I'm getting no more than 10fps in exteriors/cities, often much lower, and my high is 30fps in empty castle corridors.

I know I have an old pc - P4 3ghz, 2.75gig ram, x800pro 256mb graphics AGP (no PCI-E slot).

I've got 2.75 gig of ram, but Oblivion is only using 800mb or so of this - and my fps is still rocket bottom!

I've tried turning all video settings to low, and there's no real difference in fps.

I'm running OSR, which doesn't seem to make any difference to the flow of the game.

I'm also running GameBooster to turn of unnecessary processes (as well as turning them off manually).

I used to run WAC alongside FCOM (with WAC-OOO), and I thought disabling WAC may help, but frame rate is still the same.

Here is my load order, and I'm pretty attached to all the mods - don't really want to disable any unless absolutely crucial. I'm also pretty sure I'm running a texture pack, but I installed it several years ago and don't remember which one!

Active Mod Files:00  Oblivion.esm01  Silgrad_Tower_T.esm02  TR_OoT_Main.esm03  Jog_X_Mod.esm04  All Natural Base.esm  [Version 0.9.9]05  Francesco's Leveled Creatures-Items Mod.esm06  Francesco's Optional New Items Add-On.esm07  Cobl Main.esm  [Version 1.72]08  Oscuro's_Oblivion_Overhaul.esm  [Version 1.34]09  Mart's Monster Mod.esm  [Version 3.7b1]0A  Enhanced Daedric Invasion.esm0B  CyrodiilUpgradeResourcePack.esm0C  FCOM_Convergence.esm  [Version 0.9.9a7]0D  Kvatch Rebuilt.esm0E  BetterMusicSystem.esm0F  BathingMod_Base.esm10  HorseCombatMaster.esm**  TNR ALL RACES FINAL.esp**  TNR - ShiveringIsles.esp11  Unofficial Oblivion Patch.esp  [Version 3.2.4]12  DLCShiveringIsles.esp13  Unofficial Shivering Isles Patch.esp  [Version 1.4.0]14  SM Plugin Refurbish - SI.esp  [Version 1.05]15  Oblivion.esp16  Francesco's Optional Chance of Stronger Bosses.esp17  Francesco's Optional Chance of Stronger Enemies.esp18  Francesco's Optional Chance of More Enemies.esp19  Francesco's Optional Leveled Guards.esp1A  FCOM_Francescos.esp  [Version 0.9.9]1B  FCOM_FrancescosItemsAddOn.esp  [Version 0.9.9]1C  FCOM_FrancescosNamedBosses.esp  [Version 0.9.9]1D  LoadingScreens.esp1E  All Natural - Real Lights.esp  [Version 0.9.9]1F  All Natural.esp  [Version 0.9.9]20  ln.esp21  AmbientTownSounds.esp22  Diverse Voices.esp23  AliveWaters.esp24  AFK_PrayerIdles.esp  [Version 1.0]25  Book Jackets Oblivion.esp26  Bedrollsanyone.esp27  ClocksOfCyrodiil.esp28  Clothes Get Wet.esp29  Damsels In Distress.esp++  Item interchange - Extraction.esp  [Version 0.76]2A  More_Vegetables.esp2B  Morrowind Ingredients.esp  [Version 1.6]2C  movingpaintings.esp2D  Maigrets Pet Fox.esp2E  910-passive wildlife-TESSource.esp2F  QQuix - Rock, rock, rock your ship - V3.esp30  ReneerCreatureMod.esp31  SoT_Holiday.esp32  Walk to Oblivion - OBSE.esp33  Weapon Displays V1.9.esp34  Enhanced Economy.esp  [Version 3.4.3]35  Map Marker Overhaul.esp  [Version 3.3.1]36  Map Marker Overhaul - SI additions.esp  [Version 3.0.2]37  Maps!.esp38  DLCHorseArmor.esp39  DLCHorseArmor - Unofficial Patch.esp  [Version 1.0.5]3A  SM Plugin Refurbish - HorseArmor.esp  [Version 1.11]3B  DLCOrrery.esp3C  DLCOrrery - Unofficial Patch.esp  [Version 1.0.3]3D  SM Plugin Refurbish - Orrery.esp  [Version 1.11]3E  DLCVileLair.esp3F  DLCVileLair - Unofficial Patch.esp  [Version 1.0.5]40  SM Plugin Refurbish - VileLair.esp  [Version 1.11]41  DLCMehrunesRazor.esp42  DLCMehrunesRazor - Unofficial Patch.esp  [Version 1.0.4]43  SM Plugin Refurbish - MehrunesRazor.esp  [Version 1.11]44  DLCSpellTomes.esp45  DLCSpellTomes - Unofficial Patch.esp  [Version 1.0.1]46  Ayleid Artifacts.esp47  Nicos  Scimitars Back.esp  [Version 1.61]48  PTArtifacts.esp49  Vvardenfell_Imports.esp4A  DLCThievesDen.esp4B  DLCThievesDen - Unofficial Patch.esp  [Version 1.0.5]4C  DLCThievesDen - Unofficial Patch - SSSB.esp  [Version 1.0.4]4D  SM Plugin Refurbish - ThievesDen.esp  [Version 1.11]4E  Cobl Glue.esp  [Version 1.72]4F  Cobl Si.esp  [Version 1.63]50  OOO 1.32-Cobl.esp  [Version 1.72]51  FCOM_Cobl.esp  [Version 0.9.9]52  Bob's Armory Oblivion.esp53  FCOM_BobsArmory.esp  [Version 0.9.9]54  Oblivion WarCry EV.esp55  FCOM_WarCry.esp  [Version 0.9.9]56  Oscuro's_Oblivion_Overhaul.esp  [Version 1.34]57  FCOM_Convergence.esp  [Version 0.9.9]58  Mart's Monster Mod - Diverse Runeskulls.esp  [Version 1.1]59  FCOM_RealSwords.esp  [Version 0.9.9]5A  FCOM_SpawnRatesReduced.esp  [Version 0.9.9]5B  FCOM_SaferRoads.esp  [Version 0.9.9]5C  Mart's Monster Mod - Looting NPCs & Creatures.esp  [Version 3.7b1]5D  Mart's Monster Mod - Vindasel.esp  [Version 3.7b1]5E  Mart's Monster Mod - Foxes.esp  [Version 3.7b1]5F  Mart's Monster Mod - Dungeons of MMM.esp  [Version 3.7b1]60  Mart's Monster Mod - Gems & Gem Dust.esp  [Version 3.7b1]61  Mart's Monster Mod - Hunting & Crafting.esp  [Version 3.7b1]62  Mart's Monster Mod - Farm Animals.esp  [Version 1.4]63  MMM - Playable Undead Armors.esp64  MMM - Playable Undead Armors - Oblivion WarCry Compatability Patch.esp65  Mart's Monster Mod - Durzog Addon.esp  [Version 0.10]66  FCOM_FriendlierFactions.esp  [Version 0.9.9]67  T.I.E4MODS.esp  [Version 0.41]68  T.I.E4MODSOOO+FCOM.esp  [Version 0.41]69  Mart's Monster Mod - Shivering Isles.esp  [Version 0.17]6A  LoadingScreens-OOO.esp6B  Geomancy & Gem Dust OOO.esp6C  OOO-WaterFish.esp  [Version 1.34]6D  Ivellon.esp  [Version 1.8]6E  Asharnakibibi.esp6F  BHC_Expanded.esp  [Version 1.2]70  BXX Tamriel Resource Exchange.esp71  (DC) Sutch Reborn.esp72  Sutch Reborn Spawn Patch.esp73  delivery_job.esp  [Version .8]74  Dwemer_Skyship_1_1_0.esp75  Extended Imperial City point 5.esp76  ImpeREAL City Unique Districts - The Arcane University Towers Visible From Outside.esp77  ImpeREAL City Unique Districts - All the Districts - Merged.esp78  ImpeREAL Empire - Unique Castles - All The Castles - Merged.esp79  ImpeREAL Empire - Unique Forts.esp7A  Imperial City Suburbs.esp7B  JQ-Return_of_Dagoth_Ur.esp7C  Kragenir's Death Quest.esp7D  KDQ - Rural Line Additions.esp7E  Kragenirs_WhiteStallion_Compat.esp7F  Kvatch Rebuilt.esp80  Kvatch Rebuilt - OOO Compatibility.esp81  Kvatch Rebuilt - Leveled Guards - FCOM.esp82  EiAmod.esp  [Version 1.1]83  EiAmod_ShiveringIsles.esp84  GlenvarCastle.esp85  Markets of Cyrodiil LO.esp86  MehrunesFel.esp87  ME_DAEDRIC_RECON.esp  [Version 1.4]88  mrSiikas_BetterPorts_Seagulls.esp89  Order of the Virtuous Blood Expanded v0.3.esp8A  Side's Sailing Ships.esp8B  TelValus1pt1c.esp8C  TheElderCouncil.esp8D  thievery.esp8E  TR_Stirk.esp8F  za_bankmod.esp90  Zergonipilamat.esp91  24HrArenaAliveV2Towers.esp92  DLCBattlehornCastle.esp93  DLCBattlehornCastle - Unofficial Patch.esp  [Version 1.0.4]94  SM Plugin Refurbish - Battlehorn.esp  [Version 1.11]95  DLCFrostcrag.esp96  DLCFrostcrag - Unofficial Patch.esp  [Version 1.0.4]97  SM Plugin Refurbish - Frostcrag.esp  [Version 1.09]98  BrumaMGRestored.esp99  BrumaMGRestored-Frostcrag.esp9A  Knights.esp9B  Knights - Unofficial Patch.esp  [Version 1.0.9]9C  SM Plugin Refurbish - Knights.esp  [Version 1.06]9D  Ungarion1TheWelkyndSword.esp  [Version 1.4]9E  Origin of the Mages Guild.esp  [Version 5.1]9F  MannimarcoRevisited.espA0  MannimarcoRevisitedOOO.esp  [Version 0.1]A1  Shadowcrest_Vineyard.espA2  Shadowcrest_Vineyard_Guard.espA3  Mart's Monster Mod - City Defences.esp  [Version 3.7b1]A4  FCOM_OMG.esp  [Version 0.9.9]A5  Enhanced Daedric Invasion.espA6  FCOM_EnhancedDaedricInvasion.esp  [Version 0.9.9]A7  ElsweyrAnequina.espA8  BetterMusicSystem(Elsweyr).espA9  xuldarkforest.espAA  xulStendarrValley.espAB  xulTheHeath.espAC  XulEntiusGorge.espAD  xulFallenleafEverglade.espAE  TheElderCouncil-FallenleafEverglade patch.espAF  xulColovianHighlands_EV.espB0  EtInArkay-ColovianHighlands patch.espB1  xulChorrolHinterland.espB2  xulBeachesOfCyrodiilLostCoast.esp  [Version 1.6.4]B3  SutchReborn-LostCoast patch.espB4  Sutch reborn Lighthouse Fix UL.espB5  OOO-UL-Sutch patch.espB6  KragenirsDeathQuest-LostCoast patch.espB7  xulLushWoodlands.espB8  xulAncientYews.espB9  xulAncientRedwoods.espBA  xulCloudtopMountains.espBB  KragenirsDeathQuest-CloudtopMountains patch.espBC  xulArriusCreek.espBD  xulPatch_AY_AC.espBE  xulRollingHills_EV.espBF  KragenirsDeathQuest-RollingHills patch.espC0  xulPantherRiver.espC1  xulRiverEthe.espC2  xulBrenaRiverRavine.esp  [Version 1.0.2]C3  xulImperialIsle.espC4  xulAspenWood.esp  [Version 1.0.1]C5  xulSkingradOutskirts.espC6  Castle_Seaview.espC7  bartholm.espC8  Bartholm-Panther River Patch.esp  [Version 1.0]C9  bartholm - EE patch.esp  [Version 1.0]CA  Harvest [Flora].esp  [Version 3.0.0]CB  Harvest [Flora] - Shivering Isles.esp  [Version 3.0.0]CC  Harvest [Flora] - DLCVileLair.esp  [Version 3.0.0]CD  Harvest [Flora] - DLCFrostcrag.esp  [Version 3.0.0]CE  Archmage_Enchanted_Chest_OBSE.espCF  Badmagic - Landscape Fix for 20 -18.espD0  CBScryingv1.esp  [Version 1.0]D1  Cliff_BetterLetters.esp  [Version 1.1]D2  Cliff_CountyNames.esp  [Version 1.1]D3  MIEO-ae.espD4  Oblivifall - Ambiant Dungeon SFX.esp  [Version 1.0]D5  Oblivifall - Let's Talk!.esp  [Version 1.1]D6  P1DkeyChain.esp  [Version 5.00]D7  QuestItemMessage.espD8  ReneerNPCNameMod.espD9  Salmo the Baker, Cobl.esp  [Version 3.08]DA  Silgrad_Tower_T.espDB  Toggleable Quantity Prompt.esp  [Version 3.1.1]DC  Alternative Start by Robert Evrae.espDD  BathingMod_Soap.espDE  BathingMod_Bathroom_Upgrades.espDF  BathingMod_Placeable_Bathtubs.espE0  Easy Sleep v11.espE1  Vampire Fire by Darkhart.espE2  Disenchant.espE3  Magus Lost Alteration Spells.espE4  SpellDeflection.espE5  TeachSpell.espE6  MidasSpells.espE7  Midas OscuroGems.espE8  Pestilent Afflictions.espE9  Disease Immunity (Oblivion + Shivering Isles).espEA  Vector.esp  [Version 0.1]EB  Cant Wear Broken Armor.espEC  Deadly Reflex 5 - Timed Block and 250% damage.espED  DeadlyReflex 5 - Combat Moves.espEE  kuerteeNPCsYield.espEF  Francesco's Slower skills x1.5.esp++  Item interchange - Placement for FCOM.esp  [Version 0.76]F0  TheOubliette.espF1  Francesco's 10 days respawn time - 1-20 day lenght rescale.espF2  Get Wet.espF3  BubbleFx.espF4  Visually Realistic Lava.espF5  qazFingerSnap.espF6  Duke Patricks - Magic you can believe in.esp++  Cobl Filter Late MERGE ONLY.esp  [Version 1.53]F7  Bashed Patch, 0.esp

Any ideas where my weak spot is? As I'm not using all my ram, I suppose if could be a vram issue - but then wouldn't the unused system ram just take up the slack? If it's the processor, I still don't understand why it's not using all the ram. Even if I upgraded the whole PC (which I can't do at the moment anyway) Oblivion only seems to use one core anyway, so would a dual core 3ghz be any better for Oblivion than my single core? Or if I just upgrade my graphics card, the most vram I could get on a card would be 500mb as I only have an agp slot....

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

I think your weak spot it from mod 1 to F7.
I don't know how you can expect to run that much demanding mod with that config .
FCOM in particular is demanding even on modern rigs.

But I will answer some questions you may ask yourself:
A dual core 3Ghz will have better performances than your P4 3Ghz even if it runs on one core only(I think some stuff are actually multithreaded like Havok and OSR will optimize multithreading too) because a dual core 3ghz will have better optimization internally(ie the clock value isn't everything).
And If you get a dual core you will also get better ram and a pci-e video card, will improve everything .

Second 2.75gb of ram...It's strange that oblivion doesn't go over 800Mb indeed, in fact Oblivion is known to slowly increase its ram allocation and crashing when he can't allocate anymore...Are you running some kind of cell cleanup maybe(sorry too tired to remember the name of those things...)?

Simple answer: you're getting about what you can expect from that system plus those mods. To experience any real improvement, you'll have to either change the system or change the mods.

Mods:

• FCOM is your biggest fps eater.
  
• EDI I'll bet is the second.
  
• You could try removing any MMM plugins like Farm Animals, which add NPCs or creatures, and also try one of the reduced spawn plugins. I suggest Stronger, since it does lower the number of NPC/monsters, but makes the ones that do spawn stronger - a good trade-off without losing the challenge.
  
• With EDI, I don't know of an alternative other than uninstalling it.
  
• The UL mods could also be dropping your fps. You could try disabling them and test. You might gain @5 fps in those areas. Not a lot, but the difference between 10 and 15 fps is a pretty big one.

System:
If your cpu clockspeed wasn't as high as it is, your system would have no chance with that modlist. Oblivion is very cpu intensive. With your system I would expect cpu usage to max out before RAM usage becomes a problem.

See, it's also a matter of bus speed and the operating speed of your RAM. There's a big difference between DDR2 and DDR3 RAM, and both of them come at varying speeds, and those speeds are constrained by the the motherboard. Long story short: older systems with a higher clockspeed cpu can still be much slower than newer more powerful systems with lower cpu clockspeeds.

Upgrading:
You shouldn't waste any money trying to improve the rig you are running. Instead, save for a rebuild. By shopping smart, I was able to put together a micro ATX motherboard, 4 GB DDR2 RAM, an Athlon II X2 (dual core) 250 at 3.0 GHz, and a new 500 GB HDD 5200 rpm (the drive is actually now my bottleneck). I avoided having to buy a graphics card (I used the old one, a 9500GT Nvidia card), an operating system, a case or an optical drive. Total spending: $265.

For $500 you can put together a quite decent rig that will last you a while. For $800, you can get a very nice graphics card and better HDD than I have, plus pay for a better PSU (which the newer cards demand). If you can put together $1100, you can get a dream machine. I would never spend more than $1100 on a new rig.

gothemasticator

P4 3ghz, 2.75gig ram, x800pro 256mb graphics AGP (no PCI-E slot).

The biggest problem with your computer is the Pentium 4 processor. Oblivion itself is already fairly cpu limited and you throwing FCOM at your CPU isn't helping performance either. Your RAM is fine. The difference between DDR, DDR2 and DDR3 are not all that big. DDR may have lower speeds, but it also has a very low latency compared to DDR2 and DDR3. In any case RAM isn't your problem. Your graphics card, x800 isn't a bad card, but it's rather dated as well, which obviously, also doesn't really help.

If you really want to see an improvement it might be worth looking at a cheap mainboard with PCI-e that supports Athlon or Phenom processors, then throw in like 4GB of DDR2 RAM, a mid-end card and you'd be all set. Shouldn't cost too much either. You can also go for an Intel setup, but that's most likely going to be more expensive.

That's great, thanks for the input - I feared as much!

Looks like I'll have to put up with a slideshow for another year until I have the cash to put together a new pc.

What sort of improvement in frame rate would I be looking at if I put together a new low to mid-range computer with my mod list? I'm worried about spending on a new rig and then finding I get 15fps rather than 10fps!

A lot of people with midrange rigs who run FCOM get roughly 20 fps ouside, with dips as low as 10 in a big fight. Fps goes up in dungeons.

People with high-range rigs report things like a steady 30+ fps outside with FCOM.

OSR will help a lot once you get a rig that can get your fps out of the baement.

I get 20 outisde, 40 inside. With OSR, I limit that to 30 max and 10 min fps. Smooth, no stuttering, playable everywhere so far.

gothemasticator

You can put together a decent PC fairly cheaply these days. Good graphics cards are better value than ever (e.g., the HD5770 with 1GB, which will do very well with most games, even brand new ones.) It's not restricted to the high end now; midrange is, usually, more than enough.

CPUs, you're probably better off with a cheaper AMD, like an Athlon x2, x3 or even x4. Maybe a Phenom II x2 (or x4, if you want to spend more.) Again, for a reasonable price, you get very good gaming performance. Most games still don't benefit greatly (if at all) from more than 2 cores - something to keep in mind. Though yes, that might change in the next few years. But Oblivion, after all, is what... 4 years old now?

Honestly, your (less than ~5 years old-ish) games will be unrecognisable, if you get a new PC anywhere near to the above specs. In a good way, that is.

Do you use any texture replacers or RAEVWD? These mostly stress your video card, but can gang up on the CPU as well.
Reducing the number of UIgrids to load can decrease load to, as less NPC's and general objects are loaded.

Please do not add Qarl's textures to that rig, but the rest of the links on this page should help your FPS: http://sites.google.com/site/oblivionpoinfo/optimization/replacers/stock. They probably will not help you run FCOM much faster, but you should see an improvement otherwise.

Edit: wording

What's already said. One of the most effective ways of getting more bang for the buck performance wise is to lower uGridDistantTreeRange and uGridDistantCount in the ini (default is 25, I'm at 15). Used in conjunction with the Streamsight feature in Streamline 3.1 it looks quite nice as well.

When you change the uGridDistantCount, the chart you need to reference to change the Streamline fog setting in appropriately is an MHT file found in SL's docs.

Edit: wording