Modding and Playing MW on a Netbook

by **Sandman101** » Thu Oct 02, 2014 1:10 pm

I have recently had some computer issues with my main gaming laptop. Since I can't afford to fix it ATM, I have been unable to game. I am left with a small netbook Samsung N130 .
XP Home
CPU - Intel Atom N270 / 1.6 GHz
Cache - L2 - 512 KB
RAM - 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM
Graphics Processor - Intel GMA 950

System Lab Requirements said it would not run Morrowind. In fact it passed everthing except the graphics. said Morrowind needed 32mb GPU to run and I only had 128 :chinscratch:

Gave me a 1% for it.
I was able to install MW Goty and work in the CS. While chatting with WH-Reaper, I decided to give it a try.
Low and behold it ran. and quite well. Much better than I anticipated. Since there is no way i can play an un modded game, I started downloading. :hoorah:

After building a sizeable game I decided it was time to optimize the game for playability.

Since The netbook does not have a disk drive I use ISODIsk to make a copy of my MW disk and mount it with the same program.
I have also hooked up a larger monitor and a Keyboard to make things easier. Esentialy the netbook is a tower.
I am runing Morrowind, Tribunal and Bloodmoon with the North american patch 1.6.1.1820

I only have 2 choices for resolution from the launcher.
800 X 600 or 640 X 480
And of course Pixel Shading is off.(wether land is reflected on water)
I am using 800 X 600

Utilities
Wyre Mash, MLOX,MCP.

List of mods:

Code: Select all: Morrrowind, Tribunal, Bloodmoon Morrowind Code patch Morrowind Patch Project Greater Dwemer Ruins HELLUVA Armor and Weapons White Wolf of Lokken Mountain Rise of House Telvanni Tamriel Rebuilt Wyrmhaven Tomb of the Snow Prince The Lost Artifacts of Morrowind Projectile Overhaul Fey Replacer All Destinations The Hostiles Trade Disputes Multi Mark Scroll Upgrade Lothavor's Legacy Suran Underworld Hide the Skooma Take My Place Apostates of Oblivion Mixed Guards Julan Ashlander Companion Better Clothes Clean Official Mods Daedric Sorcery The Black Mill A Call to Issilar Enhanced Economics Velas Manor Creatures XI Less Generic NPC's Birth Signs are More Fun Art of War Museum Sris Alchemy Serabul New Gnaar Mok Buyable Ghorak Manor Almalexia's Armor Witchwood OB_Style Auto Quivers And Bows Arcane Archery Magical Missions The Neverhalls ForgottenHalls Bound Weapon Replacer Dwemer Armor Replacer Chest Home Advanced Herbalism Better Bodies Slof's Better Beasts Tombs Expanded The Glory Road THE UNDERGROUND Caldera Fight Club Unique Dremora Stanegau Isle Amalyan Temple Haldenshore Thorns Lament Helios Keep ENOUGH DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH More Detailed Places 2013 The Sable Dragon Dreamers Expansion *espless mods Morrowind Music Overdose AOF Potions AOF Skies Improved Magic Item Shimmer Effect Redux Magic Border Icon Replacers Ultimate Icon Replacer Unique Finery Replacer Error Markers (Several mods require more than one file for patches, compatability and choices. My current total count of active mods is 106...for today anyway...maybe)

Begining Tests:
Balmora Silt Strider - 9
Seyda Neen - 10
Cavern - Addamasartus 12-20
Ext. Wilderness 10-20

INI tweaks:

Code: Select all: First, make a copy of you ini first and tuck it away. So you can start over if needed. Show FPS=0<----change this to 1 to see the FPS at the bottom right Max FPS=240<---lower this to increase stability by capping the FPS \ (Set it to the refresh rate of you monitor or lower) Disable Audio=0 <----disabling sound, this can break mods, so I don't recomend doing it Screen Shot Enable=0<-----change this to 1 to make screenshots in game ShowHitFader=1 <------this is the red circle that is around your screen when you take damage. 1 on 0 off UseLinear=1<-----change this to 0 UseQuadratic=0<---and this to 1 to add dynamic lighting QuadraticValue=16.0<-----playing with this will change the lighting to suite your needs ...scroll way down to [Water] MaxNumberRipples=75<---lower this for low end systems .... At [PixelWater] SurfaceFPS=25<---I lower this on low end systems, a little ... At [Weather] Rain Ripples=1<-----change this to 0 to have no ripples in waters when raining /to something else .... At [Weather Rain] Max Raindrops=450<-------on a lower end system cut this to 25 or 50 \ same line for snowflakes if you have bloodmoon ... At [Weather Thunderstorm] Max Raindrops=650<-------another to lower, as much as you want/need

Tests at this point showed at Seyda Neen and Balmora Silt strider were about a 1 point improvement at 11 and 10.
Interiors running between 20 to 30.
Exterior wilderness(traveling) was between 10 - 25 averaging 15

I Kept these improvements

*FPS Optimizer 2.0

Balmora Silt Strider - 6
Seyda Neen - 8
Cavern - Addamasartus - I missed this one on this go around
Ext. Wilderness -14 - 18

As you can see it makes things worse. Tried with both novice mode and custom setting

I did not keep FPS Optimizer 2.0

*FPS Optimizer 1.96
Average FPS set to 15, Enabled anything that said would improve FPS/performance.
Balmora Silt Strider - 14
Seyda Neen - 12
Cavern - Addamasartus 17-25
Ext. Wilderness 15-25

Although there is a slight improvement, there is a fog on everything(except at night) that is very detracting.

I did not keep FPS Optimizer 1.96

*Ultimate Morrowind AntiMod
Balmora Silt Strider - 15
Seyda Neen - 12
Cavern - Addamasartus N/A - Doesn't affect interiors
Ext. Wilderness 17-20 - I would expect this to vary wildly depending on how much was removed from your current area.
Area outside of Seyda Neen seem to have a steadier FPS.

I Kept these improvements

Finally, I Use a program called Advanced System Care. It had a feature called Game Booster. There are several others on the market though. Features and setting vary but generally they turn off un-needed servies while gaming to free up resources, Defrag, and check you system drivers to see if they need updating.

Balmora Silt Strider - 14
Seyda Neen - 12
Cavern - Addamasartus - 17 -20
Ext. Wilderness - 17 -20

Overall my test with Game Booster seems to show that FPS didn't increase any but smoothed it out from being as jumpy.

I hope this helps someone. I just wanted to demonstrate that by carefully selecting your mods you still enjoy a playable game on something that you wouldn't suspect would run Morrowind.