Ehy guys, this is my PC:

Intel Core 2 Quad CPU Q8300 2.50Ghz
3,5 Gb RAM
XP Professional Service Pack 3
Video Card: ATI Radeon HD 5600 1,1 Gb

It is a good computer. But, to be honest, Oblivion runs better on my old Pentium 4.
Yes, I already know that the game doesn't use multi-core technology and that having four processors working at 2,50 Ghz is worst than having one processor working at 3 Ghz.

The game stutters, in particular when I ride my horse. And this is very annoying! If I lower graphical settings, the situation doesn't change!

I am writing this thread for asking you an opinion:

1) Should I overclock my PC just before playing Oblivion, or do you think that this procedure is dangerous and that it's a shame doing it on a young PC?
2) Should I try to install Stream line?
3) The installation of Stream line requires the installation of OBSE (Oblivion script extender). But, for installing OBSE, I should know if I have a Steam version of the game or a Retail version: what's the way to understand it?

P.S.:
1) Two days ago I installed Oblivion stutter remover, but it doesn't give me any improvements.
2) I also changed some values in the .ini file (in Documents\My Games\Oblivion), according to an official guide: nothing happened.
3) The third thing I tried was a complex operation with shaders (suggested by another guide) and... no results again!

Please, help me.

It's pretty average, at best, as a modern gaming PC, to be completely honest with you. And there is no way a Pentium 4 of any kind will be better. Full stop. Different CPU architecture - it makes all the difference.



No. Again, CPU architecture is the thing here. "GHz ain't GHz", a lot of the time. They don't translate between, say, a Pentium 4 and a C2Q (like yours). Utterly different, from the ground up. In fact, the Core 2 series has a more direct link to the Pentium 3. But that's neither here nor there. History, and in this case, it doesn't matter, and besides, could be very misleading.

Oblivion can use 2 cores... kinda. So, your CPU isn't all wasted. Just half of it or so.



1. Overclock only if you are very sure what you're doing. If you feel at all lacking confidence, I recommend *not* doing so. And that seems to be the case, so...
2. Streamline can help a bit, depending. Make sure to use its INI file properly, if you do install it.
3. Where did you buy the game - online/offline? Steam or hardcopy? That's all there is to it.



1. Make sure you have the correct version of OBSE installed properly, and adjust the settings of OSR according to the OSR thread in the mods forum. If you bought the game from Steam, use the OBSE Steam version, of course.
2. Be very careful. In fact, don't trust such guides. Most of it's useless, at best.
3. Same again.


Do make sure you have the latest drivers for everything, and all the latest updates for Windows of course. And patch Oblivion correctly, obviously. The Unofficial patches for Oblivion, Shivering Isles (if you have that), and the other DLC (if you have and are using any/all of those) can help with various things. Just bugs, though.

In general, http://tesivpositive.animolious.com/ is extremely useful and informative. I suggest reading through any bits of it that are relevant to you and your situation. Can't go too far wrong there.

Hope that helps.

Thanks for your help.
But I don't think my PC is a bad PC. And it is surely better than a P4. Do you know GTA IV? It is a game which requires good PCs and it runs perfectly on my computer.

Didn't say it's bad. Just "pretty average". Well yeah, "at best" too.

Not meaning to be judgemental, insulting, unhelpful, or anything like that. It's just that the CPU is quite "old" now, in the scheme of PCs these days. And the graphics card, though more recently released, was mid-range when it came out, and is even less impressive now, comparatively.

Oblivion's engine is also very old, and not optimal, to say the least. This is where the majority of issues come from. And there's not much you can do about that, except use mod tools, and the right settings... oh, and make sure your hardware is basically OK. Along with drivers, Windows setup, and so forth. Like, defragging the drive (with something like Auslogics Disk Defrag, say). And just general maintenance.

In other words, more modern games, and better optimised ones in particular, *will* run better, yes. Especially when you flip the settings to maximum, and go adding graphics mods, etc. Trust me!

Not to say it can't be done though - even with your setup. After all, it isn't terrible. Just yeah, average or so.

Kill any unnecessary background processes while gaming.

Do you have a real sound card? If you don't, disable music in the ini, and see if that helps. (set bmusicenabled=1 to 0 instead.)

Guys, unfortunately there's no way to improve my Oblivon.

I have tried with no results:
1) Multiple-Core Ini Tweak;
2) Oblivion Stutter Remover;
3) Streamline;
4) Stuff related to Shaders.

I think that overclock is my last hope. But I am worried about possible damages.

P.S.: I am Italian. This is the reason why I didn't know the meaning of the words "retail" and "steam".