STEP: Fresh installation + optimized textures install order in MO?

[DICEROLL]

After a lot of pain I managed to successfully ddsopt all of my textures as suggested by STEP wiki. But before I begin with any STEP mod installations, I'm unsure if I'm doing it correctly. I still have those files in .7zip formats, and I added them into MO like on the screenshot below - is it fine to do it like that? Or I might run into troubles? Also I am not sure of the order they should be (if that matters)

 

Really stupid question, but is this exactly what means by having 'Loose Files' and is there a difference if I use them like this VS packing them back into BSA files and then using them within MO?

 

 

 

Thanks a lot

[Barthanes]

That looks right to me but I'm pretty sure Hearthfires goes after Dawnguard.

 

Loose files is the preferred method from what I understand.

[DICEROLL]

You are correct :D I changed it in MO.

 

But if I want to have my vanilla files loose, is this exactly how I should of done? And now I can continue to install rest of the mods from STEP list? I just want to get maximum performance and see it in action, as people mention loose files increase load times.

[Barthanes]

What you're doing is correct. Install the STEP mods as instructed as loose files. The first time MO encounters a BSA it will ask if you want t extract it. Make sure you say yes and it will extract all future BSA's as loose files. 

 

It's been my experience that while loose files do increase load times it's much better for conflict resolution of textures and some other assets. And the increased time is not that bad, you won't even notice it with STEP: Core

[DICEROLL]

Thank you, I really had my suspicions because I know how important the Conflicting graphics part is later on.. where some texture packs have to cover stuff in others and even overwrite

 

I think this thing is clear :)

[Barthanes]

Also sounds like you're optimizing textures so be sure to review Garfinks thread in regards to textures for performance & stability. https://forum.step-project.com/showthread.php?tid=3319

 

My personal experience is that optimizing everything (and I mean everything except WATER and RaceMenu) to 1024x512 has made an enormous improvement on stability & load times. I do this for any mod I add that has textures just to be safe. If you plan on adding Packs as they become available some will have scripts which drastically affect stability & load times. Crushing your textures to 1024x512 is a good way to make sure your getting as much performance as you can ahead of time IMHO.

 

good luck!

[DICEROLL]

Yes Barthanes it's exactly what I'm trying to do! I'm a complete beginner at this though