Skyrim: Ultimate Graphics Tweaking Guide without ENB

[Razerboyd]

Hi there,

Well my goal is to have the greatest graphical settings on Skyrim without an ENB mod.

I'm fairly new to graphics tweaking and I think I'd need a little step by step guide.

 

Here are my current specs:

 

I5-3570K

16 GB RAM

248 GB Corsair SSD

ASUS GTX 680

Win7 Home Premium 64-Bit

 

As you can see, my rig is pretty powerful and should be able to handle any ENB mod. However, after trying Superb and Sharpshooter's, I was never fully satisfied and had some SSAO issues as well as fairly noticeable performance hits.

 

I've played with RCRN Classic for a long amount of time and I liked it pretty much. But of course it's not as beautiful to look at as an ENB with Bokeh DOF. So I decided I wanted to make the best out of my graphics without ENB.

 

I already included mods such as Skyrim HD2K, Vurt's Flora Overhaul, WATER, Static Mesh Improvement Mod, Improved NPC Clothing, Xenius Character enhancement, Claralux, Lush Grass/Lush Trees, HD Textures DLC from Bethesda, Real Ice, Enhanced Blood Textures, Better Dynamic Snow and Sounds of Skyrim, etc. I'm very satisfied with those and I'd like to keep them.

 

However, as I said, it's never as beautiful to look at as the graphic demo videos you see on youtube.

So how can I tweak my graphic settings, ini-files and Nvidia graphic settings etc. to make it look orgasmic without using an ENB mod. I'd like to have a bit of a tutorial as well as a little list of further mod suggestions.

[kevkiev]

Well, you could try an FXAA mod, though I'm not sure you'd want to if you're not into ENBs. (Not that I know what either one really does.)

 

You could also try URWL (Ultra Realistic World Lighting), which pairs up nicely with the Imaginator (I think it's called) to tweak URWL's saturation, contrast, etc.

 

I use a FXAA, then later installed URWL and used Imaginator to tone down the saturation a bit (I think the over-saturation was from placing URWL over top FXAA). At the end of the day, I'm not sure I'd even need FXAA with those latter 2 mods in play. But I'm really happy with the way my game looks so I don't bother changing.

 

Looks like you have some nice texture mods, but you might want to check out the Total Skyrim Enhancement Project for other suggestions. Some ones that look like they're missing from your list (not sure they're in STEP or not) is RazorFX's Ruins Clutter Improvement and... there's a rock/snow/cave interior mod that I use that's fantastic (3 different modules... I guess you might not want the snow) but I can't recall the name and am at work so can't look at my NMM to check. I'll try and remember to post the name or a link this evening. The "Sexy Cities" series by Horrorview is also, imo, really awesome. It's got you covered for all major cities, villages and even boats. There's also a couple mods I use that add more trees to Solitude and Whiterun respectively, though again I can't remember the name. (They fit in really well with Horrorview's stuff too.)

 

That's all that's coming to mind right now. (Plus I hear my boss coming. :ohdear: )

 

Edit: here's the snow/rocks/cave one I mentioned http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/1382

 

URWL and the Imaginator http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/13531 and http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/13049

 

here's a great one for vanilla hair http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/4333 (personally, I don't like Apachii hair, but you could check that out too)

 

trees for Solitude http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/10698

 

Whiterun trees http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/9424

 

GOTTA have Willow83's HD Bugs http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/4955 (I use the increased spawn one - love it love it love it)

 

Bellyache's animal retexts are awesome: http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/3621 Slof has some nice stuff too, if you search for that name.

 

great giant retext: http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/7103

 

awesome Shadowmere: http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/4124

 

Sexy Solitude: http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/12308 (Click on Horroview's profile to get links to his full sexified series)

 

Razor FXs epic ruins clutter mod: http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/14227

 

Superb booze retexts: http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/19922

 

Amazingly cool signage: http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/15664/?tab=2&navtag=/ajax/modimages/?user=0|:|id=15664

 

Wicked moons retext: http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/13087

 

Vibrant Auroras http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/6675

 

Enhanced night Sky http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/85

 

Cool smelters http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/20696

 

Real Rain http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/16541 (though I'm still using an older version, 2.1 - I've been too lazy to update and I'm happy with 2.1)

 

Minty's very cool lightning mod (again, I'm still using V4 'cuz I'm lazy) http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/15506

 

To enjoy the beautiful surroundings more, I'd recommend Immersive Hud and Thinner Compass to minimize visual obstruction :tongue: http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/20696 and http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/12804

 

 

 

 

 

Again, I highly recommend checking out STEP for other ideas. I'm realizing just how many texture mods I have - could probably take up a whole page or more. STEP is a great starting point, and you'll eventually see things you want to change, search nexus and voila you'll probably find it. The only things I haven't found retexts for is some Dwemer clutter and a few other straggly odds and ends.

 

I've read a couple posts that say you can have too many graphic mods. I dunno if they mean lighting and stuff like that but, imo, if your rig can handle it texture mods are a godsend for the skyrim world. I play at 2560x1600 at ultra and RARELY crash and have great performance. (My specs are on my profile page.) And, with retexts, you don't have to worry about scripts or other weird little things that can bust quests or otherwise screw up your gameplay. (Generally speaking... some come with scripts but I quite often just use a simplified version if available. Plus, as I mentioned, I'm kinda lazy especially if I'm happy with what I'm using.)

 

 

- you're welcome

Edited July 27, 2012 by kevkiev

[Minty911]

@kevkiev; Hey thanks for the recommendation mate ;o)

[kevkiev]

@kevkiev; Hey thanks for the recommendation mate ;o)

 

Hey, my pleasure Minty and thanks again for the mod! It didn't come to me at first, I think because I happened to have nice weather in-game for a weirdly long time. But then I was hit by a thunderstorm and thought "omg, how could have I forgotten to recommend Real Rain and Lightning During Thunderstorms?!" :wallbash: so fixed that oversight up right away.