Guide:AMD Catalyst Control Center

NOTE

This guide is still accurate, but the AMD software interface has changed a bit, and there are some missing/new features. The updated guide is a WIP.

NOTE

This is an ancillary guide to the official STEP Guide created to reduce the length of that guide. Users reading this are likely the tinkering type or are interested in more detail around configuring Skyrim in order to increase quality or performance, but this guide is not an essential component of a successful STEP installation.

Suggest first reading: Skyrim Installation Guide, Skyrim Launcher Guide, Skyrim INI Guide

AMD Catalyst Control Center

Preface

STEP Users: Please configure STEP graphics settings without ENB lighting enhancements (not the same as ENBoost!) until STEP is configured according to the STEP Guide.

Catalyst Control Center (CCC) Anti-Aliasing (AA) only partially augments Skyrim AA, of which the AA sample rate is set within SkyrimPrefs.ini. The CCC Anti-Aliasing Mode settings have no impact on Skyrim AA, so AA must be set in the INI (iMultiSample; 4x recommended). Anti-Aliasing Setting DOES impact Skyrim AA, and so do all other settings under Anti-Aliasing and Texture Filtering. Therefore, the best quality graphics for the least performance impact is described below. Performance options are also specified for those with less-capable video cards.

NOTE:

This guide assumes that users will ONLY be running ENBoost, as recommended in the STEP Guide. If ENB graphics extension will be used after verifying a functional STEP install, set all AMD driver settings to "Use application settings", as driver-based settings will conflict with ENB.

NOTE:

If ONLY running ENBoost without ENB 'proper', it is recommended to set ForceAnisotropicFiltering=false in enblocal.ini, as it may cost less FPS to force via CCC than running AF via enblocal.ini, and the result is identical.

NOTE:

The following apply more for users with higher-end AMD video cards like the Radeon 7970 and above, but others may find these settings helpful, so examine performance/quality in detail before and after applying to low-mid-end graphics.

Profile

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1. Right-click on any open space on the desktop and click on AMD Catalyst Control Center (CCC).
2. Within CCC, select Gaming > 3D Application Settings.
3. Click + Add, then browse to and select TESV.exe, and click on this new profile (these settings will only apply to Skyrim now). (NOTE: A warning will pop up asking "Do you want to override the pre-defined profile?" Click [Yes] then [OK].)
4. Select the "TESV.exe" profile that appeared below the "+ Add" button and change all settings to match the following:

   Anti-Aliasing

   • Anti-Aliasing Mode: Use application settings
   • Anti-Aliasing Samples: Use application settings
   • Filter: Standard
   • Anti-Aliasing Method: Supersampling (NOTE: Set to Multisampling if FPS drop is a problem or if using ENB)
   • Morphological Filtering: Off

   Texture Filtering

   • Anisotropic Filtering Mode: Override application settings (NOTE: SEE SECOND NOTICE ABOVE)
   • Anisotropic Filtering Level: 16x
   • Texture Filtering Quality: High quality
   • Surface Format Optimization: On

   Frame Rate Control

   • Wait for Vertical Refresh: Off, unless application specifies (NOTE: ENBoost should control vsync; also ensure iPresentInterval is not set to 0 in Skyrim.ini.)
   • OpenGL Triple Buffering: Off (NOTE: This is not compatible with D3D games.)

   Tessellation

   • Tessellation Mode: AMD optimized
   • Maximum Tessellation Level: AMD optimized

5. Click [Save] in the lower right hand corner. Another warning will pop up asking "Do you want to overwrite the existing profile? TESV.exe". Click [Yes] then [OK].