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

---

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.

[DAOWAce]

So, I was struggling with reaching my VRAM limit (3GB) and had to downgrade most of my 4K textures to 2K (ugh). After that, I actually hit the 3.1GB memory limit.

 

I gave up XIG from Xfire and decided to use ENBoost, which let me load my test save that went over the memory limit just by being loaded (800MB after loading with ENBoost).

 

Unfortunately, ENBoost causes MASSIVE stuttering because it keeps discarding my VRAM due to it reaching the limit. I've tried fiddling with the memory values/compression, but there doesn't seem to be any noticeable changes made from adjusting them; looking around is just the worst stuttering mess I've ever seen.

 

So, I seem to be at a brick wall.

 

Is there any way to force ENBoost to use more system memory and less VRAM?

 

If not, then I guess I really have to disable some mods; but unfortunately I've gone through my mod list 3 times over and don't see anything else I'm comfortable with disabling. If anyone wants to look over my mod list and tell me anything that is either unneeded or unnessesary nowadays (I've been building up mods since Skyrim's release to finally play it through for the first time) then it'd be appreciated:

  Reveal hidden contents

Load order list is pulled from BOSS; missing quite a few texture mods. NMM (yes, I know) doesn't seem to have an option to export your activated mod list.

 

Skyrim.esm

Update.esm

Unofficial Skyrim Patch.esp

Dawnguard.esm

Unofficial Dawnguard Patch.esp

HearthFires.esm

Unofficial Hearthfire Patch.esp

Dragonborn.esm

Unofficial Dragonborn Patch.esp

ApachiiHair.esm

JSwords.esm

Lanterns Of Skyrim - All In One - Main.esm

SPIKE.esm

WinterholdDestruction.esm

HighResTexturePack01.esp

HighResTexturePack02.esp

HighResTexturePack03.esp

No_stretching.esp

Unofficial High Resolution Patch.esp

Weapons & Armor Fixes_Remade.esp

Clothing & Clutter Fixes.esp

Chesko_Frostfall.esp

Better Dynamic Snow.esp

Rainbows.esp

RevampedExteriorFog.esp

SplashofRain.esp

AOS.esp

AOS_DGDB Patch.esp

randomthunder.esp

Remove Interior Fog V2 - Full Version.esp

SkyrimURWL.esp

StaticMeshImprovementMod.esp

StaticMeshImprovementMod-DragonbornTernFix.esp

StaticMeshImprovementMod-FurnitureChestSnowFix.esp

TradeBarter.esp

83Willows_101BUGS_V4_HighRes.esp

Ars Metallica.esp

Ars Metallica - Dawnguard.esp

Ars Metallica - Hearthfire.esp

Ars Metallica - Dragonborn.esp

Auto Unequip Ammo.esp

Prometheus_BeastSkeletons.esp

Birdsofskyrim.esp

FISS.esp

HoldBorderBanners.esp

Immersive Battles.esp

Immersive Brigands.esp

Immersive Dawnguard.esp

Immersive Dragonborn.esp

Immersive Factions.esp

Immersive Mercenaries.esp

Immersive Patrols.esp

Immersive Travelers.esp

Immersive Werewolves.esp

Improved Container Names.esp

Moss Rocks.esp

MVABasic.esp

PilgrimsDelight.esp

Point The Way.esp

Populated Forts Towers Places.esp

Radiant and Unique Potions and Poisons v2.0.esp

ShootingStars.esp

SignTown_by_YURIL_1o5.esp

Skyrim Immersive Creatures.esp

Skyrim Immersive Creatures - DLC2.esp

Skyrim Flora Overhaul.esp

SulfurRocks.esp

TouringCarriages.esp

ValsCraftingMeltdownAlpha.esp

WetandCold.esp

WetandCold - Ashes.esp

Chesko_LoreBasedLoadingScreens.esp

Footprints.esp

Footprints - Ash.esp

IMAGINATOR - Visual Control for Skyrim.esp

JSwords_Load_Screens.esp

RaceMenu.esp

RaceMenuPlugin.esp

SkyUI.esp

iHUD.esp

IMAGINATOR - MCMenu.esp

TakeNotes.esp

Blades Hakama.esp

Cloaks.esp

Cloaks - Dawnguard.esp

1nivWICCloaks.esp

1nivWICSkyCloaksPatch.esp

Daedric Dawnbreaker.esp

hothtrooper44_ArmorCompilation.esp

JSwordsDistributionBalancePlugin.esp

TorchArrow-Dawnguard.esp

TorchArrowBS-Dawnguard.esp

umbrella.esp

Unique Uniques.esp

Smithing Perks Overhaul_Remade.esp

Complete Crafting Overhaul_Remade.esp

Complete Crafting Overhaul_Dawnguard.esp

Complete Crafting Overhaul_Hearthfire.esp

Complete Crafting Overhaul_Dragonborn.esp

HarvestOverhaulDawnguardDragonborn.esp

HarvestOverhaulCreaturesDawnguardHearthfireDragonborn.esp

MIDFollowMeCloser.esp

AesirArmor.esp

Inconsequential NPCs.esp

Inconsequential NPCs - Enhancement.esp

PumpingIron.esp

Acquisitive Soul Gems.esp

AchieveThat.esp

BetterQuestObjectives.esp

BetterQuestObjectives-Dawnguard.esp

BetterQuestObjectives-Hearthfire.esp

Book Covers Skyrim.esp

Book Covers Dawnguard.esp

Book Covers Hearthfire.esp

Book Covers Dragonborn.esp

Bigger Baddder Bears - Ranger Edition - Bigger.esp

Headtracking.esp

SkyFalls Plus SkyMills - All DLC.esp

dD - Enhanced Blood Main.esp

dD-Dragonborn-Dawnguard-EBT Patch.esp

AOS_EBT Patch.esp

ExpandedWinterholdRuins.esp

Lanterns of Skyrim - All In One - Winterhold Destruction Ruins.esp

Populated Cities Towns Villages.esp

EnhancedLightsandFX.esp

ELFX - Dawnguard.esp

ELFX - Dragonborn.esp

ELFXEnhancer.esp

ConcentrativeFireFrostShoutsforPlayer.esp

BFSEffects.esp

DeadlySpellImpacts.esp

DeadlySpellImpacts - Two Fire.esp

AOS_DSI Patch.esp

Better Stealth AI for Followers.esp

BetterQuestObjectives-BetterStealthAIPatch.esp

ImprovedSneakDetection.esp

ACE Realistic Fighting.esp

Locational Damage.esp

The Dance of Death - Ultimate Edition.esp

ACE Speech.esp

ACE Archery.esp

ACE Armor.esp

ACE Magic.esp

ACE Melee.esp

ACE Smithing.esp

ACE Synergy.esp

ABT - Faster Arrows Improved +25%.esp

ABT - Faster Bolts Improved +25%.esp

ABT - Progressive Damage (BS and CCO).esp

ABT - Bolts Renamed for BS and CCO.esp

dD-No Spinning Death Animation.esp

vImmersiveBeds.esp

vImmersiveBeds - HFDG.esp

TheEyesOfBeauty.esp

3DNPC.esp

RealisticNeedsandDiseases.esp

RND_Dawnguard-Patch.esp

RND_HearthFires-Patch.esp

RND_Dragonborn-Patch.esp

RND_USKP-Patch.esp

BTRH_Tomoe.esp

Extended Slider Colors.esp

First Person Messages.esp

Immersive Interiors.esp

Purewaters.esp

PurewatersDG.esp

PurewatersDB.esp

RND_PureWaters-Patch.esp

AOS_WetandCold Patch.esp

Warburg's 3D Paper World Map - Texture 2.esp

warburg's 3d paper world map - dawnguard.esp

Warburg's 3D Paper World Map - Dragonborn.esp

 

 

System specs if relevant:

  Reveal hidden contents

 

i7-3770K @4.5GHz

GTX 780 (3GB) @1050MHz

16GB 1600MHz RAM (7-8-7-24 2T)

Skyrim runs off a Vertex 4 512GB

 

Full specs in sig if you really want to know more.

 

[Aiyen]

In this case, your system specs are more vital then your load order.

[DAOWAce]

Trust that I have a high end system capable of what I'm doing.. or at least would be if NVIDIA didn't half-ass their enthusiast cards and consistently have less VRAM on them than AMD.

 

Still, added to post.  Would be in sig, but I don't see an option for it in the CP.  Seems to have appeared after I posted, unless I'm being an idiot.

[Aiyen]

Try

512Mb for the first one.

And set the other to either 8Gb or 10Gb (Values in Mb ofc). Your system should be able to handle that. For systems with large amounts of RAM this fixes much of the stuttering. Let me know how that works out.

[Valkeriefire]

Is the 3.1 crash 3.1GB of VRAM or 3.1GB of RAM? Sorry I've been getting conflicting reports. I heard it was RAM, not VRAM.

[phazer11]

3.1GB of System RAM. They're talking about a fix through ENB (and how to configure said post processor for max efficiency) which keeps the game from loading 3.1GB in System RAM.