Performance and optimization

[Magnolia Frost]

Hi everyone.

I'm a first time player of Skyrim and must say that the potential in this VR version feels really big. I've been trying to get the best performance and below you will see all my settings. All the questions I have can be found in the bottom of this post.

At the moment the game works good but If you look at the pictures below, maybe you can tell me if I have a lot of reprojection going on and if that is what makes me feel a little bit sick when playing. I've looked at my hands and also "arrow" when moving and I can see a slightly "ghost effect" when moving back and forward. No stuttering though.

>>>> My specs:

Intel(R) Core i7-4790K CPU @ 4.00GHz
16GB RAM
GeForce GTX 1080 (Driver version NVIDIA 391.35)
Windows 10 Pro (installed on a Samsung SSD 850 EVO 120GB)
VBIOS: 88.04.17.00.AS08
Everything else like games are installed on my Western Digital Red Pro WD3001FFSX 3TB.

I'm using ASUS GPU Tweak II (please let me know if I should change anything here. I'm very new to OC graphic cards)
Settings for ASUS GPU Tweak II:
- GPU Boost Clock (MHz) +26 which then says: 1836
- GPU Voltage(%) +0 which then says: 0
- Memory Clock (MHz) +0 which then says: 10010
- Fan Speed (%) +0 which then says: 0
- Power Target (%) +10 which then says 110
- GPU Temp Target (C): +0 which then says 83
- Frame Rate Target (FPS): +0 which then says 0

Connected to my 75" Sony with display settings 3840x2160, 60Hz (But I guess this doesn't affect the FPS and performance in the HTC Vive HMD)

>>>> SteamVR Settings:

On the [Video] tab, I've chosen Manual Override under Application Resolution. I've now set it to 130%
The current setting renders each eye at 1724x1915

In this tab it says the following "The recommended setting for your GPU and headset is 182%" but as I said, I've lowered it to 130% cause that's where I don't notice any reprojection.

Links to my OpenVR Advanced settings and performance in dropped frames.

Skyrim VR Performance GTX 1080 Pic1 - https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1354738989

Skyrim VR Performance GTX 1080 Pic2 - Main Menu - https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1354740705

Skyrim VR Performance GTX 1080 Pic3 In game - https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1354742998

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Questions:

1. What settings are you using under - NVIDIA Control Panel [Manage 3D Settings] for Skyrim VR? (I have set the "Anisotropic filtering" to 16x)

2. What settings are you using for OC? (see my settings above)

3. Am I using the correct settings in SteamVR? (Enabled "Advanced Super Sampling", Enabled "Allow Asynchronous Reprojection", Enabled "Always-on Reprojection")

4. Is there any way for me to get the picture even sharper than it is now. I have disabled "Dynamic Resolution" in the game menu and I left the TAA on but lowered the strength of that in the .ini


Below you can find my SkyrimPrefs.ini and plugin file that explains what mods I've installed.

From: SkyrimPrefs.ini
----------------

[Display]
fTAAPostOverlay=0.675
fTAAPostSharpen=0.675
fTAASharpen=0.001
bAllowVRCheating=1
fBowRotationPitch=-10


fShadowDistance=3900.0000
fInteriorShadowDistance=3000.0000
iShadowMapResolution=2048
fProjectedUVNormalDetailTilingScale=1.2000
fProjectedUVDiffuseNormalTilingScale=0.5000
bEnableProjecteUVDiffuseNormals=1
bUseTAA=1
iReflectionResolutionDivider=2
bUse64bitsHDRRenderTarget=0
iSaveGameScreenShotHeighWSt=192
iSaveGameScreenShotWidthWS=320
iSaveGameScreenShotHeight=192
iSaveGameScreenShotWidth=256
iShadowMaskQuarter=4
fLightLODStartFade=3500.0000
bFXAAEnabled=0
fLeafAnimDampenDistEnd=4600.0000
fLeafAnimDampenDistStart=3600.0000
fTreesMidLODSwitchDist=5000.0000
fMeshLODFadePercentDefault=1.2000
fMeshLODFadeBoundDefault=256.0000
fMeshLODLevel2FadeTreeDistance=16896.0000
fMeshLODLevel1FadeTreeDistance=16896.0000
fMeshLODLevel2FadeDist=9999999.0000
fMeshLODLevel1FadeDist=9999999.0000
fLowestDynamicHeightRatio=0.7000
fLowestDynamicWidthRatio=0.7000
fGamma=1.0000
bBorderless=0
bFull Screen=0
iSize H=1080
iSize W=1920
iScreenShotIndex=0
bEnableAutoDynamicResolution=0
bTreesReceiveShadows=1
bUsePrecipitationOcclusion=1
bDrawLandShadows=0
iMaxSkinDecalsPerFrame=25
iMaxDecalsPerFrame=100

[General]
fLightingOutputColourClampPostSpec=1.0000
fLightingOutputColourClampPostEnv=1.0000
fLightingOutputColourClampPostLit=1.0000
fBrightLightColorB=1.0000
fBrightLightColorG=1.0000
fBrightLightColorR=1.0000
iStoryManagerLoggingEvent=-1
bEnableStoryManagerLogging=0
uLargeRefLODGridSize=9

[Imagespace]
bDoDepthOfField=1

[MAIN]
fSkyCellRefFadeDistance=150000.0000
bGamepadEnable=0
bWandCrosshairEnabled=1
bCrosshairEnabled=1
fHUDOpacity=1.0000
bSaveOnPause=0
bSaveOnTravel=1
bSaveOnWait=1
bSaveOnRest=1
iCompassPosition=0

[Interface]
fMouseCursorSpeed=1.0000
bDialogueSubtitles=0
bGeneralSubtitles=0
bShowCompass=1

[VRDisplay]
fRenderTargetSizeMultiplier=1.0000

[VRInput]
bActivateWithBothWands=0
bEnableAutoTeleport=0
bUsingMotionControllers=1
bLeftHandedMode=0
bDirectMovementWithWands=1
fGamepadLookAngleSnapSmoothingSpeed=360.0000
bGamepadLookAngleSnapSmoothing=1
fGamepadLookAngleSnapAmount=45.0000
bGamepadLookAngleSnapping=0

[VRPerformance]
iQualityPreset=2

[GamePlay]
bShowFloatingQuestMarkers=1
bShowQuestMarkers=1
iDifficulty=0

[VR]
bComfortSwim=1
fCharacterHeightOffset=1.0000
bOneTimeCalibrationCompleted=1
bComfortSneak=0
bRealisticShield=1

[Controls]
fMouseHeadingSensitivity=0.0125
fGamepadHeadingSensitivity=0.6667
bAlwaysRunByDefault=1
bInvertYValues=0
bGamePadRumble=1
fMovementSpeedPercent=0.7000

[VRWand]
bUseRealisticBowAiming=1

[Particles]
iMaxDesired=750

[SaveGame]
fAutosaveEveryXMins=60.0000

[AudioMenu]
fAudioMasterVolume=1.0000
fVal7=1.0000
uID7=0
fVal6=1.0000
uID6=0
fVal5=1.0000
uID5=0
fVal4=1.0000
uID4=0
fVal3=0.5000
uID3=466532
fVal2=0.8000
uID2=554685
fVal1=0.8000
uID1=1007612
fVal0=1.0000
uID0=94881

[Clouds]
fCloudLevel2Distance=262144.0000
fCloudLevel1Distance=32768.0000
fCloudLevel0Distance=16384.0000
fCloudNearFadeDistance=9000.0000

[Water]
bUseWaterDisplacements=1

[TerrainManager]
fTreeLoadDistance=12500.0000
fBlockMaximumDistance=250000.0000
fBlockLevel1Distance=70000.0000
fBlockLevel0Distance=35000.0000
fSplitDistanceMult=1.5000
bShowLODInEditor=1

[NavMesh]
fObstacleAlpha=0.5000
fCoverSideHighAlpha=0.8000
fCoverSideLowAlpha=0.6500
fEdgeFullAlpha=1.0000
fEdgeHighAlpha=0.7500
fEdgeLowAlpha=0.5000
fTriangleFullAlpha=0.7000
fTriangleHighAlpha=0.3500
fTriangleLowAlpha=0.2000
fLedgeBoxHalfHeight=25.0000
fEdgeDistFromVert=10.0000
fEdgeThickness=10.0000
fPointSize=2.5000

[Trees]
bRenderSkinnedTrees=1
uiMaxSkinnedTreesToRender=40
bEnableTreeAnimations=1

[VRComfort]
fComfortModeSize=0.7500
bComfortModeWhileMoving=0
bComfortModeWhileTurning=1

[Grass]
fGrassStartFadeDistance=5000.0000
fGrassMaxStartFadeDistance=7000.0000
fGrassMinStartFadeDistance=0.0000

[Decals]
bSkinnedDecals=1
bDecals=1
uMaxSkinDecals=100
uMaxDecals=1000

[LOD]
fLODFadeOutMultSkyCell=1.0000
fLODFadeOutMultObjects=15.0000
fLODFadeOutMultItems=3.0000
fLODFadeOutMultActors=6.0000

[Launcher]
bEnableFileSelection=1

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Plugins

# This file is used by the game to keep track of your downloaded content.
# Please do not modify this file.
SkyrimVR.esm
*Unofficial Skyrim Special Edition Patch.esp
*InigoPerkPointGiver.esp
*vrmirror.esp
*Easy lockpicking.esp
*Skyrim Flora Overhaul.esp



Thanks for all the help in advance and hope you'll have a great day :)

[hyperion]

Not sure what's causing the ghosting. But for me, the best I've been able to get it is:

Resolution scaling at 200%

TAA Off

SS slider all the way up in game settings

Quality set to high in game

All the 2017 texture mods from Nexus installed

Skyrim reengaged ENB mod installed


In my experience, the game is going to look like crapola if you have TAA on, no matter what else you do. You can just stand somewhere and turn it on and off in the game menu and see the difference.


i7 4ghz
Windows 10
32 G ram
1080 ti
SSD

[CaleoGaming]

I have been tweaking this for an entire day and finally found a point where I got ZERO framedrops, even with 25 mods installed and everything.

Make sure you go to Documents and configure the Skyrimprefs.ini and set Fullscreen to 1.
(This will make your game the highest priority in terms of cpu and gpu)

Disable Dynamic Resolution and AA. Turn up SuperSampling to max (Don't worry).
Go to SteamVR and under applications, select SkyrimVR and set the resolution/SS to 150-300% (Test this one out to see when your game hits the limit and starts stuttering).

There you have it!

[Ɲøƈ]

Go walk around the Riften stables with that and see if that holds up.

[Magnolia Frost]

Thanks for your reply. Well if you have TAA off, it looks pretty bad I think with all the details on trees and so on. What I’ve read, TAA should be on but lowered in strength. Anyone else with thoughts on this? And also if you have the time.. please answer with reference to the numbers on my questions :) much easier that way. Thanks

[hyperion]

Originally posted by CaleoGaming:

I have been tweaking this for an entire day and finally found a point where I got ZERO framedrops, even with 25 mods installed and everything.

Make sure you go to Documents and configure the Skyrimprefs.ini and set Fullscreen to 1.
(This will make your game the highest priority in terms of cpu and gpu)

Disable Dynamic Resolution and AA. Turn up SuperSampling to max (Don't worry).
Go to SteamVR and under applications, select SkyrimVR and set the resolution/SS to 150-300% (Test this one out to see when your game hits the limit and starts stuttering).

There you have it!

Thanks for that. I saw the full screen setting in there and wondered why it was at 0.

Were you able to turn up rez scaling to 300? I tried it and it looks great but totally flakes out and start dropping frames badly after a while. 200 works with no issues.

[hyperion]

Originally posted by maxlarsson88:

Thanks for your reply. Well if you have TAA off, it looks pretty bad I think with all the details on trees and so on. What I’ve read, TAA should be on but lowered in strength. Anyone else with thoughts on this? And also if you have the time.. please answer with reference to the numbers on my questions :) much easier that way. Thanks

How did you get a profile in Nvidia control panel? I don't see one.

Also:

4. Turn off TAA, it's like the new FXAA in this game. Seriously, just stand somewhere like I said and turn it on and off in the game menu. It's horribly blurry. Turning up SS and upping the resolution scaling will eliminate any jaggy issues as best as can be done.

[CaleoGaming]

I got a 1070 so I only go with 200%. Now installed 10 more mods, including 4K textures and flora overhaul. Lets see how it looks now!

[Despiser]

You can visually see the clarity difference with taa off and dynamic res off, even though it says requires restart. Stand in a market square and toggle them on / off while looking around. Rooftops at medium distance for example. The difference is astounding. I feel like I upgraded to a pro doing this. Also, crank up the SS.

[Magnolia Frost]

Originally posted by hyperion:

Originally posted by maxlarsson88:

Thanks for your reply. Well if you have TAA off, it looks pretty bad I think with all the details on trees and so on. What I’ve read, TAA should be on but lowered in strength. Anyone else with thoughts on this? And also if you have the time.. please answer with reference to the numbers on my questions :) much easier that way. Thanks

How did you get a profile in Nvidia control panel? I don't see one.

Also:

4. Turn off TAA, it's like the new FXAA in this game. Seriously, just sand somewhere like I said and turn it on and off in the game menu. It's horribly blurry. Turning up SS and upping the resolution scaling will eliminate any jaggy issues as best as can be done.

What do you mean "get a profile"?

Anyone else that think it's best to turn off TAA?

[Ɲøƈ]

I have it off. You get used to the shimmering, you don't get used to the blur.

[Magnolia Frost]

Originally posted by CaleoGaming:

I got a 1070 so I only go with 200%. Now installed 10 more mods, including 4K textures and flora overhaul. Lets see how it looks now!

I have 1080 and more than 130 seems to increase the reprojection. How can you have 200% and it works?

[Magnolia Frost]

Originally posted by Inoc:

I have it off. You get used to the shimmering, you don't get used to the blur.

Ok. thanks. Yeah I think the shimmering is what is enoying. But haven't you read about having TAA on and lower the strength of it?

[MarcusFisher]

Originally posted by maxlarsson88:

Originally posted by CaleoGaming:

I got a 1070 so I only go with 200%. Now installed 10 more mods, including 4K textures and flora overhaul. Lets see how it looks now!

I have 1080 and more than 130 seems to increase the reprojection. How can you have 200% and it works?

I'm in the same boat. 1080 and i5 4670K with 16g ram. Shouldn't be a bad machine at all, but I even have to set it at 100% to even reach almost 0 reprojection. I had the same problem in Fallout 4 VR, had to lower everything so much and still wasn't enough. I feel something is up with my pc as this was never an issue 6 months ago.

[CaleoGaming]

So what exactly do you mean by reprojection? I don't notice any stutter when turning my head or anything, but turning it up while I had the game windowed would cause crazy missing frames on my headset. I mean my weapons may be a little bit laggy but really nothing noticeable

[Salchi]

Try disabling always on reprojection