Best Skyrim Graphics Mods: Before and After
Update: For a total Skyrim graphics, mechanics, and content overhaul, view our newest guide!
After posting our recent article about the best graphics mods out for Skyrim, we had to put together the best possible comparison to truly showcase the wondrous power of the modding community; this graphics comparison experiment uses a native PC copy of Skyrim set to the maximum graphics settings and an ultra-modded, heavily-tweaked version of Skyrim that is otherwise "beyond max." We'll let the pictures do the talking -- the mods used are described in depth below all of them. If you want to make Skyrim less gray, this is your ticket.
We kept all times, weather patterns, and locations identical (or nearly so). Images on the right are modded; left are native.
A great texture comparison by NebuLa
Because you're wondering: Console Code "fw 10fef8" (without quotes).
If you want to make your copy of Skyrim look remotely like this, it's relatively easy and most of the mods used were outlined in our previously-linked graphics mod list. You'll also need the Skyrim 4GB mod to fix inevitable crashing problems that are experienced with graphically enhanced iterations of Skyrim. Other crash fixes are also found in this article.
Mods List
Lighting, Shading Effects, View Distance:
- FXAA Post-Process Injector (Preset 4)
- Enhanced View Distance
- Realistic Smoke and Embers
- Alternate Sun Glare
- Skyrim Enhanced Shaders
- Enhanced Night Skyrim
Texturing & Environs
- Skyrim HD - 2K Textures
- Realistic Water Textures
- Realistic Rain Ripples
- Vurt's Skyrim Flora
- HD Furniture & Barrels
- Improved Rock & Mountain Textures (4096 version)
- Landscape Texture Pack
Characters, Models, Items
Note that we do not take responsibility for any loss of failure or bugs that should arise as a result of your modding endeavors; however, if you do require help, feel free to post in our comments below or in our forums.
You should refer to our crash guide for more detailed support.
Note: Make backups of all files before attempting to install mods. You should back up all saved files just in case. These are typically stored in (C:\Users\[User]\My Documents\My Games\Skyrim).
Some of these mods may be conflicting in some form or other, but installation order will typically resolve conflicts as it will overwrite non-compatible files as they install.
These are the best graphics possible for Skyrim with the current mods, and we give our love to the modders that helped make it all possible. If you're looking to make the game look better than it natively did, these are the best graphics mods for Skyrim to do so.
For those wondering, the system specs of the modded version are as follows:
- Intel Core i7 930, ~3.0GHz hyperthreaded Nehalem Quad-Core
- 12GB 1600MHz (OC) Triple Channel Memory
- NVIDIA Superclocked GTX 580
- 1920x1080 resolution
I run around ~40-65 FPS with the mods installed on maximum settings and 1920x1080 resolution. With 3D Vision activated (which we reviewed here), I average 15-30 FPS, depending on locale (I will no doubt need to lower my view distance to better work with 3D Vision).
~Steve "Lelldorianx" Burke and FJ "GT" Ybarra.
Big thanks to GT for putting up with my director's chair demands for screenshot positioning!
-
2012-12-23 14:05:19 | Xuxu - Dang, another bad graphics overhaul
This is not good. Looks like a cartoon version of Skyrim, as the saturation was increased to the point of headaching.
-
2012-09-18 18:02:49 | AnimateDream
The modded shots all look over saturated. Sussana in the last shot looks like a carrot.
-
2012-04-13 14:36:46 | Lelldorianx
@Mamado: A lot of these mod files are now old or outdated and have since been replaced (this is quite an old post). We did an updated post here:
http://www.gamersnexus.net/features/gg/789-complete-skyrim-graphics- content-overhaul
I would recommend ditching the FXAA Post Process Injector and instead going with "Realistic Colors and Real Nights" (page 2 of the above link).
You can then use it to get much nicer graphics than this old post :)
Hopefully this helps! I think it's mostly an issue with FXAA being sort of old and crappy. The new mods are much better.
-
2012-04-12 06:45:28 | Mamado - What am i doind wrong?
well, i have most of these Mods installed, and my game doesn't look remotely like this..
what makes me pretty sure that something is fifferent is the redish stones (of stairway) in the first picture, and the overall strong red tint in thye rest of the picture, really gives a glare look, and i don't have that at all!
this is probably the work of FXAA but mine just doesn't do that,
i got
-FXAA Post-Process Injector (Preset 4)
-Realistic Smoke and Embers
-Alternate Sun Glare
-Skyrim Enhanced Shaders
-Enhanced Night Skyrim-Skyrim HD - 2K Textures
-Realistic Water Textures
i thought that would be enough to give me the overall look you guys have here, but iw as wrong apparently :(
-
2012-03-01 04:25:22 | Anonymous - re:Stomp wrote:Not sure why people think high detail textures make it more 'realistic'. In fact its quite the opposite. Look straight ahead, bet you can't see any detail in your carpet without looking at it.
Wow, you defiantly are F*ckTarted.
now look down at your carpet, and tell me is it detailed.
when your walking around a new location you are most defiantly going to check out everything, and low res objects are going to catch your eye.only a console gamer would say something like what you just said, go back to playing with your wii
-
2012-02-16 22:04:05 | henry07 - re: re:Lelldorianx wrote:Stomp wrote:Not sure why people think high detail textures make it more 'realistic'. In fact its quite the opposite. Look straight ahead, bet you can't see any detail in your carpet without looking at it.
Generally speaking, it is quite hard to see detail in an object without first looking at it. Just saying.The point is the modded high texture screenshots don't look better, just brighter or louder. The vanilla skyrim is bleak which i'm not a huge fan of but looks very real, just not vibrant.
-
Stomp wrote:Not sure why people think high detail textures make it more 'realistic'. In fact its quite the opposite. Look straight ahead, bet you can't see any detail in your carpet without looking at it.
Generally speaking, it is quite hard to see detail in an object without first looking at it. Just saying.
From Around the Web
The dunmer woman in the background of the last picture is f*ing blue with orange hair... Not really that realistic, though the photos of the inside of Dragonsreach looks fantastic. Might need to download just that one mod.