Help! About computers and Skyrim

[Gameplayer]

So I got a computer I shall call Beast.

 

Beast was a Donation.

MotherBoard EVGA Classified SR-2, kick ass motherboard plenty of available slots

RAM 12 GB on Board, looked all 6 slots full

Hard Drive is SATA III 2.5" 256GB Solid State with 300 MB/s Write 600/s Read

Dual Xeon CPU's @3.2 GHz (2 processors on the same board)

Air Cooled Layout with 13 Fans, these things are all over the computer, even the CPU's have Massive Heat Sinks with a fan directly attached (much larger than anything I've seen)

EVGA GTX 580 with 1.5 GB VRAM

1300 Watt Power Supply

 

 

My Current Computer,

I7-2600 cpu @ 3.40 GHz (it does self clock up during gaming to as high as 4.2GHz yup I have noticed at least that much)

RAM 8GB ( 2 sticks )

2 Fans

EVGA GTX 970 SSC

550 Watt PSU

Hatichi 1 Terrabyte Harddrive

 

I'm considering moving my Hard Drive, Graphics Card, and Swapping RAM Sticks.

 

I'm thinking of running Skyrim off the Solid State Drive, is this ill-advised?

 

Will I be able to run programs off of the Hatichi?  How does that even work with 2nd drives?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[MoonNymph]

I've read that SSDs are great to run the game from as they're quick.

 

You can install a program to any partition on your computer. It's all stored in the registry of where it is. I have a drive for my OS and basic programs like Office and then a 2nd drive with a partition just for games.

[CPU]

For sure move the Graphic Card and keep the SSD as main drive, the rotational can be used as data drive.

 

Skyrim on a SSD runs super-fast. And if you de-compress all the BSA files (loose install) it goes way quicker to load anything (but only on SSD drives.)

 

About the memory. If the new motherboard has 6 slots full, then each RAM piece is 2GB. You may* consider replacing at least two slots with your original ram.

 

* = depending on the ram version, specifications, model, manufacturer, this may lead to a very slow ram access.

 

[Gameplayer]

Hmm, I was told the computer was the best it could be at the time of its build.

 

So perhaps changing RAM is a bad idea then.

 

So the Xeon Processors are faster than my current processor?

 

Making this switch over that's a no-brainer right?  I'm an artist struggling to learn science and technology right now so help is appreciated.

[Gameplayer]

Alright well, I think Im going to start moving the Hardisk and Graphics Card over.

I'm comfortable moving the graphics card, I've done that before.

 

I think I can find a tut on moving the hard disk

[CPU]

Xeon processors are very good in normal computations. But often lack of some direct SSE coding (they are emulated.)

If it is a good one or not depends on the actual Xeon code. (They are a bunch of them)

A "Xeon 5020" is pretty much powerful like a Pentium III

While a "Xeon E7-8895 v3" is a beast.

 

About RAM: all depends on how much compatible are the different pieces.

If the "beast" ones are similar to the ones of your previous PC, then probably you are good.

If they are really different (for example different clock), then they will work as the poorest one slotted.

If they have completely different timing then they may go half the speed of the poorest (this is a rare case.)

 

 

[Gameplayer]

Ok I got it what that number is for,

 

Here

 

Intel ® xeon ® cpu w5580 @ 3.2 GHz , The guy told me this would kick my computer to the curb that I should just swap the modern video card and my hard drive in and keep making mods haha.

 

The rating in the windows says its a 7.8 vs my 5.9 uhh Im thinking I should just get started then.

[CPU]

It is a pretty good one. Comparable to a i7 4GHz of the second last generation.

4 cores and hyper-threading (8 logical cores.)

 

Some advanced SSE3 and SSE4 are emulated. Some SSE4 are missing, some other features (pretty much never used) are missing (AES and TET.)

 

But has a limitation on the memory speed. Latest memory chips of 1.6GHz or 1.8GHz will not be used at full speed.

It overheats a lot, but you said it has a pretty heavy heat pipe.

 

Go for it. Compared to an i7 2600 is pretty much 4 times better.

 

 

[BringtheNoise]

Quick google pulled this up...

http://cpuboss.com/cpus/Intel-Xeon-W5580-vs-Intel-Core-i7-3770K

The Xeon 5580 is slower then a i7 3770, but you only have a i7 2600 or so... so it will probably be faster.

 

The SSD drive has good read speed but not so well on the write speed (still the slow write speed is about 5 times faster then a standard spindle drive so it will be quicker then what you are used to).

 

I run a mix'd bag of crazy in my box.

OS drive is a 120GB SSD, Game drive is a 240GB SSD (Steam, and Mod Organizer are located here), then a couple of spindle drives (1 500GB, 1 1TB, 1 3 TB)... most of my testing and building nif wise is done on the 500 GB and backed up to the 3TB drive (safety first).

 

You can install steam anywhere you want, it defaults to the C:\Program Files\Steam location, but you can actually install it where ever you want.

Mine is B:\Steam (set the 240GB as the B drive in computermanagement). Mod Organizer is B:\Skyrim tools\Mod Organizer\ Nifscope is B:\Skyrim Tools\Nifscope hell Max 2012 is B:\3D Max 2012 (that is 1 gig out of 240 so meh)...

 

Be careful with the ram as that system will probably need matching sticks for all 6 slots (not sure if Intel changed up the way they allow Xeon's to run memory, but it used to be you could only run same sets like 6 2gig sticks or 6 4gig sticks, etc)...

 

Play around and tinker with it... that is how people learn how to build and work on computers.

[Gameplayer]

I've had my Hitachi HD and Video Card in the "Beast" last night.

 

It took opening panels following cords around and looking for similar types but I found the SATA links and where they hook into on the board without a reference

 

I turned it on and got most of it working.  I couldn't do much but surf the files in my drive.  Tried altering permissions but couldn't access my own HD to play games Mod Organizer kept yelling no permission at me.  I installed the Graphics card software and it took less than a minute for completion xD.

 

I swapped everything back to my old computer this Morning to check my messages and stuff.

 

List of To Do

-Get WiFy Software to install (4 internet course)

-Hitachi HD, what gets ported and how (make sure software is actually sitting in like a folder and not desktop ya I work there on some projects)

-->What on this HD stays what goes?

-->How the heck do I access my games or game development tools (Nifskope, Bodyslide/OutfitStudio, Blender, ya a lot of stuff)

-Get my AV software and ready to install

-Win 7 stuff

-->Like the name of the box, updates, that sort of stuff (Got Win7 in a box around here somewhere)

-Re-Associate my new box to my online stuff.

 

I got stuff to do when I finish waking up!

 

[Darkwisdom]

Don't forget that the SR-2 is one of few server boards that can overclock. The SR-2 can overclock BOTH CPUs. It won't overclock to mad, 4.5GHz clocks, but most compatible xeons can overclock to about 4.0Ghz. That's good because skyrim is pretty CPU heavy, that extra headroom will help. 

 

Using an SSD is basically a necessity now they're so cheap, I agree that uncompressing the BSAs is a good idea for SSD installations- the load times go down a few seconds. especially if you're running stuff like ENBs and high textures. 

 

Try and run the least amount of background processes as possible, it can definitely lower framerates on those boards and they're very susceptible to both physical and software interference. 

 

Swap your 970 over to the new one and overclocked, it'll be more powerful than your i7. Also, don't swap the ram - SR2 is both a server board and a 1366 board, it needs triple channel ram. The stuff in your computer is dual channel and won't work properly. For maximum speed, keep the triple channel stuff. However, the Sr2 can hold a massive 48GB of triple channel ram. 

 

Oh and if you want to go SLI for some reason for performance etc, you're in a good position with the SR2 as each and every slot is X16. If you run sli, the second card will run at x8 though I think. But you can put lots of high speed gadgets (like a pci SSD perhaps =p) and they'll run at the best speeds. 

[Gameplayer]

Don't forget that the SR-2 is one of few server boards that can overclock. The SR-2 can overclock BOTH CPUs. It won't overclock to mad, 4.5GHz clocks, but most compatible xeons can overclock to about 4.0Ghz. That's good because skyrim is pretty CPU heavy, that extra headroom will help. 

 

Using an SSD is basically a necessity now they're so cheap, I agree that uncompressing the BSAs is a good idea for SSD installations- the load times go down a few seconds. especially if you're running stuff like ENBs and high textures. 

 

Try and run the least amount of background processes as possible, it can definitely lower framerates on those boards and they're very susceptible to both physical and software interference. 

 

Swap your 970 over to the new one and overclocked, it'll be more powerful than your i7. Also, don't swap the ram - SR2 is both a server board and a 1366 board, it needs triple channel ram. The stuff in your computer is dual channel and won't work properly. For maximum speed, keep the triple channel stuff. However, the Sr2 can hold a massive 48GB of triple channel ram. 

 

Oh and if you want to go SLI for some reason for performance etc, you're in a good position with the SR2 as each and every slot is X16. If you run sli, the second card will run at x8 though I think. But you can put lots of high speed gadgets (like a pci SSD perhaps =p) and they'll run at the best speeds. 

 

Oh.

 

Thanks I needed to know that.

I'm about done with Coffee this morning. 

 

Ok so To do

-Move HD

-Move Vcard

-Install AV

-Install Wireless Software

-Install WinUpdates

-Rename the Computer

-Handle user online accounts like my Steam Profile recognition stuff

-Install Skyrim to the SSD

-Move my ModOrganizer (has my mods) over to SSD

-Re-Install my modding tools, uh back onto the Rotary Hard Disk right?

 

From there I should be able to get back on track with mod developing I think...  thanks so far guys your awesome!

[CPU]

Just remember, after you reainstall Skyrim, that you have some operations to do if you want to mod:

* Unzip the Scripts.rar file

* Install SKSE with the sources .psc

* Change AllowMultipleMaster=1 in the EditorPrefs.ini

* If you use MO, remember that the Skyrim.ini is inside the MO/Profiles/<profile>/ folder

* If you use SkyUI in your mods, download the full source .psc from Shlangster wiki page: https://github.com/schlangster/skyui/wiki

[Gameplayer]

><

 

Thanks for the re-cap on things I'm going to have to re-re-do!

 

I'm kinda moving stuff around on my Rotational Drive to ensure that when I move it to the Beast, that all I have to do is go to Rotation Drive to find the WiFi install program and also got my Norton AV stuff sitting here, double checking passwords and man its a lot of little things here to do.

 

Moved over 15 Gigs of stuff around to ensure its easy to find too, that took some time.

[Gameplayer]

It's alive!

 

I need an adblocker please.

[Darkwisdom]

It's alive!

 

I need an adblocker please.

 

Erm..... Adblock? 

 

Give us a pic or two when it's done, SR-2 rigs are always sexy. 

[Gameplayer]

Cool's

 

I was up last night, trying my best to get everything ported over.  However I'm running into missing dll issue's gotta figure out what this means but I might either use a copy of Win7 to reinstall but was told I also need the various specialty part software stuff for installation as well.

 

Yes I'm learning as I go. 

 

PS got an adblocker er probably shouldn't have typed that in

 

running Winupdates, downloading C++ Redistribute might fix these.

[CPU]

You may want to take the occasion to move to Windows 10. I am using it and it is really good.

Also, keep in mind that many drivers should be updated for your new "beast" (Chipset and mother board, graphic card, etc.)

 

[Gameplayer]

The Beast

 

I was able to just now start up Skyrim, (bear in mind that I just moved my entire Skyrim Installation with full ENB RealVision and about a 1,000 mods worth of stuff that I've carefully tweaked to heck and back), it looks promising but is all over the place at the moment on FPS (dreaded 20-60, I have forced capped 60 I believe atm).

Think weather effects, dynamic sun/shadows/etc, full DOF, and yes many FPS tanking graphics features.  SMIM, full 2K parallax activated via ENB, all of it is in this installation, and numerous 4K packs for stuff like outfits.

 

There are numerous missing dll files, several important software installations skipped (for hardware components), and to say that I should have just nuked Beast's brain clean and re-install everything (OS and all critical component updates) from start is clearly a massive understatement.

 

If after all of that is addressed and the FPS is still not stable I'm thinking the next procedure is to figure out how to get its processors stable clocked into the 4 Ghz range which has up till now been something that was addressed automatically on my other computer.

 

The good news is that there are disks that will soon be in my procession.

 

 

 

[Gameplayer]

I have wiped Beast's Brain Clean.

Re-Installed everything, resolved many missing Win7/DX and other component software extensions.  Installed all Win7 Updates, it was odd that it was going to wait 3 days to validate my copy but I figured that out and got the updates done about 3am.

 

Installed Skyrim via Steam, moved old folder in and overwrote, this appears to cause issue's and Skyrim doesn't want to load at all.  Going to attempt just a base game install and work from there.

 

My drive from old computer has some sort of protections that prevent even entering the USER folder to get the save games off of it.