Is there a cities mod with small performance impact? : IV

» Wed Mar 30, 2011 1:12 am

I'm looking for a mod that will make improvements to all my cities, similar to what ImpeREAL cities does to the IC, but one that is a 'lite' version that will have minimal effect on framerate. Is there any city overhaul mods that just kind of 'spruce up' the cities without killing framerates?

Thanks!

Also; relevant computer specs: Nvidia GTX 460M + 1.5GB GDDR5 VRAM, 4GB RAM, Intel Core i7 460QM (1.73 - 2.8 Ghz)

EDIT: Here's my list of active mods. You can see why I worry about framerate issues even with this rig, since I have the full QTP3 textures and high quality textures on nearly everything, and all unique landscapes, along with all of these mods.

Spoiler

Active Mods
? 00 Oblivion.esm

? 01 All Natural Base.esm [Version 1.3]

? 02 Cobl Main.esm [Version 1.57]

? 03 Qarls_Harvest.esm

? 04 Oscuro's_Oblivion_Overhaul.esm [Version 1.34]

? 05 Enhanced Daedric Invasion.esm

? 06 Kvatch Rebuilt.esm

? 07 bookplacing.esm [Version 1]

? 08 Unofficial Oblivion Patch.esp [Version 2.2.0]

? 09 Oblivion Citadel Door Fix.esp

? 0A DLCShiveringIsles.esp

? 0B All Natural.esp [Version 1.3]

? 0C All Natural - SI.esp [Version 1.3]

? 0D MIS Low Wind.esp

? 0E MIS New Sounds Optional Part.esp

? 0F All Natural - Real Lights.esp [Version 1.3]

? 10 IlluminationWithin.esp

? 11 AliveWaters.esp

? 12 AliveWaters - Koi Addon.esp

? 13 AliveWaters - Slaughterfish Addon.esp

? 14 aaaBorsBedrolls.esp

? 15 VanityCameraSmoother.esp

? 16 Enhanced Key Functionality.esp

? 17 Fatality Cam.esp

? 18 Qarls_Harvest.esp

? 19 Living Economy.esp

? 1A Living Economy - Items.esp

? 1B Crowded Roads.esp [Version 2.0]

? 1C Display Stats.esp [Version 2.0.1]

? 1D P1DmenuEscape.esp

? 1E Streamline 3.1.esp

? 1F Map Marker Overhaul.esp [Version 3.5.2]

? 20 Map Marker Overhaul - SI additions.esp [Version 3.5]

? 21 Landmarks.esp

? 22 HotkeyCasting.esp

? 23 DLCHorseArmor.esp

? 24 DLCHorseArmor - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.0.5]

? 25 Compatibility Patch - DLCHorseArmor.esp [Version 1.0.0]

? 26 DLCOrrery.esp

? 27 DLCOrrery - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.0.3]

? 28 DLCVileLair.esp

? 29 DLCVileLair - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.0.5]

? 2A DLCMehrunesRazor.esp

? 2B DLCMehrunesRazor - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.0.4]

? 2C DLCSpellTomes.esp

? 2D KDCirclets.esp

? 2E Nicoroshi Creations DW Light.esp

? 2F DLCThievesDen.esp

? 30 DLCThievesDen - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.0.5]

? 31 DLCThievesDen - Unofficial Patch - SSSB.esp [Version 1.0.4]

? 32 Cobl Glue.esp [Version 1.55]

? 33 Cobl Si.esp [Version 1.32]

? 34 Oscuro's_Oblivion_Overhaul.esp [Version 1.33b]

? 35 OOO-Map_Markers_Stock.esp [Version 1.33]

? 36 OOO-No_Guild_Ownership.esp [Version 1.33]

? 37 OOO 1.32-Cobl.esp [Version 1.41]

? 38 SSEE-OOO.esp

? 39 SigilStoneSelector-SSEE-OOO.esp

? 3A 300_Artifacts.esp

? 3B Cheydinhal Petshop.esp

? 3C FF_WaldnirsWoods.esp

? 3D Jagnot- Imperial City Library V1.3.esp

? 3E Kvatch Rebuilt.esp

? 3F Kvatch Rebuilt Weather Patch.esp

? 40 MountainShackR12.esp

? 41 Region Revive - Lake Rumare.esp

? 42 RomancingAhnassi.esp

? 43 The Ranger's House.esp

? 44 VaultsofCyrodiil.esp

? 45 Water's Edge Cottage.esp

? 46 WhiteRoseLodgev2.0.esp

? 47 Cyrodiil Travel Services.esp [Version 2.0.7]

? 48 DLCFrostcrag.esp

? 49 DLCFrostcrag - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.0.4]

? 4A Knights.esp

? 4B Knights - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.0.9]

? 4C Enhanced Daedric Invasion.esp

? 4D ElsweyrAnequina.esp

? 4E xuldarkforest.esp [Version 1.0.5]

? 4F xulStendarrValley.esp [Version 1.2.2]

? 50 xulTheHeath.esp

? 51 XulEntiusGorge.esp

? 52 xulFallenleafEverglade.esp [Version 1.3.1]

? 53 xulColovianHighlands_EV.esp [Version 1.2.1]

? 54 xulChorrolHinterland.esp [Version 1.2.2]

? 55 mythsandlegends.esp

? 56 xulBeachesOfCyrodiilLostCoast.esp [Version 1.6.4]

? 57 xulBravilBarrowfields.esp [Version 1.3.2]

? 58 xulLushWoodlands.esp [Version 1.3.1]

? 59 xulAncientYews.esp [Version 1.4.3]

? 5A xulAncientRedwoods.esp [Version 1.6]

? 5B xulCloudtopMountains.esp [Version 1.0.3]

? 5C xulArriusCreek.esp [Version 1.1.3]

? 5D xulPatch_AY_AC.esp [Version 1.1]

? 5E xulRollingHills_EV_withoutWheat.esp [Version 1.3.3]

? 5F xulPantherRiver.esp

? 60 xulRiverEthe.esp [Version 1.0.2]

? 61 xulBrenaRiverRavine.esp [Version 1.1]

? 62 xulImperialIsle.esp [Version 1.6.6]

? 63 xulBlackwoodForest.esp [Version 1.1.0]

? 64 xulCheydinhalFalls.esp [Version 1.0.1]

? 65 xulAspenWood.esp [Version 1.0.2]

? 66 xulSkingradOutskirts.esp [Version 1.0.1]

? 67 xulSnowdale.esp [Version 1.0.2]

? 68 xulCliffsOfAnvil.esp

? 69 bartholm.esp

? 6A Millstone_Farm_COBL.esp

? 6B Harvest [Flora].esp [Version 3.0.0]

? 6C Compass-Disable_Both.esp

? 6D Dungeon Actors Have Torches 1.6 DT.esp

? 6E LowRechargeCost.esp

? 6F movablebodies.esp

? 70 P1DkeyChain.esp [Version 5.00]

? 71 Soulgem Magic.esp [Version 1.0]

? 72 Quest Award Leveling - Finger of the Mountain.esp

? 73 Ronyns_Realistic_and_Fun_Acrobatics-8494.esp

? 74 Gather Ye Rosebuds.esp

? 75 Healers.esp

? 76 SupremeMagicka.esp [Version 0.90b]

? 77 SM_ShiveringIsles.esp [Version 0.90]

? 78 SM_EnchantStaff.esp [Version 0.90]

? 79 MidasSpells.esp

? 7A Midas OscuroGems.esp

? 7B ArcaneVelocity200.esp

? 7C RshAlchemy.esp

? 7D Lightweight Potions.esp [Version 1.1]

? 7E No psychic guards v1.2.esp

? 7F Enhanced Grabbing.esp [Version 0.3]

? 80 nGCD.esp

? 81 nGCD Oghma Infinium.esp

? 82 Toaster's Legendary Mastery.esp [Version 3.44]

? 83 Wolvmans_Better_Hand_placed_Loot.esp [Version 1.21]

? 84 Arena betting.esp

? 85 Cosmetic Compilation.esp

? 86 Cobl Races.esp [Version 1.52]

? 87 KT_CustomRaceFix.esp

? 88 NoLoad.esp

? 89 NoMerchantBarterpvssyr.esp

? 8A Visual Enchantments v1.0.esp

» Wed Mar 30, 2011 9:59 am

With that GPU and processor you should easily be able to run Better Cities. Unless you have a trillion other mods. Modlist please, as adding an better looking city mod to a vanilla install will not kill your FPS with those specs.

» Wed Mar 30, 2011 9:53 am

Try either Better Cities with all the (applicable) FPS patches - and remember you can install only certain cities, and even only certain districts of the IC, if you prefer - or Open Cities Classic. Or yeah, Open Cities Reborn, even.

I don't see why any of those should kill your system, really. But, out of all of those, OCC is the "lightest", in my experience.

edit: Or, you could simply install a texture (and/or normals; maybe meshes too) pack, or more than one, to literally just change the "paint", as it were. Can make a big difference, but no, they don't change the design, per se.

» Wed Mar 30, 2011 12:23 am

Some mods that add to cities:

http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=25804
http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=19039
http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=25621

I haven't tried the last one yet, but the first two are nice little additions to the IC and Anvil. These probably aren't the overhauls that you're looking for but they're nice.

» Wed Mar 30, 2011 5:57 am

Depends entirely on what type of city mods you want. Your rig specs should blow just about all of them away.

You certainly won't see a difference using Open Cities in either form with that.

» Wed Mar 30, 2011 9:23 am

Tested in a vanilla game by myself: Open Cities (Classic or Reborn) makes no difference for performance whatsoever. Despite the hundreds of thousands of people who swear to the contrary, Open Cities does not significantly impact performance on its own, and I have proven that to myself by testing it in an unmodified game. Any degradations you see in the cities are coming from outside sources (Distant LOD, extra NPCs, Unique Landscapes, etc.)

Open Cities is an excellent choice for someone looking for a new city experience without the performance hit. Trust me (and Arthmoor).

» Wed Mar 30, 2011 1:52 am

I really like http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=14460 - a version of Bananasplit's make-over without nearly as many objects and flair to slow down the CPU. It's a great mod with negligible impact.

» Tue Mar 29, 2011 11:31 pm

Thanks for the advice all.

For everybody asking for a mod list:

Spoiler

Active Mods
? 00 Oblivion.esm

? 01 All Natural Base.esm [Version 1.3]

? 02 Cobl Main.esm [Version 1.57]

? 03 Qarls_Harvest.esm

? 04 Oscuro's_Oblivion_Overhaul.esm [Version 1.34]

? 05 Enhanced Daedric Invasion.esm

? 06 Kvatch Rebuilt.esm

? 07 bookplacing.esm [Version 1]

? 08 Unofficial Oblivion Patch.esp [Version 2.2.0]

? 09 Oblivion Citadel Door Fix.esp

? 0A DLCShiveringIsles.esp

? 0B All Natural.esp [Version 1.3]

? 0C All Natural - SI.esp [Version 1.3]

? 0D MIS Low Wind.esp

? 0E MIS New Sounds Optional Part.esp

? 0F All Natural - Real Lights.esp [Version 1.3]

? 10 IlluminationWithin.esp

? 11 AliveWaters.esp

? 12 AliveWaters - Koi Addon.esp

? 13 AliveWaters - Slaughterfish Addon.esp

? 14 aaaBorsBedrolls.esp

? 15 VanityCameraSmoother.esp

? 16 Enhanced Key Functionality.esp

? 17 Fatality Cam.esp

? 18 Qarls_Harvest.esp

? 19 Living Economy.esp

? 1A Living Economy - Items.esp

? 1B Crowded Roads.esp [Version 2.0]

? 1C Display Stats.esp [Version 2.0.1]

? 1D P1DmenuEscape.esp

? 1E Streamline 3.1.esp

? 1F Map Marker Overhaul.esp [Version 3.5.2]

? 20 Map Marker Overhaul - SI additions.esp [Version 3.5]

? 21 Landmarks.esp

? 22 HotkeyCasting.esp

? 23 DLCHorseArmor.esp

? 24 DLCHorseArmor - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.0.5]

? 25 Compatibility Patch - DLCHorseArmor.esp [Version 1.0.0]

? 26 DLCOrrery.esp

? 27 DLCOrrery - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.0.3]

? 28 DLCVileLair.esp

? 29 DLCVileLair - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.0.5]

? 2A DLCMehrunesRazor.esp

? 2B DLCMehrunesRazor - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.0.4]

? 2C DLCSpellTomes.esp

? 2D KDCirclets.esp

? 2E Nicoroshi Creations DW Light.esp

? 2F DLCThievesDen.esp

? 30 DLCThievesDen - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.0.5]

? 31 DLCThievesDen - Unofficial Patch - SSSB.esp [Version 1.0.4]

? 32 Cobl Glue.esp [Version 1.55]

? 33 Cobl Si.esp [Version 1.32]

? 34 Oscuro's_Oblivion_Overhaul.esp [Version 1.33b]

? 35 OOO-Map_Markers_Stock.esp [Version 1.33]

? 36 OOO-No_Guild_Ownership.esp [Version 1.33]

? 37 OOO 1.32-Cobl.esp [Version 1.41]

? 38 SSEE-OOO.esp

? 39 SigilStoneSelector-SSEE-OOO.esp

? 3A 300_Artifacts.esp

? 3B Cheydinhal Petshop.esp

? 3C FF_WaldnirsWoods.esp

? 3D Jagnot- Imperial City Library V1.3.esp

? 3E Kvatch Rebuilt.esp

? 3F Kvatch Rebuilt Weather Patch.esp

? 40 MountainShackR12.esp

? 41 Region Revive - Lake Rumare.esp

? 42 RomancingAhnassi.esp

? 43 The Ranger's House.esp

? 44 VaultsofCyrodiil.esp

? 45 Water's Edge Cottage.esp

? 46 WhiteRoseLodgev2.0.esp

? 47 Cyrodiil Travel Services.esp [Version 2.0.7]

? 48 DLCFrostcrag.esp

? 49 DLCFrostcrag - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.0.4]

? 4A Knights.esp

? 4B Knights - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.0.9]

? 4C Enhanced Daedric Invasion.esp

? 4D ElsweyrAnequina.esp

? 4E xuldarkforest.esp [Version 1.0.5]

? 4F xulStendarrValley.esp [Version 1.2.2]

? 50 xulTheHeath.esp

? 51 XulEntiusGorge.esp

? 52 xulFallenleafEverglade.esp [Version 1.3.1]

? 53 xulColovianHighlands_EV.esp [Version 1.2.1]

? 54 xulChorrolHinterland.esp [Version 1.2.2]

? 55 mythsandlegends.esp

? 56 xulBeachesOfCyrodiilLostCoast.esp [Version 1.6.4]

? 57 xulBravilBarrowfields.esp [Version 1.3.2]

? 58 xulLushWoodlands.esp [Version 1.3.1]

? 59 xulAncientYews.esp [Version 1.4.3]

? 5A xulAncientRedwoods.esp [Version 1.6]

? 5B xulCloudtopMountains.esp [Version 1.0.3]

? 5C xulArriusCreek.esp [Version 1.1.3]

? 5D xulPatch_AY_AC.esp [Version 1.1]

? 5E xulRollingHills_EV_withoutWheat.esp [Version 1.3.3]

? 5F xulPantherRiver.esp

? 60 xulRiverEthe.esp [Version 1.0.2]

? 61 xulBrenaRiverRavine.esp [Version 1.1]

? 62 xulImperialIsle.esp [Version 1.6.6]

? 63 xulBlackwoodForest.esp [Version 1.1.0]

? 64 xulCheydinhalFalls.esp [Version 1.0.1]

? 65 xulAspenWood.esp [Version 1.0.2]

? 66 xulSkingradOutskirts.esp [Version 1.0.1]

? 67 xulSnowdale.esp [Version 1.0.2]

? 68 xulCliffsOfAnvil.esp

? 69 bartholm.esp

? 6A Millstone_Farm_COBL.esp

? 6B Harvest [Flora].esp [Version 3.0.0]

? 6C Compass-Disable_Both.esp

? 6D Dungeon Actors Have Torches 1.6 DT.esp

? 6E LowRechargeCost.esp

? 6F movablebodies.esp

? 70 P1DkeyChain.esp [Version 5.00]

? 71 Soulgem Magic.esp [Version 1.0]

? 72 Quest Award Leveling - Finger of the Mountain.esp

? 73 Ronyns_Realistic_and_Fun_Acrobatics-8494.esp

? 74 Gather Ye Rosebuds.esp

? 75 Healers.esp

? 76 SupremeMagicka.esp [Version 0.90b]

? 77 SM_ShiveringIsles.esp [Version 0.90]

? 78 SM_EnchantStaff.esp [Version 0.90]

? 79 MidasSpells.esp

? 7A Midas OscuroGems.esp

? 7B ArcaneVelocity200.esp

? 7C RshAlchemy.esp

? 7D Lightweight Potions.esp [Version 1.1]

? 7E No psychic guards v1.2.esp

? 7F Enhanced Grabbing.esp [Version 0.3]

? 80 nGCD.esp

? 81 nGCD Oghma Infinium.esp

? 82 Toaster's Legendary Mastery.esp [Version 3.44]

? 83 Wolvmans_Better_Hand_placed_Loot.esp [Version 1.21]

? 84 Arena betting.esp

? 85 Cosmetic Compilation.esp

? 86 Cobl Races.esp [Version 1.52]

? 87 KT_CustomRaceFix.esp

? 88 NoLoad.esp

? 89 NoMerchantBarterpvssyr.esp

? 8A Visual Enchantments v1.0.esp

With that GPU and processor you should easily be able to run Better Cities. Unless you have a trillion other mods. Modlist please, as adding an better looking city mod to a vanilla install will not kill your FPS with those specs.

The modlist is above and now on the original post.. As you'll see, I do have a trillion mods.

Especially with QTP3 and nearly all other high quality texture packs.

Try either Better Cities with all the (applicable) FPS patches - and remember you can install only certain cities, and even only certain districts of the IC, if you prefer - or Open Cities Classic. Or yeah, Open Cities Reborn, even.

I don't see why any of those should kill your system, really. But, out of all of those, OCC is the "lightest", in my experience.

edit: Or, you could simply install a texture (and/or normals; maybe meshes too) pack, or more than one, to literally just change the "paint", as it were. Can make a big difference, but no, they don't change the design, per se.

Sounds like I will probably go with OCC or OCR (if I can manage to get framerate manageable), since I have already installed QTP3 and a ton of other texture packs.

Depends entirely on what type of city mods you want. Your rig specs should blow just about all of them away.

You certainly won't see a difference using Open Cities in either form with that.

Yeah it should for a mostly vanilla game, but HQ texture packs and my huge modlist change that unfortunately. Also remember, those are laptop components which don't match up with their desktop counterparts.

Tested in a vanilla game ... Open Cities is an excellent choice for someone looking for a new city experience without the performance hit. Trust me (and Arthmoor).

Yeah I have no doubt it would have no performance hit in a vanilla game, but with QTP3, nearly all other textures high quality, ULs, OOO, and a massive mod list, it does cause an FPS hit even on my machine with max settings.

» Wed Mar 30, 2011 10:10 am

One thing stands out. You're still running an extremely old version of the UOP and probably the DLC patches as well. You'd do well to update those as the patched models all got optimized. Then install the UOP Supplementals afterward. You might just be surprised at the difference it makes.

» Tue Mar 29, 2011 11:57 pm

With that mod list and your specs you shouldn't have any trouble with Open Cities (either version) or ImpeREAL city.

ImpeREAL city is actually extremely light in terms of performance demand (aside from the Arcane University), I've got similar specs and have ever noticed any performance reduction from the mod. 90% the time lag in the IC come from extra NPC's which a wide variety of mods will add to that city.

Open Cities can reduce your performance (marginally), but only if used in conjunction with other performance draining mods (it can be a bit of a catalyst), and with your specs and load order it shouldn't be a problem.

» Wed Mar 30, 2011 10:00 am

With that mod list and your specs you shouldn't have any trouble with Open Cities (either version) or ImpeREAL city.

ImpeREAL city is actually extremely light in terms of performance demand (aside from the Arcane University), I've got similar specs and have ever noticed any performance reduction from the mod. 90% the time lag in the IC come from extra NPC's which a wide variety of mods will add to that city.

Open Cities can reduce your performance (marginally), but only if used in conjunction with other performance draining mods (it can be a bit of a catalyst), and with your specs and load order it shouldn't be a problem.

The latest version of ImpeREAL city is actually supposed to have made performance in the Arcane University much more reasonable. I've never used it before, so I have no point of reference, but it was quite manageable last time I was there.

Waterfront is always going to perform like crap, though, there's nothing anyone can do about that. :brokencomputer:

» Wed Mar 30, 2011 6:29 am

I still don't see why the Waterfront is so much worse off than anywhere else in the game, even in vanilla. There's got to be something bogging it down but nobody has ever figured out what.

» Tue Mar 29, 2011 9:12 pm

The only time I have ever been through the waterfront without lag was on PS3 :whistling:

» Tue Mar 29, 2011 10:18 pm

Yeah I have no doubt it would have no performance hit in a vanilla game, but with QTP3, nearly all other textures high quality, ULs, OOO, and a massive mod list, it does cause an FPS hit even on my machine with max settings.

...

» Wed Mar 30, 2011 12:57 am

How much of REAVWD, if any, are you using if any, and do you have water reflections on. Those are big factors in whether or not you get an FPS hit.

Also, texture replacers aren't likely to cause any slowdown, unless you go over your texture memory limit, but with 1.5gb VRAM, you should be pretty safe there (even if using ImpeREAL and OCR), and you load list, although of a decent size, doesn't look overly intensive to me.

Also, where is your bashed patch? You might also want to look at replacing living economy with enhanced economy. Illumination within is also best replaced with Animated Window Lighting System; from memory IW causes slowdown as well, while AWLS definitely does not (also, IM is incompatible with mods editing the cities). Also, upgrade Harvest Flora to V3.0.1, as 3.0.0 has a bug in it that causes the game to crash when Harrada is harvested.

» Wed Mar 30, 2011 4:35 am

I still don't see why the Waterfront is so much worse off than anywhere else in the game, even in vanilla. There's got to be something bogging it down but nobody has ever figured out what.

I know! And it's freakin' annoying. I find myself avoiding the place like the plague, and dreading almost every step I take there, just waiting for it to go all pear-shaped.

» Wed Mar 30, 2011 12:23 am

I have the full QTP3 textures and high quality textures on nearly everything

Didn't really notice this before, but I'm going to hazard a guess this is your real issue. *FULL* QTP3 is quite simply put a system killer. Very few people can get away with playing with this loaded *AND* pile up other replacers on top of it. You should strongly consider using QTP3 Redimized.

» Wed Mar 30, 2011 4:29 am

I'm pretty sure it's the water reflections that's bogging down the waterfront.

» Wed Mar 30, 2011 8:02 am

I always thought the waterfront issues were due to it being outdoors and RAEVWD being in use.

I can confirm that the new ImpeREAL Unique Districts does offer a little boost in performance compared to before. I still get crappy framerates in the IC but it's not as bad as the first time I tried it.

Illumination Within does cause a slight performance drop, but after installing AWLS and turning IW on and off to see the difference in performance, it wasn't as huge as I thought it would be. So now I use both of them, because I appreciate IW's actual light sources that AWLS lacks, and on the flipside appreciate AWLS's versatility (ie. compatibility with Immersive Interiors) which IW lacks.

» Wed Mar 30, 2011 10:30 am

I'm pretty sure it's the water reflections that's bogging down the waterfront.

By default though water reflections are set only to reflect landscape and Far_nifs. So in theory the water reflections won't have any more of an impact at the water front than anywhere else, though if you started changing those ini settings it might be a different story.

I can confirm that the new ImpeREAL Unique Districts does offer a little boost in performance compared to before. I still get crappy framerates in the IC but it's not as bad as the first time I tried it.

Do you get crappy frame rates in the IC without ImpeREAL installed though? I was able to run the old version of the mod with an ATI x300 series (see it listed here as having http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Oblivion:System_Requirements in terms of playability), so I'm generally of the opinion that the mod doesn't make too much of a difference performance wise.

Illumination Within does cause a slight performance drop, but after installing AWLS and turning IW on and off to see the difference in performance, it wasn't as huge as I thought it would be. So now I use both of them, because I appreciate IW's actual light sources that AWLS lacks, and on the flipside appreciate AWLS's versatility (ie. compatibility with Immersive Interiors) which IW lacks.

Well if IW only causes a small performance loss and AWLS doesn't cause any performance loss, wouldn't it be natural that switching would only give a very small performance change :wink:

» Wed Mar 30, 2011 3:03 am

Do you get crappy frame rates in the IC without ImpeREAL installed though? I was able to run the old version of the mod with an ATI x300 series (see it listed here as having http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Oblivion:System_Requirements in terms of playability), so I'm generally of the opinion that the mod doesn't make too much of a difference performance wise.

Oh, yeah, I should have been more clear, I get bad framerates in the IC without the mod installed anyway. It's the damn "invisible water" underneath everything with reflections causing it, probably. I just remember the first time I tried the Unique Districts, the additional performance decrease was CRUSHING on top of the already crappy framerate, and now it's not so bad.

Well if IW only causes a small performance loss and AWLS doesn't cause any performance loss, wouldn't it be natural that switching would only give a very small performance change :wink:

Ha, yeah. It's funny because I didn't know they both worked together for the longest time, and when I considered finally switching to AWLS I was like "well I may lose the light sources but I'll get a performance boost!" only to discover I could continue using IW with AWLS, which is what I did. I'm too uncompromising to ever improve my framerate at this point lolololol. At least my screenshots are [censored] Beautiful.

» Wed Mar 30, 2011 1:49 am

That mod list is in no way overly huge, so don't worry about it too much considering your hardware.

Use the suggestions listed above (FPS patches if you use BC, turn reflections off, RAEVWD), and you should be fine. I also suggest using OSR.

» Tue Mar 29, 2011 9:56 pm

That mod list is in no way overly huge, so don't worry about it too much considering your hardware.

Use the suggestions listed above (FPS patches if you use BC, turn reflections off, RAEVWD), and you should be fine. I also suggest using OSR.

I just wish turning the reflections off would allow the water to reflect the sky, at least. The default water texture is incredibly bad. :sick:

» Wed Mar 30, 2011 7:34 am

I don't know if anyone mentioned these mods yet, but here you go: http://tesnexus.com/modules/members/index.php?id=1520317

The mods are modular so you can pick wich one you want or the hole pack. The FPS hit is close to 0 at least for me. This is only for the Imp. City districts.

» Wed Mar 30, 2011 5:11 am

Didn't really notice this before, but I'm going to hazard a guess this is your real issue. *FULL* QTP3 is quite simply put a system killer. Very few people can get away with playing with this loaded *AND* pile up other replacers on top of it. You should strongly consider using QTP3 Redimized.

Can you just over-write the existing QTP3 with the Redimized version?

Ta