CTD at 3.1GB

[viking]

Some key posts on this and related threads (experts feel free to note any errors or insights):

• Post #11
• Post #27
• Post #40 (this is where the 500/430 ratio seems to have originated.)
• Post #66
• Post#278
• Post #313
• Post #1 (adjacent thread: Caution about memory optimisers)
• Post #64 (adjacent thread: Caution about memory optimisers)
• Post #68 (adjacent thread: Caution about memory optimisers)
• Post #70 (adjacent thread: Caution about memory optimisers)

Wiki article (draft)

 

Thanks,

STEP

 

OP follows

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First of all I wanted to thank you all for the great work you have done with STEP. Skyrim is the first game I installed on this computer and you guys have made it an AMAZING game. That being said, I have an issue that I hope you can help me solve.

 

My setup:

Vanilla Skyrim

gtx670 w/ 4GB @1080p w/ latest driver

16GB Memory

3770K at about 4GHz

Windows 8 64bit

ENB 149

Ultra settings

Highest available texture/quality

Mod Organizer

Step 2.2.1 + Skyrim Revisited + others

 

I have noticed a post here and there saying that Skyrim can't really address more than about 3.1GB of memory without issues. This seems to jive with my experience, meaning I CTD every time my memory hits that mark, but I couldn't really find anything definitive on the topic. The issue with googling the topic is the pre 1.3 skyrim that couldn't address more than 2gb of memory.

 

My mod list is mostly based on STEP which is why I came here for help, with about ten mods added onto the end (Interesting NPCs, Detailed Cities, Economics, COT, and a couple others). The reason I haven't included my mod list is that it doesn't seem to matter. As long as I keep the memory usage below 3GB I can have pretty much any combination of mods.

 

What I have tried so far (in no particular order):

• resetting ini files
• removing enb
• not using attklt
• only using a new game
• removing all mods and adding one by one until issue crops up
• running as admin
• watching the papyrus log - it seems relatively clean, no obvious errors right before CTD

Yes, I can run STEP just fine without any issues, but I also never get near 3GB of memory. I have tracked VRAM usage as well and have seen a max of 2.7GB/4GB.

 

As an example of where I might run into issues: I start a new character with Alternate Start. I start with Breezehome. Run out of Whiterun, past the Brewry, up the hill to the bandits. Enter the cave (watching memory usage with Elys MemInfo), and it dies right after I see 3GB. I have this same issue not using AS, sitting through the intro, and then running over to whiterun.

 

I'm sorry if this post is all over the place. I have spent more than a week trying to solve this issue, and the only solution I have found is to reduce memory usage. I have got to the point where I can exchange two texture packs and get into the cave without a CTD, but with both I get a CTD. I didn't even think texture packs should even affect CTDs, but I'm relatively new to Skyrim on the PC, so I could be wrong. I also found I could get a bit further with ENB turned off, but would still crash once I got above 3GB of memory. Finally, if I reload a game after a CTD, I can play just fine...until I reach 3GB of memory.

 

I really hope you guys can help. I more than willing to try anything at this point, besides just disabling all of the mods.

[DoYouEvenModBro]

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[Aiyen]

Optimizing the official DLC, will not provide loads of memory.. it is more fixing mipmap levels in textures, and changing a few compression's to better ones etc.

 

Also the high res pines have a resolution like 4k X 2k etc. so the memory use is not as bad as a full 4k. But still in exterior it is just not really worth it. Better to save that memory for some pretty armor and weapons in my opinion.

 

Also if you reduce the normals of all the major exterior texture mods to 1k then you should no longer hit the limit unless you are running with AV with 2k textures and normals.

[DoYouEvenModBro]

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[Vond]

Optimizing the official DLC, will not provide loads of memory.. it is more fixing mipmap levels in textures, and changing a few compression's to better ones etc.

 

Also the high res pines have a resolution like 4k X 2k etc. so the memory use is not as bad as a full 4k. But still in exterior it is just not really worth it. Better to save that memory for some pretty armor and weapons in my opinion.

 

Also if you reduce the normals of all the major exterior texture mods to 1k then you should no longer hit the limit unless you are running with AV with 2k textures and normals.

Right now I'm still hitting the limit even with full 1k texture packs and not just 1k normals. Are you suggesting the 4x2 res pines might be what is throwing me over the edge? Also, what is AV? I don't know what that stands for but have seen it mentioned multiple times here.

 

For flora overhaul, don't use any of the optional pines etc, just use the ones in the main package. They look great already and as Aiyen says (and I told you before ;)) the 8k and 4k versions are just not worth it. Also, DO grab the 2k LOD texture from the optional downloads if you haven't, as the standard 4k version has issues. It is also another mod that benefits decently from ddsopt

 

AV is automatic variants, easier you look up it up on nexus than I try to explain via phone :p

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

[z929669]

Agree that SFO > 2k is just not worth the cost, as it will easily push you over the edge. I run this and all landscape with 1k (or 2k/1k normals).

 

... And DDSopt-ing all landscape textures, including vanilla standard and HRDLC will ultimately gain back some VRAM just from compression opt alone for the textures that shine through even after full STEP install (see the performance area of the DDSopt guide for some idea of the savings even with overhauls and Vano89's optimized HRDLC).

[Setis]

I run 2k major texture packs with half normals.

Any quick guide on how to do this?  I've installed your SR guide recently (plus a the SkyRe/ASIS stuff and a few extras), and after starting out in the Markarth area I'm hitting the 3.1 crash fairly easily.  Also, I thought I'd add that I found something you might want to add to your guide.  Skyrim Flora Overhaul has an optional file of 2048 LOD textures -- without them, I actually became unable to leave Markarth at all (infinite load, every time).  Found the solution here.

[DoYouEvenModBro]

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[Aiyen]

It is a common problem with higher quality LOD´s that you get infinite loading screens. I guess it is related to the fact that the game tries to load in all the textures it need, but no longer has enough room to load in everything and then gets stuck in a "wait for more memory" position.

This is of course speculation, but reducing LOD quality, or overall exterior texture load seems to solve the issue so it makes sense.

[phazer11]

I don't have time to lurk through every single post here so I'm just going to ask. Does anyone think this might be my problem as well? I notice I approach ~3GB of System RAM.

Here is my problem.

https://forum.step-project.com/showthread.php?tid=2497

[Aiyen]

Almost certainly yes... you use too much of your available memory for textures.

[phazer11]

So I should optimize my texture packs via DDSOpt?

[torminater]

So I should optimize my texture packs via DDSOpt?

First downscale texture mods to 2k max resolution and then optimize the textures with ddsopt. If that doesn't work, downscale further to 1k textures only and optimize them with ddsopt, and then throw in some 2k textures until you get close to your ram limit.

[phazer11]

The problem is the system RAM yes? My VRAM maxes out at ~2.5GB so I have `450MB just floating.

I'm using texture mods with a max resolution of 2048x2048 already. I don't know what resolution the Automatic Variant Textures are or how to optimized them as I can see the textures in the folders but they are greyed out

[phazer11]

OK I'm just dying to know! Neo exactly what settings did you use in DDSOpt to get everything running and not hit your RAM limit with 2k textures and 1k normals? I'm following the DDSOpt guide and even with the Bethesda Hi-Res DLC Optimized (maybe I don't have it installed in ModOrganizer properly) I'm still hitting the RAM limit without AV or DSR installed and I still have about 1GB of VRAM free out of 3GB.

[torminater]

Hey guys, does RAM usage increase if the Game Resolution Gets higher or not? Eg. If i Play at 1920x1080 with 2GB RAM usage, do i use 2.5 GB RAM with 2560x???? Resolution?