Alright, so what's the low-down on Skyrim's inconsistent framerate?

[Prenihility]

Honestly, it's something i've lived with for a few years now ever since I started playing the game over 3 years ago. I don't even really know what it's like to play fully stock, vanilla Skyrim. Out of curiosity, I almost want to just to see if these issues still occur.

 

I just wanted some folks who really know everything there is to know about the game inside and out to give me the definitive answer. Over the years i've gotten answers from some people that gives you the impression - or word-for-word - that it's simply a limitation in the game's engine. So what's the real answer?

 

Surely, a 4GB GTX 960 that overclocks ITSELF I don't know how many hundreds of megahertz because it runs so damn cool is enough to chew through this game that's 3 years older than it? Yes, yes, it's not a 970, but it's still Skyrim we're talking. And honestly, I don't run into this issue with Fallout 4... MODDED! So what's the real answer?

 

My mods are clean. No issues whatsoever. I understand this isn't necessarily the place for mod discussion, but I don't want to ignore the possibility. I'm sort of interested in talking about both avenues here.

 

Allow me to explain exactly what it is i've been experiencing.

 

The game runs at a silky smooth 60FPS and if anything it'll go past 60FPS in most cases. I'll look in a certain direction, usually a mix of rock and foliage, and BAM! FPS tanks by 15+ frames. Why is that? And sometimes it's some kind of other scenery in general. Like right now, I've only started playing Bruma and the FPS outside Buma, as you're looking at the entrance to the city and walking to it, the FPS is lower. Although not as much of a loss and aforementioned foliage/rock. Once i'm inside, however, it runs without a hitch.

Are there some tweaks i'm missing out on? Is there something i've overlooked? And just in case anyone's curious, my load order below.

 

Skyrim.esm
Update.esm
Dawnguard.esm
HearthFires.esm
Dragonborn.esm
Unofficial Skyrim Legendary Edition Patch.esp
BSAssets.esm
BSHeartland.esm
BS_DLC_patch.esp
ClimatesOfTamriel.esm
HighResTexturePack01.esp
HighResTexturePack02.esp
HighResTexturePack03.esp
HearthFire Display Case Fix.esp
RaceMenuMorphsCBBE.esp
SkyUI.esp
RaceMenu.esp
RaceMenuPlugin.esp
FNIS.esp
dD - Realistic Ragdoll Force - Realistic.esp
Dual Sheath Redux.esp
ClimatesOfTamriel-Dawnguard-Patch.esp
ClimatesOfTamriel-Dragonborn-Patch.esp
dD - Enhanced Blood Main.esp
XPMSE.esp
EnhancedLightsandFX.esp
ELFX - Exteriors.esp
immersive roads.esp
ELFX - Weathers.esp
Cloaks.esp
Run For Your Lives.esp
fallentreebridges.esp
SMIM-Merged-All.esp
Cloaks - Dawnguard.esp
Illustrious HDT Cloaks.esp
HDTPhysicsWeaponSling.esp
KS Hairdos - HDT.esp
RaceMenuOverlays.esp
SFO - Dragonborn.esp
Skyrim Flora Overhaul.esp
BatTravel.esp
FNISspells.esp
TimingIsEverything.esp
ForswornHAIR.esp
MatchingCraftableForsworn.esp
MatchingSetFix.esp
MatchingSetFixes.esp
Unique Uniques.esp
CalienteVanillaArmorTweaks.esp
GrassOnSteroids_NaturalEdition_SFO.esp
Purewaters.esp
BSHeartland - Meshes.esp
BSHeartland - Textures.esp
SMIM-Bruma-Patch.esp
Dual Sheath Redux Patch.esp

[wfandrews]

Do not know about your frame rate but a couple of things jump out in your mod list. If you are going to use the High Res Texture packs you would be wise to use the unofficial patch for them. ELFX-Weathers is incompatible with COT, use one or the other. As for frame rate drops, I have a Geo RTX 2070 with 8gb dedicated vram and still get fps drop in certain areas, it is to be expected.

 

Maybe someone who understands the technical reasons for this will read your post and explain it.

[Prenihility]

Do not know about your frame rate but a couple of things jump out in your mod list. If you are going to use the High Res Texture packs you would be wise to use the unofficial patch for them. ELFX-Weathers is incompatible with COT, use one or the other. As for frame rate drops, I have a Geo RTX 2070 with 8gb dedicated vram and still get fps drop in certain areas, it is to be expected.

 

Maybe someone who understands the technical reasons for this will read your post and explain it.

 

Oh, I disabled the ELFX weather and exterior ESPs. And didn't know about the HiRes patch. Just got that.

 

Well what i've noticed is Bruma in particular has bad FPS. When I look in the direction of the city, or if i'm in the city and looking at certain things. It's really, really annoying.