Perfomance Friendly Snow Particles for OpenMW
⚪ Last updated 2023⚠️ Install Order · 2 steps
Install in this order, then this mod last — most mods fail to load without their framework and dependencies in place.
Preview
🔍 Analysis
- 👍 2.9% endorsement rate — high engagement, a strong quality signal
- 🏆 #55 of 342 Models and Textures mods in this game by downloads
📋 About This Mod
Introduction:
This replacer was created as a result of discussion I had with OpenMW team regarding low fps due to snowing.
If you're an OpenMW player you have probably experienced huge FPS drops because of snow weather. While in version 0. 47 the snow particles are more or less merciful to weak PCs, the situation is way worse in 0. 48 and 0. 49. As I was told this happens because of massive particle overdraw and particles using complex object shaders making overdraw even worse. So what I did to minimize overdraw is reduced particles size and decreased particles speed using nifskope. And it worked like a charm.
If you play on low-end PC or android this mod is a must-have for you. But keep in mind my mod will be redundant once OpenMW developers release an update fixing the particles overdraw so be sure to remove it by that time.
Locking your FPS at 30 might help in case you still get lags. Also turn off soft particles option in launcher if you have it checked. And don't try to mess with snow ini settings since they are not working in OpenMW.
Installation:
Put it in Data Files folder. That's it.
Compatibility:
Compatible and recommended to use with Oh God Snow for Skies.iv and OpenMW
Credits:
My thanks to reporter and devs from gitlab who assisted me:
Abdu Sharif, Cody Glassman and Andrei Kortunov
A snow mesh replacer for OpenMW that aims to reduce FPS drops during snowfall, specifically designed for low-end PCs. It replaces the default snow particles with a more performance-friendly version, making it a practical choice for players struggling with performance in snowy weather.
✨ Key Features
📊 Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Directly addresses a common performance issue—snow-induced FPS drops—with a focused fix.
- Lightweight and straightforward: just a mesh replacer, so it won't bloat your mod list.
- Community-tested with 81 endorsements and 2,800 downloads, showing it works for others.
⚠️ Cons
- Only affects snow particles—if your FPS issues stem from other weather effects, this won't help.
- Last updated in July 2023—may not be compatible with future OpenMW versions, though it's likely still fine.
- No detailed documentation or screenshots provided, so you'll have to test it yourself to see the visual difference.
For OpenMW players on low-end PCs who suffer FPS drops during snow and want a quick, no-fuss fix. Also for anyone who wants a performance boost without changing the game's look drastically. Skip if you're on a high-end rig or if you're looking for visual enhancements—this is purely about performance.
💡 Beginner Tips
- Place the mesh file in your OpenMW data directory, typically under 'meshes' folder, and ensure it overrides the original snow mesh.
- If you use a mod manager like MO2, install it as a separate mod and enable it after other mesh mods to ensure it takes priority.
- Test in a snowy area to see the FPS improvement; if you notice visual glitches, double-check that the mesh path matches the original.
📊 Mod Details
- Game
- Morrowind Mods
- Author
- ffann1998
- Version
- 1.0
- Downloads
- 2,800
- Endorsements
- 81
- Category
- Models and Textures
- Created
- 7/18/2023
- Updated
- 7/18/2023
🔧 How to Install Morrowind Mods
Download from Nexus.
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