Harder on performance if followers use separate body meshes?

[Mookeylama]

http://www.loverslab.com/topic/51609-can-i-change-the-weight-of-a-follower/?do=findComment&comment=1464608

 

that topic seems to discuss the claim that using separate body files for npcs and followers can cause a distinct strain on performance. i'm wondering if there's actual evidence of this? would love to hear opinions. thanks

[CGi]

As different body meshes use different textures that are usually at least 2k, this can lead to a performance drop but by how much the performance drops depends on the used hardware.
So aside from texture resolutions: The more unique textures, the more RAM, VRAM and bandwidth will be needed to have a high and stable framerate.
Meshes/polygons itself are no problem unless you use some really old hardware like an 8800GT or GPU/APU with similar specs/performance.

[Androol]

Arguably not that much if the followers are from different race that will however use different textures anyway. Probably the normal map for example may stay the same even with different races but not the diffuse texture.

[winny257]

it is always a hardware thing, all the *better* the less problems!
I use many different body to my followers, in the rule 4K Textures and higher.
like this for example.

 

Vein skin texture for Navetseas CBBE-UNP skin pack by Mirror

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/20156/?

 

I have no loss of performance. 

[Guest]

There's always going to be some sort of tradeoff with these things, how much depends on the individual setup.  Adding a bunch of aesthetic modifications to npcs will make itself felt in towns and cities, and especially if you run civil war or bandit gang type spawners.

 

You don't get anything for free.