The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim PC Performance discussion

Making the executable large-address-aware was key in getting solid framerates for my setup. Please tell me this is a bad joke.

I'm at work so I can't test this, but now my gamer gland is filled with a sense of dread. I just now got the game running smooth as silk even with high shadows.
 
I highly recommend unrestricting the map (without using the full LOD range)
Code:
skyrim.ini
[MapMenu]
fMapWorldMaxHeight=150000.0000
fMapWorldMinHeight=8000.0000
bWorldMapNoSkyDepthBlur=1
fWorldMapDepthBlurScale=0
fMapWorldZoomSpeed=0.3700
fMapWorldMaxPitch=400.0000
fMapWorldYawRange=400.0000

tried that shit last night. For some reason it wouldn't work, and it gave me back the stuipd clouds on the map even though I had...

MapMenu]
sMapCloudNIF=0


in my ini file :( I will try this I hope it works... All I really want is the default map without clouds, and to be able to zoom in about 2 times as much. it all the detail. :/
 
Lol, great. Is there any way to get Steam to NOT auto update the moment I log on tonight?

Just start up Steam while disconnected and you can start it in Offline mode. Go into your Skyrim options and disable auto-updating and you can start Steam online again.
 
Lol, great. Is there any way to get Steam to NOT auto update the moment I log on tonight?
You would likely have to log in Steam and once you do, disable your internet connection. Then you can navigate to your library to disable automatic updates for Skyrim. Reconnecting your internet after, then it should be fine. Of course just in case, back up your exe.
 
Is this patch screwing with all versions or just those that had this LAA thing?

I would assume just the LAA. I don't have that and my version is working about the same as before. I expect when I get my new character to the 40 hour mark it'll start crashing to desktop too! :(
 
Just start up Steam while disconnected and you can start it in Offline mode. Go into your Skyrim options and disable auto-updating and you can start Steam online again.

I don't believe that will stop the game from updating. It'll only stop the game from updating until the instant you decide to launch the game. Haven't tested but I've seen it work that way in the past.

Regardless, stopping this patch will be good for now but we'll be screwed the instant a useful patch is released since all EXEs will be DRM'd.

Still blows my mind that a game like this would limit your RAM so much (especially considering that Bethesda puts out mod tools) but that's the state of current PC ports I guess.
 
tried that shit last night. For some reason it wouldn't work, and it gave me back the stuipd clouds on the map even though I had...

MapMenu]
sMapCloudNIF=0


in my ini file :( I will try this I hope it works... All I really want is the default map without clouds, and to be able to zoom in about 2 times as much. it all the detail. :/

Hmm..
Try it again and copy paste exactly into skyrim.ini
Code:
[MapMenu]
sMapCloudNIF=0
fMapLookMouseSpeed=3.5000
fMapWorldMaxHeight=150000.0000
fMapWorldMinHeight=8000.0000
bWorldMapNoSkyDepthBlur=1
fWorldMapDepthBlurScale=0
fMapWorldZoomSpeed=0.3700
fMapWorldMaxPitch=360.0000
fMapWorldMinPitch=0.0000
fMapWorldYawRange=3600.0000
 
I don't believe that will stop the game from updating. It'll only stop the game from updating until the instant you decide to launch the game. Haven't tested but I've seen it work that way in the past.

Ah, I hadn't tried it before myself. Oh well.
 
Just start up Steam while disconnected and you can start it in Offline mode. Go into your Skyrim options and disable auto-updating and you can start Steam online again.

Just make sure you back up the .exe and do NOT use the launcher or Steam launch option, since that will force an update (or at least clicking in Steam will).
From what I read, and I could be wrong, even if you have auto updates disabled, Steam will still DL the new "patch" :/
This is normally the case, but Skyrim should be an exception since you can launch it without it doing the normal Steam client stuff. (I'm guessing, haven't verified for Skyrim specifically)
 
This should not work. In order to go into offline mode, you have to be online first (according to the Steam website).
As long as you've been on recently you should be able to boot into Windows with your ethernet cord unplugged. Steam should start in offline mode. Works for me anyway.
 
That reminds me, I want a mod that means I can do Sneak Attack damage with spells. My build was basically a stealthy mage and this really fucked me over.
Or alteast give me some bonus effects from casting from stealth, like stagger, slow or something.

Festus Krex is disappointed in you, son. Of course,
he ends up literally nailed to a tree by arrows
, so perhaps your concerns do have some validity.
 
Okay, well I just played with the backup .exe that I downloaded, made it LAA and the game runs absolutely fine with no CTDs. Unbelieveable.

Note for those using this method: save your Skyrimprefs.ini as using a new backup .exe causes the game to seek your hardware settings again and thus overwrite your current Skyrimprefs.ini
 
Just back up your .exe, open steam, and let it update, if it does. Then copy the .exe back over. At that point you can set it to not automatically update.

Only people are reporting in the update thread on beth that Steam still DL's this even if they set it to not DL. I'm not sure who to believe :/

Okay, well I just played with the backup .exe that I downloaded, made it LAA and the game runs absolutely fine with no CTDs. Unbelieveable.

Re-enabling LAA too?
 
This should not work. In order to go into offline mode, you have to be online first (according to the Steam website). And I assume it will update as soon as you go online.

Well, if you start up Steam while you're disconnected from the internet, you get the options to retry connecting or start it offline. However it won't stay offline if you go back online and start it back up.

What Valve means is that you need to be online to take Steam permanently offline, i.e. have it always start offline unless you specifically take it back online.
 
As long as you've been on recently you should be able to boot into Windows with your Ethernet cord unplugged. Steam should start in offline mode. Works for me anyway.

It's pretty inconsistent. That does not work for me, and that's not how it's supposed to work according to Steam. I am glad it works that way for some people though, because that is how offline mode should work.

Well, if you start up Steam while you're disconnected from the internet, you get the options to retry connecting or start it offline. However it won't stay that way if you go back online.

What Valve means is that you need to be online to take Steam permanently offline, i.e. have it always start offline unless you specifically take it back online.

At least for me (And a lot of other people in the Steam OT), if you start your computer with your internet off (Ethernet unplugged, adapter disabled, etc.) and select the option to go into offline mode it says it can't connect to Steam. EVen after making sure remember credentials is selected, etc.
 
I just registered on the Bethesda forums specifically to post this:

Dear Bethesda,

I have played Skyrim for 55 hours since its release with the LAA patch, and experienced 0 (zero) issues. 15 minutes after this patch, which prevents the LAA fix (yes, I call it a fix, since it clearly fixes problems with the game), I had my first CTD.

I guess if your goal was to actively try to push your legitimate userbase towards shady sites to retrieve versions of your software that actually work then you have succeeded.

Sincerely,
a long-time fan

I'm rather pissed off.
 
There are several posts like this so it's not a NON issue. LAA really did help lots..

"Dear Bethesda,

I have played Skyrim for 55 hours since its release with the LAA patch, and experienced 0 (zero) issues. 15 minutes after this patch, which prevents the LAA fix (yes, I call it a fix, since it clearly fixes problems with the game), I had my first CTD.

I guess if your goal was to actively try to push your legitimate userbase towards shady sites to retrieve versions of your software that actually work then you have succeeded.

Sincerely,
a long-time fan "

/deep breath~LOL didn't know that was you Durante (yea it sucks but damn!). I am reading the thread as you are.
 
There are several posts like this so it's not a NON issue. LAA really did help lots..

"Dear Bethesda,

I have played Skyrim for 55 hours since its release with the LAA patch, and experienced 0 (zero) issues. 15 minutes after this patch, which prevents the LAA fix (yes, I call it a fix, since it clearly fixes problems with the game), I had my first CTD.

I guess if your goal was to actively try to push your legitimate userbase towards shady sites to retrieve versions of your software that actually work then you have succeeded.

Sincerely,
a long-time fan "

rofflcakes.
 
goddamn it... guys need help I launch the launcher to play and I click play and my user account control comes up. I then click yes, and it goes back to the launcher, and it just loops. :( I turned it off and it is still doing it. :( WTF. I did just change some perf, and ini options but it shouldn't have anything to do with UAC. :/ please help... would doing a system restore do anything.
 
So if you want to go back to the old .exe, snag it and replace the DRM'd new one, disconnect from the net and start Steam offline, disable auto-updates for Skyrim, start Steam back online and pick the "Go Offline" from the menu.

After that you'll be permanently offline which will make it easier to play Skyrim with the old .exe. You can then start Steam online for other stuff and won't have to worry about it updating Skyrim unless you start the game while Steam is online.

One of the better updates we've seen, I think.
 
So if I have a backup of my LAA'd .exe from before the patch, do I have to run in offline mode then in order to use it? Or can I let steam update, then replace with the old .exe?
 
Someone should confirm that disabling auto updates for Skyrim (after replacing it with old backup exe) really works as I've read otherwise on Beth forums. So that means...............unplugged internet in the man cave boys and gal (well 2 at least:P)!
 
Only people are reporting in the update thread on beth that Steam still DL's this even if they set it to not DL. I'm not sure who to believe :/
I am pretty sure this is the way it works, unless anyone can disprove it:

Launching any Steam game that goes through the normal Steam system will check for updates and force them to download, even if you had automatic updates disabled. However, the game will not download an update automatically until the next time you launch it from Steam again (at which point that automatic update setting may get reset by Steam anyway).

Launching the old TESV.exe version should NOT cause this since it does not go through the normal Steam system.
 
I am pretty sure this is the way it works, unless anyone can disprove it:

Launching any Steam game that goes through the normal Steam system will check for updates and force them to download, even if you had automatic updates disabled. However, the game will not download an update automatically until the next time you launch it from Steam again (at which point that automatic update setting may get reset by Steam anyway).

Launching the old TESV.exe version should NOT cause this since it does not go through the normal Steam system.

what did the game update or something.......
 
Well shit. I was right the first time. :P

Just tested it. Steam did NOT update for me with auto-update disabled for Skyrim when I started the game. I've reverted to the old .exe, patched it with LAA, and I can start it up in Steam just fine in Online Mode. Doesn't download anything.
 
Why would they add DRM to the game after release? It doesn't even make sense and is terribly annoying for legit users. :-/

They either hate the community for finding the LAA fix or want to smite the legit consumers. Pirates are free in the grasslands patting each others rears while drinking fine wine from the Scottish reserve!

Well shit. I was right the first time. :P

Just tested it. Steam did NOT update for me with auto-update disabled for Skyrim when I started the game. I've reverted to the old .exe, patched it with LAA, and I can start it up in Steam just fine in Online Mode. Doesn't download anything.

Welp, looks like this is what I'm doing then! Internet in the man cave tonight!
 
14 minutes of play time, 3 ctds. :lol
Way to go Bethesda.

I noticed these CTDs happens almost everytime i fast travel or wait (too bad i have to, since my dumb companion get stuck every few minutes).
Between this, the pink textures bug, the huge performance issues, i'm seriously thinking of uninstalling this shit and wait a few months for them to pull their head out of their asses.
/rant.

Seriously, i hope they're gonna patch the shit out of it, release the toolset and, maybe, in 3 or 4 months between offical and unofficial patches, the game will be actually playable for me.
You can tell i'm pissed, because i really wanted to play it, but not like this, walking around and caring about crashes and bugs, instead of enjoying the mood and the adventure, goddamit Bethesda.
 
Confirmed to work. Used my backup from the 18th (restore point exe), turned off Skyrim auto updates, close Stein, repatched with LAA, open Stein, success! And I got a 3fps increase in performance over the new patched exe so performance was not better. It was worse in all areas lol..............lsdkflskdhfsdfkjsdhfkjsdkfs

LOL Skyrimnexus has the LAA exe. It may be removed though but I thought it was worth a chuckle. It's even by user "Bethesda". I'm pretty sure it works but they are just poking fun.
 
Well shit. I was right the first time. :P

Just tested it. Steam did NOT update for me with auto-update disabled for Skyrim when I started the game. I've reverted to the old .exe, patched it with LAA, and I can start it up in Steam just fine in Online Mode. Doesn't download anything.
This works, CRISIS AVERTED.

(At least it's nice to see just how huge the impact of the LAA fix is)
 
So now we're trying to bypass official patches because Bethesda is so terrible that their patches actually make things worse.

Seriously, what the fuck?
 
Interestingly, if you replace it with the old .exe, Steam doesn't seem to download anything when you start the game even if auto-update is on (which, by the way, it seems to automatically revert to every time you quit the game).

The only way I could get it to re-download the patch was by verifying integrity of game cache.
 
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