I have already posted this problem on another website, but I feel that I will get better/faster answers right here. So here I go, copying n' pasting my post.


I'm having so really HUGE lag problems with skyrim. Let me put it in perspective: I haven't gotten past the intro. That's how bad the lag is. It works fine up until that thief in the intro is like "you're ulfric stormcloak *gasp*" then it lags and shows no sign of stopping.
-Operating system: Windows 7 home premium 64-bit (6.1, build 7600)
-Processor (I'm just going to copy what it says because, I have no clue): AMD Athlon? II X4 630 Processor (4 CPUs), ~2.8GHz
-Memory: 6144MB RAM
-DirectX Version: DirectX 11
-Graphics card name: NVIDIA GeForce 9100
Approx. Total Memory of the card: 2923 MB
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, tell me what's wrong with this? I just want to play skryim. I play on the lowest settings and still have not gotten past the intro. I've also done some "fixs" but to no avail. Any info you can provide would be helpful.

I have literally not gotten past the intro. I bought the game yesterday, but borrowed the xbox version from a friend, so i know what to expect.
The "fixs" that i have done are these:
~http://segmentnext.com/2011/11/11/elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-tweak-guide-graphics-and-performance/
~http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-oH33H3sqc
~http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L65TjZ5sgXE&feature=relmfu
I believe that, that is all the "fixs" i've done; none helped.
Do I need to get another graphics card? At this point I have not clue what to do anymore, and i don't want to go out and buy a +60 dollar graphics card, then come back to it still lagging. Any information Is appreciated.

You are exceeedingly lucky that your terrible tinker toy video chip will even START, let alone actually do anything at all. Of course, the fact that the Official Requirements are just crap doesn't help, but there never has been ANY plain onboard video chip that EVER has had a single byte of VRAM of its own, and the requirements seem to demand 512.

Corrected Skyrim Minimum Requirements

* Windows 7/Vista/XP PC (32 or 64 bit)
* Processor: Dual Core 2.3 GHz C2D or equivalent CPU
* 3GB System RAM
* 6GB free HDD Space
* Direct X 9 compliant video card with 512 MB of RAM (and
sufficient performance to actually put that VRAM to use)
* DirectX compatible sound card
* Internet access for Steam activation

http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1350063-unofficial-will-my-pc-run-skyrim-thread-58-w-hardware-guide/

Your graphics card was probably made by someone working in a sweatshop, time to upgrade.

I think it's your GPU.

According to wikipedia your card was dated even when it was released 4 years ago http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GeForce_9_Series

I would get a nvidia card, perhaps a 570 or 580. You will have to shell out the cash if you want a good experience perhaps get a new CPU as well if not a motherboard as well while you have it.

In essence, you may as well build a new PC or get an Xbox.

Friend, you need a $260 vidcard to play Skyrim.
(You can buy an okay vidcard cooler for $60 bucks.)

Pfffffff. I don't want my eyes to bleed from the awesomeness of skyrim graphics. I just want to play the damn game, low setting with atleast 15-25 fps.
Don't really care much for graphics. And I said that i don't want to go out and buy a 60 dollar graphics card, then come back home and find out that that wasn't even the problem in the first place. In other words, waste 60 dollars.

By definition, a graphics card is on its own entirely separate circuit board. Onboard video such as this bit of extremely weak sauce is buried within the mainboard's chipset ASICs.

It is such ridiculously bad crap, as already commented, it's a wonder it can do anything at all with Skyrim.

You... want your eyes to bleed from low settings and 15-25 fps?
Okay - go ahead.
You still need to buy a vidcard.
Apparently you can get a GeForce GT 440 GDDR5 for less than $100 bucks.
It does not require a big PSU (power supply).
Good luck with that, it's actually a lot of vidcard for the money - and would be a big improvement for you.
L8R

There are any number of usable real graphics cards in the $60-$80 range that will answer, stateside. The GT 440, if its price actually is as high as $100, is badly overpriced for its performance. Based on the so- minimal desires of the OP for the thread, a $50 card might have sufficed (couldn't find one at Newegg I'd want to suggest, though).

http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php?card1=624&card2=579

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161380

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161308R

as an Nvidia alternative (I just don't get along with AMD/ATI) gt 440 1GB is only $45 after rebate:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814187138

xTx