The LZ4 compression ratio can now be selected when creating Ver.3-BA2. Two compression ratios. (1) LZ4 default (Memory usage 16KB) (2) A value close to the compression ratio used by Bethesda (Memory usage 1GB) **Perhaps Bethesda is expanding to 4 or 8 GB. To keep up with that, I need to make the processing 64-bit, so I'll see you soon.
Although the BA2 file size is smaller in (2) than in (1), it takes considerably longer to create. Depending on the specifications of your PC, (2) will take tens of minutes to several hours to create. **Note that 1.2.0 does not allow interruption of the conversion process. If you want to interrupt the process, kill BAUpgrader.exe in the Task Manager.
What is LZ4 Memory usage: > Memory usage: 1KB(min)/2KB/4KB/8KB/16KB/32KB/64KB(default)/128KB/256KB/512KB/1MB(max) > Increasing memory usage improves compression ratio, at the cost of speed. > Reduced memory usage may improve speed at the cost of ratio, thanks to better cache locality. > Default value is 16KB, which nicely fits into Intel x86 L1 cache.
It is recommended to use the default values for LZ4.
i am not a mod-author, just a gamer. My question: is this a 'software' aiming for modder - to pack their files - or is it also for regulars like me. Like, i grab a mod i like and throw it into this mixer, to compress my mods and after that do exactly what? I really have no idea :D, sry.
This for both, sanyolo. As a user, I just used this to convert the texture BA2 file in Weapon Mod Fixes - WMF to version 3. I also use this for converting archives of any loose file mods I made like with Stellar Glass, Stellar Water and Praedy's Milky Way re-texture. Starfield performance is better when all loose files are packed into BA2 files, especially the V3 texture BA2. When packing loose files, remember to add the new BA2 file to the StarfieldCustom.ini's sResourceIndexFileList parameter, like so:
I just used the Archive2 from Creation kit, which I only downloaded recently like a week ago. In Archive2 settings we can choose DDS & LZ4, when I drop the resulting bsa into your app, it already shows as Version 3 & only the option to revert to Version 2 is available, so you're checking if its already 3 in your app, so I guess that answers my question.
Anyway, thanks for providing this for the time-frame before their update.
Hi Unikko! Thank you for this invaluable tool. It does help a great deal, but I had a small request (if possible). Could you add a batch operation? For example, instead of picking one file you could pick a folder and the tool would automatically upgrade any BA2 with the correct formats to V3 within that folder. Skipping any archive that doesn't meet the requirements. If not, that's fine. I appreciate the work that went into this. Thank you!
Would love to use this like Cathedral Assets Optimizer to be able to decrease textures down to 1080p then upgrade them to the new format but looks like I'll have to wait awhile til tools are released and previous tools from previous games are updated or created for this game.
Hey! I am getting a message that says "Might need to update this tool" everytime i try to update a ba2 file to V3 so the convert button is greyed out. What can i do?
72 comments
The LZ4 compression ratio can now be selected when creating Ver.3-BA2.
Two compression ratios.
(1) LZ4 default (Memory usage 16KB)
(2) A value close to the compression ratio used by Bethesda (Memory usage 1GB)
**Perhaps Bethesda is expanding to 4 or 8 GB. To keep up with that, I need to make the processing 64-bit, so I'll see you soon.
Although the BA2 file size is smaller in (2) than in (1), it takes considerably longer to create.
Depending on the specifications of your PC, (2) will take tens of minutes to several hours to create.
**Note that 1.2.0 does not allow interruption of the conversion process.
If you want to interrupt the process, kill BAUpgrader.exe in the Task Manager.
What is LZ4 Memory usage:
> Memory usage: 1KB(min)/2KB/4KB/8KB/16KB/32KB/64KB(default)/128KB/256KB/512KB/1MB(max)
> Increasing memory usage improves compression ratio, at the cost of speed.
> Reduced memory usage may improve speed at the cost of ratio, thanks to better cache locality.
> Default value is 16KB, which nicely fits into Intel x86 L1 cache.
It is recommended to use the default values for LZ4.
i am not a mod-author, just a gamer. My question: is this a 'software' aiming for modder - to pack their files - or is it also for regulars like me. Like, i grab a mod i like and throw it into this mixer, to compress my mods and after that do exactly what?
I really have no idea :D, sry.
kind regards,
The "MyMods - Texturesxx.ba2" files are my custom packed loose files from other modders.
Thanks for the work and sharing, Unikko. This mod really is keeping my game at optimal performance!
I just used the Archive2 from Creation kit, which I only downloaded recently like a week ago. In
Archive2 settings we can choose DDS & LZ4, when I drop the resulting
bsa into your app, it already shows as Version 3 & only the option
to revert to Version 2 is available, so you're checking if its already 3
in your app, so I guess that answers my question.
Anyway, thanks for providing this for the time-frame before their update.
NVM
Sorry I see now, Creation Kit includes Archive2 for extracting and packing BA2 files, thank you
i advise everyone to use version 3, it has some noticeable performance improvements on an older gpu
sorry, I forgot to include the necessary some DLLs.