Help with fps issues!

[Trenton22]

Hey guys. So I've been having this issue with fo4 and I have short-term memory loss so I have no idea if it was there from the beginning or if it just started, but I want to try and fix it. So I have a pretty decent computer, definitely good enough to run fo4 on ultra, but it's not really working out. Constant 30-50 fps, never dips lower than 20. People who have worse computers than me are getting more fps. I've seen someone with a worse everything than me brag about their constant 60 fps with mods. I don't know whats going on, to be honest.

 

Things I've tried:

0 fps gain or loss when turning god rays on ultra or completely off.

0 difference in major cities when shadow distance is lowered.

0 difference when I literally lower every single option given to me by just a smidge.

0 difference when I disable things like spring cleaning and turn certain ini options to from 1 to 0 or 0 to 1.

I tried not using Fallout's v-sync and instead the AMD one. No difference.

Turning off sim settlements didn't do anything.

Turning off mods that change cells didn't do anything.

 

I know that my computer can handle fallout 4 graphically because it can handle way better-looking games and I'll get over 60 when playing those. If anyone knows something that I'm missing please tell me. Maybe there's some mod that I'm using that is a secret fps killer I don't know or maybe something about my computer specs is off. Please help me. I'm being tormented by the fact there are people with worse computer specs than me constantly bragging about their constant 60 fps. They even go on to say how they could never turn down a single setting because it just ruins the game for them. It's honestly really annoying and I wish people would stop being like that.

 

I feel like my game is just bugged. I've read posts about people who have issues due to their previous saves, and I had a bunch of those because I was trying out new mods, but they never say anything about how to fix it. I've tried everything I've seen. My computer is just very weird. On certain games, my fps will drop until I turn on higher settings. I was playing WoW a while ago and I was getting 50 fps. I turned on higher settings, and all of a sudden I had a constant 60 in the same areas. I use shaders, however, my fps was still between 30-50 before using them, and there wasn't a single change after applying the shader. I have AMD settings on, but only for the v-sync.

 

Please help if you can. It's not that bad, I can easily enjoy Fallout 4 and I'm grateful for what I have. I just would like to fix how my fps isn't smooth. I should actually probably explain more about where my fps drops happen. I can get 60 fps, but only while traveling in the woods. I constantly get loading freezes while traveling in the woods for about 5-6 seconds, sometimes up to 20. I was told that happens because my game is loading things. Major fps drops happen while in cities, but turning down shadows and things like that has no impact. While looking in certain directions, my game will lag. This usually only happens inside, but I've recently been experiencing it in diamond city and Nuka cola world. If more of an explanation is needed I can give one. I just really want help.

 

8 GB RAM

i5-7400 3 GHz

Radeon RX 580 4 GB

Windows 10

(I have my latest drivers)

 

Mods (Nude mods included)

*Unofficial Fallout 4 Patch.esp

*HUDFramework.esm

*SpringCleaning.esm

*ArmorKeywords.esm

*FFO.esm

*SimSettlements.esm

*AD_SimSettlements_BuidingPlans_TAGS1.esm

*XDI.esm

*unlockedsettlementobjects.esm

*CROSS_BrotherhoodRecon.esp

*LooksMenu Customization Compendium.esp

*ValdacilsItemSorting-00-ValsPicks-DLCVersion-VanillaWeight.esp

*FFO.esp

MBs_Clean_Sanctuary_v1_2.esp

*MoreUniques.esp

*Armorsmith Extended.esp

The Castle Revamped felloutislife.esp

*FQ_NoMoreLODFlicker_AIO.esp

*MODaquatic.esp

*unlockedsettlementobjectssp.esp

*MojaveImports.esp

*GSRM2.esp

*CommonwealthChooksAndBunnies.esp

*Stm_DiamondCityExpansion.esp

*Squirrels_of_the_Commonwealth.esp

*MsAbominations.esp

*Eli_Armour_Compendium.esp

*VisibleCompanionAffinity.esp

*Danse GTFO Power Armor.esp

*EasyHacking.esp

*OCDecorator.esp

*OCDispenser.esp

*OCDecoratorDLC.esp

*AzarPonytailHairstyles.esp

*Quieter Settlements - Vanilla.esp

*Quieter Settlements - Wasteland Workshop.esp

*Quieter Settlements - Contraptions.esp

*dD-Realistic Ragdoll Force.esp

*BrighterSettlementLights.esp

*CBBE.esp

*True Legendary Enemies.esp

*MirelurkQueenVariants2.esp

*MoreBeards.esp

*FlirtyCommonwealthMM.esp

*No Blur while Crafting.esp

*NukaFridge_Test1.esp

*MoreHairstyles4Female.esp

*Realistic Survival Damage.esp

*EAMR.esp

*Enhanced Commonwealth Wardrobe.esp

*BetterSettlers.esp

*BetterSettlersCleanFacePack.esp

*FO4SeasonsMoreGrass.esp

*SettlementMenuManager.esp

*Workshop_Planters.esp

*Farming Resources.esp

*Sarcastic Sneak.esp

*CROSS_CourserStrigidae.esp

*EveryonesBestFriend.esp

*More Where That Came From Diamond City.esp

*TheEyesOfBeauty.esp

*MoreHairstyles4Male.esp

*BetterSettlersCCAPack2.0.esp

*BetterSettlersNoLollygagging.esp

*Eli_Crafting Shiz 9000.esp

*Conduits and Pylons Various Wireless Power.esp

*DeadlierDeathclaws.esp

*MODspider.esp

*ClassicShacks.esp

*AnotherBrickInTheWall.esp

*PlayerHeadTracking.esp

*SimSettlements_AddOnPack_AwsomeTown.esp

*ValdacilsItemSorting - WastelandImports TAGS.esp

*Altairp's Animal Farm.esp

*JibsResidentialAddOnPack.esp

*CheatTerminal.esp

*UniqueUniques.esp

*The Aquarium.esp

*B84sThemedResidentials.esp

*SparkyEMFB.esp

*AzarHolsteredWeapons.esp

*CommonwealthCritters - Both DLC.esp

*FogCraw_Pet01.esp

*IMP.esp

*SimSettlementsAddOnPack - RaiderRefugees.esp

*FO4 NPCs Travel.esp

*SimSettlements_AddOnPack_Defences_Brae.esp

*ruined_simsettlement_addonpack.esp

*ohSIM_Sim_Settlements_Scrappers_Addon.esp

*TrailerParkDreams.esp

*PCDugSIMAddon.esp

*MJC_Sim_Settlements_Addon.esp

*Kraggles - Structures.esp

*IndustrialCity_Sim_Settlements_Addon.esp

*SimSettlementsHelper.esp

*home_improvement_all.esp

*PCDugWedges.esp

*PCDugTriangularRevolution.esp

*HZS Office and Stores.esp

*3dscopes-framework.esp

*3dscopes-replacer.esp

*3dscopes-replacer-addtospawn.esp

*Campsite.esp

*WVSimSAddon.esp

*SimHomestead.esp

*SSEX.esp

*SimSettlements_AddOnPack_Foundations_JtBryant.esp

*SimSettlements_XPAC_IndustrialRevolution.esp

*SimSettlements_XPAC_RiseOfTheCommonwealth.esp

*JunkTown.esp

*SimSettlements_AddOnPack_Utilities_JtBryant.esp

*SimSettlements_AddOnPack_SimTowers_JtBryant.esp

*SolarPower.esp

*TransferSettlements.esp

*TabletDogRobotArmor.esp

*move that workbench!.esp

*SettlementLimitSlashed.esp

*MechanistsLair_V1.esp

*Pip-Boy Flashlight.esp

*Clean Water - Tropical.esp

*AutomatronSecuritron.esp

*VHCE.esp

*Curie Replace01a.esp

*autoweapons.esp

*AA Better Companions - No Conflicts.esp

*Yet Another Piper.2F1E.esp

*Yet Another Cait.esp

*NickValentineRomance.esp

*companion_Panzerhund.esp

*Automatron Protectrons Expanded.esp

*AutomatronWheelLegs.esp

*Spirit Forms - Legendary Creatures.esp

*GojiraStandard.esp

*KSHairdos.esp

*AgemoNPCs(E).esp

*LooksMenu.esp

*Enough About the Settlements Preston.esp

*Companion Presets - Extra.esp

*Danse Morph.027683.esp

*Deacon Morph.45AC9.esp

*Old Longfellow Morph.1006E5B.esp

*Porter Gage Morph.100881D.esp

*Preston Morph.019FD9.esp

*X6-88 Morph.BBEE6.esp

*Gen3Nick Human Eyes.esp

*RaiderPAChopShop.esp

Gen3Nick.esp

*Overboss-PA-NoChain.esp

*CROSS_BrotherhoodRecon_AWKCR.esp

*GunmetalWeaponSkins.esp

*NickValentinesDay.esp

*PowerArmorHoarder.esp

*AdvancedRecruitmentBeacon.esp

*Cherchez La Femme.esp

*nani.esp

*DarkerNights.esp

*EnhancedLightsandFX.esp

*DarkerNightsDetection.esp

*BetterNightVision.esp

*SC_ExpandedScrapList.esp

*WeightlessAmmoFarHarbor.esp

*WeightlessAmmoForNukaWorld.esp

*SurvivalOptions.esp

[jones177]

Hi

 

Fallout 4 is the first game that I had to update my ram from 8gbs to 16gbs.

 

The vanilla game was fine with 8. It is only when I started adding mods that I started having problems.

 

It did not happen overnight. I played the game for 5 months before it became a problem.

 

Use a utility like Fallout Performance Monitor & see your ram usage when fps are low. Then check out what your processes are using. Then give Widows 1gb.

 

When I open my game the ram usage is 7.5 gbs. This number slowly goes up as I play topping around 8.5gbs.

 

I have less mods than you do.

 

Later

[Crosstieger]

Fallout 4 is pretty badly programmed and optimised for a game like this. Even with my Ryzen 1700 and a GTX 1080 I constantly drop down to 30 fps near settlements because I just built too much stuff. Even in downtown Bosten I drop to around 40.

 

So here is what I would do:

 

First we check if you pc is runs fine. To do that download a benchmark like Unigin Heaven (for GPU) and Cinnebench or Geekbench (for CPU). Run those benchmarks multiple times (3-5 times) and compare your average score with what you can find online.

 

Lets assume your pc is fine. Next would be to check your saves. Simply create a new character and go to the locations where you encounter fps issues. Sometimes save games get bloated with useless information that will slow down the game. If the issue couldn't be located until now you'll have to go through the tough steps.

 

Which means that we first backup and then delete the Fallout4.ini and prefs.ini and launch the game through steam so that the launcher creates the files new. Don't forget to add the required lines to the ini so that your mods will load correctly.

 

If that doesn't help, well ... then we have to disable every mod and test a vanilla installation of the game (this step is the most annoying one...).

[MissingMeshTV]

As a previous poster recommended, adding more RAM would be a good place to start. To me, in 2018 8GB is just enough to turn the computer on. To do any sort of gaming on the level of FO4 16GB is what I would consider the bare minimum. FO4 in particular likes a lot of RAM. It is a poorly optimized game (the optimization system sucks for modding), but if you do your homework and spend time researching and addressing the basics you can likely get things to where you want. Comparing FO4 FPS to what you get is other games is pointless. Most other games can’t be modded to the extent that Bethesda games can. Once you start adding mods comparing FO4 to the performance of other games becomes irrelevant.

A big red flag in your load order is Spring Cleaning. It’s an ancient mod made before modders really knew much of anything about the game’s optimization system based on precombined meshes. IIRC, Spring Cleaning required you made an .ini edit that disabled precombined meshes (or maybe is added it with it's own .ini, not sure), which is what allows you to scrap objects that would otherwise not be scrappable. I could be wrong, but it needing an .ini edit to disable precombines in order to work sticks out in my mind. The fact that you say you get severe drops downtown but not in the middle of nowhere tells me something in your game is disabling the precombines, which will kill your frame rate.

Take look in your Fallout4Custom.ini. If you have an entry uner [General] as “bUseCombinedObjects=0” that is likely your problem. This entry disables precombines for the entire game and forces the engine to render far more than it would otherwise, hence the FPS drops people who use this edit encounter. If Spring Cleaning has it's own .ini check that as well.

In general, scrapping mods are just a bad idea in my mind. More recent scrapping I believe work by limiting the disabling of precombines to settlement cells, rather than across the entire map. But they still break the optimization system in those cells and are a good way to tank your FPS.

If you don’t have the .ini edit disabling precombines, then you likely have a mod that does. If you’re still having the problem with no mods and turning your godrays and shadows down to lower levels, than a bad .ini edit is a highly probable cause.

I’m not overly familiar with AMD graphics cards, but for context when I first started playing/modding FO4 I had a GTX 970 4GB (well, 3.5GB actually thanks to some Nvida marketing asshattery). I could barely get more than 45FPS in downtown with out any mods. Once I upgraded my machine to 48GB of RAM with a GTX 1070, and started using better optimized texture replacements I was able to get a solid 60+ (I cap my FPS at 70) no matter where I am on the map...except while riding in a vertibrd over downtown. Still get 35-50 doing that. I use an ENB...no .ini edits, no scrapping mod and like I said, some better optimized texture replacements (the Vivid Fallout series, Valius and FlaconOil texture packs). Even in dense areas like around Mass Fusion or Mass Bay Medical Center...a solid 70.

If you're playing the game off an HDD that will effect load times and the time it takes the game to load assets when crossing cell borders.

The texture replacements in most cases will definitely help, but you really need to take the time to examine what mods you’re using, read the mod descriptions and take your load order into consideration. There is no magic bullet to get better FPS...it’s all a combination of things working in unison.

[gabizinha]

I have 16GB of ram and having the EXACT same problem

[Crosstieger]

Why do you need so much ram? I do have 16 GB but FO never goes over ~ 5.5 GB... I have around 230 mod installed so...

[MissingMeshTV]

Why do you need so much ram? I do have 16 GB but FO never goes over ~ 5.5 GB... I have around 230 mod installed so...

If that's directed to me, I do much more on my machine than play FO4 and run the CK. I do a lot of video editing and After Effects animation and rendering that needs lots of RAM. There is no such thing as too much RAM, especially considering how important it is to your system's overall performance. If the games I want to play run better as a result, it' makes it even more worth it. If 16GB works for you, that's great. For the work I do, my machine would be choking on 16GB, so...

[Trenton22]

Hey guys, just updating the issue. The issue has seemed to go away as I turned all my settings above ultra with the use of mods. Another weird issue where my computer was doing worse on lower settings instead of higher. I don't know why this is a thing. However, I really do want to upgrade my RAM now because I think that'll fix the problem where my game randomly freezes to load for like 5 seconds. ty for all the suggestions.

[Crosstieger]

 

Why do you need so much ram? I do have 16 GB but FO never goes over ~ 5.5 GB... I have around 230 mod installed so...

If that's directed to me, I do much more on my machine than play FO4 and run the CK. I do a lot of video editing and After Effects animation and rendering that needs lots of RAM. There is no such thing as too much RAM, especially considering how important it is to your system's overall performance. If the games I want to play run better as a result, it' makes it even more worth it. If 16GB works for you, that's great. For the work I do, my machine would be choking on 16GB, so...

 

 

Sure other workloads require more ram but gaming doesn't really.... For pure gaming 8 GB is the sweet spot. Not only because ram is bloody expensive right now :(

 

Hey guys, just updating the issue. The issue has seemed to go away as I turned all my settings above ultra with the use of mods. Another weird issue where my computer was doing worse on lower settings instead of higher. I don't know why this is a thing. However, I really do want to upgrade my RAM now because I think that'll fix the problem where my game randomly freezes to load for like 5 seconds. ty for all the suggestions.

 

The easiest way the check if FO4 is chocking on ram is to open task manager while playing and check the ram usage. If you're running out of ram close all the applications that are not required to run the game (webbrowser, nmm, etc..) and look if the game will use the newly freed up ram.

[SKKmods]

Your issule is likely to be the number of objects running (size of savegame) and precombine/previz breaking mods. Your occasional freeze is probably loading new cells with too much stuff.

 

For some test evidence backed observations have a read of the ugridstoload performance notes at the borrom of this page https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/28837