Asus N45SF - Skyrim - GT555m

I purchased an Asus N45SF yesterday and was shocked with terrible speeds in Skyrim (using the GT555m). I was averaging about 15fps (using fraps).

I searched forums for hours and pieced the following together (credits to the original uploaders):

1. Download the NVIDIA 290.53 Beta for notebook GPUs:
Drivers - Download NVIDIA Drivers
(Option 3, Verde driver)

1.a Install with custom/clean option

1.b In NVIDIA control panel set these as default 3D settings:

Preferred graphics processor - high performance NVIDIA processor

Settings:
Ambient Occlusion - Off
AF - 8x
AA Gamma - Off
AA - Application Controlled
AA Transparency - Off
CUDA - All
Max pre-frames - 3
Multi-Display - Single display performance mode
Power management - Prefer max performance
Texture filtering - Anisotropic Sample optimisation - off
Texture filtering - Negative LOD bias - clamp
Texture filtering - Quality - Quality
Texture filtering - Trilinear - Off
Threaded optimization - on
Vertical sync - Force off

Click Apply button (bottom right)

2. Install EVGA Precision 2.1.2
EVGA | Software | EVGA Precision

2.a. Set Core Clock to 707Mhz, Memory 1004Mhz
(Save to profile using small down arrow on left window, using right click and select apply at windows startup. You can choose to start minimized from settings menu)

3. Download Throttlestop 4.00
Downloads | Tech|Inferno

3.a. Press TPL button, set Package Power Limit (W): Limit 1 to same value as Limit 2 (for me 43)

3.b. Tick set multiplier and click up arrow to select turbo

3.c Tick 'Disable Turbo'

3.d Press 'Turn On' button and minimize

4. Download the following Skyrim speed patches (I use Nexus Mod Manager)

SkyBoost:
SkyBoost at Skyrim Nexus - Skyrim Mods and community

TESV Acceleration Layer:
TESV Acceleration Layer at Skyrim Nexus - Skyrim Mods and community

Either apply using NMM or manually.

5. In Skyrim Launcher use the following settings:

Graphics Adapter: NVIDIA GeForce GT555m or 635m if that shows up
Aspect Ratio: your default (16:9 for me)
Resolution: your default (1920x1080 for me as using HDMI to 27" monitor)
AA: off
AF: off

Click High button

Click Advanced

Detail Tab:
Texture Quality: High
Radial Blur: Medium
Shadow Detail: Low
Decal: High
FXAA: enabled
Water: Reflect all

View Distance Tab:
Settings default (for high profile)

6. Finally... start the game


Following this I now get a min 30fps at all times.

Seems the main problem was with the CPU throttling which causes stuttering in the game. Throttlestop really saves the day here.

 

Well, what resolution do you have? Becaus with your settings, i get around 45 FPS min, I have N55SF with strongest GT555M version and with 2x AA, medium shadows, everything else maxed out, and new textures Skyrim HD (full version), and I use Skyrim Boost, resolution 1366x768 and I get same 35 FPS, min 31.

 

I used to have problems with my N55SF like yours, but then I took an arrow in the knee.

 

It's not the fps that's bugging me now. It's the auto-shutdown of the laptop mid-game.

Anyone know how to resolve? e.g. increase upper temp limit, decrease voltages etc?

I returned the GT555m to stock frequencies and have disabled turbo boost in throttlestop, but it is still overheating and switching off.

Specs:
ASUS N45SF
BIOS 218
8GB RAM
GT555m (675/900/1350)

 

If it is still overheating, it means either your heatsink is full of dust and you need to clean it (very likely) or the thermal paste on your components has degraded (less likely).

 

Seems BIOS 218 and Throttlestop 4.00 do not play well together. I was using Throttlestop on an earlier BIOS to disable turbo, however once updated to 218 the overheating crashes occur.

Removed Throttlestop and played Skyrim for 4 hours straight without issue

Laptop is only 3 days old, so no dust issues.

So laptop is now running as stock, no overclocks and using performance power setting in windows. FPS still 30 min outside and higher indoors.

 

Where did you purchase your N45SF's? I can not find it anywhere for purchase.

 

Hello,
i am happy owner of ASUS N45SF, but i have a problem with SKYRIM. When i play this game, the laptop is freezing (its mean, that i have to use hard reset). I havethis problem everytime, when i launch SKYRIM. SOmetimes i can play 2 hours without crash, but sometimes i play only 5 minutes and game freeze. I have tried to used new patches another version but nothink happend.
If you have someideas, how to fix it...
Some imprortant info: i watch temperature of laptop and during some crashes was 74\73C (CPU\GPU) so temperature is not a problem.

Thank you
Neo