Framerate drop

[BluesBro]

Hey guys and gals,

I got a problem. I run Skyrim with a few mods and the lag is extreme.

I have some graphics, water, weather and lightning enhancing mods (no ENB because antialiasing won't work with it) and a HD graphics pack installed. Graphics are set on Ultra, but AF on 8x and schadows on high.

When I don't move, the framerate is at 25-50 but as soon as i just touch the mouse it dropps to 1 frame every 5 seconds (or worse) and then stabilizes - until i move the mouse again.

The OSD says my CPU is at ~40%, the GPU at ~75% and memory ~80-95% when not moving. When I look around and the framerate drops, so does the CPU and GPU (both go to ~5-20%), thats why I think it might be not enough memory.

(also the fans of the CPU and GPU are both set, so the temperature won't go over 50°C - so I'm prety sure they don't sample down by themselfes)

 

My PC:

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (@ 2,4GHz)

Nvidia GTX 570 (@ 785MHz)

4x 1Gb DDR2 333MHz Ram (I'm not sure about the Mhz - that's what Cpu-Z shows me, they should be 2x 667 and 2x 800)

Intel desktop board dg965wh

 

So can anybody tell me what the problem with my setup is? Do you think it might solve the problem if I get 4 2GB DIMMs?

 

 

Edit: Also I always got the latest Nvidia Beta drivers, and Skyrim's 1.8 Patch installed

Edited November 23, 2012 by BluesBro

[bben46]

I would look at optimizing your system first. Have you tried reducing the graphics settings? Not every computer that can run Skyrim can run well at even high settings.

 

Here is a link to my troubleshooting blog.

http://s1.zetaboards.com/bbenlibrary/topic/4751769/1/#new

This is updated often so come back later for more.

 

If you use any of this and have some success - or even if nothing works - please post back here what you did that worked or didn't work. That kind of information can be invaluable to other members having the same or similar problems - And to me in fixing any problems in the blog.

[BluesBro]

Thanks, I'm gonna read your thread and tell you if anything helps.

 

The thing that I have no explaination for and think is strange, is that, like I said, the CPU and GPU are both far from reaching their limits. It's only the memory thats always at over 80/90%.

Also I forgot to mention; Indoors there is no lag at all: CPU and GPU are almost the same like outdoors, but the memory usage drops to 50-60% (in the Proudspire Manor). That's why I guessed there is the bottleneck. Also in Solitude the framerate is unplayable low when turning, but in Dawnstar it is a lot worse (maybe because in Solitude the PC doesn't have to load the tundra too)

 

there is one more thing I changed: I set the Ugridstoload to 11 (which is no problem for my system when I don't install any mods)

 

So maybe I just have too high expectations in my PC lol

 

 

but I'm still thankfull if someone can tell me how to get killer graphics with less fps drop :)

[Georgiegril]

there is one more thing I changed: I set the Ugridstoload to 11 (which is no problem for my system when I don't install any mods)

 

Thats ur problem.

[BluesBro]

Yeah, maybe that's the modification which, in combination with the HD graphics mod, is mainly responsible for the lag. But which of my computer's hardware is responsible for not being able to pocess all the terrain-information. - I thought there might be to little memory since, like I said, GPU and CPU are never being fully used and as soon as memory goes over 85/90% there is this lag?!

[ginnyfizz]

I find I can get excellent graphics and still have a whopping frame rate, by using a combo of RCRN (just the injector, not the plugins), Climates of Tamriel and The Imaginator. I have never had the slightest desire to tinker either with uGrids or ENB's, as I have seen too many people having just the kind of problems that you have, OP. I know that you have a fairly powerful system, I have one that is even more so, but that doesn't mean that you HAVE to crank up everything that some of the tweak guides tell you to. IDK, I think some tweak guides should carry a PC health warning. There are much safer ways to make the game look good, and all available here on the Nexus!

[BluesBro]

OK, I just couldn't figure out how to fix my game and so I uninstalled it completely - and deleted every single file related to skyrim from my pc (exept for the savegames ;)

Then I reinstalled it (incl. Dawnguard) and only added:

- a HD pack (not the largest - still much better than the original)

- Imaginator

- skyrim flora overhaul

- Static mesh improvement

- RCRN v3.6

- some minor mods

- set ugridstoload to 7

 

Skyrim now looks beautiful and the framerate is verry good (30-60fps)

 

BUT it looks like AntiAliasing doesn't work correctly any more!!! and I just can't figure out which mod is responsible for it...

I use patch 1.8.151.0.7, Nvidia driver 310.61 and Afterburner 2.2.5 Beta 1

 

So, I have no idea how to get AA to work again (I tried it through the Nvidia panel already - no change)