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If you are currently playing Fallout 4, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition, or Starfield, there's a new mod that you need to know about. Created by modder ‘Archost,’ this plugin modifies how these Bethesda games interact with your computer's operating system, optimizing disk access for better performance. How the Mod Works The Disk Cache Enabler Mod makes these three Bethesda games use your Operating System's file cache. Consequently, this leads to a reduction in the number of times the games access the disk, which can be beneficial for both SSD and HDD owners. According to Archost, this results in fewer instances of freezing and less frequent sound drops during gameplay. Technical Details Archost provided additional technical insights into how this plugin works. On Windows systems, the plugin utilizes the CreateFile() function for file or device access. This function offers various options to fine-tune how the game interacts with the system. Starfield, for instance, uses the Creation Engine and incorporates a dedicated binary reader for file reading, just like many other game engines. Unlike other major engines, however, Starfield uses specific flags for the CreateFile() function: FILE_FLAG_OVERLAPPED, FILE_FLAG_NO_BUFFERING, and FILE_FLAG_SEQUENTIAL_SCAN. The issue arises with the use of FILE_FLAG_NO_BUFFERING, which directs the OS to not keep files in memory after reading. This can lead to performance issues, particularly on slower drives, as the system has to read from the disk whenever the same assets are needed again. Performance Improvements With game workloads being rather predictable—like character animation, footstep sounds, and textures—the plugin capitalizes on caching these elements to minimize repetitive disk reads. Specifically, the mod can reduce average disk access calls per second in Fallout 4 from 1800 to 200. The performance boost is even more pronounced in Starfield. For those with SSDs, while the performance improvement may not be as drastic, the mod still contributes to better I/O-related performance by reducing disk input/output. Download Information The Disk Cache Enabler Mod is available for download for all three games: Skyrim Special Edition Disk Cache Enabler Fallout 4 Disk Cache Enabler Starfield Disk Cache Enabler If you're experiencing stuttering issues in Starfield, this mod could be a potential solution. Bethesda's Recent Update on Starfield In related news, Bethesda released a new patch for Starfield yesterday. While the update addressed an upscaling issue causing some textures to appear blurry, it did not fix the moiré issue. This leaves some textures prone to extreme shimmering. Using this mod can help alleviate this problem. Final Thoughts The Disk Cache Enabler Mod by Archost is highly recommended for anyone looking to optimize their gaming experience in Skyrim, Fallout 4, or Starfield. It offers a pragmatic solution to performance issues, particularly for users with slower HDDs. With improvements in both disk access calls and overall system performance, this mod is an invaluable addition to your gaming setup. Also Read:

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