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Description
This guide aims to help you squeeze out more performance on Skyrim SE
Computer Optimization
I have developed software for computer optimization.
WARNING! Use at your own risk. These tweaks can have some bad side effects so make sure to backup your PC! I have included the entire code of the program so you know everything it will do.
Download
Mods
For more mods, check out the Dragonborn's Fate Skyrim modding guide (I tried to add only mods not covered by DF guide). Here are some mods that can increase performance and help with stability as well as mods that are created by me to help you achieve the most FPS...
Essentials
These are essential mods. They do not affect gameplay or graphics in a major way.
Vanilla Script (micro)Optimizations
Vanilla Scripting Enhancements
WIDeadBodyCleanupScript Crash Fix
Simply Optimized Scripts AIO
OnMagicEffectApply Replacer
Disk Cache Enabler
Unofficial Skyrim Modder's Patch - USMP SE
Skyrim Project Optimization
SSE FPS Stabilizer (I use high preset)
eFPS - Exterior FPS Boost (make sure to check out the patch page also)
Lightened Skyrim
Save Unbaker
Animation Queue Fix
Graphical Changes
Will change the graphics.
Cleaned Skyrim SE Textures
Insignificant Object Remover
Skyrim Landscape and Water Fixes
Cathedral - Water Overhaul
Landscape Fixes for Grass Mods
Grass FPS Booster
Glow Be Gone SKSE
Universal Fog Remover
Paramount - FPS Galore
Paramount - FPS Galore Alternative
RUGNAROK
PELTAPALOOZA
No More Radial Blur
No Grass in Cities
No Grass in Caves
Colorful Lights - No Shadows - SSE
Performance Hit Relief Remastered - PHR_RE (SSE Edition)
Less Vanilla Trees
Disable Snow Grass
Soul Cairn No Grass
Realistic High Altitude Treeline
Cathedral Landscapes (some users claim it boosts performance. I use Folkvangr, with Grass FPS Booster, and they perform about the same on my rig but Folkvangr looks far better. You can also use the Cathedral 3D Pine Grass which is apparently far better optimized than Cathedral Landscapes)
Enhanced Vanilla Trees (some users claim it can boost performance. I have not seen a difference between this and vanilla but I have not thoroughly tested it)
Happy Little Trees (feels more lightweight than EVT, could be placebo?)
Static Mesh Improvement Mod - SMIM - Texture optimization (I don't recommend you use SMIM if you are on a low-end PC)
MrShadowBlood's Cleaned Texture Mods
Skyrim Upscaler - DLSS FSR2 XESS (does not work with ENB, check below for a version that works with ENB)
Z-Floor Patcher
Alternatives
Alternative to other mods.
ENB -> Community Shaders + its addons
Enhanced Blood Textures -> Use lite version or remove the ESPs after installation of Standard OR you can try Optimised Scripts for EBT
HDT-SMP -> Faster HDT-SMP
Immersive Armors/Weapons -> Immersive Weapon Integration Distributed with SPID
TK Dodge SE -> TK Dodge RE - Script Free
Combat Gameplay Overhaul -> CGO Stripped (if you do not need all the other features)
Immersive Citizens -> AI Overhaul
Footprints -> SPID for Footprints, SPID for Footprints Fix
Cathedral Weathers -> Good mod but don't use Plockton's Culling Data Glitch Fix
Wet and Cold -> R.A.S.S or Wet and Cold - Gear
JKs Skyrim City Mods -> Spaghetti Cities (suggest skipping all city mods if you need performance)
Mods that can possibly eat up performance are...
Software
There is a lot of software that can help with Skyrim SE's performance, here are some...
Cathedral Assets Optimizer
DynDOLOD
Bethini Pie
ENB
ENB DLSS - If you want the most performance, this allows the use of DLSS + ENB. Unfortunately, this application is behind a pay-wall
enblocal.ini - DO NOT COPY AND PASTE
enbseries.ini - DO NOT COPY AND PASTE
When you download an ENB preset, some authors add performance INIs. You can use those if you need more performance.
If you want the most performance, I suggest skipping ENB as using the binaries itself can take a lot of performance already.
For an alternative option, check out Community Shaders and its addons. Keep in mind this will also tank performance though not as hard as ENB.
Console Commands
To type a command in-game, press the ~ key on your keyboard (usually beside the number key, 1)
Some performance commands with their values...
cl rim off - Disables the rim lighting around characters
Setfog 0,999999 - Removes exterior fog. On vs. Off
tg - Removes grass (INCOMPATIBLE WITH GRASS OVERHAUL MODS BECAUSE IT REMOVES GRASS)
teofis - Toggle end-of-frame image space. Gets rid of that ugly black filter on Skyrim. Also improves FPS by a hefty amount. Incompatible with mods that edit/enhance bloom, DoF, etc. Also, vampire and khajit vision will NOT work with this enabled.
The following commands are from FNV, not tested if they work for SSE. These commands will make AI more "dumb" and I only recommend using them if you desperately need more performance...
SetSceneIsComplex 1 - Animation and sound details are reduced, combat does not check movement restrictions (actors may sidestep into objects, off ledges, etc), actors that are not in the loaded area WILL NOT UPDATE while this flag is set meaning they will not go through load doors, excess dead bodies in the loaded area are cleaned up more frequently, avoidance is disabled
SetAllVisible 1 - Actors do not perform LineOfSight checks
SetNoAvoidance 1 - Actors do not perform avoid box movement
SetAllReachable 1 - Actors do not use pathing
Other
Skyrim Performance Testing Spreadsheet (not by me)
Free FPS Guide
Sweet Sweet Frames
Optimized SkyrimCustom.ini
- Do not remove any mods mid-playthrough
- Replace ESP plugins with SKSE (ESPless), SPID, or Skyrim Platform equivalents
- I have added the INI values I use for my game for download. Please do not use them as-is and only use them for reference
Suggestions
You made it at the end of the guide. After reading, is there anything I should add? Leave it in the comments. Be sure to check for updates and don't forget to endorse if this mod helped you. THANK YOU :)
~123keelos
This guide aims to help you squeeze out more performance on Skyrim SE
Computer Optimization
I have developed software for computer optimization.
WARNING! Use at your own risk. These tweaks can have some bad side effects so make sure to backup your PC! I have included the entire code of the program so you know everything it will do.
Download
Mods
For more mods, check out the Dragonborn's Fate Skyrim modding guide (I tried to add only mods not covered by DF guide). Here are some mods that can increase performance and help with stability as well as mods that are created by me to help you achieve the most FPS...
Essentials
These are essential mods. They do not affect gameplay or graphics in a major way.
Vanilla Script (micro)Optimizations
Vanilla Scripting Enhancements
WIDeadBodyCleanupScript Crash Fix
Simply Optimized Scripts AIO
OnMagicEffectApply Replacer
Disk Cache Enabler
Unofficial Skyrim Modder's Patch - USMP SE
Skyrim Project Optimization
SSE FPS Stabilizer (I use high preset)
eFPS - Exterior FPS Boost (make sure to check out the patch page also)
Lightened Skyrim
Save Unbaker
Animation Queue Fix
Graphical Changes
Will change the graphics.
Cleaned Skyrim SE Textures
Insignificant Object Remover
Skyrim Landscape and Water Fixes
Cathedral - Water Overhaul
Landscape Fixes for Grass Mods
Grass FPS Booster
Glow Be Gone SKSE
Universal Fog Remover
Paramount - FPS Galore
Paramount - FPS Galore Alternative
RUGNAROK
PELTAPALOOZA
No More Radial Blur
No Grass in Cities
No Grass in Caves
Colorful Lights - No Shadows - SSE
Performance Hit Relief Remastered - PHR_RE (SSE Edition)
Less Vanilla Trees
Disable Snow Grass
Soul Cairn No Grass
Realistic High Altitude Treeline
Cathedral Landscapes (some users claim it boosts performance. I use Folkvangr, with Grass FPS Booster, and they perform about the same on my rig but Folkvangr looks far better. You can also use the Cathedral 3D Pine Grass which is apparently far better optimized than Cathedral Landscapes)
Enhanced Vanilla Trees (some users claim it can boost performance. I have not seen a difference between this and vanilla but I have not thoroughly tested it)
Happy Little Trees (feels more lightweight than EVT, could be placebo?)
Static Mesh Improvement Mod - SMIM - Texture optimization (I don't recommend you use SMIM if you are on a low-end PC)
MrShadowBlood's Cleaned Texture Mods
Skyrim Upscaler - DLSS FSR2 XESS (does not work with ENB, check below for a version that works with ENB)
Z-Floor Patcher
Alternatives
Alternative to other mods.
ENB -> Community Shaders + its addons
Enhanced Blood Textures -> Use lite version or remove the ESPs after installation of Standard OR you can try Optimised Scripts for EBT
HDT-SMP -> Faster HDT-SMP
Immersive Armors/Weapons -> Immersive Weapon Integration Distributed with SPID
TK Dodge SE -> TK Dodge RE - Script Free
Combat Gameplay Overhaul -> CGO Stripped (if you do not need all the other features)
Immersive Citizens -> AI Overhaul
Footprints -> SPID for Footprints, SPID for Footprints Fix
Cathedral Weathers -> Good mod but don't use Plockton's Culling Data Glitch Fix
Wet and Cold -> R.A.S.S or Wet and Cold - Gear
JKs Skyrim City Mods -> Spaghetti Cities (suggest skipping all city mods if you need performance)
Mods that can possibly eat up performance are...
- 4k+ Graphical texture overhaul with parallax (I stay at 2k).
- Grass, Trees and Landscape overhauls
- City overhauls
- NPC adder mods
- Lighting mods
- ENB presets.
Software
There is a lot of software that can help with Skyrim SE's performance, here are some...
Cathedral Assets Optimizer
Spoiler:
Show
- Select several mods
- Change the folder to your mods folder for MO2 (or Vortex)
- After changing settings, run the software
BSA (select the following)
- Extract BSA
- ...all other options are optional. I delete the BSAs after extraction
Meshes
- Necessary optimization
- Always process headparts
Textures
- Necessary optimization
- Compress textures
- Generate mipmaps
- Downsizing
- By fixed size (2048x2048 - Downsizes all higher quality textures to 2k)
Animations
- Necessary optimization
- Change the folder to your mods folder for MO2 (or Vortex)
- After changing settings, run the software
BSA (select the following)
- Extract BSA
- ...all other options are optional. I delete the BSAs after extraction
Meshes
- Necessary optimization
- Always process headparts
Textures
- Necessary optimization
- Compress textures
- Generate mipmaps
- Downsizing
- By fixed size (2048x2048 - Downsizes all higher quality textures to 2k)
Animations
- Necessary optimization
DynDOLOD
Spoiler:
Show
Follow this tutorial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=encZYHEeQrQ&t=0s
I use the low preset.
I use the low preset.
Bethini Pie
Spoiler:
Show
Select the 'High' preset button and apply recommended tweaks. After that, change the settings that you want like subtitles, show map markers, etc...
ENB
ENB DLSS - If you want the most performance, this allows the use of DLSS + ENB. Unfortunately, this application is behind a pay-wall
enblocal.ini - DO NOT COPY AND PASTE
Spoiler:
Show
[ENGINE]
ForceVSync=false
[LIMITER]
EnableFPSLimit=false
[FIX]
FixReflectionTrees=true
DisableFakeLights=true
FixReflectionThirdPerson=true
FixBlackHair=true
IgnoreInventory=true
DisableGameDOF=true
IgnoreLoadingScreen=true
[PERFORMANCE]
SpeedHack=true
ShaderCache=true
ForceVSync=false
[LIMITER]
EnableFPSLimit=false
[FIX]
FixReflectionTrees=true
DisableFakeLights=true
FixReflectionThirdPerson=true
FixBlackHair=true
IgnoreInventory=true
DisableGameDOF=true
IgnoreLoadingScreen=true
[PERFORMANCE]
SpeedHack=true
ShaderCache=true
enbseries.ini - DO NOT COPY AND PASTE
Spoiler:
Show
[SSAO_SSIL]
ResolutionScale=0.1
SourceTexturesScale=0.1
*** This can cause noisy (like static) textures. The lower this is, the better the performance but if the noisy textures bother you, increase both values. I use 0.35 ***
[SSAO_SSIL]
UseSelfIntersecting=false
[COMPLEXPARTICLELIGHTS]
EnableShadow=false
[UNDERWATER]
HighQualityCaustics=false
ResolutionScale=0.1
SourceTexturesScale=0.1
*** This can cause noisy (like static) textures. The lower this is, the better the performance but if the noisy textures bother you, increase both values. I use 0.35 ***
[SSAO_SSIL]
UseSelfIntersecting=false
[COMPLEXPARTICLELIGHTS]
EnableShadow=false
[UNDERWATER]
HighQualityCaustics=false
When you download an ENB preset, some authors add performance INIs. You can use those if you need more performance.
If you want the most performance, I suggest skipping ENB as using the binaries itself can take a lot of performance already.
For an alternative option, check out Community Shaders and its addons. Keep in mind this will also tank performance though not as hard as ENB.
Console Commands
To type a command in-game, press the ~ key on your keyboard (usually beside the number key, 1)
Some performance commands with their values...
cl rim off - Disables the rim lighting around characters
Setfog 0,999999 - Removes exterior fog. On vs. Off
tg - Removes grass (INCOMPATIBLE WITH GRASS OVERHAUL MODS BECAUSE IT REMOVES GRASS)
teofis - Toggle end-of-frame image space. Gets rid of that ugly black filter on Skyrim. Also improves FPS by a hefty amount. Incompatible with mods that edit/enhance bloom, DoF, etc. Also, vampire and khajit vision will NOT work with this enabled.
The following commands are from FNV, not tested if they work for SSE. These commands will make AI more "dumb" and I only recommend using them if you desperately need more performance...
SetSceneIsComplex 1 - Animation and sound details are reduced, combat does not check movement restrictions (actors may sidestep into objects, off ledges, etc), actors that are not in the loaded area WILL NOT UPDATE while this flag is set meaning they will not go through load doors, excess dead bodies in the loaded area are cleaned up more frequently, avoidance is disabled
SetAllVisible 1 - Actors do not perform LineOfSight checks
SetNoAvoidance 1 - Actors do not perform avoid box movement
SetAllReachable 1 - Actors do not use pathing
Other
Skyrim Performance Testing Spreadsheet (not by me)
Free FPS Guide
Sweet Sweet Frames
Optimized SkyrimCustom.ini
- Do not remove any mods mid-playthrough
- Replace ESP plugins with SKSE (ESPless), SPID, or Skyrim Platform equivalents
- I have added the INI values I use for my game for download. Please do not use them as-is and only use them for reference
Suggestions
You made it at the end of the guide. After reading, is there anything I should add? Leave it in the comments. Be sure to check for updates and don't forget to endorse if this mod helped you. THANK YOU :)
~123keelos