Building Oblivion

[Xelene]

Update on 4GB Patch. This is indeed the trick to stabilising Oblivion, the base game will crash whenever more than 1.8GB is used (easy to do with mods). If you have the disk version you are lucky, the patch works fine.

If you have the Steam version the patch will not work. There is a workaround if you own a copy from Steam, but it's borderline against the rules here so I will only say look at OBSE/src/obse/loader_common/EXEChecksum.cpp line 224.

I've just had a chance to test this by running Oblivion in windowed mode with Task Manager running. It has fixed both my framerate issues and crash to desktops and it's fairly easy to see why.

A fresh game loading into the Imperial Docks area with QTP3/RAEVWD/Better Cities/Full Sliders and a bunch of other stuff uses around 1.7GB (without people replacers etc loaded), as soon as I zoned into the tunnel RAM usage hit 2GB. This would have been an instant crash to desktop on an unpatched Oblivion. Fast Travelling to the Dock area of Anvil took memory up to 2.4GB.

I took out Streamline as the guy who made OSR recommends against it, left the framerate capped at 30fps (enough for me and gives the game engine time to breathe for handling housekeeping/ai etc), did a full install of Better Cities with all districts and open cities. I also used OSR's heap replacement, using mode 6.

Framerates seemed to hover between 20-30fps in the Docks, though improved once everything loaded up. 30fps constant everywhere else. I suspect a faster CPU would have better framerates here, my i7 920 is only moderately overclocked to keep power/noise/heat down.

(WITH FULL SLIDERS)

 

[Xelene]

I mostly just wanted it to save a version before I started putting in gameplay mods.

copy pasta

 

[Xelene]

Finally. Done. Stable Oblivion with a lot of Graphics mods at a playable framerate. All sliders on max.

 

[Xelene]

Sneak Preview:




Images hosted with ImageShack.us

 

[Xelene]

Think i will probably go through the instructions from the first few posts. Is there anything noteworthy missing?

I'll be doing a major revamp this weekend (probably). This is what I am running currently:

Bain Packages:

000 - ==0000 Pre Install==
++ 001 - 0001 Core Meshes (PyFFI).7z (F953ECF4) (Installed)
++ 002 - 0002 Core Official DLC (clean).7z (B4D8D620) (Installed)
003 - ==0100 OBSE==
++ 004 - 0101 (OBSE) Elys Universal Silent Voice 0.93.rar (4249925D) (Installed)
++ 005 - 0102 (OBSE) Fast Exit 2.0.rar (33FF14FA) (Installed)
++ 006 - 0103 (OBSE) OSR 4.1.24.rar (028292DD) (Installed)
++ 007 - 0104 (OBSE) WeOCPS.rar (6FD1583E) (Installed)
++ 008 - 0110 OBGE_Core-30054-3-0-1.rar (2CCFE406) (Installed)
++ 009 - 0111 OBGE_Standalone_Effects-30054.rar (AF6AE740) (Installed)
++ 010 - 0112 OBGE_Parallax_Occlusion_Mapping-30054-3-0-2.rar (F8A6A029) (Installed)
++ 012 - 0115 OBGE Liquid Water-37825.rar (165A8213) (Installed)
++ 013 - 0116 OBGE_Luminance_HDR-30054-3-0-2.7z (0BA8543D) (Installed)
++ 014 - 0120 Shader Config.rar (8A3BDB08) (Installed)
015 - ==0200 Large Texture Packs & Mesh Replacers==
++ 016 - 0201 QTP3 Redimized (PyFFI).rar (89C89281) (Installed)
++ 017 - 0202 Bomrets Texture Pack for SI (PyFFI).rar (56150F5F) (Installed)
++ 018 - 0203 Color & Normal Maps.rar (DC352D69) (Installed)
019 - ==0300 Unofficial Patches==
++ 020 - 0301 Unofficial Oblivion Patch 3.2.0.rar (1D412E9E) (Installed)
++ 021 - 0302 Unofficial Shivering Isles Patch 1.40.rar (C1027DD0) (Installed)
++ 022 - 0303 Unofficial Mods Patch 1.5.rar (E5FDF0AD) (Installed)
++ 023 - 0304 Unofficial Patch Supplementals 334.rar (638D90F4) (Installed)
024 - ==0400 RAEVWD Meshes==
++ 025 - 0401 RAEVWD 1.9.2.rar (4F18DDCB) (Installed)
++ 026 - 0402 RAEVWD SI Edition 1.7.rar (BEB40E67) (Installed)
027 - ==0500 World Textures==
++ 030 - 0503 Improved Signs Complete (PyFFI).rar (70F6883B) (Installed)
++ 031 - 0504 Improved Doors, Trees & Flora (PyFFI).rar (BDE5556D) (Installed)
++ 032 - 0510 Improved Bravil.rar (FB922525) (Installed)
++ 033 - 0511 Improved Bruma.rar (5ECF321F) (Installed)
++ 034 - 0512 Improved Chorrol.rar (4970BFE2) (Installed)
++ 035 - 0513 Improved Skingrad.rar (B39FF1CF) (Installed)
++ 036 - 0520 Koldorns Ayleid Ruins Textures.rar (EA8F010A) (Installed)
037 - ==0600 Environment Improvers==
++ 038 - 0602 Enhanced Vegetation.rar (3E45B36F) (Installed)
++ 039 - 0603 Alive Waters (PyFFI) (Clean).rar (8FEF6FE5) (Installed)
++ 040 - 0605 Natural Habitat (PyFFI).rar (84A203AC) (Installed)
++ 041 - 0606 Rainbows in Tamriel (PyFFI) (Clean).rar (FC197633) (Installed)
++ 042 - 0607 Night Skies Combo.rar (ECF6DFF4) (Installed)
++ 043 - 0608 Clocks of Cyrodiil (PyFFI) (Clean).rar (ACD6CC7F) (Installed)
044 - ==0700 New Areas==
++ 045 - 0701 Valenwood 1.02.0 Full (PyFFI).rar (CCEA0B45) (Installed)
++ 046 - 0702 ElsweyrAnequinaV3 Dec2010 (PyFFI).rar (C0F3E12A) (Installed)
047 - ==0800 Unique Landscapes==
++ 048 - 0800 Unique Landscapes (PyFFI).rar (35696FBD) (Installed)
049 - ==0900 Places==
++ 050 - 0901 Tonas Mods Store.rar (F9D6B686) (Installed)
++ 051 - 0902 Glenvar Castle V2_10 (clean) (PyFFI).rar (BC185368) (Installed)
++ 052 - 0903 Frostcrag Reborn (PyFFI).rar (8C8962D3) (Installed)
++ 053 - 0904 Kvatch Rebuilt 1.1 (clean) (PyFFI).rar (40C2665C) (Installed)
++ 054 - 0905 Elsweyr Plantations.rar (0629CD54) (Installed)
++ 055 - 0905 Reaper's Anequina's Manor V_3 (Clean) (PyFFI).rar (E078A7E8) (Installed)
++ 056 - 0950 Compat Kvatch Frostcrag.rar (9910F284) (Installed)
++ 057 - 0951 Frostcrag Reborn - Snowdale patch v1_3-13834.7z (6778B185) (Installed)
058 - ==1000 Better Cities==
++ 059 - 1001 Better Cities Permanent Resources 4.9.0 (PyFFI).rar (C558FA6A) (Installed)
++ 060 - 1002 Better Cities Resources 4.9.6 (PyFFI).rar (594BE1CB) (Installed)
++ 061 - 1003 Better Cities 4.9.7 (PyFFI).rar (FFA18112) (Installed)
++ 062 - 1004 Let the People Drink 2.5 (PyFFI).rar (16FF5E2B) (Installed)
063 - ==1100 Final Environment Tweaks==
++ 064 - 1101 All Natural 1.31 (PyFFI).rar (8572F1B9) (Installed)
++ 065 - 1102 Animated Window Lighting System 5.5.3 (PyFFI).rar (A45457C5) (Installed)
++ 066 - 1103 Immersive Interiors (PyFFI).rar (F25EE7E3) (Installed)
++ 067 - 1104 Ambient_Dungeons 1.3.1.7z (462A6069) (Installed)
068 - ==1200 RAEVWD Additional Textures==
++ 070 - 1202 RAEVWD Elsweyr Anequina V2.rar (C24FEB03) (Installed)
++ 071 - 1203 RAEVWD Koldorn Ayleid Ruins.rar (68860D68) (Installed)
072 - ==1500 Items==
++ 073 - 1501 Alluring Potions & Wine (PyFFI).rar (FF8E070F) (Installed)
++ 074 - 1502 Book Jackets (PyFFI).rar (A635A3F7) (Installed)
++ 075 - 1503 Glittering Prizes (PyFFI).rar (ED88EDD2) (Installed)
++ 076 - 1504 Improved Amulets And Rings (PyFFI).rar (8B4E44D4) (Installed)
++ 077 - 1505 Improved Fruits Vegetables and Meats (PyFFI).rar (50789ED0) (Installed)
078 - ==2000 Races==
++ 079 - 2001 Rens Beauty Pack.rar (6EB82CDC) (Installed)
++ 080 - 2002 High Imperials.rar (0910E076) (Installed)
++ 081 - 2003 Elves of Lineage II.rar (9858D3C0) (Installed)
++ 082 - 2099 Tamriel NPCs Revamped v106.rar (2B5019AD) (Installed)
083 - ==2100 Body Replacers==
++ 084 - 2101 HGEC.rar (C11B5CFB) (Installed)
++ 085 - 2103 Maximum Compat Skeletons 1.0.rar (29DF888F) (Installed)
++ 086 - 2104 Hires Textures HGEC.rar (C5858DBA) (Installed)
++ 087 - 2105 NoMaaM BBB Animation Replacer 3.0.rar (7B0A5D60) (Installed)
088 - ==2200 Clothing & Armour==
++ 089 - 2201 Undies Underneath! 4.4.7.rar (9DE4B8CC) (Installed)
++ 090 - 2202 EVE HGEC BBB Stock Equipment.rar (EC4B334B) (Installed)
++ 091 - 2203 Capes and Cloaks.zip (A36DF99B) (Installed)
++ 092 - 2210 Adelina.rar (1F877887) (Installed)
++ 100 - 2210 R18PN Eisen Platte Armor.rar (E975496C) (Installed)
++ 101 - 2210 R18PN Leere Armor W.rar (5AEFCFEA) (Installed)
102 - ==3000 Gameplay Changers==
++ 103 - 3001 Alternative Start 1.66.rar (56A913BC) (Installed)
++ 104 - 3002 Quest Award Leveller.rar (9ED3C3EC) (Installed)
++ 105 - 3003 Reneers Guard Overhaul.rar (D269BF91) (Installed)
106 - ==Last==

 

[Xelene]

Problem already I install Wyre Bash but I can't find it?

Also when I try and move the OBMM it just stays in the Oblivion folder.

Steam copy BTW.

Wrye Bash is in %Oblivion%\Mopy
OBMM needs to be in Oblivion folder

My recommendation has changed to use Wrye Bash wherever possible, wait until the weekend for a rewrite / new guide.

 

[Xelene]

Unique landscapes or Open Cities,

Which one is better in people's opinions?

I've just got this in the steam sale and I intend to mod it

Use Better Cities /w Open Cities + Unique Landscapes.

 

[Xelene]

Sneak Preview:

Note, haven't put all the multithreaded tweaks on this install of Oblivion yet - so framerates are a bit lower. I've found with an unoptimised Oblivion that fps dip quite a bit when you are moving as the game is stalling on loading textures geometry - and pick up if you stand still. One of the tweaks is enabling the background file loader which runs that in a separate thread (or core even) helping fps. I will also have a go with running it off the SSD, but that can wait as it's Friday night and pub time!

 

[Xelene]

Thanks guys - changed the cap to 60fps and now its smooth.

I have two more questions:

1) I like how I have the brightness for outside, but in the prison sewers it was unbearably dark and I had to crank up the brightness. Any mods or fixes for this?

2) Any single mods that improve the NPCs faces?

2) Tamriel NPCs Revamped v106

 

[Xelene]

Just a quick tip for anyone who didn't know - Oblivion has no anisotropic filtering, so force it to 16x using nHancer, or your control panel and it makes an enormous difference. Goodbye paths that go blurry 10 feet up the road.

The next release of OBGE has this built in which will have much better performance than running via the control panel.

 

[Xelene]

I still get pop-in of fairly close trees, grass and architecture even with AEVWD.

Anything I can do about that?

The ini tweaks & 4gb patch will help with this. It's getting added to the new version of the guide soon(tm). Shouldn't have architecture pop up tho.

 

[Xelene]

So is that your order of installation?

I believe its his load order. BOSS should sort that out for you if you follow his guide.

It's my install order, chosen so that the right mods overwrite the right files. Boss handles load order. I'll tweak this a bit more TBH. Unofficial Patches should go before Texture packs.

 

[Xelene]

There's a copy of the original post, it's linked right at the top of the first post.

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18291473

 

[Xelene]

Is there some sort of Crysis shader going on in OP's pics? It's like the shading engine has changed dramatically

Yes Quite a few new shaders...

 

[Xelene]

Can we combine some mods from the new post to the old one if theres any new?

I'm not going to update the old post, and to be honest this version won't have quite so much depth on mods to add. It's more about showing you the best way to get stuff installed and working right, there will be a big linkfest and suggested install order at the end. You can certainly pick stuff that's new in this version and add it to the old version install yourself.

 

[Xelene]

Ok thanks

Also is it better to have the fade high or low in graphics settings?

All the way to the right!

 

[Xelene]

I have a bit of a problem the Fast Exit isn't working for me

Do you have OBSE installed, what are the contents of Oblivion\Data\Obse\Plugins?

 

[Xelene]

Do you have Steam Community enabled In Game?

 

[Xelene]

Also I am on the All Natural part now and there isnt a file called Real Light Fixes.

Probably changed in the few months since I wrote the Original guide, not needed anymore I guess.

 

[Xelene]

Ok dumb question - but what is meant by "top level"?

The example shows you have extracted into the folder "Unofficial Oblivion Patch v3_2_0" - that is the top level folder. We've moved all of the stuff from Data up one level so you have textures, meshes etc at the top. Remember it needs to be structured so if you took the rar/zip and put it in Oblivion\Data and chose to "extract here" all those files would be overlayed correctly. You would select all of the stuff on the right hand side of the explorer window (except the now empty Data folder) and make an archive from that.

These packages will usually have a mixture of folders called Textures, Meshes, Sound, OBSE & Shaders (plus some other stuff less often). You should never have Data here (because if you extracted that then you'd have Oblivion\Data\Data which is wrong)

That any clearer?