Tes4Mod:Stabilization and Optimization Mods

In addition to using the mods listed below, keeping mods up to date and installing compatibility patches when they are made available are also very, very helpful for making your setup more stable.

Vanilla Fixes

Unofficial Official Bug-Fixing Modules

Unofficial Oblivion Patch (UOP) v3.2.0 by Quarn and Kivan
The "almost for everyone" mod!
(Wrye Bash) Remove the "C.Water" tag from the UOP.
Unofficial Oblivion Patch Supplemental by Arthmoor
You should get this one too, and install it on top of the UOP.
Unofficial Shivering Isles Patch (USIP) v1.4.0 by Quarn and Kivan
Unofficial Official Mods Patches (UOMPs) v15 by Quarn and Kivan

Other Modules

Animation Fixer by zBobGuy
fixes stuck animations
does not fix corrupted saves
Clean up by Kuertee
Helps prevent save game bloat
Cleans up dead actors and old, invalid records in your save file

NVIDIA Fixes

nVidia Black Screen Fix by Quarn
More Black Screen Fixes
sneak fix, toggle fix by Aphrodite
Wrye Bash's nVidia fix
bashed patch option
right-click on plugin option (modifies original plugins)
:''Note: The Unofficial Oblivion Patch also contains the original NVIDIA Black Screen Fix's changes, but the Bashed Patch catches more cells than the regular Black Screen Fix, including those added by mods. Aphrodite's mods are extra fixes beyond changing the cell fog setting.''

OBSE Plugins

Oblivion Script Extender (OBSE) v18
Fast Exit v2 by Scanti
A "clean quit" module
Get version 2!!
does NOT require Pluggy (or pressing extra buttons)
Clean Quit by Deathless Aphrodite
If, for some reason, Fast Exit does not work in a particular setup, this mod serves exactly the same purpose.
Windom Earle's Oblivion Crash Prevention System (WeOCPS) by Windom Earle
This mod is no longer updated.
This mod circumvents crashes. It does not fix them. Try to stabilize your setup before adding this, especially since it covers up problems that may otherwise be treatable.
Disabling its sounds (a ding played when a crash is prevented) can prevent crashes that this plugin may cause by halting Oblivion's main code for a short while.
This utility is in "alpha" development stage and will remain there
Bethsoft Forum Topic
Windom Earle's Crash-gathering topic
This mod also contains a "clean quit" fix.

Fixes and Patches for Commonly-Used Mods

Alive Waters: Alive Waters Grass Bugs Fix
Natural Weather: RD Natural Weather Unofficial Test Fix
Unique Landscapes + Various Mods: Unique Landscapes Patches
Robert Female - Rough Leather Shoe Fix: Robert F - Rough Leather Shoes Fix
The problem could sometimes cause crashes and the rendering of an odd brown extension from female NPCs.

FPS and Memory Management

The modules below reduce staggering changes in frame rates by capping FPS, keeping it within a specified range, and apply more efficient memory managing techniques. The latter feature is a definite help as far as preventing crashes is concerned. Both of these modules are safe as long as you are cautious about making changes to their INI settings, especially OSR. Streamline is indefinitely in hiatus and beta status. It also has a few quirks, but it has been in beta status for at least a year and is highly recommended by many mod users. Do not let the "beta" status scare you away from the OBSE modules. Many of them are in that state for long periods of time, if not always. The contributions to your game made by the plugins below will far outweigh their imperfections.

Oblivion Stutter Remover (OSR)

Latest beta: v4b1
It smooths stuttering and reduces sudden drops in FPS.
While using OSR and Streamline, many opt to turn off Streamline's StreamSmooth feature, which also caps FPS and reduces stuttering. However, it is less advanced in that feature than OSR.
If using OSR and Streamline's Stream Smooth feature, set the FPS range in SL within the range of OSR's FPS FPS range.
requires OBSE v17 or later
report crashes in the OSR thread on the BethSoft forums

Streamline

Latest version: 3.1 beta (patched)
BAIN-ready version available at TESNexus
''Safer alternative to autosaves, buffer purging, FPS smoothing and more...
Do Not Forget!! Install the 3.1 patch on top of 3.1!
requires OBSE v9 or later
Be aware''' that the StreamSmooth changes your video settings in order to maintain the given FPS range. If the settings changes are a bother, this feature can be turned off in the sl.ini.

Optimization Replacers for Vanilla and SI

Grass

LowPoly Grass by mmmpld
RPG-BlackDragon's LowTriPolygrass by RPGBlackDragon
The grass tweaks are not necessary, but reading them may help if you really need FPS.
OMOD Conversion Data by krull mcroth
Short Grass by Slig
very nice, nicely trimmed-down grass

Sound

Quiet Feet MAX by bunsaki
From mod's description: "highly recommended for users of integrated onboard audio that lack hardware audio support (Laptops/Motherboards)"
Quiet Feet MAX OMOD and OMOD Conversion Data by krull mcroth (orig: bunsaki)
From mod's description: "highly recommended for users of integrated onboard audio that lack hardware audio support (Laptops/Motherboards)"

World Meshes and Textures

Optimized Distant Land MAX 1.1 by bunsaki
These meshes have actually been reduced (not PyFFI-ed) but by manually editing the NIFs
The 50% version's visual loss is minor.
Qarl's Texture Pack III Reduced 1.3 by Bob Markinson
This is the second-most reduced version of QTP3.
The difference between the various versions of QTP3 is the texture size. The meshes are the same.
Reduced Landscape LOD Textures by Blade9722 and Qarl
These are a selection of texture size reductions for BTQ Landscape LODs and Qarl's normals.
By no means are all of these intended for low-end systems.

PyFFI-Optimized Mods & Mod Patches

Optimized Meshes Downloads

Optimized Oscuro's Oblivion Overhaul (OOO) v1.33 meshes by Beyonder (here and TESNexus)
PyFFI-ed OOO v1.34 Beta Patch 5 meshes by olafreinhardweyer (here and TESNexus)
PYFFI Optimized QTP3 Meshes - Fixed by Exiztence
These work for QTP3 regular, reduced and redimized because they all use the same meshes.
It includes all QTP3 patches, including UOP+QTP3 patch meshes.
Optimized KD Circlet's by drmbs76

Already PyFFI Optimized

Animated Window Lighting System and Chimneys (AWLS) by XMarksTheSpot, Brumbek and Ismelda
Armamentarium Complete - Complete Resources by Team Armamentarium
Arthmoor's mods
Better Cities (BC) by Bananasplit, Wolfslady, Reckless, SilentResident, Nernie, Vorians and Ismelda
Faregyl Village by Arthmoor
Mart's Monster Mod 3.7b3 headed by CorePC
Open Cities (OC) by Texian godhugh and Arthmoor
REALLY Almost Everything Visible When Distant (RAEVWD) by Various and Arthmoor
Unique Landscapes mods
Unofficial Oblivion Patch (UOP) by Quarn and Kivan
Unofficial Shivering Isles Patch (USIP) by Quarn and Kivan
Unofficial Official Mods Patches (UOMPs) by Quarn and Kivan
Weather - All Natural by Chong Li, Wrinkly Ninja and Arthmoor
many, many more mods...

See Also
Oblivion Script Extender
Official and Unofficial Patches
Python File Format Interface

External Links
Crash Prevention - TESCSWiki