All right friends, this should be a fun one.


I know for many of us, playing with mods and fussing with them takes more hours than... you know... um, actually playing the game. I'm wanting to change that, and get back to having a good time in the game itself.

I've been wrestling with this mod combination. FCOM, Better Cities, Unique Landscapes, All Natural + Real Lights, Redimized. Those are the biggest mods, and I use a few others such as Deadly Reflex and Ren's Guards. Then I install RAEVWD (minus the city architecture or anything related to the Imperial City) and run TES4LODgen...


My Framerate svcks.

Phenom II x4 940 at 3.5ghz
4 GB RAM
nVidia GTX 285 w/ 1GB

My ugriddistantcount is at 20.



If I disable BC my framerates are wonderful inside the city spaces. If I reinstall my vanilla "distantLOD" folder, my framerates are wonderful in the exterior worldspace.

Now, it seems like all these things are popular enough that there should be some way to make them all play together somewhat nicely. Is the trick to only run TES4LOD with the bare minimum, then add UL + BC? I've tried OSR and Streamline. Things are generally smooth, but depending on what direction I'm facing, FPS can drop to 6-10. Then, look somewhere else, and they're stable at 30.

I've run the debug text through the console and my VRAM usage is fine... it's the geometry figure that jumps depending on where I look. From 800 to 7000.

So... do I just throw in the towel and admit that this game with these mods is out of reach? Or have I just made a simple, classic mistake that I've somehow overlooked?





Here's the load order:

Active Mod Files:00  Oblivion.esm01  Jog_X_Mod.esm02  ScreenEffects.esm03  All Natural Base.esm  [Version 0.9.8]04  Francesco's Leveled Creatures-Items Mod.esm05  Francesco's Optional New Items Add-On.esm06  Cobl Main.esm  [Version 1.72]07  Oscuro's_Oblivion_Overhaul.esm  [Version 1.34]08  Mart's Monster Mod.esm  [Version 3.7b3p3]09  Enhanced Daedric Invasion.esm0A  TamrielTravellers.esm  [Version 1.39c]0B  FCOM_Convergence.esm  [Version 0.9.9MB3]0C  Better Cities Resources.esm0D  CM Partners.esm0E  HorseCombatMaster.esm0F  UnnecessaryViolence.esm**  TNR ALL RACES FINAL.esp**  TNR - ShiveringIsles.esp10  Unofficial Oblivion Patch.esp  [Version 3.2.4]11  DLCShiveringIsles.esp12  Unofficial Shivering Isles Patch.esp  [Version 1.4.0]13  Better Cities .esp14  Francesco's Optional Chance of Stronger Bosses.esp15  Francesco's Optional Chance of Stronger Enemies.esp16  Francesco's Optional Chance of More Enemies.esp17  Francesco's Optional Leveled Quests-SI only.esp18  Francesco's Optional Leveled Guards.esp++  FCOM_Francescos.esp  [Version 0.9.9]++  FCOM_FrancescosItemsAddOn.esp  [Version 0.9.9]19  FCOM_FrancescosNamedBosses.esp  [Version 0.9.9]1A  Natural_Habitat_by_Max_Tael.esp1B  All Natural - Real Lights.esp  [Version 0.9.8]1C  All Natural.esp  [Version 0.9.8]1D  All Natural - SI.esp  [Version 0.9.8]++  All Natural - EW + NW + AWS.esp  [Version 0.9.6]1E  Enhanced Water v2.0 HD.esp1F  Natural_Water_by_Max_Tael.esp++  Symphony of Violence.esp20  MIS Low Wind.esp21  MIS New Sounds Optional Part.esp22  Cities Alive At Night.esp23  WindowLightingSystem.esp24  AliveWaters.esp25  AliveWaters - Koi Addon.esp26  AliveWaters - Slaughterfish Addon.esp27  Akatosh Mount By Saiden Storm.esp**  Book Jackets Oblivion.esp28  ClocksOfCyrodiil.esp29  ClocksOfCyrodiil_BC_OBC_OC_OCLR_Vanilla.esp2A  diversegrasses.esp2B  Luchaire's Neck Seam Concealer.esp2C  Reznod_Mannequin.esp2D  Enhanced Economy.esp  [Version 3.3.4]2E  Map Marker Overhaul.esp  [Version 3.1.1]2F  Map Marker Overhaul - SI additions.esp  [Version 3.0.2]++  MaleBodyReplacerV4.esp30  Hemingweys NPC Capes.esp31  Thieves Arsenal.esp32  kuerteeHorseCommands.esp33  Cobl Glue.esp  [Version 1.72]34  Cobl Si.esp  [Version 1.63]35  OOO 1.32-Cobl.esp  [Version 1.72]++  FCOM_Cobl.esp  [Version 0.9.9]36  Bob's Armory Oblivion.esp37  FCOM_BobsArmory.esp  [Version 0.9.9]38  Oblivion WarCry EV.esp39  FCOM_WarCry.esp  [Version 0.9.9MB3]3A  Oscuro's_Oblivion_Overhaul.esp  [Version 1.34]++  OOO-Water_Weeds.esp  [Version 1.33]3B  Mart's Monster Mod - Hemingweys NPC and Guard Capes.esp  [Version 1.0]3C  FCOM_Convergence.esp  [Version 0.9.9Mb3]++  FCOM_EntropicOrderRebalance.esp  [Version 0.9.9beta2]3D  FCOM_RealSwords.esp  [Version 0.9.9]3E  FCOM_DurabilityAndDamage.esp  [Version 0.9.9]3F  Mart's Monster Mod - More Wilderness Life.esp  [Version 3.7b3p3]++  Mart's Monster Mod - No Reavers.esp  [Version 3.7b3p3]++  Mart's Monster Mod - No Slimes.esp  [Version 3.7b3p3]++  Mart's Monster Mod - No Beholdens.esp  [Version 3.7b3p3]40  Mart's Monster Mod - Diverse WaterLife.esp  [Version 3.7b3p3f]++  Mart's Monster Mod - Slof Horses Complete.esp  [Version 3.7b3p3]41  TamrielTravellers4OOO.esp  [Version 1.39c]++  FCOM_TamrielTravelers.esp  [Version 0.9.9]++  FCOM_DiverseGuardUnity.esp  [Version 0.9.9]++  FCOM_BobsGuardUnity.esp  [Version 0.9.9]++  FCOM_Archery.esp  [Version 0.9.9]42  T.I.E4MODS.esp  [Version 0.32]++  T.I.E4MODSOOO+FCOM.esp  [Version 0.1]++  Mart's Monster Mod - Shivering Isles.esp  [Version 3.7b3p3]++  EVE_StockEquipmentReplacer4FCOM.esp43  Cyrodiil transportation network 1.3.esp44  hackdirtabyss.esp45  HeartOftheDead.esp  [Version 6.0]46  Kragenir's Death Quest.esp47  KDQ - Rural Line Additions.esp48  GlenvarCastle.esp49  LetThePeopleDrink.esp  [Version 2.5]4A  KragenirsDeathQuest-LetThePeopleDrink patch.esp4B  thievery.esp4C  Apachii_Goddess_Store.esp4D  Knights.esp4E  Knights - Unofficial Patch.esp  [Version 1.0.9]4F  The Lost Spires.esp++  FCOM_Knights.esp  [Version 0.9.9Mb3]50  Enhanced Daedric Invasion.esp++  FCOM_EnhancedDaedricInvasion.esp  [Version 0.9.9]51  xuldarkforest.esp  [Version 1.0.3]52  LostSpires-DarkForest patch.esp53  xulStendarrValley.esp  [Version 1.2.1]54  xulTheHeath.esp55  MMMMWL-TheHeath patch.esp56  XulEntiusGorge.esp57  xulFallenleafEverglade.esp  [Version 1.3.1]58  LostSpires-Everglade patch.esp  [Version 1.2]59  xulColovianHighlands_EV.esp  [Version 1.2.1]5A  xulChorrolHinterland.esp  [Version 1.2.2]5B  xulBeachesOfCyrodiilLostCoast.esp  [Version 1.6.3]5C  Castle_Almgard-V2.esp5D  KragenirsDeathQuest-LostCoast patch.esp5E  xulBravilBarrowfields.esp  [Version 1.3.2]5F  xulLushWoodlands.esp  [Version 1.3]60  xulAncientYews.esp  [Version 1.4.2]61  xulAncientRedwoods.esp  [Version 1.6]62  xulCloudtopMountains.esp  [Version 1.0.3]63  KragenirsDeathQuest-CloudtopMountains patch.esp64  xulArriusCreek.esp  [Version 1.1.3]65  xulPatch_AY_AC.esp  [Version 1.1]66  HeartoftheDead-ArriusCreek patch.esp67  xulRollingHills_EV.esp  [Version 1.3.2]68  MMMMWL-RollingHills patch.esp69  KragenirsDeathQuest-RollingHills patch.esp6A  xulPantherRiver.esp6B  xulRiverEthe.esp  [Version 1.0.2]6C  xulBrenaRiverRavine.esp  [Version 1.0.2]6D  xulImperialIsle.esp  [Version 1.6.3]6E  xulBlackwoodForest.esp6F  xulCheydinhalFalls.esp  [Version 1.0.1]70  xulAspenWood.esp  [Version 1.0.1]71  Castle_Seaview.esp72  CastleSeaview+LostCoast Patch.esp  [Version 1.0]73  bartholm.esp74  Bartholm-Panther River Patch.esp  [Version 1.0]75  bartholm - EE patch.esp  [Version 1.0]76  Harvest [Flora].esp  [Version 3.0.0]++  Harvest [Flora] - Shivering Isles.esp  [Version 3.0.0]77  Dungeon Actors Have Torches 1.6 CT.esp78  Exterior Actors Have Torches 1.3 CT.esp79  Enhanced Vegetation [150%].esp7A  RealisticHealth.esp7B  RenGuardOverhaul.esp7C  RenGuardOverhaulShiveringIsles.esp7D  DeadlyReflex 5 - Combat Moves.esp7E  Duke Patricks - Combat Archery.esp7F  Duke Patricks - Actors Can Miss Now.esp80  RealisticLeveling.esp81  actors_in_charge.esp82  immersive_caves_manual.esp++  Mart's Monster Mod - Resized Races.esp  [Version 3.7b3p3]83  CuteElf11.esp  [Version 1.2]84  Better Cities - Full City Defences.esp85  Better Cities Full.esp86  BCBravilFULL-Barrowfields patch.esp87  BCChorrol-ChorrolHinterland fix.esp88  BCCheydinhalFULL-CheydinhalFalls patch.esp89  Better Cities - Thievery.esp8A  Better Imperial City.esp8B  Better Imperial City FPS Patch.esp8C  Better Cities Full FPS Patch.esp8D  MotionBlur.esp8E  ScreenControls.esp++  Visually Realistic Lava.esp8F  Shining Creatures.esp++  ReteroX_BBEvilSkeletons.esp90  Hemingweys Capes.esp91  UnnecessaryViolence.esp**  All Natural - Indoor Weather Filter For Mods.esp  [Version 0.9.8]92  Bashed Patch, 0.esp93  Streamline 3.1.esp

That's very normal, unfortunately.

Yes, this is what it comes down to after all. It's a limitation of the CPU, not so much of graphics. Oblivion is not very good - if not outright bad - at putting multi-core CPU's to good use.

http://www.gamesas.com/bgsforums/index.php?showtopic=1074487 if you have not already, and disable the Streamline FPS optimization settings as they bring no additional improvement. I used to have them, but recently changed to OSR 4.1 alone and the result is just better. Read up the thread, it's all in there.

And here is a very http://www.gamesas.com/bgsforums/index.php?showtopic=1072559.

Also use BOSS for your load order. Disregard if you do already.

Well, Tommy_h is right about streamline fps optimizations being pretty useless. Although i've had remarkable improvements using the streamsight function within the streamline .ini file. I use settings of "12". With better cities installed along with taller distant trees and larger vegetation mods, the loss of distant visibilty is not really all that noticable. It actually makes cyrodiil feel bigger IMO.

RAEVWD took a big bite out of my FPS too. I managed to get playable FPS by lowering my uGridDistantCount & uGridDistantTreeRange. a lot. Right now they are both set to 13. Combined with Streamlines Streamsight feature, I like the look of the game more then ever. Even if its the only part of Streamline that you use, it is worth it.

Yep, unfortunately that will happen. Better Cities and Really AEVWD are known FPS killers.

I use OSR 4.1, and I like it.

I'm not using it's heap replacement feature... everytime I've tried I've lost stability.


So... maybe I should try a higher CPU overclock to gain some Oblivion performance? Oh right... stability.


So...
Oblivion + Super mods + Stability + great framerate = middle-east peace plan.

I struggled with getting it all. It seemed that I could have any three of-

QTP3R
Better Cities
RAEVWD
High Graphics settings,

but not all four at once.

I've opted for changing some of the graphics settings by changing ugriddistantcount and ugridtreecount, switching off both HDR and Bloom, and switching off VSync.

This last one made a dramatic improvement, I'll put up with a bit of tearing occasionally to keep the mods in the game.

The only think that kills my FPS is Open Better Cities.... so I just use Open Cities Classic

SkyRanger will jump in any second , but have you tried the various heap modes? There is 1, 3 and 5 (for WinXP at least) to try out. SkyRanger says usually one mode should work, although one cannot know beforehand which one. So you may want to experiment a little. IF you get it working, it should make quite a difference.

If OSR heap algorithms 1, 3, and 5 are all unstable for you, 2 can also work if you're not on XP.

If no heap algorithms will work for you then you might be better off disabling multithreading features where possible in Oblivion.ini, or reducing uGridDistantCount even further.

I believe that it is also possible to disable various pieces of RAEVWD individually.
Also, I think there is a potential issue with running RAEVWD with some versions of BC that can cause there to be duplicate instances of the imperial city LOD stuff, killing performance any time the camera is pointed towards the imperial city.

Several other factors could be at play here.

I've found that LOD replacements can be a greater fps killer than RAEVWD. I use only -pk-'s Normal LOD 256 - and no color at this point. Using anything more can cause crippling FPS when combined with other known stressors.

Next FCOM itself. I know I'm not the only one sho has commented that FCOM (even though it does not add visuals in any other way than with monsters and NPCs can cause a big drain on FPS).

Next texture replacements. For myself QTPIII and FCOM and LOD/RAEVWD is not an option. I use parts of world texture replacements but not all. Mikel's plant textures look amazing up close and there is a price for that. The compromise I've made is to set it up so that the high rez stuff is found in caves,ruins,forts and some architecture ... while I avoid the rest. High rez trees in all directions is a big chugging issue. In SI where fcom spawn points and those issues are not a factor I will use the higher texture pack there.

Better Cities is a massive visual enhancement, not necessarily a roleplay or game mechanic enhancement. It warns you that you need a mid to higher computer to play.

So what you have to learn how to do is balance what you want and no you probably cannot have it all. I can set up my game where I could barely squeak by with nothing but texture replacements as far as the eye can see and be on the verge of punking my gaming rig without even touching overhauls or game mechanics - or I can do that with overhauls and game mechanics and barely touch textures.

I have to find the compromise and because how the game plays to me is more important than how it looks I tend to go for balance in that area.

I run FCOM, RAEVWD minus some of the city architecture, and QTP3-R.

If I add Better Cities into that mix, I get unplayable frame rates, at least around the cities.

Perhaps try Open Cities instead? Or look for Corepc's Vibrant LOD as a replacement for RAEVWD? Or use some Reduced Spawn plugins for FCOM?

gothemasticator

Corepc's Vibrant LODs are not replacements for RAEVWD, they do different things. Vibrant LODs are landscape textures, they don't affect architecture etc in the distance. RAEVWD does the opposite. They work very well together, I use both.

22 Cities Alive At Night.esp

When using RAEVWD, this one is somewhat redundant. It can also lead to further performance degradation due to the added light sources. You should also be aware that the changes it recommends for the fLightLOD settings lead to visual anomalies like bright blobs.

24 AliveWaters.esp
25 AliveWaters - Koi Addon.esp
26 AliveWaters - Slaughterfish Addon.esp

Adding all these seems like a bit much. Unless I've misread, don't these also contribute to performance problems?

28 ClocksOfCyrodiil.esp
29 ClocksOfCyrodiil_BC_OBC_OC_OCLR_Vanilla.esp

And nobody caught this either. Drop #28. You're duplicating all of the clocks in every city. #29 is a complete replacement for it that handles the BC/OC/OBC conditions.

I can confirm that the fishies add-ons can cause fps to drop.

gtm