Need help with stuttering. Observations and results.

[ntnssc]

Edit: Oops. I think I posted in a wrong forum :\

 

Setup is as close to STEP as possible. I think I may have made a mistake somewhere along the lines to cause an issues.

 

GTX1080 Ti (4-5/8 GB with step), 6 cores, 16 RAM, ssd

 

[spoiler=enblocal.ini]

[PROXY]

EnableProxyLibrary=false

InitProxyFunctions=true

ProxyLibrary=

 

 

[ENGINE]

ForceVSync=false

VSyncSkipNumFrames=0

ForceAnisotropicFiltering=true

MaxAnisotropy=16

 

ForceLodBias=true

LodBias=-0.5

 

[MEMORY]

ForceVideoMemorySize=true

VideoMemorySizeMb=8000

 

[LIMITER]

EnableFPSLimit=true

FPSLimit=60.0

 

 

[iNPUT]

KeyCombination=16

KeyUseEffect=123

KeyFPSLimit=0

KeyShowFPS=122

KeyScreenshot=45

KeyEditor=13

KeyDof=118

 

 

[FIX]

FixReflectionTrees=true

DisableFakeLights=true

FixReflectionThirdPerson=true

FixBlackHair=true

IgnoreInventory=true

DisableGameDOF=false

 

FixGameBugs=true

FixParallaxBugs=true

FixParallaxTerrain=true

FixAliasedTextures=true

IgnoreLoadingScreen=true

IgnoreInventory=true

FixTintGamma=true

RemoveBlur=true

FixSkyReflection=true

FixCursorVisibility=true

FixLag=true

 

[PERFORMANCE]

SpeedHack=true

ShaderCache=true

 

 

[ANTIALIASING]

EnableEdgeAA=false

 

 

[DITHERING]

EnablePrepass=true

EnablePostpass=true

AmountPrepass=2.0

AmountPostpass=2.0

 

 

[spoiler=skyrim.ini]

[Actor]

bUseNavMeshForMovement=0

 

[Animation]

fMaxFrameCounterDifferenceToConsiderVisible=0.06666667

 

[Archive]

bLoadArchiveInMemory=1

sArchiveToLoadInMemoryList=Skyrim - Animations.bsa

sResourceArchiveList=Skyrim - Misc.bsa, Skyrim - Shaders.bsa, Skyrim - Interface.bsa, Skyrim - Animations.bsa, Skyrim - Meshes0.bsa, Skyrim - Meshes1.bsa, Skyrim - Sounds.bsa

sResourceArchiveList2=Skyrim - Voices_en0.bsa, Skyrim - Textures0.bsa, Skyrim - Textures1.bsa, Skyrim - Textures2.bsa, Skyrim - Textures3.bsa, Skyrim - Textures4.bsa, Skyrim - Textures5.bsa, Skyrim - Textures6.bsa, Skyrim - Textures7.bsa, Skyrim - Textures8.bsa, Skyrim - Patch.bsa

 

[Audio]

fMenuModeFadeInTime=1.0

fMenuModeFadeOutTime=3.0

fMusicDuckingSeconds=6.0

fMusicUnDuckingSeconds=8.0

 

[Camera]

fMouseWheelZoomSpeed=10.00

 

[Combat]

f1PArrowTiltUpAngle=0.7

f1PBoltTiltUpAngle=0.7

f3PArrowTiltUpAngle=2.5

fMagnetismLookingMult=0.0

fMagnetismStrafeHeadingMult=0.0

 

[Controls]

fMouseHeadingSensitivityMax=0.0625

fMouseHeadingXScale=0.0200

fMouseHeadingYScale=0.8500

 

[Decals]

uMaxSkinDecalPerActor=60

 

[Display]

bDeactivateAOOnSnow=1

bLockFrameRate=0

bVolumetricLightingDisableInterior=1

fDDOFFocusCenterweightExt=2

fDecalLifetime=300

fDefaultWorldFOV=96.42

fDOFMaxDepthParticipation=10000

fDynamicDOFFarBlur=0.4

fFirstSliceDistance=2800

fLightLODRange=45000

fLightLODStartFade=3500.0

fShadowDirectionalBiasScale=0.15

fSparklesIntensity=0.3

fSunShadowUpdateTime=1

fSunUpdateThreshold=0.5

fTreesMidLODSwitchDist=9999999.0000

 

[General]

bBackgroundLoadVMData=1

fEncumberedReminderTimer=10

fFlickeringLightDistance=8192

iFPSClamp=50

sIntroSequence=

sLanguage=ENGLISH

SLocalSavePath=__MO_Saves\

sTestFile1=Dawnguard.esm

sTestFile2=HearthFires.esm

sTestFile3=Dragonborn.esm

uExterior Cell Buffer=128

uInterior Cell Buffer=12

iPreloadSizeLimit=1048576000

uGridsToLoad=5

 

[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.

 

[Grass]

bAllowCreateGrass=1

bAllowLoadGrass=0

bDrawShaderGrass=1

fGrassFadeRange=13500

fGrassMaxStartFadeDistance=7000.0000

fGrassMinStartFadeDistance=0.0000

fGrassWindMagnitudeMax=125

fGrassWindMagnitudeMin=5

iGrassCellRadius=2

iMaxGrassTypesPerTexure=4

iMinGrassSize=25

 

[HAVOK]

fMaxTime=0.01666667

fMaxTimeComplex=0.03333333

 

[imagespace]

iRadialBlurLevel=2

 

[interface]

bShowTutorials=0

fBookOpenTime=500.0000

 

[Launcher]

bEnableFileSelection=1

 

[LightingShader]

fDecalLODFadeEnd=0.6

fDecalLODFadeStart=0.5

fEnvmapLODFadeEnd=1.1

fEnvmapLODFadeStart=1

 

[LOD]

fDistanceMultiplier=1.00

 

[MapMenu]

bWorldMapNoSkyDepthBlur=1

fMapWorldMaxPitch=90

fMapWorldMinPitch=0

fMapWorldYawRange=400

fWorldMapDepthBlurScale=0

fWorldMapMaximumDepthBlur=0

fWorldMapNearDepthBlurScale=0

 

[Menu]

iConsoleSizeScreenPercent=40

iConsoleTextSize=20

 

[Papyrus]

bEnableLogging=0

bEnableProfiling=0

bEnableTrace=0

bLoadDebugInformation=0

fPostLoadUpdateTimeMS=2000

 

[saveGame]

iAutoSaveCount=3

 

[Trees]

bEnableTreeAnimations=1

bEnableTrees=1

fUpdateBudget=1.5

 

[Water]

bReflectLODLand=1

bReflectLODObjects=1

bReflectLODTrees=1

bReflectSky=1

 

[spoiler=skyrimprefs.ini]

[AudioMenu]

fAudioMasterVolume=1.0000

fVal0=1.0000

fVal1=0.8000

fVal2=0.8000

fVal3=0.5000

fVal4=0.8000

fVal5=1.0000

fVal6=1.0000

fVal7=0.6000

uID0=94881

uID1=1007612

uID2=554685

uID3=466532

uID4=522251

uID5=410705

uID6=106685

uID7=285628529

 

[bethesda.net]

uPersistentUuidData0=4237634947

uPersistentUuidData1=2163230564

uPersistentUuidData2=2529712377

uPersistentUuidData3=637197163

 

[Clouds]

fCloudLevel0Distance=16384.0000

fCloudLevel1Distance=32768.0000

fCloudLevel2Distance=262144.0000

fCloudNearFadeDistance=9000.0000

 

[Controls]

bAlwaysRunByDefault=1

bGamePadRumble=1

bInvertYValues=0

bUseKinect=0

fGamepadHeadingSensitivity=0.6667

fMouseHeadingSensitivity=0.0125

 

[Decals]

bDecals=1

bSkinnedDecals=1

uMaxDecals=200

uMaxSkinDecals=50

 

[Display]

bBorderless=0

bDrawLandShadows=1

bEnableImprovedSnow=1

bEnableProjecteUVDiffuseNormals=1

bForceCreateTarget=0

bFull Screen=0

bFXAAEnabled=0

bIBLFEnable=0

bIndEnable=0

bSAO_CS_Enable=0

bSAOEnable=0

bScreenSpaceReflectionEnabled=1

bToggleSparkles=1

bTreesReceiveShadows=1

bUse64bitsHDRRenderTarget=1

bUsePrecipitationOcclusion=1

bUseTAA=1

bVolumetricLightingEnable=0

fDynamicDOFBlurMultiplier=0.8000

ffocusShadowMapDoubleEveryXUnit=450.0000

fGamma=1.0000

fInteriorShadowDistance=3000.0000

fLeafAnimDampenDistEnd=4600.0000

fLeafAnimDampenDistStart=3600.0000

fLightLODStartFade=5000.0000

fMeshLODFadeBoundDefault=256.0000

fMeshLODFadePercentDefault=1.2000

fMeshLODLevel1FadeDist=10240.0000

fMeshLODLevel1FadeTreeDistance=16896.0000

fMeshLODLevel2FadeDist=7680.0000

fMeshLODLevel2FadeTreeDistance=16896.0000

fProjectedUVDiffuseNormalTilingScale=0.2000

fProjectedUVNormalDetailTilingScale=0.8000

fShadowDistance=8000.0000

fTreesMidLODSwitchDist=16896.0000

iMaxDecalsPerFrame=120

iMaxSkinDecalsPerFrame=50

iNumFocusShadow=4

iNumSplits=2

iReflectionResolutionDivider=2

iSaveGameScreenShotHeight=192

iSaveGameScreenShotHeighWSt=192

iSaveGameScreenShotWidth=256

iSaveGameScreenShotWidthWS=320

iScreenShotIndex=0

iShadowMapResolution=2048

iShadowMaskQuarter=4

iSize H=1080

iSize W=1920

iVolumetricLightingQuality=1

iVSyncPresentInterval=0

uBookRatio=2

 

[GamePlay]

bShowFloatingQuestMarkers=1

bShowQuestMarkers=1

iDifficulty=2

 

[General]

bEnableStoryManagerLogging=0

fLightingOutputColourClampPostEnv=1.0000

fLightingOutputColourClampPostLit=1.0000

fLightingOutputColourClampPostSpec=1.0000

iStoryManagerLoggingEvent=-1

uLargeRefLODGridSize=21

 

[Grass]

fGrassMaxStartFadeDistance=8500.0000

fGrassMinStartFadeDistance=0.0000

fGrassStartFadeDistance=4500.0000

 

[imagespace]

bDoDepthOfField=0

bLensFlare=0

 

[interface]

bDialogueSubtitles=1

bGeneralSubtitles=0

bShowCompass=1

fMouseCursorSpeed=1.0000

 

[Launcher]

sD3DDevice="NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080"

 

[LOD]

fLODFadeOutMultActors=20.0000

fLODFadeOutMultItems=15.0000

fLODFadeOutMultObjects=25.0000

fLODFadeOutMultSkyCell=1.0000

 

[MAIN]

bCrosshairEnabled=1

bGamepadEnable=0

bSaveOnPause=0

bSaveOnRest=1

bSaveOnTravel=1

bSaveOnWait=1

fHUDOpacity=1.0000

fSkyCellRefFadeDistance=600000.0000

 

[NavMesh]

fCoverSideHighAlpha=0.8000

fCoverSideLowAlpha=0.6500

fEdgeDistFromVert=10.0000

fEdgeFullAlpha=1.0000

fEdgeHighAlpha=0.7500

fEdgeLowAlpha=0.5000

fEdgeThickness=10.0000

fLedgeBoxHalfHeight=25.0000

fObstacleAlpha=0.5000

fPointSize=2.5000

fTriangleFullAlpha=0.7000

fTriangleHighAlpha=0.3500

fTriangleLowAlpha=0.2000

 

[Particles]

iMaxDesired=4500

 

[saveGame]

fAutosaveEveryXMins=15.0000

 

[TerrainManager]

bShowLODInEditor=1

fBlockLevel0Distance=46443.0000

fBlockLevel1Distance=69665.0000

fBlockMaximumDistance=92887.0000

fSplitDistanceMult=1.0890

fTreeLoadDistance=46443.0000

 

[Trees]

bRenderSkinnedTrees=1

uiMaxSkinnedTreesToRender=200

 

[Water]

bUseWaterDepth=1

bUseWaterDisplacements=1

bUseWaterReflections=1

bUseWaterRefractions=1

 

 

[spoiler=Load Order]

Skyrim.esm

Update.esm

Dawnguard.esm

HearthFires.esm

Dragonborn.esm

Unofficial Skyrim Special Edition Patch.esp

Skyrim Project Optimization - Full Version.esm

UHDAP - en0.esp

UHDAP - en1.esp

UHDAP - en2.esp

UHDAP - en3.esp

UHDAP - en4.esp

UHDAP - MusicHQ.esp

FISS.esp

Mors Arrows Be Gone.esl

FarmhouseChimneys.esp

DynDOLOD.esm

TerrainLodRedone.esp

Butterflies.esp

SMIM-SE-Merged-All.esp

SkyrimImprovedPuddles-DG-HF-DB.esp

UnlimitedBookshelves.esp

SkyUI_SE.esp

RelightingSkyrim_SSE.esp

Audio Overhaul Skyrim.esp

Cutting Room Floor.esp

Guard Dialogue Overhaul.esp

Weapons Armor Clothing & Clutter Fixes.esp

EmbersHD.esp

Gildergreen Regrown.esp

Cathedral Landscapes.esp

Particle Patch for ENB SSE.esp

dD-No Spinning Death Animation Merged.esp

Animated Weapon Enchants.esp

Frost Meshes Patch.esp

Elemental_Staffs.esp

Enhanced Vanilla Trees SSE.esp

GQJ_DG_vampireamuletfix.esp

imp_helm_legend.esp

ORM-Arvak.esp

Point The Way.esp

Run For Your Lives.esp

PilgrimsDelight.esp

RUSTIC SOULGEMS - Sorted.esp

IHSS.esp

Beards.esp

Brows.esp

NB-Scars.esp

SPTConsistentOlderPeopleSE.esp

TESIVLucienLachance.esp

VWA_VanillaWarpaintsAbsolution.esp

CrittersAintSnitches.esp

Dragon Stalking Fix.esp

WM Flora Fixes.esp

GIST soul trap.esp

GIST-RusticSoulGems-patch.esp

Improved Traps.esp

Better Stealth AI for Followers.esp

TavernAIFix.esp

Trade & Barter.esp

Paralyze.esp

ReasonableMovementSpeed.esp

Waterbreathing Breathless Emerge SSE.esp

The Paarthurnax Dilemma.esp

RaceMenu.esp

RaceMenuPlugin.esp

Cathedral Weathers.esp

CathedralWeatherMCM.esp

FNIS.esp

XPMSE.esp

TCIY_CRF_Patch.esp

Alternate Start - Live Another Life.esp

ELE_SSE.esp

RealisticWaterTwo.esp

STEP SE Core - CR Patch.esp

STEP SE Core - L&W Patch.esp

WACCF_BashedPatchLvlListFix.esp

Modern Brawl Bug Fix.esp

 

DynDOLOD.esp

 

Driver: vsync off, AA application controlled, AF user defined/off.

Game: TAA, vsync off, fps cap off, DoF off, (everything except decals is off in BethINI), god rays medium.

ENB: default Cathedralist's ENB, AO Enabled, AFx16, vsync off, fps cap X

 

Attempts to change vsync:

application defined, Game on, ENB on: (30-60 bad stuttering)

application defined, Game off, ENB on: (30-60 bad stuttering)

drivers off, Game off, ENB off, ENB cap 40. (30-60 less stuttering but overall still bad)

drivers off, Game off, ENB off, ENB cap 60. (30-60 less stuttering, playable?)

 

Wtf:

drivers off, Game off, ENB off, cap off. (same result as above)

drivers off, Game off, ENB off, cap off, clamp 60 (CTD on load)

drivers off, Game off, ENB off, cap off, clamp 30 (OK performance, 1 CTD @ coc whiterun)

 

Getting interesting:

drivers off, Game off, ENB off, cap 60, clamp 30 (substantial improvement in FPS stability and stutter)

drivers off, Game off, ENB off, cap 60, clamp 60 (substantial improvement in FPS stability and stutter, 1 ctd @ coc whiterun)

 

accaptable results:

drivers vsync off, Game vsync off, ENB vsync off, cap 60, clamp 50 (best and playable result so far)

 

Menu:

Drops FPS. ENB fix improved it, but still not at 60 fps.

 

CTDs:

So far CTDs around whiterun with 2 CTDs @ clamp 60 and 1 @ clamp 55. One CTD on game load at clamp 60.

 

Texture flickering:

Present, rare. Impact unclear.

 

Some of the fixes I added. Most notably:

https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/15146/?tab=posts

uInterior Cell Buffer=12

uExterior Cell Buffer=108

iPreloadSizeLimit=1048576000

 

Added fixes and settings:

https://wiki.step-project.com/Guide:ENB

[ENGINE] (no visible performance impact)

ForceLodBias=true

LodBias=-0.5

[FIX]

All settings  (not sure if I need all of them but just in case, slight overall improvements)

 

AF:

Moving AFx16 to ENB seams to have positive impact.

 

Impact of disabling all effects of ENB during testing in laggy areas is marginal at best (virtualy no change). Removing ENB completely caps everything at 60 FPS. FPS never goes below 30 (29.9). Whenever game switches from 60 to 30 there is very annoying, pretty bad stutter. Except when vysync is off completely and FPS is caped at 60 or "uncapped". A lot of stutter is resolved by iFPSClamp=50.

 

Conclusions:

1) Vsync sucks.

2) iFPSClamp is by far the most performance degrading/improving setting due to stuttering.

3) I have no idea what is actually causing lag spikes.

 

An example of consistent massive drop due to minor camera angle adjustment. It alwasy happens in that exact place:

 

Some test cases. Sometimes inconsistent performance and results:

 

Looking to the west of the first stone (lake) gets me 60 FPS. Looking to the east (waterfalls, Riverwood, water mill) results in 30 FPS. Waterfall in particular seams to be the cultrip. Road between stone and Riverwood fluctuates between 30 and 60 (has other values) so is coc whterun area. Clamp 50 improves situation. Game becomes very much playable at 30 fps with noticeable stuttering such some areas.

 

Ocasional texture flicker. Impact on FPS is unclear. Temple across river from stone in Riverwood has one of the stairs textures flickering. Drops FPS to 30. Rare fence flickers seam to have no(?) impact.

 

Using blacksmith wheel anywhere or watching blacksmith use a wheel has a slight impact of 0-10 fps, sometimes drops all the way to 30. Coming back to same NPC and it is fine. Mostly fixed by clamp 50.

 

Solitude produces no noticeable lag except for blacksmith on the sharpening wheel.

 

Honningbrew Meadery was a constant source of lag. Increasing clamp to 50 solves the problem. Changing it to 0 while game is running makes it come back very quickly but not at first. Need to walk around.

Edited January 25, 2020 by ntnssc

[ntnssc]

Fixed. Went completely wrong way about it. Disabling game vsync still seams to increase performance. Rebuilding everything with dyndolod, lodgenx and reinstalling ENB solved the problem. How do I delete this? Sry.

[Greg]

We generally prefer to leave the posts in place so that others can benefit from your findings.