Stuttering with fresh STEP install - nothing seems to help

[vegtabill]

Greetings!

 

Before I say anything else, please accept my sincere apology for creating this thread. I have searched, here and elsewhere, for any and all possible solutions to my problem... but to no avail. I created an account here and am now posting out of desperation; I just don't know what else to do at this point.

 

I have been playing TES games for over ten years now. When Skyrim came out I was getting out of PC gaming, so I bought it for my Xbox 360. Unfortunately I was plagued by the freezing bug and was never able to play the game for more than a week or two before my saves locked up. After three purges and three fresh reinstalls I finally gave up.

 

But then last year I got myself a pretty good new PC, and after much deliberating I recently decided to give Skyrim a try again. I play a very heavily modded Morrowind install on my new machine and every other game I have installed and played so far has worked flawlessly, so I thought it might finally be time to try again. At the very least, on the PC I would never have to worry about the console freezing bug!

 

I did my research and found STEP. For what it's worth, you all have created a very nice, well-documented system here! It reminds me of back when I played FCOM (Oblivion), only much better! Well done... everyone involved with STEP should give themselves a nice pat on the back at least once a day!  The only issue I had was that I found STEP through GEMS, and as such I followed the "Beginner's Guide" before starting STEP's guide(s) as shown on their main page. They might consider telling people not to actually install anything from the Beginner's Guide if they plan on following STEP (the steps in the two guides are not particularly consistent with each other), but that's a different topic altogether.

 

Forgive me; I digress.

 

What I have now is a mostly STEP install all the way through step 2.D - Fixes. The GEMS Beginner's Guide got me to install a few other things that I have not yet seen (or gotten to) in STEP's steps, but my load order is still pretty small (MO is showing 56 mods at present). I have taken my time, trying to read as much as possible and installing a little at a time over the past three days. But diligence and patience have not paid off as expected: I have a badly stuttering game, and no matter what I try I am unable to to anything about it!

 

At this point I am at a total loss. I have tried changing ENBoost's settings. I have tried playing around with Skyrim's INIs. I have changed settings in NVidia's CP. I am even using STEP's "performance version" of the optimized vanilla textures. None of this has made any difference that I can see... the stuttering has been just as bad (if not worse) with each different thing I've tried. Searching the Internet has led to a ton of different answers, but many of them are contradictory and most seem like shots in the dark. I'm done with that... I need some guidance.

 

Here is a link to my system info, as requested. To save you a click:

• AMD FX-4130 Quad-core 3.80 GHz
• ZOTAC GeForce GTX 750 Ti - 2 GB
• 16 GB System RAM
• Windows 10 Home 64-bit
• Toshiba 1 TB 7200 RPM HDD

I will, of course, provide any more info needed (INIs, load order, Performance Monitor output... whatever you need!)

 

Again, I am terribly sorry for starting this thread. I really have tried to find my own answers, but I fear I am only digging a deeper hole now. And I didn't want to piggy-back on to someone else's thread, especially with me being new and all, ha ha! 

 

But seriously, thank you in advance for any advice you may be able to provide. And thanks again to everyone who has contributed to STEP!

[DoubleYou]

I'd say turn the

 

[THREADS]

DataSyncMode=1

 

to 0.

[TechAngel85]

Can you post your enblocal.ini inside spoiler tags? Also what other mods do you have installed that aren't in STEP?

[spoiler]

content

[/spoiler]

[Nozzer66]

No need to apologize, this sort of thing is why the forum's here.

[DoubleYou]

So... what do the INIs look like?

[TechAngel85]

Wrong thread.

[vegtabill]

 

Can you post your enblocal.ini inside spoiler tags? Also what other mods do you have installed that aren't in STEP?

[spoiler]

content

[/spoiler]

Hello! Sorry for the delay... I didn't realize I had gotten replies (I'll check my User CP to make sure I'm notified of replies from now on). Here is my enblocal.ini:

[spoiler=enblocal.ini][PROXY]

EnableProxyLibrary=false

InitProxyFunctions=true

ProxyLibrary=other_d3d9.dll

 

[GLOBAL]

UsePatchSpeedhackWithoutGraphics=true

UseDefferedRendering=false

IgnoreCreationKit=true

 

[PERFORMANCE]

SpeedHack=true

EnableOcclusionCulling=true

 

[MEMORY]

ExpandSystemMemoryX64=true

ReduceSystemMemoryUsage=true

DisableDriverMemoryManager=false

DisablePreloadToVRAM=false

EnableUnsafeMemoryHacks=false

ReservedMemorySizeMb=512

VideoMemorySizeMb=3714

EnableCompression=false

AutodetectVideoMemorySize=false

 

[THREADS]

DataSyncMode=1

PriorityMode=0

EnableUnsafeFixes=false

 

[MULTIHEAD]

ForceVideoAdapterIndex=false

VideoAdapterIndex=0

 

[WINDOW]

ForceBorderless=false

ForceBorderlessFullscreen=false

 

[ENGINE]

ForceAnisotropicFiltering=true

MaxAnisotropy=16

ForceLodBias=false

LodBias=0.0

AddDisplaySuperSamplingResolutions=false

EnableVSync=true

VSyncSkipNumFrames=0

 

[LIMITER]

WaitBusyRenderer=false

EnableFPSLimit=true

FPSLimit=60

 

[iNPUT]

//shift

KeyCombination=16

//f12

KeyUseEffect=123

//home

KeyFPSLimit=36

//num / 106

KeyShowFPS=106

//print screen

KeyScreenshot=44

//enter

KeyEditor=13

//f4

KeyFreeVRAM=115

//B

KeyBruteForce=66

 

[ADAPTIVEQUALITY]

Enable=false

Quality=1

DesiredFPS=20.0

 

[ANTIALIASING]

EnableEdgeAA=true

EnableTemporalAA=true

EnableSubPixelAA=false

 

[FIX]

FixGameBugs=true

FixParallaxBugs=true

FixParallaxTerrain=false

FixAliasedTextures=true

IgnoreInventory=true

FixTintGamma=true

RemoveBlur=false

FixSubSurfaceScattering=true

FixSkyReflection=true

FixCursorVisibility=true

FixLag=false

 

[LONGEXPOSURE]

EnableLongExposureMode=false

Time=1.0

BlendMax=0.0

[VOLUMETRICFOG]

IntensityDawn=1.0

IntensitySunrise=1.0

IntensityDay=1.0

IntensitySunset=1.0

IntensityDusk=1.0

IntensityNight=1.0

IntensityInteriorDay=1.0

IntensityInteriorNight=1.0

CurveDawn=1.0

CurveSunrise=1.0

CurveDay=1.0

CurveSunset=1.0

CurveDusk=1.0

CurveNight=1.0

CurveInteriorDay=1.0

CurveInteriorNight=1.0

LightingInfluenceDawn=1.0

LightingInfluenceSunrise=1.0

LightingInfluenceDay=1.0

LightingInfluenceSunset=1.0

LightingInfluenceDusk=1.0

LightingInfluenceNight=1.0

[WATER]

WavesAmplitudeDawn=1.0

WavesAmplitudeSunrise=1.0

WavesAmplitudeDay=1.0

WavesAmplitudeSunset=1.0

WavesAmplitudeDusk=1.0

WavesAmplitudeNight=1.0

WavesAmplitudeInteriorDay=1.0

WavesAmplitudeInteriorNight=1.0

[ENVIRONMENT]

AmbientColorFilterTopNight=1, 1, 1

AmbientColorFilterTopInteriorDay=1, 1, 1

AmbientColorFilterTopInteriorNight=1, 1, 1

AmbientColorFilterMiddleDawn=0, 0, 0

AmbientColorFilterMiddleSunrise=0, 0, 0

AmbientColorFilterMiddleDay=0, 0, 0

AmbientColorFilterMiddleSunset=0, 0, 0

AmbientColorFilterMiddleDusk=0, 0, 0

AmbientColorFilterMiddleNight=0, 0, 0

AmbientColorFilterMiddleInteriorDay=0, 0, 0

AmbientColorFilterMiddleInteriorNight=0, 0, 0

AmbientColorFilterBottomDawn=1, 1, 1

AmbientColorFilterBottomSunrise=1, 1, 1

AmbientColorFilterBottomDay=1, 1, 1

AmbientColorFilterBottomSunset=1, 1, 1

AmbientColorFilterBottomDusk=1, 1, 1

AmbientColorFilterBottomNight=1, 1, 1

AmbientColorFilterBottomInteriorDay=1, 1, 1

AmbientColorFilterBottomInteriorNight=1, 1, 1

PointLightingIntensityDawn=1.0

PointLightingIntensitySunrise=1.0

PointLightingIntensityDay=1.0

PointLightingIntensitySunset=1.0

[VOLUMETRICRAYS]

SkyColorAmountInteriorNight=0.5

[PROCEDURALSUN]

GlowIntensityDawn=0.4

GlowIntensitySunrise=0.4

GlowIntensityDay=0.4

GlowIntensitySunset=0.4

GlowIntensityDusk=0.4

GlowIntensityNight=0.4

GlowIntensityInteriorDay=0.4

GlowIntensityInteriorNight=0.4

GlowCurveDawn=10.0

GlowCurveSunrise=10.0

GlowCurveDay=10.0

GlowCurveSunset=10.0

GlowCurveDusk=10.0

GlowCurveNight=10.0

GlowCurveInteriorDay=10.0

GlowCurveInteriorNight=10.0

[MIST]

AnchorsAmountDawn=1.0

AnchorsAmountSunrise=1.0

[RAYS]

SunRaysMultiplierDawn=0.4

SunRaysMultiplierSunrise=0.4

SunRaysMultiplierDay=0.4

SunRaysMultiplierSunset=0.4

SunRaysMultiplierDusk=0.4

SunRaysMultiplierNight=0.4

SunRaysMultiplierInteriorDay=0.4

SunRaysMultiplierInteriorNight=0.4

[sKY]

CloudsCurveNight=1.0

CloudsCurveInteriorDay=1.0

CloudsCurveInteriorNight=1.0

CloudsDesaturationDawn=0.0

CloudsDesaturationSunrise=0.0

CloudsDesaturationDay=0.0

CloudsDesaturationSunset=0.0

CloudsDesaturationDusk=0.0

CloudsDesaturationNight=0.0

CloudsDesaturationInteriorDay=0.0

CloudsDesaturationInteriorNight=0.0

CloudsOpacityDawn=1.0

CloudsOpacitySunrise=1.0

CloudsOpacityDay=1.0

CloudsOpacitySunset=1.0

CloudsOpacityDusk=1.0

CloudsOpacityNight=1.0

CloudsOpacityInteriorDay=1.0

CloudsOpacityInteriorNight=1.0

CloudsColorFilterDawn=1, 1, 1

CloudsColorFilterSunrise=1, 1, 1

CloudsColorFilterDay=1, 1, 1

SunColorFilterDay=1, 1, 1

SunColorFilterSunset=1, 1, 1

SunColorFilterDusk=1, 1, 1

SunColorFilterNight=1, 1, 1

SunColorFilterInteriorDay=1, 1, 1

SunColorFilterInteriorNight=1, 1, 1

SunGlowIntensityDawn=0.0

SunGlowIntensitySunrise=0.0

SunGlowIntensityDay=0.0

SunGlowIntensitySunset=0.0

SunGlowIntensityDusk=0.0

SunGlowIntensityNight=0.0

SunGlowIntensityInteriorDay=0.0

SunGlowIntensityInteriorNight=0.0

SunGlowHazinessDawn=0.0

SunGlowHazinessSunrise=0.0

SunGlowHazinessDay=0.0

SunGlowHazinessSunset=0.0

SunGlowHazinessDusk=0.0

SunGlowHazinessNight=0.0

SunGlowHazinessInteriorDay=0.0

SunGlowHazinessInteriorNight=0.0

[iMAGEBASEDLIGHTING]

AdditiveAmountDawn=0.05

AdditiveAmountSunrise=0.05

AdditiveAmountDay=0.05

AdditiveAmountSunset=0.05

AdditiveAmountDusk=0.05

AdditiveAmountNight=0.05

AdditiveAmountInteriorDay=0.05

AdditiveAmountInteriorNight=0.05

MultiplicativeAmountDawn=0.0

MultiplicativeAmountSunrise=0.0

MultiplicativeAmountDay=0.0

MultiplicativeAmountSunset=0.0

MultiplicativeAmountDusk=0.0

MultiplicativeAmountNight=0.0

MultiplicativeAmountInteriorDay=0.0

 

 

 

The settings in my enblocal.ini file are the last I used. As such, they may well be screwed up! I was being very methodical at first, but I became less so as my frustration level rose. Regardless, I am an ENB noob so if I've done something stupid please don't hesitate to tell me so!  :confused:

 

As for mods, I have Sun Rune, Flora Respawn Fix, and the Particle and Subsurface Scattering Patches for ENB from the GEMS-linked Beginner's Guide. For completeness I will also mention that I have installed SkyUI, SkyFalls & SkyMills, Realistic Water Two, The Choice is Yours, FNIS, High Quality 3D Map, Better Dialogue Controls, and Better MessageBox Controls. I believe these are all included in STEP, but the Beginner's Guide got me to install them before I would have. To be even more clear, these are the only mods I have installed that are not included in STEP through part 2.D - Fixes. For all intents and purposes, STEP part 2.D is as far as I got before I realized I had a problem.

 

Thank you again, and please let me know if you need more info... I will be more diligent about watching this thread for replies! 

 

No need to apologize, this sort of thing is why the forum's here.

Thank you! Jeez, I'm so used to more abrasive responses... this is nice! This makes me feel welcome, and I appreciate that immensely. 

[TechAngel85]

First thing is, if from [VOLUMETRICFOG] and down is in your enblocal.ini, delete all of it from those point those. It shouldn't be in there.

 

Set this, ExpandSystemMemoryX64 to false... this, ReservedMemorySizeMb to 256... and this, EnableTemporalAA to false.

 

See if those changes help.

[vegtabill]

First thing is, if from [VOLUMETRICFOG] and down is in your enblocal.ini, delete all of it from those point those. It shouldn't be in there.

 

Set this, ExpandSystemMemoryX64 to false... this, ReservedMemorySizeMb to 256... and this, EnableTemporalAA to false.

 

See if those changes help.

OK, I did all of the above. No change. For what it's worth I have tried numerous settings with ReservedMemorySizeMb, from 64 up to 512. None of those made any difference at all. I have also tried turning ExpandSystemMemoryX64 on and off many times, but that hasn't changed anything either. EnableTemporalAA is the only one of those three that I haven't changed since I enabled it, so I was hopeful when you suggested it... but no.

 

I really don't think this is a situation where I'm asking too much of my hardware (not that you suggested that, just to be clear). Everything is very responsive in-game. My framerate generally stays up around 60 if I limit it and I have yet to see it drop below 30. When I don't limit it I see some really high values, values that don't seem right (like 1000+). That is according to ENB's FPS reporting, by the way. For that reason I sought to put a cap on it, but that hasn't been straightforward either. Plus I have read conflicting reports; some say capping FPS is redundant and unnecessary, while others say it's the only thing that worked for them. In any event, it hasn't worked for me. Just thought I'd throw that out there... you never know what might be useful.

 

Thank you again. I do appreciate your thoughts on this! 

[TechAngel85]

Your vsync should be enabled in the Skyrim.ini and in enblocal.ini. I'll think some more on this, but I don't think your hardware is the issue.

[vegtabill]

Your vsync should be enabled in the Skyrim.ini and in enblocal.ini. I'll think some more on this, but I don't think your hardware is the issue.

Interesting... again, that's something I've seen a lot of different advice for. The last thing I read said I should let my GPU handle vsync, and that it should not be enabled in Skyrim.ini. I'll go back and change it and see how it goes. If I do this, would it be correct to change NVidia's vsync setting back to application control (default)? Thanks again!

[vegtabill]

I'd say turn the

 

[THREADS]

DataSyncMode=1

 

to 0.

 

Holy Frijoles! That actually made a difference! 

 

There's still some very minor stuttering from time to time, but nothing like it was. This is much better, no doubt about it. From here I think I can go ahead and tweak some of the other settings to get everything fine-tuned before I continue with the rest of the STEP setup. But man, after trying so many things and seeing no change whatsoever, this was a very welcome sight. I was so used to seeing the game skip, stutter and stall that it took me a minute to realize how much better it was! But after running around between Helgen and Riverwood and then cruising down to (and into) Whiterun, there was no mistaking the improvement. The stuttering has been greatly reduced. My framerate (per Skyrim Performance Monitor) spent most of its time around 60 FPS, with occasional dips into the mid-40s and a couple of momentary drops into the 30s. And wow, is it ever responsive! Everything feels really snappy and immediate... no lag at all!

 

Thank you both very much for your help! I want to test this out a little more and I have a lot more work to do with my STEP setup, but I think this has solved my main stuttering problem. It was nearly unplayable before; now it's not only playable... it's enjoyable! After I do a few more test runs and verify that it really is better, I'll come back and mark the thread solved. Still, if either of you (or anyone else) have any more recommendations I'd love to hear them... I feel like there's still a lot to learn.

 

Many thanks!

[vegtabill]

Hey folks! Just wanted to drop back by to say thanks again for the help. It took me a while, but I finally finished my STEP - Extended install today. I was a little nervous when I fired up the game for the first time after finishing the guide, but [knock on wood] it ran like a charm and looked fantastic! I've only put about an hour into it so far, but in that hour I found the game to [still] be very responsive and smooth, and with very little stutter. I have some tweaking to do now that everything has been installed and enabled, but honestly I expected things to be more sluggish with as many mods as I have installed. The STEP team has done a great job of finding a balance between performance and state-of-the-art graphics and features. I am exceedingly pleased with the preliminary results I'm seeing! 

 

I went ahead and marked the thread solved using DoubleYou's DataSyncMode post. That was the one that really made a difference, but everything else has been helpful for fine-tuning. Thanks again for all of the suggestions... I've learned a lot over the past few days!

 

So far things look great, but if I have any questions in the future I'll know where to look. This has been very helpful, and a very positive experience overall. Thank you!