

 

I hope this has helped some frustrated crossfire users out there,

GOOD BYE

Edited December 2, 2011 by wormish

[wormish]

You know what? Disregard most of this information if you're still running into problems. Just take out your second gpu and play on a single card setup. Trust me, it will probably run smoother.

 

Adios!

[Lius]

UGH NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Screw this crossfire dream, let me just waste all my money on the GTX 590 and get it over with >:c

 

I wish.

[Shadowtroop]

i am so dissapointed in amd dropping the ball with their drivers. so many games have terrible if not negative scaling. i heard that the latest drivers fix some issues but all they do for me are constant BSODs. it pains me to say it but im going Nvidia next time.