z929669

Set up RAID 0 on the new drives. I have yet to measure speed, but it only took 12 minutes to install win 7 64 Pro

I have completed a diff of the 'fixed', pre-DDSopt-ed HRDLC 1 & 2 combined against the latest versions of HRDLCs 1, 2 & 3 combined. Preliminarily, about 100 textures have been revised (mostly increased res) and about 8 textures have been dropped (??). Many of the errors noted originally by Brumbek's post have been fixed, but I am not sure about all of the errors. Agree that we need to evaluate many of the vanilla textures, as they may be better than any of the modded solutions. The actors/ folder has been moved from HRDLC1 to HRDLC3 as well, so the BSAs were re-packaged in a more balanced fashion and should only be compared in aggregate. More later ...

Thanks all for the great work updating the wiki content. It is a big job and there are few willing to do it ...

I agree that SkyRealism vanilla is the way to go for ENB... and it may even be the best option. I am not against ENB for Core STEP, but it would seem that this should be coupled with lighting and weather ideally (which adds too many variables to the mix). Seems like lighting is the first layer. We are updating the Anthology is all. The release is basically ready now, but for some final decisions and testing relating to Dawnguard. That probably realistically adds at least a week or two to release. Bound to be a ton of mod updates. ENB could be the first layer seeing that the vanilla preset doesn't effect the lighting at all so whatever lighting mod is chosen, ENB would have no effect on it. Do you mean "Dragonborn"? Yes "Dragonborn" ... corrected post

I agree that SkyRealism vanilla is the way to go for ENB... and it may even be the best option. I am not against ENB for Core STEP, but it would seem that this should be coupled with lighting and weather ideally (which adds too many variables to the mix). Seems like lighting is the first layer. We are updating the Anthology is all. The release is basically ready now, but for some final decisions and testing relating to Dawnguard Dragonborn. That probably realistically adds at least a week or two to release. Bound to be a ton of mod updates.

I am pretty sure that the apps go by name only. Whatever issue there is with BSAopt, does the same exist for DDSopt?

OK, I think we have sufficiently chewed this up enough. I agree with the aesthetic remarks of s4n on all counts. I also see now that our little discussion has basically solidifed our original intention: No lighting/weather/PP solutions should be included in Core STEP for 2.2.1 :( I really wanted a broader conversation on the topic with many more viewpoints, each being challenged in some way. Clearly, there is not 'complete' lighting solution, and each one of them breaks or takes away something in addition to what it gives ... at least at this point. I have high hopes for Relighting Skyrim, RLO and CoT v3.0 ... and EL&FX if they remove some of their stylistic assertion. (thanks for all the good screens s4n!). Let this thread serve as an example of a properly focused and debated topic in the "Current Release Dev" forum I am going to update the OP as being "resolved" if I can get the lot of you to confirm that we postpone the lighting solution for 2.2.1 and foreseeable future.

I found that 4.0x added too much to distant trees, making them look blotchy and under-detailed. 2.0x works out to be ideal as it adds fullness, but not too much. I discovered this during my SFO escapades. ;) Glad you clarified. We should point to the DDSopt Guide as the definitive source (and I suppose I could update the OP :sigh: ) EDIT: Looks like I already am pointing to the wiki from the OP :P ... Will go on to update #430

They should stay in here (IMO)

I need only what I have with HDD RAID 0, but I want [ c ]

https://www.storagereview.com/crucial_m4_ssd_raid_reviewWOW, that is quite an improvement .... Since I don't lose any space, it would seem like there is no good reason for not using RAID 0 config! (data loss is not an issue for me, as I have plenty of backup space ... and I do actually use it :P )

I want to buy that so badly...I could not resist grabbing two for myself ... I should have them in a couple of hours if UPS doesn't suck (they often do suck though).Are you gonna RAID them? I hope you're gonna RAID them. Convince me that I should create SSD RAID 0 on my system (see link to specs in sig) ... I thought data transfer rates were capped by SATA (II I think for my mobo)?They're capped, but raid0 = 2 channels = double the bandwidth (on paper). That does make sense... forgot about the independent data connections. Is there evidence of the actual i/o boost from RAID 0 on SSD? Is it double or something less? Also, the SSD speeds are so much faster as it is, would I even notice a diff between SSD versus SSD RAID 0?

Thread moved to appropriate forum

I want to buy that so badly...I could not resist grabbing two for myself ... I should have them in a couple of hours if UPS doesn't suck (they often do suck though).Are you gonna RAID them? I hope you're gonna RAID them. Convince me that I should create SSD RAID 0 on my system (see link to specs in sig) ... I thought data transfer rates were capped by SATA (II I think for my mobo)?

I want to buy that so badly...I could not resist grabbing two for myself ... I should have them in a couple of hours if UPS doesn't suck (they often do suck though).

Only about 4 people have stated an opinion ... and I suspect there is a lot of inflated status attributed to RLO at present because of the anticipation of that release. There are actually more light sources in EL&FX, since that mod uses scripting to get around engine restrictions to the number of light sources. RLO explicitly does not do this. I personally will probably end up using RLO when it evolves, but core step needs just the most comprehensive and vanilla-aesthetic lighting 'fix' ... not lighting 'overhaul'. Perhaps lighting should not be addressed in this release, but I have seen several comments about STEP missing this solution (and Packs take a while to develop and even longer to properly integrate into STEP)

Good find Tech. We need to notify Ethatron, as it may be something simple in the BSAopt code.

Respectfully disagree ;) Vanilla lighting does have some pretty stark 'mistakes' that are not stylistic in any way (but rather due to laziness and inattention to detail). Light sources are one thing that needs 'fixing'. I am thinking that Relighting Skyrim or EL&FX may be closer to the 'fixes' that should be adopted as part of Core STEP; however, it may be that none of the lighting solutions are comprehensive or consistent enough. I suppose that is what we are assessing.

@all contenders Review the comparison screenshots of RLO/EL&FX/both. It is pretty obvious from those screens that RLO stands in stark contrast to vanilla lighting. I think the combined is best, but EL&FX is clearly more true to the fantasy lighting of vanilla. S4N's screens are coming to the wiki shortly, so we will have much more food for thought (and his in-depth analysis, which is always enormously helpful) Also read the RLO FAQs. There is much yet to do for that mod, and it is nowhere near complete (probably released a bit too early IMO). RLO does eliminate many light sources, and I think that it is pretty noticeable. Also, shadow flickering and movement is a bit too pronounced I think.

I have also noticed that some of Vurts new trees are shaking wildly as if they are in a tornado and about to digitally self destruct. Very weird .... Absolutely no crashing though on my system, so I would venture to guess that it could be driver related ... ?

Just a quick coarse correction concerning the "rules": Yes, we need to try and honor vanilla Skyrim as best as possible; however, I cannot stress enough that vanilla style is probably the most important. This means that lighting realism is second to lighting quality and dynamics. Specifically, I see EL&FX as adhering more to vanilla style and artistry than RLO. The latter has great lighting, but realism is the main goal ... elimination of the fantasy-like aspect of much of vanilla Skyrim's lighting. Vanilla has more light-color variation than RLO, and I find that EL&FX, while adding and moving light sources, tends to honor hue and saturation of reflected light more "obediently" than RLO. RLO is great, and it simply does what it says ... but the fantastical nature of vanilla's lighting artistry is something that should be preserved IMHO. At least for Core STEP anyway.