Starfield mod brings huge performance improvements on PC! See how to use

Shortly after Starfield’s release on PC, a modder known as Archhost created a mod that enables disk caching for Starfield. The mod improves the in-game asset streaming process and reduces disk usage. The Disk Cache Enabler mod allows you to improve the game’s performance, especially for systems where the game is installed on HDDs.

The modification causes some assets to be stored in cache and do not need to be retrieved from the HD all the time, which greatly reduces disk usage. The benefits of the mod are most noticeable on HDDs, but there is also a small improvement in stability and performance on SSDs.

Disk usage without the mod (above) and disk usage with the mod (below)Fonte:  Nexus Mods

Explaining how this modification works, its creator points out that “workloads in games are quite predictable. Like character animation, footstep sounds, textures or anything else, they will end up being used again and will not be changed.”

Therefore, “without the file cache, the system has to read from the disks whenever necessary, which results in a considerable impact on the performance of slow drives like the HDD.” The mod adds the cache of this data precisely to avoid these problems.

How to install Disk Cache Enabler mod

The Nexus Mods page lists three ways to implement the modification in Starfield. However, I highlight one of them that seems to be more practical and with a greater chance of compatibility, including with the Xbox Game Pass version of the game.

Firstly, you need to install another mod, called Starfield Script Extender (SFSE), which is on Nexus Mods on this page here. To install, simply follow the steps below:

1. Copy the “dll” and “exe” files to the Starfield folder. Typically it is located in C:\Program Files\Steam\SteamApps\common\Starfield\. Don’t put them in your data folder.
2. Ignore the src folder. It is only there for programmers.
3. Make sure Steam is running, then launch the game by running sfse_loader.exe.

With this step already done, now just install the software itself. Disk Cache Enabler. To do this, simply extract the mod files into the Starfield folder and start the game from SFSE.