Skyrim

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Vano89

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Vano89

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About this mod

Hi-Res DLC is too much for your pc? Try this mod!
Texture resizing and optimizations to save VRAM and reduce stuttering, updated with DLCs Hi-Res textures.
Multiple installation options.

--Now NMM and Wrye Bash compatible!--

Permissions and credits
Changelogs

-- BSA version of the mod HERE--


I STRONGLY recommend you to use the Unofficial High Resolution Patch by Quarn and the Unofficial Patch Project Team, it's a must-have!!
Please use the "Compatible Version" in the Download section.




//Description\\


Vanilla game uses LOTS of low resolution textures (512, even 256) that have been replaced (by the Hi-Res DLC) with 2048 counterparts, that look a lot better but are also very taxing for people with 1gb of VRAM or less.

So here's what I've done: I have manually compared Vanilla and Hi-Res textures and, when the resolution difference was like above (512 vs 2048), I have resized them to 1024, using the original DXT compression to avoid errors (thanks DDSopt!), still an improvement over Vanilla but less VRAM demanding.





//One mod, three ways to use it!\\


All in all I have resized 500 textures, but there are many other Hi-Res textures (2048 resolution) that I haven't touched, because their Vanilla counterparts were already 1024, so were already fine...
What to do then? Here's the idea... it's all up to YOU:

  • Hybrid (1024+2048):This "version" of the mod uses my new 1024 textures (in place of vanilla 512 ones) BUT keeps loading the great looking 2048 hi-res textures from Hi-Res BSAs when the vanilla ones are already 1024. This means that you're not going to save much VRAM, but it's a start!

  • Hybrid + Vanilla normal maps:Works the same way of Hybrid, the game will still load the remaining textures from Hi-Res 2048 BSAs, BUT Vanilla normal maps will be used (much smaller but also worse). Thanks to RebelMax for the idea!

  • Full 1024 (AKA Standalone):Doesn't need the Hi-Res DLC , because ONLYmy resized 1024 textures (in place of vanilla 512 ones) are used, all the missing ones will still be loaded from vanilla (or DLCs) texture BSAs (because they are already 1024). This means that the VRAM usage will not be much higher than without the mod but you'll get rid of many bad looking 512 vanilla textures!




//So...which version should I use?\\


It all depends on how much VRAM your graphic card has and what performances problems you're having:


Hybrid (1024+2048): Reduces VRAM usage of about 80/100 mb so should be used by people with 1gb or more cards that want to limit stuttering/hitching problems or just reduce stress on their PC.

Hybrid (1024+2048) + Vanilla NormalMaps: Greatly reduces VRAM usage, suggested for 1gb or 896mb graphics cards, should fix any frame drop or stuttering! Should work even for 512 mb gfx.

FULL 1024: For graphics card with less than 1gb (suggested for 512 mb cards) or people that just can't run the game with the original Hi-Res DLC.


REMINDER: my Hi-Res 1024 Reduced textures cover many 'armors', 'weapons', 'clothes', 'creatures' and 'clutter' files but doesn't touch architectural textures (Vanilla ones were already 1024), so you'll not get improvements everywhere in the game!





//First time installation\\


Updating from 1.1 to 2.0? Go to the next chapter!!


During installation (both with NMM, Wrye Bash or manually) it's easy to choose between the different versions of the mod BUT you'll still have to make a couple of decisions:

  • "Hi-Res" or "Vanilla" Secondary stuff: contains secondary stuff (like boots, gloves and NPC clothes), choose ONE of the 2.
    Vanilla secondary stuff saves more VRAM, Hi-Res looks better.
  • Vanilla optionals ('trees', 'effects', 'dragons' and 'characters'): choose these just if you still have performance problems!


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After you installed the Main files above it's almost over, just follow the rest of the instructions are you're good to go!


  • Full 1024 (AKA Standalone):

1. Disable in Skyrim launcher HighResTexturePack01.esp, HighResTexturePack02.esp, HighResTexturePack03.esp (if you have them)

2. Play!!



  • Hybrid (1024+2048) AND Hybrid + Vanilla normal maps::

1. Make sure that HighResTexturePack01.esp, HighResTexturePack02.esp, HighResTexturePack03.esp are ACTIVE in Skyrim launcher or NMM

2. Play!!







//How to UPDATE from 1.1 to 2.0\\


Since the 1.1 version of my mod Bethesda has changed its behaviour about .esp and loose files so now there's no need to modify skyrim.ini anymore.

Just follow this instructions:


1. Download the UPDATE PACK and install it manually (or you can download the complete pack and update it thru NMM)

2. Revert to default the "Archive" section of Syrim.ini (Documents\My Games\Skyrim)
You can copy-paste this:

[Archive]
sResourceArchiveList=Skyrim - Misc.bsa, Skyrim - Shaders.bsa, Skyrim - Textures.bsa, Skyrim - Interface.bsa, Skyrim - Animations.bsa, Skyrim - Meshes.bsa, Skyrim - Sounds.bsa
sResourceArchiveList2=Skyrim - Voices.bsa, Skyrim - VoicesExtra.bsa


3. Now the instructions are the same of First time installation, choose the version of the mod you are already using and follow the next instructions:



  • Full 1024 (AKA Standalone):

1. Disable in Skyrim launcher HighResTexturePack01.esp, HighResTexturePack02.esp, HighResTexturePack03.esp (if present)

2. Play!!



  • Hybrid (1024+2048) AND Hybrid + Vanilla normal maps::

1. ACTIVATE in Skyrim launcher or NMM HighResTexturePack01.esp, HighResTexturePack02.esp, HighResTexturePack03.esp

2. Play!!






//Credits\\
GibMonkey and many others for the idea
JDFan, VirusType2 for the initial help
msxyz for the idea of keeping as an option Vanilla secondary elements
RebelMax for the idea of using Vanilla normals to save VRAM
z929669 for a lot of help and useful advices!
Ethatron for his great DDSopt tool and a lot of help about how to use it
alt3rn1ty for teaching me how to create a Wrye Bash Wizard!
krist2 and Hionimi for letting me use their HD Textures DLC fix mod (ver. 1.0-1.1 only)

//Tools\\
DDSopt by Ethatron for resizing and DXT compression
Photoshop + Nvidia DDS Plugin
WinMerge 2.1 for comparing and choosing Vanilla normal maps