After installing windows 7 64 bit this weekend I decided to re install Skyrim to see if I recieved any boost from going to 64 bit but instead I found the opposite. Running the same mods and same textures Skyrim is now using on average 700mb to 1 gb of extra ram and the game is now totally unplayable for me. Is this normal? I was hoping for a boost if anything not decreased performance and I am pretty let down haha.

I am running an i5-3450 with 8 gb of gskill ram brand new install of windows (yesterday) with barely anything but drivers and media players installed.

Now my video card is older it's an ati HD4850 but on XP I was able to run the exact same mods and set up on high settings with out a hiccup & I was able to run New vegas on Ultra. I am using the last drivers made for these cards (now legacy)

I am hoping maybe I overlooked something or maybe I should do tweaks like black viper or others if you know of any or really any suggestions you might have. 64 bit is totally new to me and I'm finding it's quite different as a whole. I use my computer to record music first and foremost and up until recently have not had any reason to make the switch.

I still have my XP installed on another drive so if I must keep it to run games I guess I will but I was hoping to make use of this extra ram and also in time clear that drive for other purposes. I was under the impression that games would run better not worse on 64 bit.

Thanks for any help

Did you install Steam to the Program Files (X86) directory? I recommend installing it elsewhere.

Post a dxdiag report, please.

They do run better. I personally saw a 10-15 FPS jump back with Oblivion.

Your case is one of the minorities.

But yes, a dxdiag is a good place to start.

Ok here is what dxdiag spit out there is also a 64 bit check should I post that as well? Also yeah I did indeed install it to the x86 default directory should I change that? I use Nmm to launch SKSE.

Sorry I don't know how to do the fancy posting tricks.

Thanks again

Don't worry about the 64-bit version of the Dxdiag

Yes, install Steam into the C:\Games directory or anywhere outside Program Files(x86)

Try this Catalyst driver (13.1 WHQL):http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/windows/legacy/Pages/legacy-radeonaiw-vista64.aspx

There is also a sound chipset driver update (if link works): http://m-audio.com/index.php?do=support.drivers&f=1225

All of my drivers were just downloaded yesterday and are the most recent versions (just confirmed) I guess I can try moving my steam folder. Is there a way to do this without re installing or do I have no choice? Took almost all of last night to install just steam and skyrim lol.

Thanks again

Look here please: https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7418-YUBN-8129

As for your graphic driver is dated: "Driver Date/Size: 11/16/2012"*. so it's not super new !!!!

*newer release 1/21/2013

Install the driver from Níeh?ggr: it's newer as yours !!!!! (http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/windows/legacy/Pages/legacy-radeonaiw-vista64.aspx)

Neither you sound chip is up to date: "Date and Size: 1/25/2012"* so look here please: (http://m-audio.com/index.php?do=support&tab=driver&serie_ID=1&PID=7b5e9745e0f7ae16f7820ac8da409680&OS=x107#tabs)

(those drivers are for your M-Audio Delta 66 for Windows 7 64 bit SP1)

*newer release 03/15/2012

Excellent thank you for the link.

The amd 13.1 is the driver I installed just yesterday these are legacy drivers so they have not made a new one in years I think just the package has been updated. I can try to reinstall maybe something didn't get updated proper but that is the one i just downloaded & installed just yesterday.

I made sure I went and grabbed all of the latest drivers because my old ones were all 32 bit.

Thanks again I will try moving the steam folder later tonight and post back.

Oh yeah, and you can do a spoiler button clicking on Special BBCode (left button from the Font pull down menu)

then, BBCode -> Spoiler -> "Enter the text to be masked" -> OK, and you have done a nice spoiler button !!!!!

Both my sound and video drivers are the latest I can confirm by opening the programs for them. 6.08 for M-audio and 13.1 for amd. What is inside the packages I have no idea but they are the latest from the sites for sure.

Ok so far, so then you are good to go...i hope.

Ok so moving the folder made a huge difference over all and the game is at least playable to an extent. Ram is down from what it was running at but still a good few hundred mb more than on XP.

It is still very sluggish while running the open world and almost seems to stutter at times till it catches up or something. I seem to be able to get around but the stutter is pretty annoying. The crazy thing is I didn't have a single CTD or hang while fast travelling once and cities such as whiterun are very smooth so I am not sure what to think of it. Regardless of what dxdiag says i am 100% running the latest drivers for everything including my motherboard.

Thank you for all of the help.