politemaster

Will do! To edit my last post, I found the STEP benchmarking forum. I read a post from you about achieving 60 FPS on a 4 GB NVIDIA 760, and I was encouraged to continue looking.

Great! I installed the (actual) STEP Optimized Textures. I'd be happy to send my observations to the OP/modder after I troubleshoot my performance. I began reading the STEP literature on ENBoost settings. I've done some initial tests changing individual [Memory] settings--including Compression--but no big gains yet. After thoroughly testing the remaining settings, I'll post my results on which were best. Should I need to, my next plan is to try the baseline versions of all the STEP mods. I intuit that my system can't handle STEP with 2K textures. However, I am welcome to evidence from others experience. If there are any links to benchmarks threads, I'd like to investigate and compare there too. Thanks again TechAngel85! Further thoughts from everyone are welcomed :) - PoliteMaster

Thanks TechAngel85 :) ! I did not install the Optimization for the HDDLC Vanilla textures, because STEP recommended not to if you had 2 GB of VRAM or greater. However, I bet they can only help, and it would be nice to save time if I later use DDSopt for the other STEP textures. I will go back and install the optimized version soon. On ENBoost, I am not sure which memory settings you refer to, but I imagine ones in the enblocal.ini. Please let me know if there is anything specific I would consider changing from the STEP guide. I will try recording benchmarks in different areas of Skyrim soon. Much appreciated advice! - PoliteMaster

Hi Kechlion, I am a newcomer to STEP and finished installing STEP:Extended yesterday (phew). I was very thorough in following instructions, taking notes if I used a different quality version of a mod. My computer is less powerful than your own: Intel-i7 3770K, 2x NVIDIA Geforce 670 SLI, 2 GB VRAM, 16 GB System RAM, 1920x1080 resolution, Skyrim/mods installed off SSD RAID (on WD Black), no overclocks (I recently reset). I was ambitious with my STEP install; I chose 2K resolutions where possible (STEP often recommends 1K), but avoided 4K. I am having a similar experience. I have persistent marcrostutter issues (seeing my VRAM usage, I was presuming this was the culprit). My FPS indoors and certain parts of Whiterun reaches the VSync cap of 60, but varies around 38 when running away from Dragonsreach. Outside of Whiterun, I get 35-45 FPS. FPS will drop as low as 21 when rapidly moving the camera outside of Whiterun (and game exhibits the most pronounced macrostutter). I know there are a few things I can do to increase performance. A few of these include using STEP baseline resolutions, re-overclocking, and learning/using DDSopt. However, first I am interested in hearing more details about your performance experience--especially how more VRAM has contributed--and welcome anyone else's. Of course, I'd be happy to share more about my own experience. I'd like to know what to expect in the first place. Thanks in advance for reading and posting! :) - PoliteMaster

:D Thank you very much for confirming that, DoubleYou.

Hi STEP Forums, As I am completing my STEP:Extended install (finished Core yesterday), an assumption I made came up. When a mod requires multiple files from its Nexus page, I have been keeping them separate instead of Merging (the Main File and additional files have their own folders on the left of Mod Organizer). The additional files are placed after the Main File, ordered exactly how STEP or the Nexus page instructed to or presented them. I have been assuming that files with the same name (files that would be overwritten if actually merged) are "overwritten" in the virtual folder Mod Organizer creates when loading Skyrim. That is to say, I assume the file furthest down takes priority. I wanted to confirm that and make sure I did not have to actually merge a mod's additional files with its Main File. If it amounts to the same effect, I prefer this method to remember which items I have downloaded/installed and to easily update items in the future (even if I keep a few redundant files). Thank you in advance for reading. I greatly appreciate any responses! :) - PoliteMaster

You guys are great! Thank you kindly Nozzer66 and James_Richards for the details about merging.

Thanks James_Richards :) . So to clarify, it is limited by the number of active plugins and not the number of Mod folders in the left pane of Mod Organizer? I also read that you can combine mods with Wyre Bash, but I am not ready for that information yet.

Thanks again Nozzer66! I did find the information on Merge, Replace, and Rename. I remember reading that there might be a limit to the number of individual mods. Do you know if that true? When there are multiple downloads for one mod, I tend to keep them unmerged for organization.

Thanks for your fast response, EssArrBee! I appreciate your info about Mod Manager; I never considered installing multiple copies of a mod--with different options/parts--for different profiles. Yes, I did notice the green bars. I cross-referenced STEP:Extended and saw that all other mods in the guide are exactly those added by STEP:Extended to STEP:Core (without exception). It made more sense after that, and I intend to install for STEP:Extended. I appreciate your comment, Nozzer66 :) . What you said helped answer my confusion. However, I am not familiar with the merge function. I will look it up to see what it is about!

Hi STEP Forums, I am an intermediate modder for other games, and I recently came across the STEP guide. After carefully reading through the STEP literature, I am unclear about how to treat Optional Files, Miscellaneous Files, and alternative Main Files found on mod X's Nexus page. Some mods in STEP:Core/STEP:Extended do not explicitly advise whether or not install them. For example, Realistic Water Two (2.G. Landscape & Environment) has two Optional Files: "Realistic Water Two - ENB Textures" and "Realistic Water Two - Non-ENB Ultra Resolution", in addition to its one Main File. In this case, I assume only the Main File is recommended. However, does STEP mean "Install the ('normal/most popular') Main File and nothing else" in the absence of explicit instruction? Does a valid STEP installation extend the liberty of installing any/all Optional Files in the absence of explicit instruction? At the beginning of Step 2 (Mod Installation): Always install plugins (ESPs/ESMs) unless otherwise noted. If there are not any notes associated with a particular mod, then all options fit the STEP mandate. The notes only provide instructions where necessary; otherwise, STEP encourages user customization.I am not sure if "options" refer to those during installations, Optional Files on mod X's Nexus Page, or both. I hope to clarify whether I need to sift through all such files. Thank you very kindly for reading my post and in advance for any answers! :) - PoliteMaster