So I downloaded Fraps, and have learned that my game runs from about 7-12 frames per second, never any higher than 13--that is, in actual gameplay. On the menu screens I get anywhere from 20 to 60. I've heard of one solution, which is to turn off shadows in the SkyrimPrefs, and I've done that, but nothing significant yet. What are other ways I can increase my FPS?

Also, sometimes my game lags quite a bit. By that I mean, I press the forward key, and my character doesn't start moving for at least another half of a second. Any help would be lovely!

Running the game on very low settings woud help but it would look awful...

Actually, I'm on pretty low settings as is... anything else?

What kind of hardware do you have?

Nothing then.

Kirottu, I don't know exactly what you mean but here's what I can find:

OS Name: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium

Version: 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 Build 7601

OS Manufacturer: Microsoft Corporation

System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.

System Model: Inspiron N5010

System Type: x64-based PC

Processor: Intel® Core™ i3 CPU M380 @ 2.53 GHz, 2527 Mhz, 2 Core(s), 4 Logic...

BIOS Version: Dell Inc. A15

SMBIOS Version: 2.6

Installed Physical Memory (RAM): 4.00 GB

Total Physical Memory: 3.80 GB

Available Physical Memory: 2.04 GB

Total Virtual Memory: 7.60 GB

Available Virtual Memory: 4.59 GB

Page File Space: 3.80 GB

I'm not a computer person so I don't know what most of that means, but hopefully that's what you were looking for

A crappy laptop.. lovely.

Can you post DXDiag report or something? I'd like to know more specifically what GPU that thing has and thus if it is even possible to improve performance.

DXDiag? GPU? I don't speak your language

Click "Start" and type dxdiag in the search/run box. When it pops up asking you yes/no, select yes. Click the display tab when dxdiag pops up and let us know what your GPU, or graphics card is.

We all know it's going to have Intel HD Graphics they all do.

The big problem is even if we got the FR running faster it will over heat the CPU and or GPU and things will slow back down again.

OP I was in your shoes a year ago and there really isn't much that can be done with that laptop. It's just not a gaming machine even for older games like FO and Skyrim.

You can try to turn a bunch of the MS services off in the OS and set your game to the LOW quality, turn off all the water effects and any anti alising. Get a big fan to set your laptop on.

Like Fraps you can get the free app Core Temps and it will record your CPU temps while you are playing. When the CPU hits ~103C the PC will try and slow things down to keep from burning up.

It's a game you can't win.

Here's what it says under the display tab:

---Device---

Name: Intel® HD Graphics

Manufacturer: Intel Corporation

Chip Type: Intel® HD Graphics (Core i3)

DAC Type: Internal

Approx. Total Memory: 1696 MB

Current Display Mode: 1366 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)

Monitor: Generic PnP Monitor

---Drivers---

Main Driver: igdumd64.dll, igd10umd64.dll, igdumd...

Version: 8.15.10.2202

Date: 8/25/2010 12:36:00 PM

WHQL Logo'd: Yes

DDI Version: 10

Driver Model: WDDM 1.1

Okay, was one of those the thing that you were looking for?

WOw. I dont know why you would even want to play like that.

Make sure things like anti-aliasing and aniostropic is turned off.

The rsolution should be lowered too.

Just curious. Can you post an actual dxdiag. http://help.ea.com/en/article/how-to-gather-dxdiag-information/

FOllow that link. Post the resulting text file in spoiler tags. It looks like this: dxdiag

Just replace the < > brackets with [ ] brakets.

Gonna be honest with you bud, if you want to run the game with that laptop, you need to turn the graphics down to the minimum settings and go from there. Intel HD graphics are not meant for gaming ;(.

It's an Intel HD (Nehalem) used on Arrandales CPUs like yours: i3-380M

It's a bit faster than a Intel HD (Sandy bridge).

But it's too slow. I would try at 800x600 resolution (low preset)

And i would go for Borderless !!!

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/36177/?

Okay, I guess it's time to give up. I just can't believe people complain about having "only" 20 fps... I'd kill for a frame rate that good! Well, mine is staying at about a solid 10, so I guess I'll have to live with it. I need a new laptop anyway. Thanks everyone!

If you have the intention to buy a new one, just tell us what's in your mind. We can help, you know...

Take care. !!!

-----

And only for the history, Dells are high quality laptops. However some of those, are not intended for playing demanding games like Skyrim.

But, that doesn't mean your Laptop is bad. It's just not a gaming Laptop.

Okay, Mark, if I'm looking to buy a new laptop do you have any suggestions? I'd like it to be able to run Skyrim well at least, but also one that can run newer games like Dragon Age Inquisition. I got that one for Christmas but I haven't been able to play it because it won't run on my computer. I don't want a Mac, Windows is best and also I don't want a touchscreen. I realise this might not be the best place to ask but you offered haha (;

Let's also set a budget of $1200.

And it doesn't have to be a super fancy laptop for like hardcoe gaming. I just want to be able to run these games at a decent rate.

One from ASUS: *ASUS ROG, would be this:

• http://www.amazon.com/GL771JM-DH71-GeForce-GTX860M-Optimus-Technology/dp/B00NJVRTHE/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1425845868&sr=8-6&keywords=asus+rog+laptop
• $ 1,159.00
• Homepage: http://www.asus.com/us/Notebooks_Ultrabooks/GL771/overview/

---------------------

From MSI: *MSI GE70 Apache Pro, with almost the same specs:

• http://www.amazon.com/MSI-GE70-Apache-Pro-012-17-3-Inch/dp/B00IMTQ5I2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425846088&sr=8-1&keywords=msi+laptops
• $ 999.00
• Homepage: http://www.msi.com/product/nb/GE70-2PE-Apache-Pro.html#hero-overview

---------------------

So, this one is the fastest from the two above: **MSI GT70 Dominator

• http://www.amazon.com/MSI-GT70-Dominator-895-9S7-1763A2-895-17-3-Inch/dp/B00IMTQ6I6/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1425846088&sr=8-7&keywords=msi+laptops
• $ 1,199.00
• Homepage: http://www.msi.com/product/nb/GT70-2PC-Dominator.html#hero-overview

---------------------

That's from Lenovo (known as IBM): *Lenovo Y50 *** UPDATED ***

• http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/lenovo/y-series/
• $ 899.00 (with e-coupon)

---------------------

This one is from Dell: ***Alienware 15 ANW (that's the latest Alienware model from Dell) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_EICAnswxQ

• http://www.amazon.com/Alienware-ANW15-1421SLV-15-6-Inch-Gaming-Laptop/dp/B00SIJGBNK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1425847596&sr=8-2&keywords=gaming+laptops
• $ 1,162.99 Product Support: http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/product-support/product/alienware-15/drivers
• Homepage: http://www.dell.com/us/p/alienware-15/pd?oc=dkcwf01&model_id=alienware-15

SOME NIFTY TESTINGS:

Nvidia GTX 965M - Battlefield 4 ULTRA FPS Counter! (Alienware 15)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kP1-YIXN2NM

Nvidia GTX 965M - Dyling Light (Alienware 15)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRO5K4UsrIk

Nvidia GTX 965M - Metro Redux (Alienware 15)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFNwxgko79U

--------

* http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-GTX-860M.107794.0.html

** http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-GTX-870M.107792.0.html

*** http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-GTX-965M.134120.0.html

(The benchmarks are mostly run with an i7 processor. The GTX 965M performs like an GTX 870M, and paired with an lower core i5 processor should give you frame-rates near to the i7 processor.

The i5 used, It's a 4 core processor instead of a 8 core processor, but it uses a higher clock processor speed from 2.9Ghz instead of 2.5Ghz.)

>>> Scroll down to the "Game Benchmarks" section, to see what frame-rates you will get. !!! <<<

Wow, thanks so much!! I'll look into all of these!