Q: What does it mean "uncompressed"?

The BSAs from Skyrim are like ZIPs or RARs files, they are a propietary file type for Bethesda Games (BSA = Bethesda Softworks Archive). They have an optimized algorithm for games. Most of the Skyrim's BSAs are compressed. That means that the file is smaller, but when you need to access those files, you will need some extra CPU processing to un-zip them on-the-fly.

Like ZIP and RAR format allow, you can archive files into one file without compressing it. That means that the file is like a folder instead of a compressed one.
That's what I've done to the BSAs in BSAOP. The originals were compressed, so they take up some CPU when you are playing, in order to get the files. That causes freezing or stuttering. With BSAOP installed, the BSAs are uncompressed, so they don't eat extra CPU resources to load the files.

Q: Which is the difference from this to unzip the files to loose format?

Unzip means to get all the files from the BSAs into a folder structure. That means that they are in loose format. That is a very dangerous situation. If you install a mod, it can replace vanilla files, so maybe it can mess your games or broke it. Keeping the BSAs ensure you that your files are safe into them. With BSAOP you have also the advantage to have the same performance of the loose files with keeping the BSA. Amazing, right?.

Q: I have some messed textures/meshes

I need some details about your problems. Please, follow this:

· Check the whole description again and see if you have done something wrong with your installation. Solved? Probably a problem with your installation.
· Check with the vanilla BSAs (uninstall all the optional files, reinstall the main "Skyrim's BSAs", download the vanilla DLCs and try with the vanilla BSAs). Solved? Probably, some textures from the High-Res version or the Optimized Vanilla Textures version are working bad with your system/settings
· Are you sure it isn't caused by a mod? Test with a new save game without any mods.
· Are you sure it isn't happening in the vanilla game, without BSAOP?

Still problems? Open a new issue in the Bug Tracker, attach an screenshot, fill with all the details you can (your mods, your rig...). If you can, give me also the cell name, so I can teleport to it and check what's going on.

Q: I don't notice a huge performance.

That depends on your system and, especially, mod setup. If you have a script-heavy setup, 4k textures with a poor graphics card... BSAOP can't do magic. Anyway, take in mind that some mods uses BSAs. They might be compressed by the publisher of the mod, so it slow down the performance of your game. Check the tips section here if you want to check if a BSA is compressed or not. If it is compressed, you can tell the author of the mod, and send him a link to the article, so he can take a look and optimize his BSA.

Apply this rule:




Check also if you have installed correctly BSAOP. I know, the installation process is a bit confusing (I'm working on a custom installer for the mod), but, please, take another look at the installation guide and check if you have done something wrong. An incorrect installation of the mod won't damage your game or savegame, but, perhaps, it can slow down your game or don't make the game as fast as it should.

Q: How to switch between flavours?

Since the version 2.0, BSAOP has different flavours. If you want to switch between flavours, first, uninstall the old flavour, and, after that, install the new one. The instructions are inside the description of each flavour.

Q: Which textures have been optimized in the Performance versions of BSAOP?

All the Vanilla and DLC textures that are known to need optimization in the game are already included in the Performance versions of BSAOP. You must thanks tony971 and The S.T.E.P team for these files. I could make ones myself, but their files would be even better than mine ;)