I think the HD textures seems to be the cause, but i don't really know. I have a 460GTX card and it runs the game really well providing i don't put shadows on ultra. But since i've installed the HD textures (may not be related), many graphics options seem to be unchangeable, including shadows and textures, which are stuck on ultra. I could try changing settings in skyrimprefs.ini but i don't really know where to look. I'd really like to get the shadow settings down to high or some other reasonable setting, because there is barely a change and it seems to have a massive impact on smoothness.

You mean you cannot change the values or you get an error when you try? Or do you mean changing them has no effect in game?

i change them and press okay, and if i press options again they haven't changed. I'm guessing some other command is reverting them.

Most likely check your GPU controller and see what it is set to. I found that hitting default on my CCC lead to the best performance with Skyrim.

nvidia control panel is not controlling anything. If i press default and okay, and go back to options, all of my settings have reverted back to high/ultra.

Are your INI files set to read-only, by any chance?

your a legend

+1

congrats duder enjoy