Which mod(s) is the most performance heavy?

[freche]

Hi everyone, thanks for the awesome work put into STEP.

I'm currently in need of some suggestion & help as I thought I should replay Skyrim since a new DLC is upcoming and I haven't played the previous ones yet.

Since I haven't been around Skyrim modding for quite some time I did an STEP install and added a couple of extra mods on top.

ENB used is SkyRealism Cinematic (I removed DoF & letterbox)

 

It went quite well, however I get random stuttering (my guess is that it's probably too heavy on the textures for my graphic card).

My system is Phenom II @ 3.8Ghz, 4GB ram, GTX 460 1GB OC.

 

As for TPC I used the Lite version, and installed everything except Parallax, SGD (SGD is installed later on), Lush Trees, Lush Grass. I choose Lite/Performance options on the mods that I could.

 

Bain Packages:

 

 

000 - ==PREPERATIONS==

++ 001 - SKSE Scripts

++ 002 - Skyrim - Textures (Optimized)

++ 003 - Skyrim - HighRes Textures 1 (Optimized)

++ 004 - Skyrim - HighRes Textures 2 (Optimized)

005 - == -- STEP START -- ==

006 - == --- A. Fixes ==

++ 007 - 1st Person Armor Fix

++ 008 - Ancient Nord Armor Fix

++ 009 - Blacksmith Forge Water Fix

010 - ==(Bowlegged Jump Fix is at ANIMATIONS)==

++ 011 - Closer Quivers and Longer Arrows v3

++ 012 - Closer Quivers and Longer Arrows v3 (Dawnguard Arrows)

++ 013 - CQv3 - Closer Crossbow Bolts - UNP Compatible

++ 014 - Invincible Hawk Fix

++ 015 - Unofficial Skyrim Patch

++ 016 - Unofficial Dawnguard Patch

++ 017 - Unofficial Hearthfire Patch

018 - == --- B. Conflicting Graphics ==

++ 020 - Texture Pack Combiner - Lite (Optimized and Sized (x1024))

++ 022 - Better Beast Races v2 (Lite)

++ 023 - Better Circlets MD 1K v1.1

++ 025 - coverKhajiits (Female)(Opt & Size x512)

++ 026 - Dragon Glyphs - Smooth (Optimized)

++ 027 - Psychosteves Golden Gods Shrines

++ 028 - Illuminated Tree LOD (Skyrim Flora Overhaul & ENB)

++ 029 - Realistic Hair -3397

++ 030 - Thats Ice v1.2

++ 031 - WATER v1.5d

++ 032 - WATER v1.5d (Medium Resolution Patch)

++ 033 - XCE v1.13

++ 034 - Yuril Rings (Gold Circle)

++ 035 - AOF Believable Hair (Sharp)

++ 036 - The Eyes of Beauty (PLAYER) v7.2

++ 037 - The Eyes of Beauty (NPCs) v6.1

++ 038 - The Eyes of Beauty (Dawnguard) v7.1

++ 039 - Quality SnowFlakes (Alternative) v2

040 - == --- C. Non-Conflicting Graphics ==

++ 041 - Animated Weapon Enchants v1.14

++ 043 - Better Bones (Optimized)

++ 044 - Better Freckles v1.01

++ 045 - Better Shadowmarks

046 - ==(Breathing Idles is at ANIMATIONS)==

++ 047 - Burn Freeze Shock Effects v3.3

++ 048 - Burn Freeze Shock Effects v3.3 (Dawnguard Patch)

++ 049 - Chimneys for Skyrim (with Riverwood)

++ 050 - HD Cinematic Fire

++ 051 - Climates Of Tamriel - Final Edition v2.1

++ 052 - Climates Of Tamriel Dawngard Patch v1.1

++ 053 - Deadly Spell Impacts (Medium) v1.61

++ 054 - Elemental Staffs 1K

++ 055 - Elemental Staffs v1.10

++ 056 - Enchantment Effect Replacer (Combined)

++ 057 - Enhanced Blood Textures v2.5

++ 059 - EBT (Darker & 1024 Patch)

++ 060 - EBT (Dawnguard Patch)

++ 061 - Eyebrows Match Hair v1.1

++ 062 - Finer Dust

++ 063 - HD Baskets Fixed (512x1024)

++ 064 - High Quality Beards v1.1

++ 065 - Improved Torches Textures v2

++ 066 - Improved Weapon Impact Effects

++ 067 - Lanterns of Skyrim - All In One v1.3 (Main)

++ 068 - Lanterns of Skyrim - All In One v2.0 (CoT Preset)

++ 069 - Lanterns of Skyrim - All In Onev1.0a (Dawnguar

++ 070 - HiRes Road Signs (Worn) v3

++ 071 - Lockpick Inventory Remodel

++ 072 - Moon Size Tweaks (x0.5)

++ 073 - New Children v2

++ 074 - New Thinner Torch v1.1

075 - ==(No Spinning Death Animation is at ANIMATIONS)==

++ 076 - Not Really HD Display Case (Smudged)

++ 077 - Not Really HD Keys (Normal Maps)

++ 078 - Not Really HD Mask of Clavicus Vile v0.9a

++ 079 - Pilgrims Delight - Zul Do Dov v1.1

++ 081 - HD Rabbits Plus (Opt Size x512)

++ 082 - Real Effect Candle v1

++ 083 - Realistic Paper (Dark) v0.21a

++ 085 - Sweet Mother HD (Opt & Size x1024)

++ 086 - Skyrim Weapon DeLARPification Project v1.05

++ 087 - Skyrim Weapon DeLARPification Project (Dawnguard)

++ 088 - Vibrant Auroras

089 - == --- D. UI==

++ 090 - BLESSINGS - Altar Descriptions

++ 091 - Better Skill and Quest Books Names (Dawnguard)

++ 092 - Cartographers Map Markers

++ 093 - CategorizedFavoritesMenu v0.1.16

++ 094 - Categorized Favorites Menu (Oni Edition) v1.6b (Widescreen)

++ 095 - Dungeon Quest Awareness

++ 097 - HQ3DMap (MD, Meshes & Normals) v2

++ 098 - Lockpicking Interface Retex (No Wings) v1.2

++ 099 - No Menu and Loading Smoke

++ 100 - A Quality World Map Installer

++ 101 - Skill Interface (BAIN) v4

++ 102 - SkyUI_3.0-alpha4

++ 103 - SmallerCursor

++ 104 - Immersive HUD v2.0.2

++ 105 - Dark brotherhood forever misc

106 - == --- E. Sounds ==

++ 107 - Activate Noise Removal

++ 108 - Ambient Seagulls

++ 109 - FSS - Better Bards

++ 110 - Better Horse Pain Sounds

++ 111 - Better Weapon Swing Sounds v1.1

++ 112 - Improved Combat Sounds v2.1

++ 113 - Roosters at Dawn

++ 114 - Smooth draw and Sheathe sfx

++ 115 - Sounds of Nature Redux

++ 116 - Waterbreathing Breathless Emerge v1.1

117 - == --- F. Gameplay ==

++ 118 - Ars Metallica - Smithing Enhancement v1.12

++ 119 - Auto Unequip Ammo v4.1 (Dawnguard)

++ 120 - Bring Out Your Dead v1.13

++ 121 - Clams Drop Pearls

++ 122 - Convenient Horses v4.4 (Dawnguard)

++ 123 - Convenient Horses v4.4 (Dawnguard, Valfar Patch)

++ 124 - Death Cam Duration Options v1.11

++ 125 - SM Drop Lit Torches V2

++ 126 - Dynamic Fires v3

++ 127 - Follower Trap Safety v1.1 (Scripts)

++ 128 - Gildergreen Regrown v1.22

++ 129 - Non-Essential Killable Children v9

++ 130 - Less Annoying Barbas v1.1

++ 131 - More Salt Please v1.1

++ 132 - Move It v1.01

++ 133 - No NPC Greetings (Slightly Reduced) v1.1

++ 134 - The Paarthurnax Dilemma v1.22

++ 135 - Realistic Crime Radius

++ 136 - Realistic Ragdoll Force (Reduced)

++ 137 - Wearable Lanterns v2.2a

++ 138 - Wearable Lanterns (Guards Addon)

139 - == -- STEP END -- ==

140 - ==WORLD MESHES & TEXTURES==

++ 141 - 83Willows 101BUGs v4.1 (LowRes)

++ 142 - Distant Detail (Hearthfire)

++ 143 - Better Embers

++ 144 - Birds of Skyrim (LowRes) v0.65

++ 145 - Bumpy Inn and Shop Signs v3

++ 146 - No Stretching (Full) v2.1

++ 147 - Pets of Skyrim v0.31

++ 148 - Soul Gems Differ (BAIN)

++ 149 - Expanded Towns and Cities v5.0

++ 150 - Expanded Towns and Cities (Follower Patch) v5.0.1.1

++ 151 - Expanded Towns and Cities (SkyRealism FF Dawnguard Patch) v5

152 - ==EFFECTS==

++ 153 - Destructible Bottles (Extended) v1.5

++ 154 - Footprints v7 (BETA)

++ 155 - Get Snowy v4.1

++ 156 - Lightning During Thunder Storms v19

++ 157 - Lightning During Thunder Storms (CoT Patch) v2.1

++ 158 - Player Headtracking v2.6

++ 159 - Rainbows v1.02

++ 160 - Shooting Stars v1.02

161 - ==SOUNDS==

++ 162 - Better Animal Footsteps

++ 163 - Clanking Armor

++ 164 - Realistic Werewolves (Feral) v1.4

167 - ==ACTOR MESHES & TEXTURES==

++ 168 - Ethereal Elven Overhaul v1.0.5

++ 169 - Ethereal Elven Overhaul (UNP Freckle)

++ 170 - ApachiiSkyHair (Full) v1.4

++ 171 - ApachiiSkyHair (Male Khajiit fix)

++ 172 - ApachiiSkyHair (UNP Patch)

++ 173 - ApachiiSkyHair (Female Addon)

++ 174 - ApachiiSkyHair (Male Addon)

++ 175 - Improved Eyes (Dawnguard)

++ 176 - All in One Face v4.0b (Face Pack for UNP)

++ 177 - All in One Face (Dawnguard and female UNP vamp) v5.0a

++ 179 - Coverwomen (Look 4, No Brows)

++ 180 - Coverwomen (Look 4, UNP Seam fix)

++ 181 - HQ Eyebrows (Ultra Light) v1.2

++ 182 - UNP BASE Main Body v1.2

++ 183 - UNP Body Texture (Patch) v1.51

++ 184 - Undies Underneath for Skyrim v0.9.5

++ 185 - UNP Blessed Body v2.2 (BBP)

++ 186 - UNP Fitness Body (Main Body) v3

++ 187 - Better Males (GeonoxFacesWithoutBeard)

++ 189 - Better Males (SundraconMeshes - FlaccidVersion)

++ 190 - Better Males (SundraconMeshes Size Patch)

++ 191 - UNP Argonian Hotfix

++ 192 - Tales of Lycanthropy (Werewolf Model & Texture - The Howling) v1.1

++ 193 - Vampire Lord Retexture (Armoured) v3.1

++ 194 - Aela Facelift

++ 195 - Mjoll Facelift

196 - ==GAMEPLAY==

++ 197 - Skyrim -Community- Uncapper v1.14.3.0

++ 198 - Arrows and Bolts Tweaks v3.0

++ 199 - Deadly Dragons (Loremonger) v6

++ 200 - Bellyaches HD DLC Texture Replacer

++ 201 - Duel Combat Realism v5.11

++ 202 - Economics of Skyrim v1.3

++ 203 - Extensible Follower Framework v3.5.6

++ 206 - Better Stealth AI for Followers v3

++ 207 - Dovahkiin Relax Too v1.4

++ 208 - Legionettes v1.0.2

++ 209 - Guard Dialogue Overhaul v1.2

++ 210 - Multiple Lycanthropy Regift

++ 211 - Run For Your Lives v1.1.2

++ 212 - ScenicCarriages 1.2a

++ 213 - ScenicCarriages (Hearthfire Fix)

++ 214 - Tales of Lycanthropy Modular - Core v1.5

++ 215 - Tales of Lycanthropy Modular - SKSE

++ 216 - The Dance of Death v3.3

++ 217 - Lanterns for Caravans

++ 218 - Candle Lanterns of the North (Dawnguard) v1.1

++ 219 - Immersive Patrols v1.3

++ 220 - The Woodcutters Wife v1.1

++ 221 - Babettes Feast Balanced v1.1

++ 222 - Realistic Wildlife Loot - Reduced

++ 223 - SkyRealism - Time and Travel v1.1

++ 224 - SkyRealism - Detection Durations v1.1

++ 225 - SkyRealism - Feast and Famine (Dawnguard) v2.3a

++ 226 - RealisticRoomRental (Lite) v1.1

++ 227 - Nernies Ranger Pack v1.08

++ 228 - Nernies Thief Pack v1.03

++ 229 - Nernies Thief Pack (Patch) v1.031

++ 230 - SkyrimSpeeds

++ 231 - NPCs Move at Player Speed v1.1

++ 232 - Axe & Pickaxe Weight Change

++ 234 - DisableNoFastTravelMessage

++ 235 - Armored Skeletons v1b

236 - ==EQUIPMENT==

++ 237 - Explosive Bolts Visualized v1.02

++ 238 - Accingite Vos - Shields HQ Retextures

++ 239 - Daedric Armor and Weapon Improvement v2.5.5 (EDITED)

++ 240 - Dark Nemesis Armor (Replacer) v1.1

++ 241 - UNP Female Armors v2

++ 242 - UNP Female Armors (UNPB patch) v1.8

++ 243 - UNPB Dawnguard Armors v1.5

++ 244 - Tavern Clothes (UNPB-BBP)

++ 245 - Allow Amulet and Ring

++ 246 - ForswornArmor (UNPB-BBP)

++ 247 - Hvergelmirs Armor Retexture v1.8a

++ 248 - Hvergelmirs Shield Retexture v1.3

++ 249 - aMidianBorn (Book of Silence)

++ 251 - aMidianBorn (Hide and Studded, Cabals Cut)

++ 252 - aMidianBorn (Iron and Banded)

++ 253 - aMidianBorn (Steel)

++ 254 - Deadly Serious Shrouded Armor v2.6

++ 255 - Elegant Vampire Armor v2.2

++ 256 - Dark Jester (Replacer)

++ 257 - Millenia Weapon Retexture Project

++ 258 - Shield of Ysgramor (1024x)

++ 259 - Cloaks of Skyrim

++ 260 - Cloaks of Skyrim Patch v1.1

++ 261 - WIC Cloaks 2.1b

++ 262 - WIC (Cloaks of Skyrim Patch) v2.1

++ 263 - Bandolier - Bags and Pouches v1.101

++ 264 - Bandolier (Vampire Hotfix, Reduced Weight) v1.101

++ 265 - Bandolier - Dawnguard

++ 266 - TM Ball Gown 1.2

++ 267 - TM BallGown (UNPB BBP Patch)

++ 268 - Tribunal Robes v2

++ 269 - Tribunal Robes (No Cloak for Men Patch)

++ 270 - Tribunal Robes (No Cloak for Female Patch)

++ 271 - Tribunal Robes (UNPB BBP Patch)

++ 272 - Tribunal Robes (Masks)

++ 273 - R18Pn - Eisen Platte Armor UNP

++ 274 - R18Pn - Eisen Platte Armor (UNPB Patch)

++ 275 - Void Armor

++ 276 - Void Armor (UNPB BBP Patch)

++ 277 - Bandanas of Skyrim v1.1

++ 278 - Blindfolds of Skyrim v1.2

++ 279 - Bandanas and Blindfolds Revised

++ 280 - Imperial Investigator (UNPB) v0.95

++ 281 - UNP Mashup Compilation

++ 282 - Lustmord Armor V1.2 (HD)

++ 283 - Black Sacrament Armor v4.1 (SD)

++ 284 - Immersive Armors v6

++ 285 - Immersive Armors v6 (UNP Patch)

++ 286 - Immersive Armors for NPCs v2

++ 287 - 3rdEraWeaponsMoS v1.51 (Full)

++ 288 - JaySuS Swords V13C-1002-13C

290 - ==ANIMATIONS==

++ 291 - Female BBB and Male Breathing Idles v0.1

++ 294 - Bowlegged Jump fix v1.1

++ 296 - No Spinning Death Animation

++ 297 - No Twitching Dragon Death Animation

++ 300 - VHH walk (Less exaggerated style) v1.0c

++ 301 - DSpSoB (Dawnguard)

302 - ==BUG FIXES==

++ 303 - Argonian Decapitation Fix

++ 304 - Brawl Bugs

++ 305 - FemaleVampiresHaveFangs

++ 306 - Friendly Guard Helmets v1.2

++ 307 - StolenSouls

++ 308 - Relighting Skyrim v3.1

309 - ==ENB Tweaks==

++ 310 - Further Dark Dungeons for ENB v1.05

++ 311 - Dark Dungeons for Dawnguard

++ 312 - Remove Ambient Interior Fog  Final Version

++ 313 - Revamped Exterior Fog

314 - ==Last==

++ 315 - Skyrim Performance PLUS v2

++ 317 - Neovalen Custom Skeleton Pack

++ 318 - Neovalen Race Compatibility Fixes - Base Vampire Eye v1.1

 

 

As for CoT, I have only installed Core & DG patch (No Dungeons, Interior or Nights). I thinking on adding Interior & maybe Nights though.

 

I'm probably going to remove, Babettes & Wildlife (will also need to remove SkyRealism FF because of req.) though I highly doubt these are the one causing the stuttering.

 

Anyone got some suggestion on what I should change / remove to gain a bit of performance?

[mothergoose729]

Check your fps to get a handle on performance. GPU-z is very good for that, run it in the back ground and check your peak VRAM usage, and then use FRAPS to montore your FPS. Stuttering in skyrim can happen even when your performance is really good, which I suspect might be happening in this case.

[freche]

Did some very limited testing today and I run mostly around 45+ fps inside Helgen dungeons, 36-45 fps from Helgen to Riverwood. I reduced MaxDecalsPerFrame to 250 which seemed to help a bit, but that could be imagination more testing would be needed on that.

 

Though I got quite some drop once I got close to the river so next step would be to make changes to water.

Haven't yet had time to tweak with it. Any suggestions, start with uninstalling WATER or is there something else I could try first? (I never did the water reflect ini tweak, from the step guide so that one is still at vanilla 512)

[mothergoose729]

Use the meduim resolution version of WATER.

 

I recommend using a texture optimizer program. Texture optimizer on the nexus is not the best program, but it is really good and very easy to use. I recommend just running it on maximum strenth. Make sure to check your BSAs as well.

 

Some people, usually ATI users but it effects everybody, experience input lag issues with the game. I wrote a guide on it, if you are experiencing problems like my guide describes than that might be a big part of your issues

 

https://forum.step-project.com/showthread.php?tid=1089&pid=14955#pid14955