Performance Check

[Sigurd44]

I play a heavy tweaked and mod loaded Skyim and wanted to know, if my performance in compare to my settings and hardware is normal/realistic or maybe too low because of an unreveiled issue. I saw lots of comments in the internet where people play skyrim with ultra settings while still experiencing 50 fps and more, but I doubt they have the same settings as me and such a heavy mod loaded Skyrim.

 

At moment I am pretty pleased with the visual output of "my" Skyrim (I will post screenshots), but performance is an issue (15 - 30 fps, depends on location like a lot of grass/trees etc.)

 

My settings:

 

PC: i7 2600K, 8 GB RAM, Asus Direct CU II 670 GTX 4 GB VRAM, SSD Kingston

 

Nvidia/Nvidia injector settings: http://img.techpowerup.org/130114/nvidia_20130114_092038.png

 

.ini tweaks (the settings which are major important for performance loss are in bold):

 

Skyrim.ini:

 

[General]

sLanguage=ENGLISH

uGridsToLoad=7

uExterior Cell Buffer=64

bUseThreadedTempEffects=1

bUseThreadedParticleSystem=1

bMultiThreadMovement=1

bUseThreadedMorpher=1

 

[Display]

fShadowLODMaxStartFade=2000.0000

fSpecularLODMaxStartFade=1000.0000

fLightLODMaxStartFade=3500.0000

fDecalLifetime=512.0000

iShadowMapResolutionPrimary=4096

bTransparencyMultisampling=1

bAllowScreenshot=1

iPresentInterval=0

fDefaultWorldFOV=80

fDefault1stPersonFOV=80

fSunShadowUpdateTime=0.000

fSunUpdateThreshold=0.100

 

[imagespace]

bDoRadialBlur=1

 

[Audio]

bEnableAudio=1.0

fMusicDuckingSeconds=6.0

fMusicUnDuckingSeconds=8.0

fMenuModeFadeOutTime=3.0

fMenuModeFadeInTime=1.0

 

[Grass]

bAllowCreateGrass=1

bAllowLoadGrass=0

bDrawShaderGrass=1

iMinGrassSize=20

 

[GeneralWarnings]

SGeneralMasterMismatchWarning=One or more plugins could not find the correct versions of the master files they depend on. Errors may occur during load or game play. Check the "Warnings.txt" file for more information.

 

[Archive]

sResourceArchiveList=Skyrim - Misc.bsa, Skyrim - Shaders.bsa, Skyrim - Textures.bsa, Skyrim - Interface.bsa, Skyrim - Animations.bsa, Skyrim - Meshes.bsa, Skyrim - Sounds.bsa

sResourceArchiveList2=Skyrim - Voices.bsa, Skyrim - VoicesExtra.bsa

 

[Combat]

fMagnetismStrafeHeadingMult=0.0

fMagnetismLookingMult=0.0

 

[Papyrus]

fUpdateBudgetMS=1.2

fExtraTaskletBudgetMS=1.2

fPostLoadUpdateTimeMS=500.0

iMinMemoryPageSize=128

iMaxMemoryPageSize=512

iMaxAllocatedMemoryBytes=76800

bEnableLogging=0

bEnableTrace=0

bLoadDebugInformation=0

bEnableProfiling=0

 

[Water]

bReflectLODObjects=1

bReflectLODLand=1

bReflectSky=1

bReflectLODTrees=1

 

[backgroundLoad]

bBackgroundLoadLipFiles=1

bLoadBackgroundFaceGen=1

bUseMultiThreadedFaceGen=1

bBackgroundCellLoads=1

bLoadHelmetsInBackground=1

bUseMultiThreadedTrees=1

bUseBackgroundFileLoader=1

 

[Animation]

bMultiThreadBoneUpdate=1

 

[HAVOK]

iNumThreads=5

 

[Decals]

bDecalMultithreaded=1

 

[interface]

fSafeZoneX=15

fSafeZoneY=15

fSafeZoneXWide=15

fSafeZoneYWide=15

fBookOpenTime=200.0000

 

SkyrimPrefs.ini:

 

[General]

fBrightLightColorB=1.0000

fBrightLightColorG=1.0000

fBrightLightColorR=1.0000

iStoryManagerLoggingEvent=-1

bEnableStoryManagerLogging=0

fDefaultFOV=80

bUseThreadedParticleSystem=1

bUseThreadedBlood=1

bUseThreadedMorpher=1

bUseThreadedTempEffects=1

bUseThreadedTextures=1

bUseThreadedLOD=1

bUseThreadedAI=1

bUseThreadedMorpher=1

 

[imagespace]

bDoDepthOfField=1

iRadialBlurLevel=2

 

[Display]

iBlurDeferredShadowMask=4

iShadowMaskQuarter=4

iShadowMapResolution=4096

iShadowMapResolutionPrimary=4096

iShadowMapResolutionSecondary=4096

iShadowSplitCount=2

iShadowFilter=4

iShadowMode=3

fShadowBiasScale=0.1500

fInteriorShadowDistance=3000.0000

fShadowDistance=8000.0000

fSpecularLODStartFade=2000.0000

fShadowLODStartFade=1000.0000

fLightLODStartFade=3500.0000

fLeafAnimDampenDistEnd=4600.0000

fLeafAnimDampenDistStart=3600.0000

fTreesMidLODSwitchDist=10000000.0000

fDecalLOD2=1500.0000

fDecalLOD1=1000.0000

fGamma=1.0000

iTexMipMapMinimum=0

iTexMipMapSkip=0

iMaxAnisotropy=16

iMultiSample=8

iWaterMultiSamples=4

bDrawShadows=1

bTreesReceiveShadows=1

bDrawLandShadows=1

bFull Screen=1

iSize H=1080

iSize W=1920

fMeshLODFadePercentDefault=1.2000

fMeshLODFadeBoundDefault=256.0000

fMeshLODLevel2FadeTreeDistance=2048.0000

fMeshLODLevel1FadeTreeDistance=2844.0000

fMeshLODLevel2FadeDist=10000000.0000

fMeshLODLevel1FadeDist=10000000.0000

iScreenShotIndex=2

bMainZPrepass=0

bShadowMaskZPrePass=0

iMaxSkinDecalsPerFrame=30

iMaxDecalsPerFrame=100

bFloatPointRenderTarget=1

sD3DDevice="NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670"

bFXAAEnabled=1

iAdapter=0

bShadowsOnGrass=1

bTransparencyMultisampling=1

bDeferredShadows=1

iPresentInterval=0

 

[Grass]

b30GrassVS=0

fGrassStartFadeDistance=14000.0000

fGrassMaxStartFadeDistance=14000.0000

fGrassMinStartFadeDistance=400.0000

 

[MAIN]

bGamepadEnable=1

bCrosshairEnabled=1

fHUDOpacity=1.0000

bSaveOnPause=1

bSaveOnTravel=1

bSaveOnWait=1

bSaveOnRest=1

fSkyCellRefFadeDistance=150000.0000

 

[GamePlay]

bShowFloatingQuestMarkers=1

bShowQuestMarkers=1

iDifficulty=4

 

[interface]

bDialogueSubtitles=1

bGeneralSubtitles=1

bShowCompass=1

fMouseCursorSpeed=1.0000

 

[Controls]

fGamepadHeadingSensitivity=1.0000

fMouseHeadingSensitivity=0.0280

bAlwaysRunByDefault=1

bInvertYValues=0

bGamePadRumble=1

bMouseAcceleration=0

bUseKinect=0

 

[Particles]

iMaxDesired=950

 

[saveGame]

fAutosaveEveryXMins=5.0000

 

[AudioMenu]

fAudioMasterVolume=1.0000

fVal7=1.0000

uID7=0

fVal6=1.0000

uID6=0

fVal5=1.0000

uID5=0

fVal4=1.0000

uID4=0

fVal3=1.0000

uID3=94881

fVal2=1.0000

uID2=466532

fVal1=1.0000

uID1=554685

fVal0=1.0000

uID0=1007612

 

[Clouds]

fCloudLevel2Distance=262144.0000

fCloudLevel1Distance=32768.0000

fCloudLevel0Distance=16384.0000

fCloudNearFadeDistance=9000.0000

 

[TerrainManager]

fTreeLoadDistance=100000.0000

fBlockMaximumDistance=250000.0000

fBlockLevel1Distance=70000.0000

fBlockLevel0Distance=35000.0000

fSplitDistanceMult=1.5000

bShowLODInEditor=0

 

[NavMesh]

fObstacleAlpha=0.5000

fCoverSideHighAlpha=0.8000

fCoverSideLowAlpha=0.6500

fEdgeFullAlpha=1.0000

fEdgeHighAlpha=0.7500

fEdgeLowAlpha=0.5000

fTriangleFullAlpha=0.7000

fTriangleHighAlpha=0.3500

fTriangleLowAlpha=0.2000

fLedgeBoxHalfHeight=25.0000

fEdgeDistFromVert=10.0000

fEdgeThickness=10.0000

fPointSize=2.5000

bUseThreadedMeshes=1

 

[Trees]

bRenderSkinnedTrees=1

uiMaxSkinnedTreesToRender=40

bUseMultiThreadedTrees=1

bShadowMaskZPrePass=1

 

[Water]

bUseWaterRefractions=1

bUseWaterReflections=1

bUseWaterReflectionBlur=1

bUseWaterDisplacements=1

bUseWaterDepth=1

iWaterReflectHeight=1024

iWaterReflectWidth=1024

bReflectExplosions=1

iWaterBlurAmount=4

bAutoWaterSilhouetteReflections=0

bForceHighDetailReflections=1

 

[Decals]

bDecals=1

bSkinnedDecals=1

bDecalsOnSkinnedGeometry=1

bDecalMultithreaded=1

bDecalOcclusionQuery=1

 

[LOD]

fLODFadeOutMultObjects=20.0000

fLODFadeOutMultItems=20.0000

fLODFadeOutMultActors=20.0000

fLODFadeOutMultSkyCell=1.0000

 

[Launcher]

bEnableFileSelection=1

bShowAllResolutions=1

uLastAspectRatio=3

 

[blurShaderHDR]

bDoHighDynamicRange=1

 

[blurShader]

bUseBlurShader=0

 

[backgroundLoad]

bBackgroundLoadLipFiles=1

bLoadBackgroundFaceGen=1

bUseMultiThreadedFaceGen=1

bBackgroundCellLoads=1

bLoadHelmetsInBackground=1

bUseMultiThreadedTrees=1

 

The above .ini settings are stable for me, but Skyrim runs only with 15 to 30 fps at a resolution of 1920 x 1080, my new monitor could deliver 2560 x 1440 though, but with this resolution I have 10 fps left, unplayable. The performance hit does not occur because of the Nvidia and .ini settings, I have loads of mods running

 

 

My mod list:

 

Skyrim Flora Overhaul v1.75 14 January 2013 13 January 2013

Immersive HUD - iHUD 2.2 12 January 2013 12 January 2013

Deadly Dragons 6.3.1 12 January 2013 11 January 2013

Wet and Cold 1.071 12 January 2013 17 December 2012

Remodeled Armor for CBBEv3 Bodyslide and BBP 2.5.1 11 January 2013 11 January 2013

Footprints 0.95 11 January 2013 11 January 2013

SkyUI 3.1 08 January 2013 11 January 2013

Bellyaches HD Dragon Replacer Pack 1.0 08 January 2013 11 January 2013

Enhanced Blood Textures 3.0a 07 January 2013 27 December 2012

CBBE Pubic Hairstyles 1.6 05 January 2013 12 January 2013

Fores New Idles in Skyrim - FNIS 3.4.Beta 01 January 2013 20 November 2012

Hectrol CAVES DELUXE HighRes Retex 1.0 30 December 2012 12 January 2013

ApachiiSkyHair 1.5.Full 29 December 2012 20 December 2012

Skyrim HD - 2K Textures 1.6 28 December 2012 25 December 2012

Ruins Clutter Improved 2.5 27 December 2012 14 January 2013

Calientes Female Body Mod Big Bottom Edition -CBBE- 3.2.3 23 December 2012 21 December 2012

Categorized Favorites Menu 0.1.17 16 December 2012 20 December 2012

Sporty Sexy Map - Athletic muscle mod CBBE UNP UNPB ADEC 1.02 16 December 2012 15 December 2012

Fair Skin Complexion Sweaty Body-ADEC-CBBE-UNP-UNPB-UNPC 4.1 15 December 2012 04 January 2013

Benjamin318s Realistic Rocks and Mountains in Skyrim 8k 4k 2k and 1k Versions 1.0 06 December 2012 12 January 2013

Convenient Horses 4.5 06 December 2012 11 December 2012

Tan Lines for CBBE v3-2 1.0 30 November 2012 28 November 2012

RCRN v36 HDR - Your AllinOne Lighting and Immersion mod 3.6 18 November 2012 26 November 2012

WATER - Water And Terrain Enhancement Redux 1.5d 13 October 2012 20 December 2012

SED7 Accessories and Piercings Merchant - NSFW 1.0 24 September 2012 31 December 2012

Lush Trees 1.4a 19 September 2012 20 December 2012

Wearable Lanterns 2.2a 09 September 2012 20 December 2012

Get Snowy 4.1 02 September 2012 29 November 2012

Extensible Follower Framework 3.5.6 28 August 2012 11 December 2012

SED7 Accessoire Piercingset for CBBE3 and Bettermales 1.4 22 August 2012 25 November 2012

Calientes Vanilla Outfits for CBBE 2.1.0 20 August 2012 05 November 2012

HN66s Earrings 1.5 22 June 2012 28 November 2012

ApachiiSkyHair NPC Overhaul 2.20 07 June 2012 19 December 2012

Bellyaches Animal and Creature Pack 1.7 01 June 2012 11 January 2013

JaySuS Swords V13D 13 May 2012 02 December 2012

Skyrim Sunglare V4 4.1 06 May 2012 13 January 2013

Better Dynamic Snow 2.12 11 April 2012 12 January 2013

Better Sorting 2.06 11 March 2012 20 December 2012

The skeleton of female models 3.2.0 09 March 2012 23 November 2012

HQ Snow Texture 2.6 05 March 2012 12 January 2013

Better males - Beautiful nudes and faces - New hairstyles 2.3.2 27 February 2012 17 November 2012

More Snow 1.1 26 February 2012 12 January 2013

Re-Defined Dungeons WIP 1.0 10 February 2012 13 January 2013

AEterna Circlets 2.2 07 February 2012 25 November 2012

Quality SnowFlakes V2 2.0 05 February 2012 -

CHSBHC - BBP - Nude and Jiggly Mod v2.4 04 February 2012 18 November 2012

Real Effect Candle V1.0 02 February 2012 14 January 2013

A Quality World Map - With Roads 8.0 28 January 2012 05 November 2012

Real Ice ALL-IN-ONE V3 25 January 2012 12 January 2013

High Quality 3D Map 2.0 22 January 2012 05 November 2012

Dramatic Clouds 1.3 06 January 2012 12 January 2013

Super Realistic Ore Textures 1 16 December 2011 20 December 2012

Enhanced Night Skyrim 0.4 15 December 2011 20 December 2012

AEterna Rings 1.0 05 December 2011 25 November 2012

Better Gold 1.21 04 December 2011 13 January 2013

AEterna Necklaces 1.0 02 December 2011 25 November 2012

High Quality Food and Ingredients 1.6 30 November 2011 20 December 2012

High Quality Eyes 1.2 22 November 2011 23 November 2012

Nicer Snowflakes 1.0 17 November 2011 12 January 2013

 

Alone the used CBBE textures have a resolution of 4096 x 4096 and you will have almost always followers or NPCs on your screen while playing. In addition I use the 8k resolution pack of Benjamin318s Realistic Rocks and Mountains and both 4k resolution packs (pines and aspens) of Skyrim Flora Overhaul and alone uGridtoLoad 7/64 is a major performance impact of course.

My GPU and CPU are running with default settings at moment, no overcklocking. My aim is to get all the above running on my new 27'' monitor at a resolution of 2560 x 2440 while still playable (so not only good for screenshots). To be still playable with a reasonable performance I guess I need 30 to 40 fps.

 

If my performance is normal for this settings I guess I have two options left:

 

1) overcklocking CPU and GPU

2) buying another Asus 670 GTX for SLI mode

 

Any experiences and advices will be appreciated.

[Zalman1337]

SLI isn't worth it. Most of the time it doesn't produce a noticeable difference and some games don't even support it. Edited January 14, 2013 by Zalman1337

[dtrower]

The transparency supersampling AA 8x is a very high setting and will help kill your framerates, try 4x which is still high and 4x msaa , i have a very similiar system with many mods also and use 4x msaa and 2x transparency AA, i find these settings a good compromise between performance and a nice looking Skyrim, i also uninstalled lush trees which helped, i get around 60fps most of the time now, i also use Direct3d overider which is a small app bundled with Rivatuner, it forces vertical sync and enables triple buffering in direcy 3d.

[Sigurd44]

The transparency supersampling AA 8x is a very high setting and will help kill your framerates, try 4x which is still high and 4x msaa , i have a very similiar system with many mods also and use 4x msaa and 2x transparency AA, i find these settings a good compromise between performance and a nice looking Skyrim, i also uninstalled lush trees which helped, i get around 60fps most of the time now, i also use Direct3d overider which is a small app bundled with Rivatuner, it forces vertical sync and enables triple buffering in direcy 3d.

 

I will try that and maybe adjust to max settings only for screenshots again, but not for actual playing.

 

Here some screenshots of "my" Skyrim:

 

http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/images/189423

http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/images/189429

 

There are some more. Look for "Skyrim unleashed".

Edited January 14, 2013 by Sigurd44