Spec:
-2 Monitors running 1920x1080 (only 1 running Skyrim)
-Radeon HD7870
-8GB RAM
-Intel i5 Ivybridge


I have 2 Monitors: 1 used for Skyrim & another just showing Memory Usage on Windows Desktop. While I'm getting all the lags (both in Ultra & High settings) in Helgen Cave at the start my Memory usage is only around 2 GB... Is something wrong?
I have no lag problem in the open field (after bear fight running to Riverwood).

I just downloaded Skyrim today on version 1.8 & my Radeon driver is up to date. There's this 1 file that failed to validate from Steam, but I get that all the time, I doubt it is the problem.

I'm really not expecting this with my spec. What could be wrong?

Gotta add that I just got Skyrim on this omputer, it's fresh - no mods.
And my RAM usage was around 2.1-2.5 GB so it's over 2 GB, but it certainly isn't utilizing all 4 or even 3 while I'm getting mad Frame Rates drop in room with many items. I tried tuning down my AA & AF to 2 or 4, but it didn't help.. (I had to set my AA back to 4 because there's just too much tearing at 2)

man this really svcks :*(

If you get rid of the other monitor (unplug it), do things work better?

Disable the 360 controller and rumble in the controls area of the HUD. It's even best to make these changes in the INI, but this is enough for testing.

I unplugged 1 monitor then start up Skyrim and stil the same thing, I disabled both Vibration & 360 Controller options, but to no avail..

Is it actually normal for Skyrim to always utilize 2.5 GB RAM? I just delated my Skyrim folder and reinstalled, still only around 2.5 GB RAM is being used while in game.
I played this game before, but I deleted all saves from Steam Cloud and started fresh with no mods.. oh man..


PS: I found out how to see how much Memory was used for Skyrim through Resource Monitor option in Windows Task Manager. It was using around 700,000 KB in the Private column, I'm not so sure what that means, but I'm assuming for Skyrim to work correctly that 700,000 needs to be 4,000,000 KB? My RAM is definitely showing 8GB in BIOS & System Information.

So I downloaded FRAPS to see my FPS, and it actually averaged around 59-60 - All. The. Time; including that cave I mentioned. Still, I'm 100% sure something is not right in that cave where you are given Optional Quest to look for Potions. So my FPS did not drop as I thought my eyes saw, but obviously something is going on, maybe I am experiencing Micro Stuttering with my Gigabyte Radeon HD7870OC? Eventhough I'm only using 1 GPU? My Mainboard has an integrated GPU with DVI output and all but that shouldn't be a problem, right?
Man what is going on??

Now I just "increased" my AA to x8 instead of x4 I previously played at and the problem seems to be better!?? Have I lost sense of reality???

You are becoming paranoid parrot dude. You need to walk out side a bit or watch movie instead of playing games. I myself lost my sense for frames per second few times. So it's all fine.

This isn't a first person shooter, so any FPS over 30 is fine. Just find your average FPS, limit it to that and don't stress about framerate issues. Don't look at it and just enjoy the game, as you certainly don't need a constant 60 fps.

Incredible, I tried Windows mode and there is no more micro stuttering. Display is as smooth as I could imagine, FRAPS display 60 FPS all the time, it's not even switching between 59 & 60 anymore indicating 0 micro stuttering which I don't even know how it happened since I'm only using 1 PCI Graphic Card.

So I guess my 1 Graphic Card created FPS fluctuation while inside small buildings.
Sad part now is that the mouse speed & brightness settings are disabled in Windows mode.