Odd Tree/Shadow/LOD Pop In

[binarysloth]

Greetings all,

 

Been having a great time with STEP over my previous "pick and choose" method of selecting mods. After performing a full install of STEP Core + some extra mods from Extended cut, I'm noticing some pretty interesting popup occurring, especially in areas with a hefty mixture of water, trees, shadows, and LOD structures-- It's become insanely distracting, so I was wondering if anyone else has encountered this.

 

Video evidence!:

 

(You might need to beef it up to 1080p to notice the changes)

 

00:12 - Distant terrain (mountain) pop in

00:18-00:20 - Trees begin to pop in (detail and shadows it looks like)

00:28 - More distant trees n' whatnot popping in - Riverwood trees happily become detailed

00:29 - Nearby water detail pops in

 

My rig:

CPU - Intel i5-4670K running @ 3.40GHz

GPU - eVGA Nvidia 660 GTX w/ 3GB RAM

RAM - 16GB

SSD - Intel 530 with Intel SSD Toolbox

 

Skyrim.ini:

 

 

[General]

sLanguage=ENGLISH

iNumHWThreads=4

iHWThread6=3

iHWThread5=3

iHWThread4=3

iHWThread3=2

iHWThread2=2

iHWThread1=2

iAIThread2HWThread=3

iAIThread1HWThread=2

iRenderingThread2HWThread=1

iRenderingThread1HWThread=0

uGridsToLoad=5

uExterior Cell Buffer=36

sIntroSequence=DISABLED.BIK

bRunHighLevelProcess=1

bMultiThreadMovement=1

bUseThreadedParticleSystem=1

bUseThreadedBlood=1

bUseThreadedMorpher=1

bUseThreadedTempEffects=1

bUseThreadedTextures=1

bUseThreadedMeshes=1

bUseThreadedLOD=1

bUseThreadedAI=1

bUseHardDriveCache=0

fFlickeringLightDistance=8192

 

[backgroundLoad]

bUseMultiThreadedFaceGen=1

bBackgroundCellLoads=1

bUseMultiThreadedTrees=1

bUseBackgroundFileLoader=1

bBackgroundLoadLipFiles=1

bLoadBackgroundFaceGen=1

bLoadHelmetsInBackground=1

 

[Display]

fDefaultWorldFOV=75

fDefault1stPersonFOV=75

fSunShadowUpdateTime=1.000

fSunUpdateThreshold=0.500

fShadowLODMaxStartFade=2500.0

fSpecularLODMaxStartFade=3000.0

fLightLODMaxStartFade=3500.0

iShadowMapResolutionPrimary=2048

bShadowsOnGrass=1

bPerPixelLighting=1

bAllowScreenshot=0

bSimpleLighting=0

fDecalLifetime=56.5000

iAdapter=0

iPresentInterval=1

 

[Audio]

fMusicDuckingSeconds=6.0

fMusicUnDuckingSeconds=8.0

fMenuModeFadeOutTime=3.0

fMenuModeFadeInTime=1.0

 

[Grass]

iGrassCellRadius=2.5

bAllowCreateGrass=1

bAllowLoadGrass=0

bGrassPointLighting=1

b30GrassVS=0

iMaxGrassTypesPerTexure=7

iMinGrassSize=30

 

[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.

 

[Archive]

sResourceArchiveList=Skyrim - Misc.bsa, Skyrim - Shaders.bsa, Skyrim - Textures.bsa, Skyrim - Interface.bsa, Skyrim - Animations.bsa, Skyrim - Meshes.bsa, Skyrim - Sounds.bsa

sResourceArchiveList2=Skyrim - Voices.bsa, Skyrim - VoicesExtra.bsa

 

[Combat]

fMagnetismStrafeHeadingMult=0.0

fMagnetismLookingMult=0.0

f1PArrowTiltUpAngle=0.7

f3PArrowTiltUpAngle=0.7

f1PBoltTiltUpAngle=0.7

f3PBoltTiltUpAngle=0.7

 

[Actor]

fVisibleNavmeshMoveDist=12288.0000

 

[Papyrus]

fUpdateBudgetMS=1.2

fExtraTaskletBudgetMS=1.2

fPostLoadUpdateTimeMS=500.0

iMinMemoryPageSize=128

iMaxMemoryPageSize=512

iMaxAllocatedMemoryBytes=76800

bEnableLogging=0

bEnableTrace=0

bLoadDebugInformation=0

bEnableProfiling=0

 

[Water]

iWaterReflectHeight=1024

iWaterReflectWidth=1024

bUseWaterDisplacements=1

bUseWaterRefractions=1

bUseWaterReflections=1

bUseWaterDepth=1

bUseWaterReflectionBlur=1

bReflectExplosions=1

iWaterBlurAmount=4

bAutoWaterSilhouetteReflections=1

bForceHighDetailReflections=0

bUseWaterHiRes=1

bUseWaterLOD=1

bReflectLODObjects=1

bReflectLODLand=1

bReflectSky=1

bReflectLODTrees=1

bUseWaterShader=1

 

[Trees]

bForceFullDetail=1

bEnableTreeAnimations=1

 

[TerrainManager]

bKeepLowDetailTerrain=0

 

[Controls]

bMouseAcceleration=0

 

[HAVOK]

iNumThreads=4

 

[saveGame]

bAllowProfileTransfer=1

bUseSaveGameHistory=1

 

[Decals]

bDecalMultithreaded=1

bForceAllDecals=1

 

[imagespace]

bDoRadialBlur=1

 

[LightingShader]

fDecalLODFadeEnd=1.0000

fDecalLODFadeStart=1.0000

 

[Animation]

fAnimInterpFarDist=10500.0000

fAnimInterpNearDist=10000.0000

 

[budgetCaps]

uActorMemoryBudgetCap=20971520

uLoadedAreaNonActorMemoryBudgetCap=371195904

uWaterMemoryInterior=20971520

uTextureMemoryInterior=20971520

uGeometryMemoryInterior=20971520

uWaterMemory=10485760

uTextureMemory=20971520

uGeometryMemory=10485760

 

[interface]

fBookOpenTime=700.0000

 

[MapMenu]

sMapCloudNIF=0

bWorldMapNoSkyDepthBlur=1

fWorldMapNearDepthBlurScale=0

fWorldMapDepthBlurScale=0

fWorldMapMaximumDepthBlur=0

fMapWorldYawRange=3600.0000

fMapWorldMaxHeight=130000.0000

fMapWorldMinHeight=5000.0000

 

 

 

SkyrimPrefs.ini

 

 

[General]

fBrightLightColorB=1.0000

fBrightLightColorG=1.0000

fBrightLightColorR=1.0000

iStoryManagerLoggingEvent=-1

bEnableStoryManagerLogging=0

fDefaultFOV=75

bUseThreadedParticleSystem=1

bUseThreadedBlood=1

bUseThreadedMorpher=1

bUseThreadedTempEffects=1

bUseThreadedTextures=1

bUseThreadedMeshes=1

bUseThreadedLOD=1

bUseThreadedAI=1

bUseThreadedMorpher=1

 

[backgroundLoad]

bBackgroundLoadLipFiles=1

bLoadBackgroundFaceGen=1

bUseMultiThreadedFaceGen=1

bBackgroundCellLoads=1

bLoadHelmetsInBackground=1

bUseMultiThreadedTrees=1

 

[imagespace]

bDoDepthOfField=1

iRadialBlurLevel=2

[Display]

fSunShadowUpdateTime=1.000

fSunUpdateThreshold=0.500

iBlurDeferredShadowMask=3

fInteriorShadowDistance=2500.0000

fShadowDistance=4000.0000

iShadowMapResolutionSecondary=1024

iShadowMapResolutionPrimary=2048

iShadowSplitCount=4

iMaxAnisotropy=0

fLeafAnimDampenDistEnd=6000.0000

fLeafAnimDampenDistStart=4600.0000

fTreesMidLODSwitchDist=10000.0000

bAllow30HairShader=1

iTexMipMapMinimum=4

iTexMipMapSkip=0

bFaceMipMaps=1

bFaceGenTexturing=1

bFaceGenTexturingQuality=4096

iShadowMapResolutionInt=4096

bDynamicWindowReflections=1

fGamma=1.0000

iShadowFilter=4

fDecalLOD2=1500.0000

fDecalLOD1=1000.0000

iActorShadowCountInt=4

iActorShadowCountExt=6

fSpecularLODStartFade=2000.0000

fShadowLODStartFade=1000.0000

fLightLODStartFade=3500.0000

bTransparencyMultisampling=0

iWaterMultiSamples=4

iMultiSample=0

iShadowMode=3

bTreesReceiveShadows=1

bDrawLandShadows=1

bDrawShadows=1

bFull Screen=1

iSize H=1080

iSize W=1920

fMeshLODFadePercentDefault=1.2000

fMeshLODFadeBoundDefault=256.0000

fMeshLODLevel2FadeTreeDistance=2048.0000

fMeshLODLevel1FadeTreeDistance=2844.0000

fMeshLODLevel2FadeDist=9999999.0000

fMeshLODLevel1FadeDist=9999999.0000

bMainZPrepass=0

iMaxSkinDecalsPerFrame=25

iMaxDecalsPerFrame=100

sD3DDevice="NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660"

bFXAAEnabled=0

iShadowMapResolution=2048

fShadowBiasScale=0.4500

iShadowMaskQuarter=4

bFloatPointRenderTarget=1

iScreenShotIndex=0

iAdapter=0

iPresentInterval=1

bShadowsOnGrass=1

 

[Grass]

b30GrassVS=0

fGrassStartFadeDistance=9000.0000

fGrassMaxStartFadeDistance=11000.0000

fGrassMinStartFadeDistance=200.0000

 

[MAIN]

bGamepadEnable=1

bCrosshairEnabled=1

fHUDOpacity=1.0000

bSaveOnPause=1

bSaveOnTravel=1

bSaveOnWait=1

bSaveOnRest=1

fSkyCellRefFadeDistance=150000.0000

 

[GamePlay]

bShowFloatingQuestMarkers=1

bShowQuestMarkers=1

iDifficulty=5

                                                                    

[interface]

bDialogueSubtitles=0

bGeneralSubtitles=0

fMouseCursorSpeed=1.0000

bShowCompass=1

 

[Controls]

fGamepadHeadingSensitivity=1.0000

fMouseHeadingSensitivity=0.0180

bAlwaysRunByDefault=1

bInvertYValues=0

bGamePadRumble=1

bMouseAcceleration=0

bUseKinect=0

 

[Particles]

iMaxDesired=750

 

[saveGame]

fAutosaveEveryXMins=10.0000

 

[AudioMenu]

fAudioMasterVolume=1.0000

fVal7=1.0000

uID7=0

fVal6=1.0000

uID6=0

fVal5=1.0000

uID5=0

fVal4=1.0000

uID4=0

fVal3=1.0000

uID3=94881

fVal2=0.4000

uID2=466532

fVal1=1.0000

uID1=554685

fVal0=0.8000

uID0=1007612

[Clouds]

fCloudLevel2Distance=262144.0000

fCloudLevel1Distance=32768.0000

fCloudLevel0Distance=16384.0000

fCloudNearFadeDistance=9000.0000

 

[TerrainManager]

fTreeLoadDistance=75000.0000

fBlockMaximumDistance=175000.0000

fBlockLevel1Distance=70000.0000

fBlockLevel0Distance=35000.0000

fSplitDistanceMult=1.5000

bShowLODInEditor=0

 

[NavMesh]

fObstacleAlpha=0.5000

fCoverSideHighAlpha=0.8000

fCoverSideLowAlpha=0.6500

fEdgeFullAlpha=1.0000

fEdgeHighAlpha=0.7500

fEdgeLowAlpha=0.5000

fTriangleFullAlpha=0.7000

fTriangleHighAlpha=0.3500

fTriangleLowAlpha=0.2000

fLedgeBoxHalfHeight=25.0000

fEdgeDistFromVert=10.0000

fEdgeThickness=10.0000

fPointSize=2.5000

 

[Trees]

bRenderSkinnedTrees=1

uiMaxSkinnedTreesToRender=20

bEnableTreeAnimations=1

 

[Decals]

uMaxDecals=1000

bDecals=1

bSkinnedDecals=1

uMaxSkinDecals=100

uMaxSkinDecalsPerActor=60

 

[LOD]

fLODFadeOutMultObjects=44.0000

fLODFadeOutMultItems=44.0000

fLODFadeOutMultActors=44.0000

fLODFadeOutMultSkyCell=1.0000

 

[Launcher]

bEnableFileSelection=1

bShowAllResolutions=1

uLastAspectRatio=3

 

[blurShader]

bUseBlurShader=1

 

[blurShaderHDR]

bDoHighDynamicRange=1

 

[Water]

iWaterReflectHeight=1024

iWaterReflectWidth=1024

bUseWaterDisplacements=1

bUseWaterRefractions=1

bUseWaterReflections=1

bUseWaterDepth=1

 

 

 

I've opted for the low-res options whenever installing texture mods and I average 55fps, never dropping below 40.

 

I'm using Nvidia Inspector with the suggested settings as well.

 

So far, I've attempted messing around with some of the LOD values in SkyrimPrefs, and I've tried using different ini-presets that increase uGrids, etc, but no change. This is also apparent when disablling all mods through Mod Manager, when disabling ENB (I'm using a crusty one "The Wilds 3.0" that uses ENB 12.12.12).

 

If any of you have experienced this, I'm open to your ideas-- I'm pulling my hair out here! Thanks in advance for any pointers that you have!

 

-Brandon

[Nearox]

I believe what you are seeing is the dynamic range around the character within which the game does high-level rendering on some things, such as shadows. If you play more you'll notice there's this rendering circle around you. Don't ask me about the technical details but I have the same thing in my game and if you check youtube videos you'll see most others have it as well. It's likely an engine limitation for which I have not found a solution up till today. I'm fairly sure there is no INI edit to remedy it. You can ask someone like ewi65 @ nexus if there is, but I highly doubt it. Afetr a while I just stopped noticing it.

 

There's 2 things you can do to reduce the effects:

 

- ENBs can reduce the more obvious effects of this range, and the ENB you are using already does that to some extent. 

 

- Use Memory Patch 3.0 (which you should be using regardless) and put it at higher uGrids value. Although this will not change the way lighting works within the dynamic range, it will increase the overall LOD quality of your game immensely.

[binarysloth]

Thanks for the pointers Nearox! Yes, I'm using the Memory patch and as you mentioned, the pop-in still exists when using higher uGrids. Darn that magical dynamic range bubble.

 

Interestingly enough, before my past 2 STEP installs, I never noticed this occurring. Maybe it's because I've become more focused on eye candy and less on the actual game play, but had I noticed it before, it would have driven me as crazy as it is now :-)