GUIDE [WIP] DDSopt & Texture Overhauls

[z929669]

Discussion thread:
DDSopt Guide by STEP
Wiki Link

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GET DDSopt:
Github Pre-release versions
Official Nexus versions (select pre-release update 4)

[MadWizard25]

Ok, i reprocessed pretty much every texture apart from .png and water ones using the correct settings. VRAM use is a little higher (prosb due to skipped HDR), but still about 15% lower. Not much of a noticeable increase in fps to be fair.

 

Processing was done very quickly, about 2h for SRO, 2KHD, vanilla, and all other hi-res texture mods.

 

Trees are far more fleshed out. However, it seems to have partially broken some trees, the fleshing out looks like its done on 4 planes (see 1 and 2), each radially sticking out from the tree at 90 degrees. This only happens to some trees, other are fine (see 3 and 4). Also tree shadowing looks odd.

 

Also i dont think some snow textures are processed properly either, but im not sure if thats a vanilla look.

[ivactheseeker]

im not sure if thats a vanilla look.

Nope. I just went there and there isn't snow in vanilla.

[z929669]

Great findings MW25. Very useful to know. Could you isolate and tell us which textures are accounting for those trees and that snow?

 

I will guess that it is SRO stuff, as Starac has already mentioned that his textures are custom and optimized using his own methods (so his textures may be an exception). Either way, I'd like Ethatron to be able to identify what is happening wit those so that he can weigh in.

 

My guess is that the alpha and contrast compensations are sort of double dipping on what Starac may have already accomplished.

 

Thanks for the additional testing!

 

NOTE: that the FPS gains I expect will pertain to ultra-high settings only. I did not see much gain either with high settings as recommended by STEP.

[Besidilo]

Have either Optimizer Textures or SMCO got any better?

 

Are there any known conflicts or files that shouldn't be optimised by these programs?

 

Is DDSopt still preferable to the other two? I haven't seen any updates for it in ages.

[MadWizard25]

DDSopt is still the best imo. And its still being worked on. The new pre-release version is pretty amazing. Its not on nexus though, i believe the author is using github for beta and pre releases.

 

Ok, its seems that its indeed SRO textures when it comes to the blocky snow. However, i also use better dynamic snow mod, which is meshes only. With this be a problem?

 

Regarding the trees, most the tree textures are a mix of vurts flora overhaul, TreesHD, and Enhanced Distant Trees. Meshes are from lush trees.

 

Im also using ultra high settings, but i also use ENB so i dont think i can actually compare fps to yours ;)

 

If you would like a list of actually dds files let me know ill put it together.

[z929669]

List of DDS would be great (and from which mod if any).

 

Your snow meshes should not be causing the issue. My guess is that it is texture related only.

[Neovalen]

Interestingly enough I noticed the snow problem with optimized textures but removed SRO Opt and put back in base SRO and it's still there!

[z929669]

Then it could be the meshes... will need to wait for those DDS files and sources from MW25

[MadWizard25]

The lists i have posted are textures that are present. So no overwrites (cut that all out), all these textures are in game for me.

 

Ok, so to begin with Trees.

 

 

 

Vurts Flora

textures\architecture\whiterun\wrtreealivebark01.dds

textures\architecture\whiterun\wrtreealivebark01_n.dds

textures\architecture\whiterun\wrtreedeadbark01.dds

textures\architecture\whiterun\wrtreedeadbark01_NRM.dds

textures\architecture\whiterun\wrtreedeadbark01_n.dds

textures\architecture\whiterun\wrtreefloweringbranch01.dds

textures\architecture\whiterun\wrtreefloweringbranch01_N.dds

textures\landscape\trees\reachtreebranch01.dds

textures\landscape\trees\reachtreebranch01_N.dds

textures\landscape\trees\treeaspenbarkcomp_N .dds

textures\landscape\trees\treeaspenbranchcomp.dds

textures\landscape\trees\treepineforestbranchcomp.dds

textures\landscape\trees\treepineforestbranchcomp_n.dds

textures\landscape\trees\treepineforestbranchcompsnow.dds

textures\landscape\trees\treepineforestbranchcompsnow_n.dds

textures\landscape\trees\treepineforestbranchcompsnowl.dds

textures\landscape\trees\treepineforestbranchcompsnowl_n.dds

textures\landscape\trees\vurt_Orange_Aspen.dds

textures\landscape\trees\vurt_Red_Aspen.dds

 

TreesHD

textures\landscape\trees\treeaspenaddon01.dds

textures\landscape\trees\treeaspenaddon01_n.dds

textures\landscape\trees\treeaspenbarkcomp.dds

textures\landscape\trees\treeaspenbarkcomp_n.dds

textures\landscape\trees\treepineforestaddon01.dds

textures\landscape\trees\treepineforestaddon01_n.dds

textures\landscape\trees\treepineforestbarkcomp.dds

textures\landscape\trees\treepineforestbarkcomp1.dds

textures\landscape\trees\treepineforestbarkcomp1_n.dds

textures\landscape\trees\treepineforestbarkcomp2.dds

textures\landscape\trees\treepineforestbarkcomp2_n.dds

textures\landscape\trees\treepineforestbarkcomp3.dds

textures\landscape\trees\treepineforestbarkcomp3_n.dds

textures\landscape\trees\treepineforestbarkcomp_n.dds

textures\landscape\trees\treepineforestbarkcompsnow.dds

textures\landscape\trees\treepineforestbarkcompsnow_n.dds

textures\landscape\trees\treepineforestbarkcompsnowl.dds

textures\landscape\trees\treepineforestbarkcompsnowl_n.dds

textures\landscape\trees\treepineforestcut01.dds

textures\landscape\trees\treepineforestcut01_n.dds

textures\landscape\trees\treereachaddon01.dds

textures\landscape\trees\tundradriftwoodbark01.dds

textures\landscape\trees\tundradriftwoodbark01_n.dds

 

Enhanced Distant Trees

Textures\Terrain\Deepwoodredoubtworld\trees\deepwoodredoubtworldtreelod.dds

Textures\Terrain\Skuldafnworld\trees\skuldafnworldtreelod.dds

Textures\Terrain\Sovngarde\trees\sovngardetreelod.dds

Textures\Terrain\Tamriel\Trees\tamrieltreelod.dds

 

 

 

Snow and Rocks next. Bit of a problem here, im not exactly sure which textures im seeing in the picture, Neovalens comment means its either un optimized SRO or another texture from a diff texture mod maybe? For completeness sake i will also list rock and mountain dds files from other mods.

 

 

 

2KHD

textures\landscape\icicle.dds

textures\landscape\icicle_n.dds

textures\landscape\riverbededge1.dds

textures\landscape\dirtcliffs\dirtcliffs01.dds

textures\landscape\dirtcliffs\dirtcliffsroots01.dds

textures\landscape\dirtcliffs\dirtcliffsroots01_n.dds

textures\landscape\roads\road01.dds

textures\landscape\roads\road01_n.dds

textures\landscape\roads\road01fallforest01.dds

textures\landscape\roads\road01reach01.dds

textures\landscape\roads\roaddetails01.dds

textures\landscape\roads\roaddetails01_n.dds

textures\lod\dirt02lod.dds

textures\lod\dirt02lod_n.dds

textures\lod\farmhouselod01.dds

textures\lod\farmhouselod01_n.dds

textures\lod\fieldgrass01lod.dds

textures\lod\mountainslablod.dds

textures\lod\pineforest02lod.dds

textures\lod\rocks01lod.dds

textures\lod\rocks01lod_n.dds

textures\lod\snow01lod.dds

textures\lod\snow01lod_n.dds

 

SRO

textures\landscape\cavebaseground01.dds

textures\landscape\cavebaseground01_n.dds

textures\landscape\coastbeach01.dds

textures\landscape\coastbeach01_n.dds

textures\landscape\coastbeach02.dds

textures\landscape\coastbeach02_n.dds

textures\landscape\coastbeachgrass01.dds

textures\landscape\coastbeachgrass01_n.dds

textures\landscape\coastoceanfloor01.dds

textures\landscape\coastoceanfloor01_n.dds

textures\landscape\dirt01.dds

textures\landscape\dirt01_n.dds

textures\landscape\dirt02.dds

textures\landscape\dirt02_n.dds

textures\landscape\dirtpath01.dds

textures\landscape\dirtpath01_n.dds

textures\landscape\dirtsnowpath01.dds

textures\landscape\dirtsnowpath01_n.dds

textures\landscape\fallforestdirt01.dds

textures\landscape\fallforestdirt01_n.dds

textures\landscape\fallforestgrass01.dds

textures\landscape\fallforestgrass01_n.dds

textures\landscape\fallforestleaves01.dds

textures\landscape\fallforestleaves01_n.dds

textures\landscape\fallforestrocks01.dds

textures\landscape\fallforestrocks01_n.dds

textures\landscape\fielddirtgrass01.dds

textures\landscape\fielddirtgrass01_n.dds

textures\landscape\fieldgrass01.dds

textures\landscape\fieldgrass01_n.dds

textures\landscape\fieldgrass02.dds

textures\landscape\fieldgrass02_n.dds

textures\landscape\frozenmarshdirtslopes01.dds

textures\landscape\frozenmarshdirtslopes01_n.dds

textures\landscape\frozenmarshgrass01.dds

textures\landscape\frozenmarshgrass01_n.dds

textures\landscape\frozenmarshice01.dds

textures\landscape\frozenmarshice01_n.dds

textures\landscape\frozenmarshlichen01.dds

textures\landscape\frozenmarshlichen01_n.dds

textures\landscape\grasssnow01.dds

textures\landscape\grasssnow01_n.dds

textures\landscape\icefloes.dds

textures\landscape\icefloes_n.dds

textures\landscape\mineralpoolterrace.dds

textures\landscape\mineralpoolterrace_n.dds

textures\landscape\pineforest01.dds

textures\landscape\pineforest01_n.dds

textures\landscape\pineforest02.dds

textures\landscape\pineforest02_n.dds

textures\landscape\pineforest03.dds

textures\landscape\pineforest03_n.dds

textures\landscape\reachdirt01.dds

textures\landscape\reachdirt01_n.dds

textures\landscape\reachgrass01.dds

textures\landscape\reachgrass01_n.dds

textures\landscape\reachmoss01.dds

textures\landscape\reachmoss01_n.dds

textures\landscape\reachmossyrocks01.dds

textures\landscape\reachmossyrocks01_n.dds

textures\landscape\riverbededge.dds

textures\landscape\riverbededge_n.dds

textures\landscape\riverbottom.dds

textures\landscape\riverbottom_n.dds

textures\landscape\rivermud.dds

textures\landscape\rivermud_n.dds

textures\landscape\rocks01.dds

textures\landscape\rocks01_n.dds

textures\landscape\rocksedgetrim01.dds

textures\landscape\rocksedgetrim01_n.dds

textures\landscape\rockset_n.dds

textures\landscape\snow01.dds

textures\landscape\snow01_n.dds

textures\landscape\snow01alta.dds

textures\landscape\snow02.dds

textures\landscape\snow02_n.dds

textures\landscape\snowrocks01.dds

textures\landscape\snowrocks01_n.dds

textures\landscape\snowstone01.dds

textures\landscape\snowstone01_n.dds

textures\landscape\tundra01.dds

textures\landscape\tundra01_n.dds

textures\landscape\tundra02.dds

textures\landscape\tundra02_n.dds

textures\landscape\tundramoss01.dds

textures\landscape\tundramosstest01.dds

textures\landscape\tundrarocks01.dds

textures\landscape\tundrarocks01_n.dds

textures\landscape\volcanictundradirt01.dds

textures\landscape\volcanictundradirt01_n.dds

textures\landscape\volcanictundradirt02.dds

textures\landscape\volcanictundradirt02_n.dds

textures\landscape\volcanictundragravel01.dds

textures\landscape\volcanictundragravel01_n.dds

textures\landscape\volcanictundraminerals01.dds

textures\landscape\volcanictundraminerals01_n.dds

textures\landscape\volcanictundrarocks01.dds

textures\landscape\volcanictundrarocks01_n.dds

textures\landscape\roads\road01snow01.dds

textures\landscape\roads\road01snow01_n.dds

 

Parallax Rocks and Mountains

textures\landscape\mountains\mountainslab01_n_p.dds

textures\landscape\mountains\mountainslab02_n_p.dds

 

AOF Detailed Mountains

textures\landscape\mountains\mountainslab01.dds

textures\landscape\mountains\mountainslab02.dds

 

Better Rocks and Mountains

textures\landscape\mountains\mountainslab01_n.dds

textures\landscape\mountains\mountainslab02_n.dds

 

 

 

Edit: Was checking out the new version of Enhanced Blood Textures (v1.8), and i noticed that the author mentions not to use DDSopt on the blood textures because it corrupts them. Another one for the exclusion list?

[z929669]

Thanks for the info. I will verify one of these days!

[Besidilo]

Any idea where I can get the latest preview of DDSopt from?

 

It doesn't seem to be freely available on github.

[z929669]

Any idea where I can get the latest preview of DDSopt from?

 

It doesn't seem to be freely available on github.

Scroll back a page or two and look for the link in one of Ethatron's posts. If it does not work anymore for some reason, I can post it.

[Besidilo]

Any idea where I can get the latest preview of DDSopt from?

 

It doesn't seem to be freely available on github.

Scroll back a page or two and look for the link in one of Ethatron's posts. If it does not work anymore for some reason, I can post it.

 

Thanks a lot, reposting the link in case anyone else has troubles finding it.

 

https://github.com/Ethatron/ddsopt/downloads

[phazer11]

Hi, all I'm new and wanted to say thanks as well as ask a fair number of questions most about the results in this guide and comparison, my post is extensive... and I've had to relegate it to pastebin to get the message through. It contains info about my current situation, PC setup, and installation methods. I could use some advice and information; both are as always appreciated.

 

The link is https://pastebin.com/XSxjF4rF

[z929669]

Hi, all I'm new and wanted to say thanks as well as ask a fair number of questions most about the results in this guide and comparison, my post is extensive... and I've had to relegate it to pastebin to get the message through. It contains info about my current situation, PC setup, and installation methods. I could use some advice and information; both are as always appreciated.

 

The link is https://pastebin.com/XSxjF4rF

You may paste long posts here, just insert inside a spoiler block like so:

[spoiler]
long list or
text or
whatever
[/spoiler]

Result looks like (but your post really isn't that long for these forums ;) ):

 

 

Hi all, I've been lurking for a couple of weeks and just wanted to say thanks, as well as ask a few questions. Anyways My dog decided to use my laptop as a springboard (it was on a table) knocked it off (while on) and so HDD head hit the disk. Luckily I had everything backed up on a system image... except that system image was when I was doing a fresh install of Skyrim (Q.Q I'll have to instal 1.6.89.0) anyways as my Laptop only has 1GB (Best Buy Gimped ASUS ROG) of VRAM (460M) I figured I'd check out the VRAM comparisions and was surprised. VRAM isn't normally a problem if I manage my mods right but I was curious about the usage figures in the table.

 

Anyways I noticed that you used Hybrid Maps with the other overhauls and was curious. Were you using the HD-DLC Optimized Hybrid maps or is there another? I'd really like to have the VRAM usage of OSKYHD1k + Vano (HyN) - Whiterun for example.

 

Currently I have S.T.E.P. (my chosen mods)(3.5GB unoptimized, 2.3GB after using max compression in DDSopt using the settings recommended in the guide here on STEP setup in three zip archives to install with NMM, with the NMM install suggested/required mods like Bellyache's Animal Pack to be installed in between each zip archive. Now I know this setup will work and run on my laptop as I'm currently using a 1GB card in my Desktop a GTS 450 1GB with a high OC asa opposed to my more powerful but gimped GTX 460 768mb for video editing and other intensive tasks like F@H.

 

The only problem with my current mod list is it doesn't leave much room for upgrade it hovers around 1000mb VRAM (without the High Resolution DLC, although I do have the files here somewhere and made the optimized BSA's, etc. However, I'd be much more comfortable if I could find out what hybrid maps were used or if they were custom made. I've used DDSopt and taken the combined size of my S.T.E.P. archives

 

 

---

Now to your question. If you go back to the DDSopt Guide, take a look at the foot of the very first table. This is where HyN is defined (with link to mod), and you want to install the "Vanilla Normal Maps" from Vano89's mod. This will replace the high def normals from SKYHR with vanilla for a big performance gain with minimal visual impact ;)