my game is suddenly choppy and laggy

[Carbohydrated Caretaker]

this only happened today after 405 hours of gameplay so ill explain quick.
last night i downloaded a mod called Enhanced Light and FX and the game was running smoothly as if the mod didn't even existed, everything was fine and perfect. today i decided to play and noticed the choppiness (like a delay thing) so i decided to remove the mod entirely which fixed the issue completely. after playing for an hour all the sudden the choppiness came back. just to add I also updated windows earlier today as well.

these are my specs which i doubt is the problem as I run gta 5 online smoothly everyday for hours with no problem.

Radeon RX 580 series
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-9400F CPU @ 2.90GHz
Installed RAM 16.0 GB
System type 64-bit operating system


these are the things i did to see if it helped with my situation which it didn't:

-load previous save
-deleted 500+ save files which sometimes does make the game a little choppy
-turned vsync off from the skyrimPrefs which i assumed is also or used to be known as ini and it gave me quite a headache finding it.
-limiting FPS to 60
-restarted my computer
-verify game file integrity

i only have 9 active mods and majority of them are fixes
USSEP
SSE engine fixes
SSE fixes
Address library for SKSE plugin
USSEP archmage robes and circlet patch
Elemental fury fix
Increase enchanting potion duration
Lower first person weapons
Practical Female armor

i really hope thats enough info or its not too much info sorry in advance

[smr1957]

Were you running the game over 60 FPS previously? Asking because you included limiting it to 60 FPS is one of the things you had done to see if it helped with your situation. If you were running at over 60 FPS previously, any errors which might have occurred would have been baked into the save, and are just now appearing and may have nothing to do with you adding Enhanced Lighting - and they would still be there. Did you go back to a save made before adding Enhanced Lighting just to check and compare?

Other than that, nothing in your mods would seem to be the cause (that I am aware of). Were there any updates to your PC lately? Did you check to see if there are any backgrounds processes that may be running?

[SpeedFreak1972]

I take it it's a laptop make sure the game is running on the main gpu NOT the the integrated gpu

[Carbohydrated Caretaker]

Originally posted by smr1957:

Were you running the game over 60 FPS previously? Asking because you included limiting it to 60 FPS is one of the things you had done to see if it helped with your situation. If you were running at over 60 FPS previously, any errors which might have occurred would have been baked into the save, and are just now appearing and may have nothing to do with you adding Enhanced Lighting - and they would still be there. Did you go back to a save made before adding Enhanced Lighting just to check and compare?

Other than that, nothing in your mods would seem to be the cause (that I am aware of). Were there any updates to your PC lately? Did you check to see if there are any backgrounds processes that may be running?

the game was running without the FPS limiter. i added that after doing some intense googling and trying different solutions. i kind of deleted those safes but i doubt it was caused by that particular mod since it was running perfectly before and this lag thing started today

[Carbohydrated Caretaker]

Originally posted by SpeedFreak1972:

I take it it's a laptop make sure the game is running on the main gpu NOT the the integrated gpu

ohh no i never play games on laptops its PC but i heard something similar to what you said on google

[smr1957]

If you were running the game over 60 FPS, then all bets are off. Errors will occur regardless of whether or not you are using a mod that allegedly "fixes" it - there is no fix. As discussed in this:
Getting the game above 60hz [FPS] is it possible? - https://steamcommunity.com/app/489830/discussions/0/5251727781289359246/
(from pinned topic Helpful Links and References, Section 5, General Troubleshooting)

As stated in that, if the game has been exceeding 60 FPS, there is no help that we can give, due to the errors that will accumulate due to it having been run over 60 FPS - well, except for saying to start a new game, this time locked to 60. From post #3 in that thread:
"The game is not designed to exceed 60 FPS. Issues will occur - even if you do not see them. Exceeding 60 is done at your own risk and is not supported. Should you encounter problems with your game, we will not be able to help."

And yes, even if you were just exceeding 60 by a small amount, it may be that it took this long to exhibit some issues.

The only other possibility, if you are using a laptop (other than what Speed mentioned), is do you have the laptop plugged in while playing? Not having it plugged in can result in lower FPS and other performance issues. (EDIT - this does not apply to you since it is not a laptop - but I'll leave it here for anyone else who may see this thread who is.)

[smr1957]

If you can deal with the lag and stutter, I would say keep the FPS locked to 60 and just continue playing - though there is no guarantee that there is not something else lying in wait.

And, who knows? Maybe someone else will have a suggestion, or maybe it will smooth out once again.

[Carbohydrated Caretaker]

Originally posted by smr1957:

If you were running the game over 60 FPS, then all bets are off. Errors will occur regardless of whether or not you are using a mod that allegedly "fixes" it - there is no fix. As discussed in this:
Getting the game above 60hz [FPS] is it possible? - https://steamcommunity.com/app/489830/discussions/0/5251727781289359246/
(from pinned topic Helpful Links and References, Section 5, General Troubleshooting)

As stated in that, if the game has been exceeding 60 FPS, there is no help that we can give, due to the errors that will accumulate due to it having been run over 60 FPS - well, except for saying to start a new game, this time locked to 60. From post #3 in that thread:
"The game is not designed to exceed 60 FPS. Issues will occur - even if you do not see them. Exceeding 60 is done at your own risk and is not supported. Should you encounter problems with your game, we will not be able to help."

And yes, even if you were just exceeding 60 by a small amount, it may be that it took this long to exhibit some issues.

The only other possibility, if you are using a laptop (other than what Speed mentioned), is do you have the laptop plugged in while playing? Not having it plugged in can result in lower FPS and other performance issues. (EDIT - this does not apply to you since it is not a laptop - but I'll leave it here for anyone else who may see this thread who is.)

hmm i highly doubt thats the issue. this whole thing was just too sudden and out of nowhere . my suspicion is on the recent update i just had before i started the game. the only reason i mentioned FPS in general was so i wouldn't get that as a reply other than that the game always ran on the same setting and nothing changed.

[smr1957]

An update is a possibility, of course - however, FPS IS something that can cause issues, and it can be all of a sudden, out of seemingly nowhere - similarly to how issues crop up for people who remove mods and then have issues much later due to that - and also say "I don't think that is the issue," but it is. And this is said with thousands of hours of experience helping in the forums and seeing things that people did not want to accept as being the cause. Even if exceeding the FPS is not the reason, the possibility that it may be, is enough. Anytime you do something that is outside the parameters of the game, you are basically on your own and we really can't help, since there is no way of knowing what underlying errors may have been introduced into the game.

Bottom line, if you were running the game over 60 FPS, we can''t help you - as stated, it is a do at your own risk, and issues can crop up anytime, when least expected.

So, if you can fix it by possibly rolling back the update (I assume it was a Microsoft update or driver update), that is great, if not, then provided that there is nothing more serious than some lag and stutter, I would say continue until either you decide to start a new game, or something more serious crops up which does necessitate a new game - and, who knows, maybe nothing more will crop up.

[Carbohydrated Caretaker]

Originally posted by smr1957:

An update is a possibility, of course - however, FPS IS something that can cause issues, and it can be all of a sudden, out of seemingly nowhere - similarly to how issues crop up for people who remove mods and then have issues much later due to that - and also say "I don't think that is the issue," but it is. And this is said with thousands of hours of experience helping in the forums and seeing things that people did not want to accept as being the cause. Even if exceeding the FPS is not the reason, the possibility that it may be, is enough. Anytime you do something that is outside the parameters of the game, you are basically on your own and we really can't help, since there is no way of knowing what underlying errors may have been introduced into the game.

Bottom line, if you were running the game over 60 FPS, we can''t help you - as stated, it is a do at your own risk, and issues can crop up anytime, when least expected.

So, if you can fix it by possibly rolling back the update (I assume it was a Microsoft update or driver update), that is great, if not, then provided that there is nothing more serious than some lag and stutter, I would say continue until either you decide to start a new game, or something more serious crops up which does necessitate a new game - and, who knows, maybe nothing more will crop up.

now that you mention it I did reinstall the mod a few times because i didn't like certain settings which can be part of the cause. also is there any way to lock the game at 60FPS because I don't really rely on the Radeon app to do that for me and thats the only way i know how to limit FPS. im going to try tomorrow (its almost 1 am for me here) and see if this continues or hopefully stops and maybe try a few other methods like starting a new game to see if its the save file being like that or its the game

[smr1957]

Since you are using Radeon RX 580, you will probably have to download RivaTuner to cap the FPS (the other option would be an ENB, which would not only improve the look of the game, but also allows you to cap the FPS). For RivaTuner, see:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0buajaoDuA

I checked several vids, and they were all pretty much the same - this one was the newest one I saw.

It might be a good idea to start a new game just to see if the issue is present on the new game or not - that is just another way of checking if it is something with your current saves and playthrough, or something else such as something with a driver update.

[Wadumbo]

The same thing happened to me. I was getting a stable 60 in most parts of the game (unless it was in a very demanding area such as Riften), but once I got the windows update the game became choppy when I logged back in.

[Pozzy Thump]

I've had the same issue. It didn't work as usual, just the splotchy & laggy. Have played to 40th level on other machines (and 62nd in the original Skyrim), and saw all these new quests! Bought it at home, and I get splotchy. But I'll turn it off for a while, restart it, and see what transpires.

But this means I have to turn off my 8-track deck for a while too, as it's wired into the same power bar.

-Pozzy Thump

[Carbohydrated Caretaker]

Originally posted by smr1957:

Since you are using Radeon RX 580, you will probably have to download RivaTuner to cap the FPS (the other option would be an ENB, which would not only improve the look of the game, but also allows you to cap the FPS). For RivaTuner, see:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0buajaoDuA

I checked several vids, and they were all pretty much the same - this one was the newest one I saw.

It might be a good idea to start a new game just to see if the issue is present on the new game or not - that is just another way of checking if it is something with your current saves and playthrough, or something else such as something with a driver update.

OMG ITS FIXED (i really hope so). so basically after some googling i found this old thread and someone mentioned windows updates tends to reset setting and i should just uncheck whatever is checked on the gaming section
https://steamcommunity.com/app/489830/discussions/0/1489992713700984216/

OMG every time i run into a problem in this game i just completely lose hope and when its fixed i feel like i just survived a nuclear apocalypse lol.

[smr1957]

Caretaker, that is great news! Personally, I hate the way computer updates are forced, whether you want them or not - updates are probably responsible for more lost hours due to correcting errors caused by them than any other technical issue, and yet nothing is done about it (like insisting that there be options - as there used to be - to only download and update when and if you want - if people don't, and there is an issue, then it is on them).

That mini rant aside, I'm glad to be wrong about it being FPS uncapped related! Good luck and enjoy continuing the game -

[Carbohydrated Caretaker]

Originally posted by smr1957:

Caretaker, that is great news! Personally, I hate the way computer updates are forced, whether you want them or not - updates are probably responsible for more lost hours due to correcting errors caused by them than any other technical issue, and yet nothing is done about it (like insisting that there be options - as there used to be - to only download and update when and if you want - if people don't, and there is an issue, then it is on them).

That mini rant aside, I'm glad to be wrong that it was not FPS uncapped related! Good luck and enjoy continuing the game -

FPS or not thanks a lot for the help. im very paranoid with bethesda games especially
oblivion so whenever i run into any problem its over for me lol