Performance, Baseline or Extreme STEP?

[AddictedxGamer]

Hey, everyone!

 

So, I'm following through the latest version of the STEP Guide in order to try and finally have a stable and (mostly) problem-free experience playing modded Skyrim.  I've been following through the guide, installing the listed mods (I've only installed Core Mods so far) and letting them overwrite when asked to, and it's been relatively simple.  Well, aside from the problems I've been having getting mods to download from the Nexus that is, but that's not any fault of the STEP Guide.  

 

Anyways; I've only been installing the suggested versions of mods to complete the "Baseline STEP" version, but suddenly I realized that my machine is relatively powerful.  I could probably (possibly, maybe) be running the highest quality mods where available in order to complete the "Extreme STEP" version.  Before I uninstall all the active mods in the Nexus Mod Manager, I thought I'd post here to see what the experts think.  

 

Here are my system specs.

 

Motherboard: MSI Gaming Z87-G45

CPU: Intel Quad-Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz

GPU: Sapphire Vapor-X Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition 3GB

RAM: 8GB DDR3

SSD: Samsung 840-Series 250GB (also have a 2TB Seagate internal HDD and a 3TB Seagate external HDD)

 

Do you guys think I should be going for the "Extreme STEP" version?  Note that I plan to run an ENB as well; Seasons of Skyrim "No DOF" version, most likely.  Before starting the STEP guide I was toying around with lowering my Shadow Detail in the Skyrim Launcher to achieve acceptable shadows and stay above 50 FPS with the ENB enabled.  I found that dropping the Shadow Detail to Medium and adjusting iBlurDeferredShadowMask to 3 (from 1) and fShadowDistance to 8000 (from 2500) gave me great FPS (55-60 in most outdoor areas) and kept the shadows looking decent enough.  I don't pay much attention to what the shadows look like, as long as they're there.  

 

Oh; I wasn't running any mods other than the Bethesda Hi-Res DLC Optimized (Hybrid + Vanilla Normal Maps) at the time of those tweaks, so that 55-50 FPS could come down with all the STEP mods installed.  I want my game to look nice, but I want my FPS to be up there too.  When it starts to drop I can really notice it, and it ruins the experience for me.  

 

Perhaps I should stick with the "Baseline STEP" version after all?  Or do you think with the aforementioned Shadow Detail settings I could still run Extreme Step with the also aforementioned ENB without losing too much FPS?  I could always install everything and find out, but I'd rather not use that much time doing so if you guys know my FPS will tank.

 

Thanks!  Sorry if this post was a bit long; I can't ever seem to create short posts.    

Edited July 3, 2014 by ADD1CTED_GAM3R

[EssArrBee]

Alright, thanks!

 

I'll stick with 2.2.8 until 2.2.9 is the official, currently supported version.  

 

EDIT: Is there some sort of e-mail notification system for when the new version is released?  Sort of like how I can subscribe to e-mail notifications to let me know when AMD releases a new driver for my video card.

 

EDIT 2: Just so I understand completely, this is how the process goes, correct?

 

1) Install and activate the STEP:Core mods in the Fixes category in the order they're listed.

2) Run BOSS or LOOT to sort the Load Order

3) Benchmark the game

4) Repeat steps 1 through 3 for each remaining category

5) Install and activate the STEP:Extended mods in the Fixes Category in the order they're listed.

6) Run BOSS or LOOT to sort the Load Order

7) Benchmark the game

8) Repeat steps 5 through 7 for each remaining category

9) Create a Bashed Patch

10) Follow any remaining applicable steps in Step 3 of the guide

 

Is that right?  Seeing as it says "Benchmark" after each category, I'm assuming you're supposed to let BOSS or LOOT organize everything so you don't crash.

 

Sorry to be such a pain, guys.  I just don't want to mess this up, as this could be the key to finally having a relatively problem-free time playing Skyrim!  Every other attempt at playing with mods has been riddled with crashes, and I want this time to be the one that lets me enjoy a modded Skyrim!  

1) Yes, members get email notification, it is the email we send you unless you ask to be emailed for replies or other stuff.

 

2)You don't need a bashed patch until equipment section and that is if you want to be really nitpicky about it. Otherwise, after the gameplay section. Benchmarking could be from an actual benchmark or just an eyeball test to make sure that something isn't really wrong with the setup after each section.

[AddictedxGamer]

1) Yes, members get email notification, it is the email we send you unless you ask to be emailed for replies or other stuff.

 

2)You don't need a bashed patch until equipment section and that is if you want to be really nitpicky about it. Otherwise, after the gameplay section. Benchmarking could be from an actual benchmark or just an eyeball test to make sure that something isn't really wrong with the setup after each section.

Everything else is in the correct order though, right?  I would think that if it wasn't, you would have said so, but it never hurts to check.  

 

Thanks for the reply!  

[XPorter]

Good Day Everyone,

 

I know this post is over 2 months old, but I just wanted to clarify something.  

 

I have seen a couple people mention that they have their S.T.E.P. Core separate from their extended mods.  Since there are very little Extended mods and mods from core that you would probably want to use with extended, wouldn't it make sense to just have them all under Core?  I have just been installing all the mods from the S.T.E.P. 2.2.9 list under my Core profile.  Now, mind you I have a pretty powerful setup: i7 3930K; 16gb RAM; GTX 680 4GB, so maybe it does not matter for me??  Now, if I did separate them into two distinct profiles, how would I run them together if I wanted to?

 

Thanks

Edited October 15, 2014 by XPorter

[TechAngel85]

Extended includes all the Core mods in it. If you want a profile with just Core mods, it's far easier to install the entire Guide (Extended) and then copy that profile in MO renaming it STEP:Core. Then all you have to do is uncheck the Extended mods. This way, in one go you install both Core and Extended profiles.

[XPorter]

Thanks Dragon...I thought about this after I asked the question, and forgot that when you copied a profile it duplicates all the mods in the list that can easily be enabled, lol.  But yeah, that is probably what I will do...continue what I am doing and install all the mods in the list then copy them to another profile and disable the extended mods.