Performance issues on high end rig

[Merscil]

Ok so ever since I bought my rig about a year ago I have been unhappy with my game's performance. I'm experiencing massive lagspikes, aswell as lots of random CTD's. I made a thread about it a long time ago, and was told it was the 4GB vram limitation for DX9 games on Windows 10. I have recently downloaded the Falls Creator's Update though, which should fix this. This hasn't improved my performance whatsoever. Now I downloaded Skyrim performance monitor and the results it give seem rather interesting to me:

These screenshots, besides giving the necessary information of my system specs, show that neither my CPU or my GPU are at full capacity, yet I get fps drops to as low as 10 fps in some places (not shown because I only did a 5 minute run in a forested area here). So I guess something's bottlenecking my performance, but I have no clue as to what it could be. These drops happen with or without ENB enabled, so that is not the issue (I am using the full version of Realvision btw). I really am at a loss here, help would be much appreciated.

 

Here is my load order, just in case:

Skyrim.esm

Update.esm

Dawnguard.esm

HearthFires.esm

Dragonborn.esm

Unofficial Skyrim Legendary Edition Patch.esp

Lanterns Of Skyrim - All In One - Main.esm

WinterholdDestruction.esm

Campfire.esm

ClimatesOfTamriel.esm

ApachiiHair.esm

RSkyrimChildren.esm

HighResTexturePack01.esp

HighResTexturePack02.esp

HighResTexturePack03.esp

Unofficial High Resolution Patch.esp

EldersOfSkyrim.esp

SkyUI.esp

WetandCold.esp

EnhancedLightsandFX.esp

AOS.esp

Guard Dialogue Overhaul.esp

BetterQuestObjectives.esp

aMidianborn_Skyforge_Weapons.esp

Barbarian Hair.esp

CollegeOfWinterholdImmersive.esp

Book Covers Skyrim.esp

Prometheus_No_snow_Under_the_roof.esp

SkyFalls + SkyMills + DG + DB.esp

RealisticWaterTwo.esp

ELFXEnhancer.esp

Breezehome_Fully_Upgradable.esp

RealisticNeedsandDiseases.esp

ExpandedWinterholdRuins.esp

Laundry.esp

RealisticWaterTwo - Legendary.esp

1nivWICCloaks.esp

RND_Dragonborn-Patch.esp

WetandCold - Ashes.esp

AMatterOfTime.esp

PumpingIron.esp

DeadlySpellImpacts.esp

AOS2_RealisticWaterTwo Patch.esp

AOS2_WetandCold Patch.esp

AOS2_DSI Patch.esp

ClimatesOfTamriel-Nights-Level-2.esp

AOS2_CoT3_1_patch.esp

Unique Uniques.esp

AOS2_GDO Patch.esp

MIDFollowMeCloser.esp

ORM-Arvak.esp

Skyrim Particle Patch for ENB - Flame Atronach Fix.esp

ELFX_2_0_BFU_Patch.esp

SMIM-Merged-All.esp

UFO - Ultimate Follower Overhaul.esp

Frostfall.esp

RealisticWaterTwo - Waves.esp

JKs Markarth.esp

CompanionValfar.esp

skycity3.esp

Signs_of_Skyrim.esp

RND_HearthFires-Patch.esp

RND_AnimalLoot.esp

Bastards.esp

SimplyKnock.esp

Extended UI.esp

FasterHorses_Sprint_x1_5.esp

Auto Unequip Ammo.esp

iHUD.esp

Predator Vision.esp

FNIS.esp

Headtracking.esp

ClimatesOfTamriel-Dawnguard-Patch.esp

ClimatesOfTamriel-Dragonborn-Patch.esp

SaviorsHide.esp

LeftHandRings.esp

LeftHandRings - Dawnguard.esp

ImmersiveSpells.esp

dD - Realistic Ragdoll Force - Realistic.esp

dD - Enhanced Blood Main.esp

AOS2_EBT Patch.esp

dD-Dragonborn-Dawnguard-EBT Patch.esp

OpenFaceGuardHelmets.esp

VikingArmorSet.esp

Watercolor_for_ENB_RWT.esp

Brevi_MoonlightTalesEssentials.esp

BloodmoonRising.esp

RND_Dawnguard-Patch.esp

Watercolor_for_ENB_RWT_RND.esp

12FemaleBrows.esp

FCO - Follower Commentary Overhaul.esp

wizardhat.esp

LessIntrusiveHUD.esp

Lanterns Of Skyrim - All In One - Climates of Tamriel - default.esp

Lanterns Of Skyrim - All In One - Climates of Tamriel - lvl-1.esp

Lanterns Of Skyrim - All In One - Climates of Tamriel - lvl-2.esp

Lanterns Of Skyrim - All In One - Climates of Tamriel - lvl-3.esp

Lanterns Of Skyrim - All In One - Climates of Tamriel - lvl-4.esp

360WalkandRunPlus-RunBackwardSpeedAdjust.esp

BrighterTorchesBiggerMagelight.esp

DaedricDawnbreakerRNoStagger110.esp

UFO - Dragonborn AddOn.esp

UFO - Dawnguard AddOn.esp

BetterQuestObjectives-AMBSkyforgePatch.esp

BetterQuestObjectives-UFOPatch.esp

Better Stealth AI for Followers.esp

When Vampires Attack.esp

WondersofWeather.esp

VampireRoyalArmorUn-enhanced.esp

GQJ_DG_vampireamuletfix.esp

JulesDisenchantGodAmulets.esp

Thundering Shouts.esp

Harkon's Vampiric Sword.esp

RSChildren.esp

RSChildren Patch - USLEEP.esp

Unique Zephyr.esp

HoldBorderBanners.esp

House Map Markers Legendary.esp

RealisticWaterTwo - Waves - Dawnguard.esp

RGMsAlchemistsCompendium.esp

TKDodge.esp

Convenient Horses.esp

ORM Convenient Alsvid.esp

KrittaKitty_horses_uniqueFrost.esp

Better Dynamic Snow.esp

Prometheus_NSUTR BDS Patch.esp

Larger Vampire Lord Wings.esp

Run For Your Lives.esp

ConcentrativeShoutsLastWord.esp

ApachiiHelmetWigs.esp

Brows.esp

Verdant - A Skyrim Grass Plugin.esp

Better Dynamic Ash.esp

HDTPhysicsWeaponSling.esp

Cloaks - Dawnguard.esp

Cloaks.esp

1nivWICSkyCloaksPatch.esp

Cloaks - USLEEP Patch.esp

Illustrious HDT Cloaks.esp

Footprints.esp

SRG Enhanced Trees Activator.esp

Edited October 31, 2017 by Merscil

[manchuligans]

What are you seeing in Task Manager Performance tab? Are you seeing CPU spikes? Does this problem happen every time you play Skyrim, pretty much constantly, or are there times when you're getting good FPS and smooth gameplay?

[Deleted3082751User]

1. make sure you are playing the game in full windowed mode, not borderless windowed, oldrim + nvidia does not like windowed mode (or any other mode that is not fullscreen)

 

we have pretty much the same specs (same gpu at least) so thats how i can confirm the above line

 

if you happen to be using the Onetweak mod, open its ini, and also disable borderless windowed

 

Borderless = 58 fps and sluggish performance

 

Fullscreen = 60 fps, perfectly smooth performance, and very likely far higher fps if uncapped (no limiter + no Vsync).

 

note: i am pretty sure this only applies to oldrim, every other game that i have tested at borderless windowed was better, including fallout 4. so this issue is exclusive to oldrim (regular skyrim)

 

2. You most likely have core parking enabled as well, i know the latest i7 cpu(s) have core parking, i have the 7700k and it does have core parking enabled, so yours probably does as well (being only 1 generation lower then mine).

 

3. Ensure that you power plan settings are set to High Performance Mode: Start - Control Panel - Power Options - Make sure High Performance Mode is Checked (Found under Additional Plans) also click on Change Plan Settings for High Performance mode - click on Advanced Settings - Scroll to Hard Disk - Click on the Little plus Sign - and where it says turn hard disk off (change this value to 0)

 

4. Right Click on Desktop - Click on Nvidia Control Panel - Click on Manage 3d Settings - Click on Power Management Mode - Change to Prefer Maximum Performance: also while you are here, click on Vertical Sync, and change to Off

 

4. also i recommend turning vsync off in skyrim as well, go to: C:\Users\your computer name\Documents\My Games\Skyrim - open SkyrimPrefs.ini - CTRL F "ipresentinterval" change 1 to 0 (this disables vsync)

 

Note: Now it is compulsory to run a framerate limiter, Disabling Vsync - Eliminates Input Lag which is why i strongly recommend it (it also unlocks your framerate, but that is quite bad for skyrim), so you must lock your framerate to 60 fps, their are many methods of doing this, you can do this in your ENB (if applicable) enblocal settings, or alternatively you can also do this in Msi Afterburner (my prefered choice, as this program can also monitor hardware usage and temperatures in game, as well as allowing to record gameplay, and take high res screenshots, i strongly recommend this program)

 

5. Locking Framerate using ENB: Open Enblocal.ini (located in skyrim launcher location, if you are using an ENB) - Locate framerate limit, change from false to true (change framerate limit to 60 if it aint already)

Edited October 31, 2017 by Guest

[Merscil]

What are you seeing in Task Manager Performance tab? Are you seeing CPU spikes? Does this problem happen every time you play Skyrim, pretty much constantly, or are there times when you're getting good FPS and smooth gameplay?

My CPU is working at 100% all the time, no spikes, dips or anything. The problem does occur every time I play Skyrim, but not constantly, I have areas and places where I get solid 60 fps and no lag at all. The problem mostly happens in outside areas. Interestingly in those outdoor areas I seem to be getting freezes that can last several seconds when I switch my weapons via my hotkeys. Once I have used my weapons a couple of times, they disappear though.

 

1. make sure you are playing the game in full windowed mode, not borderless windowed, oldrim + nvidia does not like windowed mode (or any other mode that is not fullscreen)

 

we have pretty much the same specs (same gpu at least) so thats how i can confirm the above line

 

if you happen to be using the Onetweak mod, open its ini, and also disable borderless windowed

 

Borderless = 58 fps and sluggish performance

 

Fullscreen = 60 fps, perfectly smooth performance, and very likely far higher fps if uncapped (no limiter + no Vsync).

 

note: i am pretty sure this only applies to oldrim, every other game that i have tested at borderless windowed was better, including fallout 4. so this issue is exclusive to oldrim (regular skyrim)

 

2. You most likely have core parking enabled as well, i know the latest i7 cpu(s) have core parking, i have the 7700k and it does have core parking enabled, so yours probably does as well (being only 1 generation lower then mine).

 

3. Ensure that you power plan settings are set to High Performance Mode: Start - Control Panel - Power Options - Make sure High Performance Mode is Checked (Found under Additional Plans) also click on Change Plan Settings for High Performance mode - click on Advanced Settings - Scroll to Hard Disk - Click on the Little plus Sign - and where it says turn hard disk off (change this value to 0)

 

4. Right Click on Desktop - Click on Nvidia Control Panel - Click on Manage 3d Settings - Click on Power Management Mode - Change to Prefer Maximum Performance: also while you are here, click on Vertical Sync, and change to Off

 

4. also i recommend turning vsync off in skyrim as well, go to: C:\Users\your computer name\Documents\My Games\Skyrim - open SkyrimPrefs.ini - CTRL F "ipresentinterval" change 1 to 0 (this disables vsync)

 

Note: Now it is compulsory to run a framerate limiter, Disabling Vsync - Eliminates Input Lag which is why i strongly recommend it (it also unlocks your framerate, but that is quite bad for skyrim), so you must lock your framerate to 60 fps, their are many methods of doing this, you can do this in your ENB (if applicable) enblocal settings, or alternatively you can also do this in Msi Afterburner (my prefered choice, as this program can also monitor hardware usage and temperatures in game, as well as allowing to record gameplay, and take high res screenshots, i strongly recommend this program)

 

5. Locking Framerate using ENB: Open Enblocal.ini (located in skyrim launcher location, if you are using an ENB) - Locate framerate limit, change from false to true (change framerate limit to 60 if it aint already)

1. I was running the game in windowed mode, changed it to full screen, no change. I don't think I'm using the onetweak mod. Should I?

2. Not sure where you can see this, but I assume it is the setting you recommended to change in the next step with turn hard disk off. If so, then no change here either.

3. The Power Plan was already set to High Performance for me, doesn't seem to affect the game at all.

4. Vsync, was not turned on in my .ini file, I enforced it through Nvidea's Control Panel. With all my vsync options disabled, my fps would jump to over 500 in the loading screens but ingame, in outdoor areas it was basically the same, would go to about 70 fps indoors. At your suggestion, I downloaded MSI Afterburner and locked the framerate to 60 in the app. This didn't improve my performance, and instead caused screen tearing (I have a 60 Hz ultrawide monitor btw). This tearing interestingly enough became worse when I lowered the shadow settings in my SkyrimPrefs.ini.

5. I tried locking my framerate using enb aswell, and for some reason it seems to lock it at 30 fps instead of the 60 I tell it to lock it at. Either that or it actually decreases my performance. Anyway, I would prefer not having to use this option, as I am using Gopher's nightvision mod, which is incompatible with Realvision enb, so I use shift+F12, to turn it off while turning on nightvision with F12. Using this method that would ofcourse unlock the framerate everytime I turn on nightvision.

Edited October 31, 2017 by Merscil