Ok, after modifying my INI like crazy least last few days from several sources, I've tweaked it again after seeing this guys changes recently and I think im gonna leave it alone now, as it looks real good IMO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCdX5oM2euw

The game is now showing ALOT more detail in the graphics, especially draw distance and alot more vegitation and land mass texture quality. Feel free to try it out but be prepared for a FPS hit!

Below are photos what my game is now looking like at its customized 1920x1200 res with 16xAF and no AA. Ambient Occlusion is turned off as is VSYNC. Timeset is 10 instead of default 20. Feel free to discuss and try the changes i've made to my INI file and what could be better or what is overkill.


Default Ultra/high settings in game control panel. No INI changes whatsoever. Default game experience


http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/5/nochange1.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/811/nochange2.jpg/



Default INI settings from youtube video

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/854/before1j.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/812/beforeforest.jpg/



After combining my INI tweaks with above youtubes tweaks

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/24/verynice2.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/717/afterforest.jpg/



My personal modified INI file settings

[General]
fBrightLightColorB=1.0000
fBrightLightColorG=1.0000
fBrightLightColorR=1.0000
iStoryManagerLoggingEvent=-1
bEnableStoryManagerLogging=0
[Imagespace]
bDoDepthOfField=1
iRadialBlurLevel=2
[Display]
iBlurDeferredShadowMask=3
fInteriorShadowDistance=3000.0000
fShadowDistance=8000.0000
iShadowMapResolutionSecondary=2048
iShadowMapResolutionPrimary=4096
iShadowSplitCount=2
iMaxAnisotropy=16
fLeafAnimDampenDistEnd=4600.0000
fLeafAnimDampenDistStart=3600.0000
fTreesMidLODSwitchDist=1000000.0000
fGamma=1.0000
fDecalLOD2=1500.0000
fDecalLOD1=1000.0000
fSpecularLODStartFade=2000.0000
fShadowLODStartFade=1000.0000
fLightLODStartFade=3500.0000
iTexMipMapMinimum=0
iTexMipMapSkip=0
iWaterMultiSamples=4
iMultiSample=0
iShadowMode=3
bTreesReceiveShadows=1
bDrawLandShadows=1
bFull Screen=1
iSize H=1200
iSize W=1920
fMeshLODFadePercentDefault=1.2000
fMeshLODFadeBoundDefault=256.0000
fMeshLODLevel2FadeTreeDistance=2048.0000
fMeshLODLevel1FadeTreeDistance=2844.0000
fMeshLODLevel2FadeDist=3072.0000
fMeshLODLevel1FadeDist=4096.0000
iScreenShotIndex=4
bShadowMaskZPrepass=0
bMainZPrepass=0
iMaxSkinDecalsPerFrame=25
iMaxDecalsPerFrame=100
bFloatPointRenderTarget=0
sD3DDevice="NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570"
bFXAAEnabled=0
iShadowMapResolution=4096
fShadowBiasScale=0.1500
iShadowMaskQuarter=4
iAdapter=0
iPresentInterval=1
iShadowFilter=3
bTransparencyMultisampling=0
bDrawShadows=1
[Grass]
b30GrassVS=1
fGrassStartFadeDistance=8000.0000
fGrassMaxStartFadeDistance=8000.0000
fGrassMinStartFadeDistance=400.0000
[MAIN]
bGamepadEnable=0
bCrosshairEnabled=1
fHUDOpacity=0.4500
bSaveOnPause=1
bSaveOnTravel=1
bSaveOnWait=1
bSaveOnRest=1
fSkyCellRefFadeDistance=150000.0000
[GamePlay]
bShowFloatingQuestMarkers=1
bShowQuestMarkers=1
iDifficulty=2
[Interface]
bDialogueSubtitles=0
bGeneralSubtitles=0
bShowCompass=1
[Controls]
fGamepadHeadingSensitivity=1.0000
fMouseHeadingSensitivity=0.0240
bAlwaysRunByDefault=1
bInvertYValues=1
bGamePadRumble=0
bMouseAcceleration=0
fMouseHeadingYScale=0.005
fMouseHeadingXScale=0.010
[Particles]
iMaxDesired=1500
[SaveGame]
fAutosaveEveryXMins=15.0000
[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=1.0000
uID3=94881
fVal2=0.7500
uID2=466532
fVal1=1.0000
uID1=554685
fVal0=1.0000
uID0=1007612
[Clouds]
fCloudLevel2Distance=262144.0000
fCloudLevel1Distance=32768.0000
fCloudLevel0Distance=16384.0000
fCloudNearFadeDistance=9000.0000
[TerrainManager]
fTreeLoadDistance=75000.0000
fBlockMaximumDistance=250000.0000
fBlockLevel1Distance=70000.0000
fBlockLevel0Distance=35000.0000
fSplitDistanceMult=1.5000
bShowLODInEditor=0
[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=20
[Decals]
uMaxDecals=1000
bDecals=1
bSkinnedDecals=1
uMaxSkinDecals=100
uMaxSkinDecalsPerActor=60
[LOD]
fLODFadeOutMultObjects=15.0000
fLODFadeOutMultItems=15.0000
fLODFadeOutMultActors=15.0000
fLODFadeOutMultSkyCell=1.0000
[Launcher]
bEnableFileSelection=1
bShowAllResolutions=1
uLastAspectRatio=4
[BlurShaderHDR]
bDoHighDynamicRange=1
[BlurShader]
bUseBlurShader=0
[Water]
iWaterReflectHeight=1024
iWaterReflectWidth=1024
bUseWaterDisplacements=1
bUseWaterRefractions=1
bUseWaterReflections=1
bUseWaterDepth=1
bUseWaterReflectionBlur=1
bReflectExplosions=1
iWaterBlurAmount=4
bAutoWaterSilhouetteReflections=0
bForceHighDetailReflections=1

Going to try this out right now!

Why do you have your shadowmaps so low on a gtx570?

EDIT: Added default INI pics for comparison

Dunno, i'm still learning and tweaking. Show me what you mean.

This just cured everything for me. I can't thank you enough.

A note to others, make sure you change sD3DDevice="NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570" to your graphics card name.

So for mine I had to change it to "AMD Radeon HD 6800 Series".

Everything looks great, no flickering, no lag, no nothing. So much happier right now.

HERE IS THE ORIGINAL .INI file, I backed it up before I started to play with it.

CRITICAL - FILL IN THE NAME OF YOUR GRAPHICS CARD BELOW WHERE I NOTED IT. EVERYTHING ELSE IS THE ORIGINAL .INI SETTINGS.

[Display]
iTexMipMapSkip=0
bFXAAEnabled=0
fMeshLODLevel2FadeDist=3072.0000
fMeshLODLevel1FadeDist=4096.0000
fSpecularLODStartFade=2000.0000
fLightLODStartFade=3500.0000
fTreesMidLODSwitchDist=0.0000
iShadowMapResolution=512
fShadowBiasScale=0.5000
iShadowMaskQuarter=3
iBlurDeferredShadowMask=0
fShadowDistance=2000.0000
iMaxDecalsPerFrame=100
iMaxSkinDecalsPerFrame=25
iAdapter=0
iSize W=1280
iSize H=1024
iMultiSample=2
iMaxAnisotropy=2
iPresentInterval=1
bFull Screen=1
fInteriorShadowDistance=3000.0000
bFloatPointRenderTarget=1
fGamma=1.0000
iShadowFilter=3
fDecalLOD2=1500.0000
fDecalLOD1=1000.0000
fShadowLODStartFade=200.0000
iTexMipMapMinimum=0
bTransparencyMultisampling=0
iWaterMultiSamples=0
iShadowMode=3
bTreesReceiveShadows=0
bDrawLandShadows=0
bDrawShadows=1
fLeafAnimDampenDistEnd=4600.0000
fLeafAnimDampenDistStart=3600.0000
fMeshLODFadePercentDefault=1.2000
fMeshLODFadeBoundDefault=256.0000
fMeshLODLevel2FadeTreeDistance=2048.0000
fMeshLODLevel1FadeTreeDistance=2844.0000
iScreenShotIndex=0
bShadowMaskZPrepass=0
bMainZPrepass=0
sD3DDevice="FILL ME IN!! FILL ME IN WITH YOUR GRAPHICS CARD NAME"
[Imagespace]
iRadialBlurLevel=2
bDoDepthOfField=1
[LOD]
fLODFadeOutMultActors=15.0000
fLODFadeOutMultItems=15.0000
fLODFadeOutMultObjects=15.0000
fLODFadeOutMultSkyCell=1.0000
[Grass]
fGrassStartFadeDistance=7000.0000
b30GrassVS=1
fGrassMaxStartFadeDistance=7000.0000
fGrassMinStartFadeDistance=400.0000
[Decals]
bDecals=1
bSkinnedDecals=1
uMaxDecals=1000
uMaxSkinDecals=100
uMaxSkinDecalsPerActor=60
[TerrainManager]
fTreeLoadDistance=75000.0000
fBlockMaximumDistance=250000.0000
fBlockLevel1Distance=70000.0000
fBlockLevel0Distance=35000.0000
fSplitDistanceMult=1.5000
bShowLODInEditor=0
[BlurShaderHDR]
bDoHighDynamicRange=1
[BlurShader]
bUseBlurShader=0
[Launcher]
bShowAllResolutions=1
uLastAspectRatio=2
[Water]
iWaterReflectHeight=512
iWaterReflectWidth=512
bUseWaterDisplacements=1
bUseWaterRefractions=1
bUseWaterReflections=1
bUseWaterDepth=1
[MAIN]
fSkyCellRefFadeDistance=150000.0000
bGamepadEnable=0
bCrosshairEnabled=1
fHUDOpacity=1.0000
bSaveOnPause=1
bSaveOnTravel=1
bSaveOnWait=1
bSaveOnRest=1
[GamePlay]
bShowFloatingQuestMarkers=1
bShowQuestMarkers=1
iDifficulty=2
[Interface]
bDialogueSubtitles=1
bGeneralSubtitles=1
bShowCompass=1
[Controls]
fMouseHeadingSensitivity=0.0220
fGamepadHeadingSensitivity=1.9000
bAlwaysRunByDefault=1
bInvertYValues=1
bGamePadRumble=0
[Particles]
iMaxDesired=750
[SaveGame]
fAutosaveEveryXMins=10.0000
[AudioMenu]
fAudioMasterVolume=0.2000
fVal7=1.0000
uID7=0
fVal6=1.0000
uID6=0
fVal5=1.0000
uID5=0
fVal4=1.0000
uID4=0
fVal3=0.8000
uID3=466532
fVal2=1.0000
uID2=554685
fVal1=1.0000
uID1=1007612
fVal0=0.9000
uID0=94881
[Clouds]
fCloudLevel2Distance=262144.0000
fCloudLevel1Distance=32768.0000
fCloudLevel0Distance=16384.0000
fCloudNearFadeDistance=9000.0000
[General]
iStoryManagerLoggingEvent=-1
bEnableStoryManagerLogging=0
[Trees]
bRenderSkinnedTrees=1
uiMaxSkinnedTreesToRender=40

Is there anything I should add to make it at the absolute ultra settings?

Do these settings go into the Skyrim install folder INI or the My Documents one?

The my documents one

The only thing I still get is SOME pixelated shadows. Mainly ones cast on the ground.

Game looks EXCELLENT now, fixed the shadows also...although my FPS drops to 45 in highly active areas.
What settings would be wise to lower for more frames?

My CPU is I5 2500k and 560 TI factory overclocked, thanks alot for this.

nevermind

Look for these and set them in the INI: iSize H=1080
iSize W=1920

Does this eliminate the close up low res textures? If so, amazing! Sorry about my lack of understanding.

the problems with the shadows is the distance. The shorter you set the draw distance the better they look

I tried adding this to my ini file (I also changed the graphic card name to the name of my card). Unfortunately, whenever I try to access the menu (character, inventory, spells, etc.) from within the game, it just crashes to Desktop. Replacing the modified ini with the original one fixes this. Which of your changes to the ini file could cause this crash?

Regards, Niko

This. The line with the main difference for shadow quality is fShadowDistance

Ultra default is =8000 but gives incredibly blocky shadows. Reducing this value to =500 gives you amazingly detailed shadows, the best I've ever seen in a game, but also significantly reduces the draw distance of shadows to about 15 feet away from the player, so also looks awful really.

I've tried playing around with the shadow map size, assuming that the game generates a shadow map, and then layers it over the size of the gameworld designated by fShadowDistance, meaning smaller sizes allow the shadow map to be concentrated and detailed, and larger sizes mean it gets stretched out over a larger area, leading to blocky edges. That was my theory, but it didn't work. Doubling the shadow map size to 8192 did nothing...

I still think it must work like this in some way, as I can't think of any other explanation as to why the shadows get so detailed when they're layered over a much smaller area. I just can't work out how to increase the shadow map size along with the draw distance.

I don't understand where to put this, I have two configuration files in the "My documents" section of Skyrim.

I have Skyrim.ini and SkyrimPrefs.ini

Skyrim.ini only has the following ;


Do I paste all of the OP in there or in the other one which contains a lot more. Sorry for the idiotic question.

I think you're right. I think that the limit for the shadow map is 4096 right now.

You know what I noticed? Changing all 3 of the shadow map resolutions to 8192 appears to affect interior resolutions but not exterior. Try it out for yourself. Maybe it'll help you to some other conclusion.

You're right! That's weird... I wonder why they can't affect exteriors as well.

Not that you'd want to though. Setting all three to 8192 literally halved my fps in some situations. Looking at areas with multiple light sources typically brought my fps down to the mid 30s (i72600k, 2GB GTX560Ti). Setting them back to 4096 in those areas gave me a constant 60fps.

So, that's the problem I think. Shadows are limited to 4096 in exteriors, and the size of the shadowmap (and therefor the extent of the blockiness) is handled by the fShadowDistance line. If the SKGE team can find a way to break that 4096 cap, then we could technically have very detailed shadow maps across large draw distances. But that would likely cripple even the most overclocked of today's hardware. I could see this being a viable tweak in 3-4 years time though, when we'll all be used to playing a TES game at 20-30 fps again

Looks great!!!

Hi trying this now, seems an improvement - thanks!

However, I did noticed you'd set AA to 0 and removed the Ansiotropic settings all together. Any reason for that? I popped them back in at 8xAA and 16xAnsio as the game looked pretty jaggy otherwise.

Btw: I read elsewhere that some of the distance LOD issues are indeed a bug. I.e. some running ultra see poor distance detail, yet for others it looks just fine at the same settings...something to be aware of if certain settings don't appear to do anything I guess.

Cheers,

Scoob.

Try turning off AA and AF ingame and forcing them through your drivers. Some people have seen FPS improvements with that.

To OP,

How is your performance?

Frame rate? Outdoors and Indoors?

Is it choppy still? Lags?