Section 2: Patches, Fixes & Dependencies

I. Steam Version 4GB Patch

If you own the GOG version you can of course skip this section.

Let’s patch your Steam version of Fallout: New Vegas to utilize all 4GB of RAM that it’s capable of. First, head on over to here and download the main file.

Now place the .exe file in your Fallout: New Vegas directory with the game executables, and run it as an administrator (this isn’t critical if you’ve installed the game outside of ‘Program Files’, but it could still help avoid any problems.) It will create a backup of your original game .exe and replace it with a new, patched one. Once this is done you can delete the patcher for a clean folder, but I recommend leaving the backup there.

Now your Steam version is identical to the GOG version! (Except, you know, the DRM.) So let’s move forward.

Why is this necessary?

Well, in the good old days, most PCs didn’t even have more than 4GB of ram. While 32-bit applications are capable of using up to 4GB, applications such as Fallout: New Vegas were capped to only 2GB so that some was left over for the system. Obviously, this is unnecessary now, and since modding can often be very demanding, we’re going to need the extra 2GB.

II. New Vegas Script Extender (NVSE)

NVSE is a great mod that expands the scripting capabilities of Fallout: New Vegas. It is needed for some mods to work, so we’ll install it now.

You can grab the mod here:

Just follow the instructions on the website to install it, and make sure that from now on when you’re launching a game to use the NVSE executable and not the game launcher. Set this up in Nexus Mod Manager as well, if you launch the game through there.

III. Dependencies

Now that NVSE is installed, we can install some utilities that will provide extra functions to mods. These are required by many mods, and of course some mods in this guide, so there’s no reason not to install them. They don’t alter the game in any way.

IV. Game Fixes

These are three small but important mods for running this game on modern hardware. Install and activate each using Nexus Mod Manager (we’ll install each subsequent mod with NMM now as well):

New Vegas Anti-Crash fixes some bugs that would cause the game to intermittently crash, so it shouldn't do that anymore. New Vegas Stutter Remover removes a very obvious and annoying microstuttering that occurs in gameplay. (Try the game without it, you’ll see what I mean.) OneTweak both enables borderless windowed mode and dynamic processor priority for improved performance, and fixes a cursor bug.

There is one setting you should change in New Vegas Stutter Remover for optimal performance:

Go to your New Vegas game directory

Navigate to Data/NVSE/plugins/sr_New_Vegas_Stutter_Remover.ini

Change the following existing value to a ‘0’:

Master = {

bHookLightCriticalSections = 0

}

You should run the game now to make sure everything is running well. If it is, great! We can move on.

V. Patches

First thing here we’ll install is the Yukichigai Unofficial Patch (YUP). This fixes a boatload of bugs in the game that the creators never got around to. Download the main file and install it with NMM.

We’ll follow that with Unofficial Patch Plus. Similar to YUP, this fixes a lot of bugs in the game, but only ones that Yukichigaki chose not to or couldn’t fix with his mod due to not being dependent on NVSE.

After that, install Collision Meshes. This is an amazing mod that introduces higher resolution collision meshes to the game. Basically, these are meshes that dictate how collisions work. This mod lets you shoot through fences, place items more precisely, and more.

Finally, I’ll end this section with Uncut Wasteland. This one is entirely optional. I use the main file plus NPCs, but you can choose any files you desire. It’s not so much a patch, but not quite an addition either. This mod just adds back in some content that was cut from the original game to increase performance at the last minute. Check out the screenshots if you’re having trouble deciding. It’s adds some really nice details back in.