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BSA Optimization Project - Skyrim's BSAs

Skyrim (and all Bethesda games) uses the BSA format to store all the game data (textures, models, voices...). The BSA Optimization Project wants to improve those files and the way the game works with them, in order to achieve a better performance.

Read all the description carefully before installing



The BSAs are compressed files. When Skyrim needs to read the content inside, the CPU needs to unzip them first, process the content and then, show it in your screen. Using BSAOP, your CPU doesn't need to unzip it. I repacked all the vanilla files inside the BSAs but I didn't compress them, so the CPU reduces its work in half. In my setup (that does have a processor that doesn't meet the minimum requiriments, 2.13 GHz x 2), that helped me to remove the stuttering and reduce script lag in most areas. Anyway, the results will vary from system to system, so just try and see how it works for you!

BSAOP has different flavours that can help you achieve an even better performance. Read below:



This mod has 4 different versions. The black one is the version you are currently looking at.

These versions keep the game exactly as vanilla. No textures, no meshes were optimized or modified. These versions should give you reduced stutter and less script lag, as the CPU doesn't need to unzip the files before reading them.

- BSAOP - Skyrim's BSAs: This is where you are.
- BSAOP - High Resolution DLC BSAs: Check here!

These versions has optimized textures (thanks to the STEP team and tony971). These textures should reduce your VRAM usage and make the overall game run better. They are recommended over the Vanilla versions, but take in mind that the vanilla files were modified. If you see purple textures, broken textures and so on, switch to Vanilla versions.

- BSAOP - Skyrim's BSAs Performance:(This is the best one in my opinion!) Check here!.
- BSAOP - High Resolution DLC BSAs Performance: Check here!

Here is an useful table regarding compatibility between versions if you are using two versions together:

Make sure you uninstall first the official High Res DLC before installing the BSAOP High Res versions!. Also, uninstall any flavour before switching to another one, following the instructions inside the flavour's description

You have all the versions listed in this collection



- Subscribe. Wait until Steam downloads the Workshop content.
- Open Skyrim Launcher and wait until it says "Finished syncronization of subscribed mods!". Close Skyrim Launcher.
- Go to your Skyrim Data directory:

- Open the file called "BSAOP_Install.vbs". It will automatically ask you for admin priviliges. Accept. (If it doesn't ask for privileges, run it again right clicking on the file and choosing "Run as admin")

Remember to re-run the BSAOP_Install.vbs file every time that you verify your game cache on Steam or the mod will simply not work.




BSAOP is compatible with, literally, EVERYTHING. It just  overwrite all the BSAs from the game. That means that mods and another things added by the player will overwrite BSAOP. Just treat the game as vanilla (as if BSAOP isn't installed).
Anyway, make sure that you install the flavours correctly.



The mod will be updated automatically if new updates are released, as long as you are subscribed to it in Steam Worshop.

Anyway, take these steps if you want to make sure that the mod is properly updated:

- Wait until Steam downloads the updated Workshop content.
- Open Skyrim Launcher and wait until it says "Finished syncronization of subscribed mods!". Close Skyrim Launcher.
- Go to your Skyrim Data directory:

- Open the file called "BSAOP_Install.vbs". It will automatically ask you for admin priviliges. Accept. (If it doesn't ask for privileges, run it again right clicking on the file and choosing "Run as admin")

This will ensure you that the mod is still installed and working properly.



- Unsubscribe from Steam Workshop. Wait until Steam downloads the Workshop content for Skyrim.
- Open Skyrim Launcher and open "Data files" menu. Delete BSAOP entry and all the files of the mod will be erased from your disk.
- Go to your Skyrim Data directory:

- Open the file called "BSAOP_Uninstall.vbs". It will automatically ask you for admin priviliges. Accept. (If it doesn't ask for privileges, run it again right clicking on the file and choosing "Run as admin")

Thank you for using the mod!



If the mod works for you, you liked it and its awesome :P, please, like it or add it to Favourites, so I know it's useful for someone :).
Thanks!

Check the Frequently Asked Questions
Need support? Go here!

Bethesda Softworks, for this incredible game, the assets used and the Archive.exe (from Creation Kit), used to repack the files.
SkyrimTuner and Ghostifish, because I used their source code as a base for adapting and updating the installer/uninstaller scripts for BSAOP. Thank you very much!
Tony971 and the S.T.E.P team, for his amazing optimized textures. Without them, the performance versions of BSAOP wouldn't exist.