On the PC I noticed when I have a lot of save files, the game loads more slowly and saves more slowly. I copied most of them into a backup folder leaving just a few recent saves and the game instantly behaved again.

Weird, as the only time this should be an issue is when say loading a game and bringing up that window to show all your saves. The game should have no reason at all to look at any other save file. And, a save file is just like any other file on the pc. If it was going to impact saving, it would impact all game operations too. Of course they may have done something goofy with the save system.

I have noticed the game can take longer to write a save, then the next time I save, it can be quite short. Also, not really sure if the on screen save verbage is really there for the entire time it's saving or part of it or longer than it takes. Some people in past games noticed that when the save file count went over like 100 or 200 some issues would arise, but again it was mostly in loading the list of saves to select one.

Wait, I just thought of something, does this game have Cloud Saves? There could be some connection if that is the case between length of time to save and number of save files. I don't let Steam do this so I am not sure if the game is set up for this.

Sorry thats exactly when it is slow. I should have been more specific. The game starts slowly (the splash videos stutter, the load game is sluggish and it saves slowly). Other than that it runs normally.

It does support cloud saves by default but that only happens after you close the game.

I to have noticed the starting video stutter sometimes, I have a lot of saves and cloud saving disabled.

Will test and see if the stutter is consistent and delete some saves to see of it goes away.

I'm guess this might not happen on an SSD?

I just move them to a folder under the save folder called Backup. I don't allow Steam Cloud Saves. It seems just having to parse a long list of saves is the factor. I remember on the Xbox 360 there was a limit to the number of save files you could have for FO3/NV.

Yep deleting saves fixes it. Might not be an issue on an SSD.

I have my game on an SSD, but My Documents/My Games where my saves are, or should be, is on a platter drive.....