Decent PC build fps killed by ENB. Suggestions?

[onem4nb4nd]

I am coming back to Skyrim since I found the (thousand) STEP program (worth it!) I finished STEP: Extended using MO, capitalizing on all Hi-Q versions except for the unnecessarily insane 8k res trees etc. (minus a few mods I much prefer to exclude)
[spoiler=Skipped STEPs]2.D
Fuz Ro D-oh - Silent Voice
SKSE-Elys-AltF4

2.E
KenMOD Time On Loading Screen
Lockpicking Interface
Main Font Replacement
Skill Interface (taken down)

2.F
Bethesda HI-Res DLC Optimized

2.H
Bellyache's Creature Pack
Female Vampires Have Fangs
More Realistic Hair

2.J
Burn Freeze Shock Effects

2.K
The 418th Step
Silly Level of Detail - Potions and Poisons
Silly Level of Detail - Wine Cellar
Super Realistic Ore

2.L
Better Weapon Swing Sounds
Improved Combat Sounds
Thundering Shouts
Ultra Realistic Bow Shoot Sounds
Ultra Realistic Crossbow Shoot Sounds

2.M
Come together N Out of the way

I am able to run this setup in the densest of exteriors with at least 45 fps but when I flip the shift+f12 (enb) switch my frames plummet to a range of 5-20. Now, of course I was expecting a good drop with all the rendering active but I never imagined I'd be under 25fps. Throughout all of this, Windows Resource Monitor (I'm still figuring out Skyrim Performance Monitor) has told me my CPU(%) and RAM usage has never gone over half. So where's my bottleneck?! I'm guessing it's my GPU core since I don't think WRM even bothers with those stats.

Stats, Specs, and Troubleshoots:
My attempt at a clean run with only the necesities applied in MO (skse & Unofficial Patches) and ENB made almost no difference. My fps goes from the expected 60 (w/ vSync) down to 10-25 upon activating ENB within the intro cart ride as well after character creation.
The skyrim launcher reset my FXAA settings once and that obviously disabled a lot of ENB effects. During that gameplay my fps was almost unhindered but this was before I tried troubleshooting.

ENB preset: Morning Star (0.264) wrapper with SweetFX injector
[spoiler=enblocal.ini][PROXY]
EnableProxyLibrary=true
InitProxyFunctions=true
//ProxyLibrary=d3d9_SFX_FXAA.dll
ProxyLibrary=d3d9_SFX.dll

[GLOBAL]
UsePatchSpeedhackWithoutGraphics=false
UseDefferedRendering=true
ForceFakeVideocard=false
IgnoreCreationKit=true

[PERFORMANCE]
SpeedHack=true
EnableOcclusionCulling=true

[MULTIHEAD]
ForceVideoAdapterIndex=false
VideoAdapterIndex=0

[MEMORY]
ExpandSystemMemoryX64=false
ReduceSystemMemoryUsage=true
DisableDriverMemoryManager=false
DisablePreloadToVRAM=false
ReservedMemorySizeMb=1024
EnableUnsafeMemoryHacks=false
VideoMemorySizeMb=13312
EnableCompression=true
AutodetectVideoMemorySize=false

[WINDOW]
ForceBorderless=true
ForceBorderlessFullscreen=true

[ENGINE]
ForceAnisotropicFiltering=true
MaxAnisotropy=16
EnableVSync=true
AddDisplaySuperSamplingResolutions=false
VSyncSkipNumFrames=0
ForceLodBias=true
LodBias=0.0

[LIMITER]
WaitBusyRenderer=false
EnableFPSLimit=true
FPSLimit=60.0

[iNPUT]
//back
KeyReadConfig=8
//shift
KeyCombination=16
//f12
KeyUseEffect=123
//home
KeyFPSLimit=36
//num / 106
KeyShowFPS=106
//print screen
KeyScreenshot=44
//enter
KeyEditor=13
//f4
KeyFreeVRAM=115

[ADAPTIVEQUALITY]
Enable=false
Quality=1
DesiredFPS=25.0

[ANTIALIASING]
EnableEdgeAA=false
EnableSubPixelAA=false
EnableTemporalAA=false
EnableTransparencyAA=false
[FIX]
FixParallaxBugs=true
ForceFakeVideocard=false
FixParallaxTerrain=true
IgnoreLoadingScreen=true
IgnoreInventory=true
FixGameBugs=true
FixSsaoWaterTransparency=true
FixSsaoHairTransparency=true
FixTintGamma=true
RemoveBlur=false
IgnoreThreadPriority=false
FixSubSurfaceScattering=true
FixAliasedTextures=false
FixSkyReflection=true
FixCursorVisibility=true
[ENVIRONMENT]
ParticleLightsIntensityNight=1.0
ParticleLightsIntensityInteriorDay=1.0
ParticleLightsIntensityInteriorNight=1.0
FogColorMultiplierSunrise=1.0
FogColorMultiplierDay=1.0
FogColorMultiplierSunset=1.0
FogColorMultiplierNight=1.0
FogColorMultiplierInteriorDay=1.0
FogColorMultiplierInteriorNight=1.0
FogColorCurveSunrise=1.0
FogColorCurveDay=1.0
FogColorCurveSunset=1.0
FogColorCurveNight=1.0
FogColorCurveInteriorDay=1.0
FogColorCurveInteriorNight=1.0
ColorPowSunrise=1.0
ColorPowDay=1.0
ColorPowSunset=1.0
ColorPowNight=1.0
ColorPowInteriorDay=1.0
ColorPowInteriorNight=1.0
DirectLightingIntensitySunrise=1.0
DirectLightingIntensityDay=1.0
DirectLightingIntensitySunset=1.0
DirectLightingIntensityNight=1.0
DirectLightingIntensityInteriorDay=1.0
DirectLightingIntensityInteriorNight=1.0
DirectLightingCurveSunrise=1.0
DirectLightingCurveDay=1.0
DirectLightingCurveSunset=1.0
DirectLightingCurveNight=1.0
DirectLightingCurveInteriorDay=1.0
DirectLightingCurveInteriorNight=1.0
DirectLightingDesaturationSunrise=0.0
DirectLightingDesaturationDay=0.0
DirectLightingDesaturationSunset=0.0
DirectLightingDesaturationNight=0.0
[sKY]
GradientHorizonCurveNight=1.0
GradientHorizonCurveInteriorDay=1.0
GradientHorizonCurveInteriorNight=1.0
SunIntensitySunrise=1.0
SunIntensityDay=1.0
SunIntensitySunset=1.0
SunIntensityNight=1.0
SunIntensityInteriorDay=1.0
SunIntensityInteriorNight=1.0
SunDesaturationSunrise=0.0
SunDesaturationDay=0.0
SunDesaturationSunset=0.0
SunDesaturationNight=0.0
SunDesaturationInteriorDay=0.0
SunDesaturationInteriorNight=0.0
SunColorFilterSunrise=1, 1, 1
SunColorFilterDay=1, 1, 1
SunColorFilterSunset=1, 1, 1
SunColorFilterNight=1, 1, 1
SunColorFilterInteriorDay=1, 1, 1
SunColorFilterInteriorNight=1, 1, 1
SunGlowIntensitySunrise=0.0
SunGlowIntensityDay=0.0
SunGlowIntensitySunset=0.0
SunGlowIntensityNight=0.0
SunGlowIntensityInteriorDay=0.0
SunGlowIntensityInteriorNight=0.0
SunGlowHazinessSunrise=0.0
SunGlowHazinessDay=0.0
SunGlowHazinessSunset=0.0
SunGlowHazinessNight=0.0
CloudsIntensitySunrise=1.0
CloudsIntensityDay=1.0
CloudsIntensitySunset=1.0
CloudsIntensityNight=1.0
CloudsIntensityInteriorDay=1.0
CloudsIntensityInteriorNight=1.0
CloudsCurveSunrise=1.0
CloudsCurveDay=1.0
GradientHorizonIntensityDay=1.0
GradientHorizonIntensitySunset=1.0
GradientHorizonIntensityNight=1.0
GradientHorizonIntensityInteriorDay=1.0
GradientHorizonIntensityInteriorNight=1.0
GradientHorizonCurveSunrise=1.0
GradientHorizonCurveDay=1.0
GradientHorizonCurveSunset=1.0
GradientIntensityNight=1.0
GradientIntensityInteriorDay=1.0
GradientIntensityInteriorNight=1.0
GradientDesaturationSunrise=0.0
GradientDesaturationDay=0.0
GradientDesaturationSunset=0.0
GradientDesaturationNight=0.0
GradientDesaturationInteriorDay=0.0
GradientDesaturationInteriorNight=0.0
GradientTopIntensitySunrise=1.0
GradientTopIntensityDay=1.0
GradientTopIntensitySunset=1.0
GradientTopIntensityNight=1.0
GradientTopIntensityInteriorDay=1.0
GradientTopIntensityInteriorNight=1.0
GradientTopCurveSunrise=1.0
GradientTopCurveDay=1.0
GradientTopCurveSunset=1.0
GradientTopCurveNight=1.0
GradientTopCurveInteriorDay=1.0
GradientTopCurveInteriorNight=1.0
GradientMiddleIntensitySunrise=1.0
GradientMiddleIntensityDay=1.0
GradientMiddleIntensitySunset=1.0
GradientMiddleIntensityNight=1.0
GradientMiddleIntensityInteriorDay=1.0
GradientMiddleIntensityInteriorNight=1.0
GradientMiddleCurveSunrise=1.0
GradientMiddleCurveDay=1.0
GradientMiddleCurveSunset=1.0
MoonIntensitySunrise=1.0
MoonIntensityDay=1.0
MoonIntensitySunset=1.0
MoonIntensityNight=1.0
MoonIntensityInteriorDay=1.0
MoonIntensityInteriorNight=1.0
MoonCurveSunrise=1.0
MoonCurveDay=1.0
MoonCurveSunset=1.0
MoonCurveNight=1.0
MoonCurveInteriorDay=1.0
MoonCurveInteriorNight=1.0
MoonDesaturationSunrise=0.0
MoonDesaturationDay=0.0
MoonDesaturationSunset=0.0
MoonDesaturationNight=0.0
MoonDesaturationInteriorDay=0.0
MoonDesaturationInteriorNight=0.0
GradientMiddleCurveNight=1.0
GradientMiddleCurveInteriorDay=1.0
GradientMiddleCurveInteriorNight=1.0
GradientHorizonIntensitySunrise=1.0
[WATER]
WavesAmplitudeDay=1.0
WavesAmplitudeSunset=1.0
WavesAmplitudeNight=1.0
WavesAmplitudeInteriorDay=1.0
WavesAmplitudeInteriorNight=1.0
[CLOUDSHADOWS]
OpacitySunrise=1.0
OpacityDay=1.0
OpacitySunset=1.0
OpacityNight=1.0
OpacityInteriorDay=1.0
OpacityInteriorNight=1.0
[VOLUMETRICRAYS]
IntensitySunrise=0.2
IntensityDay=0.2
IntensitySunset=0.2
IntensityNight=0.2
IntensityInteriorDay=0.2
IntensityInteriorNight=0.2
DensitySunrise=1.0
DensityDay=1.0
DensitySunset=1.0
DensityNight=1.0
DensityInteriorDay=1.0
DensityInteriorNight=1.0
SkyColorAmountSunrise=0.5
SkyColorAmountDay=0.5
SkyColorAmountSunset=0.5
SkyColorAmountNight=0.5
SkyColorAmountInteriorDay=0.5
SkyColorAmountInteriorNight=0.5
[LENS]
DirtPowerSunrise=2.0
DirtPowerDay=2.0
DirtPowerSunset=2.0
DirtPowerNight=2.0
DirtPowerInteriorDay=2.0
DirtPowerInteriorNight=2.0
[sKYLIGHTING]
AmbientMinLevelSunrise=0.1
AmbientMinLevelDay=0.1
AmbientMinLevelSunset=0.1
AmbientMinLevelNight=0.1
AmbientMinLevelInteriorDay=0.1
AmbientMinLevelInteriorNight=0.1
[VOLUMETRICFOG]
OpacityInteriorNight=1.0
[FIRE]
IntensitySunrise=1.0
IntensityDay=1.0
IntensitySunset=1.0
IntensityNight=1.0
IntensityInteriorDay=1.0
IntensityInteriorNight=1.0
CurveSunrise=1.0
CurveDay=1.0
CurveSunset=1.0
CurveNight=1.0
CurveInteriorDay=1.0
CurveInteriorNight=1.0
[PARTICLE]
IntensitySunrise=1.0
IntensityDay=1.0
IntensitySunset=1.0
IntensityNight=1.0
IntensityInteriorDay=1.0
IntensityInteriorNight=1.0
LightingInfluenceSunrise=1.0
LightingInfluenceDay=1.0
LightingInfluenceSunset=1.0
LightingInfluenceNight=1.0
LightingInfluenceInteriorDay=1.0
LightingInfluenceInteriorNight=1.0
[OBJECT]
SubSurfaceScatteringMultiplierSunrise=1.0
SubSurfaceScatteringMultiplierDay=1.0
SubSurfaceScatteringMultiplierSunset=1.0
SubSurfaceScatteringMultiplierNight=1.0
SubSurfaceScatteringMultiplierInteriorDay=1.0
SubSurfaceScatteringMultiplierInteriorNight=1.0
SubSurfaceScatteringPowerSunrise=1.0
SubSurfaceScatteringPowerDay=1.0
SubSurfaceScatteringPowerSunset=1.0
SubSurfaceScatteringPowerNight=1.0

[spoiler=skyrim.ini][General]
sLanguage = ENGLISH
sIntroSequence = ;Disables the intro sequence for a faster startup
uExterior Cell Buffer = 36

[Display]
fShadowLODMaxStartFade = 1000.0
fSpecularLODMaxStartFade = 2000.0
fLightLODMaxStartFade = 3500.0
iShadowMapResolutionPrimary = 2048
bAllowScreenshot = 1

[Audio]
fMusicDuckingSeconds = 6.0
fMusicUnDuckingSeconds = 8.0
fMenuModeFadeOutTime = 3.0
fMenuModeFadeInTime = 1.0

[Grass]
bAllowCreateGrass = 1
bAllowLoadGrass = 0
iMinGrassSize=50
iMaxGrassTypesPerTexure=7

[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
bInvalidateOlderFiles = 0
SInvalidationFile = ArchiveInvalidation.txt

[Combat]
fMagnetismStrafeHeadingMult = 0.0
fMagnetismLookingMult = 0.0

[Papyrus]
fPostLoadUpdateTimeMS = 500.0
bEnableLogging = 0
bEnableTrace = 0
bLoadDebugInformation = 0

[Water]
bReflectLODObjects =1
bReflectLODLand =1
bReflectSky =1
bReflectLODTrees =1

[spoiler=skyrimprefs.ini][General]
fBrightLightColorB = 1.0000
fBrightLightColorG = 1.0000
fBrightLightColorR = 1.0000
iStoryManagerLoggingEvent =-1
bEnableStoryManagerLogging =0

[imagespace]
bDoDepthOfField =1
iRadialBlurLevel =2

[Display]
iBlurDeferredShadowMask =3
fInteriorShadowDistance =3000.0000
fShadowDistance =8000.0000
iShadowMapResolutionSecondary = 1024
iShadowMapResolutionPrimary = 2048
iShadowSplitCount = 2
iMaxAnisotropy =1
fLeafAnimDampenDistEnd =4600.0000
fLeafAnimDampenDistStart =3600.0000
fTreesMidLODSwitchDist =10000000.0000
fGamma =1.4000
fDecalLOD2 =1500.0000
fDecalLOD1 =1000.0000
fSpecularLODStartFade =200.0000
fShadowLODStartFade =200.0000
fLightLODStartFade =200.0000
iTexMipMapMinimum =0
iTexMipMapSkip =0
iWaterMultiSamples =0
iMultiSample =0
iShadowMode =3
bTreesReceiveShadows =1
bDrawLandShadows =1
bFull Screen =0
iSize H =1080
iSize W =1920
fMeshLODFadePercentDefault =1.2000
fMeshLODFadeBoundDefault =256.0000
fMeshLODLevel2FadeTreeDistance =2048.0000
fMeshLODLevel1FadeTreeDistance =2844.0000
fMeshLODLevel2FadeDist =10000000.0000
fMeshLODLevel1FadeDist =10000000.0000
iScreenShotIndex =2
bShadowMaskZPrepass =0
bMainZPrepass =0
iMaxSkinDecalsPerFrame =25
iMaxDecalsPerFrame =100
bFloatPointRenderTarget =1
sD3DDevice ="NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570"
bFXAAEnabled =0
iShadowMapResolution =4096
fShadowBiasScale =0.1500
iShadowMaskQuarter =4
iAdapter =0
iShadowFilter =3
bShadowsOnGrass =1
bTransparencyMultisampling =0
bDeferredShadows =1
bDrawShadows =1
iPresentInterval=0

[Grass]
b30GrassVS =1
fGrassStartFadeDistance =0.0000
fGrassMaxStartFadeDistance =7000.0000
fGrassMinStartFadeDistance =0.0000

[MAIN]
bGamepadEnable =1
bCrosshairEnabled =1
fHUDOpacity =1.0000
bSaveOnPause =0
bSaveOnTravel =0
bSaveOnWait =0
bSaveOnRest =1
fSkyCellRefFadeDistance =150000.0000

[GamePlay]
bShowFloatingQuestMarkers =1
bShowQuestMarkers =1
iDifficulty =2

[interface]
bDialogueSubtitles =1
bGeneralSubtitles =1
fMouseCursorSpeed =1.0000
bShowCompass =1

[Controls]
fGamepadHeadingSensitivity =1.0000
fMouseHeadingSensitivity =0.0220
bAlwaysRunByDefault =1
bInvertYValues =0
bGamePadRumble =1
bMouseAcceleration = 1
bUseKinect =0

[Particles]
iMaxDesired =750

[saveGame]
fAutosaveEveryXMins =15.0000

[AudioMenu]
fAudioMasterVolume =1.0000
fVal7 =1.0000
uID7 =1191388696
fVal6 =1.0000
uID6 =1191387318
fVal5 =1.0000
uID5 =3954
fVal4 =1.0000
uID4 =1325815921
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 =250000.0000
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

[Decals]
uMaxDecals =1000
bDecals =1
bSkinnedDecals =1
uMaxSkinDecals =100
uMaxSkinDecalsPerActor =60

[LOD]
fLODFadeOutMultObjects =1.0000
fLODFadeOutMultItems =1.0000
fLODFadeOutMultActors =2.0000
fLODFadeOutMultSkyCell =1.0000

[Launcher]
bEnableFileSelection = 1
bShowAllResolutions =0
uLastAspectRatio =3

[blurShaderHDR]
bDoHighDynamicRange =1

[blurShader]
bUseBlurShader =0

[Water]
iWaterReflectHeight =512
iWaterReflectWidth =512
bUseWaterDisplacements =1
bUseWaterRefractions =1
bUseWaterReflections =1
bUseWaterDepth =1

PC specs:
i5 2500k @ 4.7GHz(oc) quad core
NVIDIA GTX 570 1280MB DDR5
16 GB RAM
SSD storage
W7 64bit

This whole process has been a bit of a learning experience for me, so anything past what I've done already will be unfamiliar territory. I'm working each day this week and when I get home I'm troubleshooting / looking for new info on the subject online.
I must have just overlooked something in one of the .ini files because, well, what else could it even be?! An outside perspective might just save me.
Any help or advice will be infinitely appreciated!

Edit: I was actually encountering a CTD, that I wasn't before, during the intro as soon as Alduin shouts to release the character. Now I can't even make it that far and these are some weird CTDs. I haven't changed anything except attempting to use Skyrim Performance Monitor with d3d9 ENB hack to display monitors in-game.
Never seen these before:
CTD before the main menu, after the screen flashed bright yellow
No CTD but my entire screen was bright yellow during the main menu. The only thing I could see was the ENB activation text in the corner and hear the background Skyrim music. Alt+F4'd
(It appears this happened to someone else running an overlay program (overwolf) at startup.)
The last attempt with no changes lead to a successful launch with SPM monitors on screen and running (I noticed GPU @ 99% and fps @ 40) until the CTD about 30  seconds into the cart ride.
All this happened with the minimal, necessary, setup in MO
Now I'm going to work in 8 hours, goodnight Skyrim nightmare!

Edited January 22, 2015 by onem4nb4nd

[TechAngel85]

It's your GPU. It's not powerful enough to run a full on ENB preset. You're going to have to choose lighter weight ENB preset (or performance version), turn off some ENB effects, or forgo it altogether. If you stick with an ENB preset, you should probably tone down your memory settings in your enblocal.ini. I've never seen them needing to be set that high.

[hishutup]

As for the CTD, check this

[A_Dim_Mismatch]

If you want a good Nvidia card that can run an ENB, I'm going to recommend the GTX 970. That's probably the best balance between price, performance and maintenance that you'll be able to find. I used to use a GTX 660, which for most texture mods (even running SMIM, 2kHD and SFO) and a performance version of the old ProjectENB was more than adequate. But with the 970, I've had no problems running something like Realvision on the highest settings and you won't have much trouble. I couldn't do that with a 660, at least, not on 1080p.

 

The 570 is not a bad card, and for most games is more than adequate. But Skyrim is really demanding on GPUs if you load up on the beautifying mods.

Edited January 22, 2015 by A_Dim_Mismatch

[onem4nb4nd]

Thanks for the tips! I built this rig the year skyrim was released, so I was quite disconcerted to hear it wasn't enough for an ENB, but that just shows how much I know. Since I never see benchmarks or a baseline GPU  for any ENB presets I wasn't aware.
I did manage to find that 'common CTD and memory issues' page before I logged off for the night but I wasn't able to peruse it to use it by then. So, I'll definitely check it out now.
I thought the enblocal.ini memory settings just created headroom, aside from the reserved mem size, which I was still messing with to see its effect on fps. How could too much headroom be detrimental?

As for an upgrade: I did actually have my eye on the competition since I came back to the PC-gaming scene and I've certainly noticed the rep the GTX 960 was earning.
Since you guys already know my situation, if anyone has a second to comment, could you let me know what it is exactly that my GPU is lacking? I'm fairly learned in the ways of CPU and RAM etc. but GPUs always seemed to stay out of my reach. I can't imagine it's simply the card's memory that's holding me back, so what is it?
Thanks again, I'm really glad I know the problem so I can stop tinkering with settings and just play for once!

Edited January 23, 2015 by onem4nb4nd

[Aiyen]

Simply put... the raw horse power of the GPU. There are simply too many computations required for every pixel for the GPU to be able to do them fast enough to maintain a high FPS output at the same time. 

 

You can most likely get quite a bit out of your current card... but you will not be able to run any of those presets that say they are high quality since that most likely mean that they enabled everything, and set the quality of those effects to the highest... which can cripple even the best of cards at higher resolutions. 

 

You can most likely find something that you like if you just do a bit of minimal tweaking, and setup your ini files properly to reduce a few quality settings and draw distances etc. 

The most demanding settings are shadow resolutions and grass draw distance... if you do not care about grass at all you can simply disable it and get massive amounts of FPS. 

In ENB then make sure to setup the SSAO and reflections to lower quality... you can even disable reflections in exteriors for quite a few FPS. 

Finally you can set (Under SSAO and Reflection) the sizescale and sourcetexturescale to 0.5 instead of 1 .. this will also free up large amounts of performance.. at the cost of some fine detail. 

 

 

Ofc. if you got the money to invest in a modern card then by all means do that... atm there is not even a competition.. the 900 series of Nvidia is the best in all aspects, from power consumption to raw power. 

[A_Dim_Mismatch]

Thanks for the tips! I built this rig the year skyrim was released, so I was quite disconcerted to hear it wasn't enough for an ENB, but that just shows how much I know. Since I never see benchmarks or a baseline GPU  for any ENB presets I wasn't aware.

I did manage to find that 'common CTD and memory issues' page before I logged off for the night but I wasn't able to peruse it to use it by then. So, I'll definitely check it out now.

I thought the enblocal.ini memory settings just created headroom, aside from the reserved mem size, which I was still messing with to see its effect on fps. How could too much headroom be detrimental?

 

As for an upgrade: I did actually have my eye on the competition since I came back to the PC-gaming scene and I've certainly noticed the rep the GTX 960 was earning.

Since you guys already know my situation, if anyone has a second to comment, could you let me know what it is exactly that my GPU is lacking? I'm fairly learned in the ways of CPU and RAM etc. but GPUs always seemed to stay out of my reach. I can't imagine it's simply the card's memory that's holding me back, so what is it?

Thanks again, I'm really glad I know the problem so I can stop tinkering with settings and just play for once!

If you can afford it, get the 970. It's more expensive, but it's not as if either card is cheap. The 970 has twice the memory (4GB VRAM instead of 2GB VRAM) and that makes it a powerhouse, on par with most of the high-end GPUs. Skyrim is a total memory hog and having something that can handle its freakish appetite is worth it, if you can get it. Keep in mind that it'll still be a pretty powerful GPU in another five years or so.

 

If not, then go with the 960, because it's a big step up from the 660 and the other mid-range cards from a few years ago.

 

I think what really blew me away about the 970 (and the 900s in general) is their small size, even more than power consumption. I remember cards like the Titan just being immense, but the 970 is smaller than my 660 was, and the 660 doesn't hold a reputation for being very big at all.

[TechAngel85]

Aiyen is right, you're just lacking raw power with the GPU. The 970 is where it's at if you have the money. The 960 only performs slightly better than the 760 (which is the card I have). 4GB of VRAM is also a must, imo, for any serious modder. The extra VRAM makes a difference to both performance and textures because you're offloading less data to system RAM.

 

As for the enblocal.ini settings, you need to set them to the lowest values that you do not experience any stuttering or negative effects with. Reserved memory is going to take up precious VRAM so that needs to be as low as possible where no issue arise. The other setting tells the enbhost.exe process (ENBoost) how much system RAM it can potentially use. This will rarely be any higher than 2-3GBs but setting the value higher can help performance. However, setting it too high has caused performance issues in some systems. So it's a balancing to find the right values for your system and you can only do that with testing.

[onem4nb4nd]

Yeah, for sure, all I've been doing since I replied is drooling over the 970's on newegg. I've always been fond of the GTX x70 cards; generally a huge upgrade from the x60 with only a mediocre increase in cost. Plus, I found out the EVGA FTW+ was just released so I'm all over that! (though I AM tempted to get that fanciful golden SEdition from MSI ) Probably a 2-fold increase over my current GPU clock speed if I can OC this new card as much as the reviews state! My 570 wouldn't oc the tiniest bit  so we'll see.
and yeah... I got the Asus GTX570 dc2. It's nearly a foot long and a whole 3 slots deep!    this new 970 will be puny in comparison.

on a side note, I can't wait to see what happens with the new NVlink tech in 2016 with the Pascal chips. mind-blowing, but probably won't be consumer-friendly tech for another 2 years.
Thanks all! officially marked as solved!

Edited January 23, 2015 by onem4nb4nd