Skyrim's biggest modlists, no gaming PC needed

The big Skyrim modlists can ask for 16 GB of video memory and 400 GB of SSD. Shadow PC brings both from the cloud, and you play on your TV, laptop or Mac.

Powered by: NVIDIA RTX DLSS

Also available on:

Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Android TV, Apple TV

On PS5 and Xbox, Skyrim mods stop at 15 GB. On Shadow PC, your load order runs on a real Windows PC.

Skyrim modlists in 2026: heavier than the game itself

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim turns 15 on November 11, 2026, and its modding scene is still growing. Nexus Mods is running a Skyrim Modathon until December 31. The game on its own is light: Bethesda recommends a GTX 780 and 12 GB of disk space.

Modlists are another story. Built with Wabbajack, they install hundreds of mods in one go. Nolvus Awakening takes 406 GB in its Ultra version and asks for 10 to 12 GB of video memory in 1080p or 1440p. LoreRim needs 350 GB on an SSD, and 16 GB of VRAM for its Ultra profile. On PS5 and Xbox, mods come from Bethesda's Creations menu only, with a 15 GB cap and no SKSE.

Shadow PC gives you the PC these lists expect. It's a full Windows PC in the cloud with a dedicated NVIDIA RTX graphics card. Power has 20 GB of VRAM, and every Shadow PC's SSD can grow to 5 TB. Install Steam, Wabbajack and your modlist, then play from your TV, laptop or Mac.

What Skyrim asks for, from vanilla to LoreRim

Figures published by Bethesda and by the modlist teams. Downloads come on top of the install size.

Skyrim, no mods

Recommended spec

Graphics cardGTX 780 3 GB or R9 290 4 GB
Memory8 GB of RAM
Storage12 GB

Nolvus Awakening Redux

1080p

Video memory8 GB (10 GB in 1440p)
Storage372 GB on an SSD
Downloads170 GB

Nolvus Awakening Ultra

1440p

Video memory11 to 12 GB
Storage406 GB on an SSD
Downloads188 GB

LoreRim Ultra

Ultra profile

Video memory16 GB (10 GB on Default)
Memory16 GB of RAM
Processor11th gen Core i7 or AMD equivalent
Storage350 GB on an SSD
Downloads250 GB

Both modlists start from Skyrim Anniversary Edition on Steam. Automatic downloads from Nexus Mods need a Premium account. Without it, you click each file and downloads are capped at 3 MB/s.

1. 20 GB of VRAM for the heaviest lists

In a big modlist, video memory runs out first. 4K textures, grass, new lighting and long-distance detail all sit in VRAM. When it's full, the game stutters or crashes.

Power, the top Shadow PC for gaming, has 20 GB of VRAM and 28 GB of RAM. Power Lite has the same. That covers every Nolvus and LoreRim profile in the table above, LoreRim Ultra and its 16 GB included. Raw GPU speed is another matter: Nolvus suggests an RTX 4090 for native 4K. With the heaviest profiles, aim for 1080p or 1440p.

Mods on Shadow PC

A modded Skyrim scene next to a list of popular Skyrim mods

2. Room on the SSD, and a 1 Gb/s download

A modlist means 170 to 250 GB to download, then 350 to 400 GB once installed. Your Shadow PC downloads at up to 1 Gb/s, whatever your home connection does. Your own bandwidth only carries the picture.

Shadow PC comes with 512 GB of SSD and Shadow PC Lite with 256 GB. On every offer, you can expand the storage up to 5 TB, so plan for the size of your list before you start. Wabbajack, Mod Organizer 2 and SKSE are Windows tools, and they run on your Shadow PC like on any desktop.

Compare the offers

A Shadow PC sized for your load order

Every Shadow PC has a dedicated NVIDIA RTX graphics card and SSD storage you can expand up to 5 TB. Power and Power Lite come with 20 GB of VRAM and 28 GB of RAM, enough video memory for the heaviest Skyrim modlists. Neo handles Skyrim with a lighter load order. No commitment.

Shadow PC, a PS5 or Xbox, or a PC upgrade for modded Skyrim

	Shadow PC	PS5 or Xbox	Upgrading your PC
Wabbajack modlists (Nolvus, LoreRim)	Shadow PC	PS5 or Xbox Not possible	Upgrading your PC
Mods that need SKSE	Shadow PC	PS5 or Xbox Not possible	Upgrading your PC
Room for a big modlist	Shadow PC	PS5 or Xbox 15 GB cap	Upgrading your PC An SSD to add
16 GB of VRAM or more	Shadow PC	PS5 or Xbox Limited by the console	Upgrading your PC A new card to buy
On a Mac or an old laptop	Shadow PC	PS5 or Xbox Not possible	Upgrading your PC Not possible
On your TV with a controller	Shadow PC	PS5 or Xbox	Upgrading your PC If the PC is by the TV
No hardware to buy up front	Shadow PC	PS5 or Xbox A console to buy	Upgrading your PC A new card to buy

Your modlist, in 3 steps

A TV, a laptop or a Mac is all you need on your side.

Get your Shadow PC

Go to shadow.tech, pick Power or Power Lite for a big modlist and add the storage it needs.

Install the Shadow app

It runs on Android TV, Google TV, Apple TV, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS and Linux. You can also open pc.shadow.tech in Chrome or Edge.

Install Skyrim and your list

Get Skyrim Anniversary Edition on Steam, launch it once, then let Wabbajack download and build your modlist.

Skyrim in short

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is an open-world RPG from Bethesda Game Studios, released on November 11, 2011. You play the Dragonborn, free to roam the province of Skyrim, join guilds and fight dragons. The Special Edition came out in 2016 and the Anniversary Edition in 2021, with extra Creations included. On PC, the game opens up to mods, SKSE and Wabbajack modlists. On PS5 and Xbox, mods go through Bethesda's Creations menu.

A lake and a wooden house among pine trees in Skyrim at sunset

FAQ

What PC do I need for Skyrim modlists like Nolvus or LoreRim?

A lot more than Skyrim alone needs. Nolvus Awakening asks for 8 to 10 GB of video memory in its Redux version and 10 to 12 GB in Ultra, in 1080p or 1440p, with 372 to 426 GB of space on an SSD. LoreRim asks for 10 GB of VRAM on its Default profile and 16 GB on Ultra, 16 GB of RAM, an 11th gen Core i7 or AMD equivalent, and 350 GB on an SSD plus 250 GB for downloads. With Shadow PC, Power and Power Lite give you 20 GB of VRAM and 28 GB of RAM on a PC in the cloud.

Can I use Wabbajack on Shadow PC?

Yes. Shadow PC is a full Windows PC, so you install Wabbajack, Mod Organizer 2 and SKSE like on any desktop. Wabbajack needs a Nexus Mods account. With Nexus Premium, downloads start on their own. Without it, you click each file and Nexus caps the speed at 3 MB/s. On the Shadow side, the PC downloads at up to 1 Gb/s.

Can I install Skyrim mods on PS5 or Xbox?

Yes, but only from Bethesda's Creations menu. Since the August 2026 update, mods can take up to 15 GB on PS5 and Xbox. Mods that need SKSE, and Wabbajack modlists like Nolvus or LoreRim, are PC only. With Shadow PC, you play the PC version on your TV with a controller, through an Android TV, Google TV or Apple TV box.

Is there enough storage on Shadow PC for a Skyrim modlist?

Yes, once you add storage. Shadow PC comes with 512 GB of SSD and Shadow PC Lite with 256 GB. A big list like Nolvus Awakening Ultra takes 406 GB once installed, plus 188 GB of downloads during the install. Storage can be expanded up to 5 TB on every offer: add what your list needs before you start the install.

Will my modlist keep installing if I step away from my Shadow PC?

Not for long. Your Shadow PC shuts down after 30 minutes without activity, even if a program is running. A session lasts up to 6 hours on Shadow PC (4 hours on Shadow PC Lite), and you can reconnect right away. So stay around while Wabbajack works. If the install stops, start it again: files already downloaded are kept and won't download a second time.

Can I play modded Skyrim on a Mac?

Not natively: Skyrim Special Edition and its PC mods are made for Windows. With Shadow PC, your modded Skyrim runs on a Windows PC in the cloud and streams to your Mac through the Shadow app for macOS. It works the same way on an old laptop, an iPad or a TV.

Do I need to buy Skyrim to play it on Shadow PC?

Yes. Shadow PC is a PC, not a game catalog. On Steam, Skyrim Special Edition costs $39.99 or 39.99 euros, and the Anniversary Edition $49.99 or 49.99 euros. Most big modlists, LoreRim and Nolvus included, need the Anniversary Edition. If you already own the game, sign in to Steam on your Shadow PC and download it.

Which Shadow PC should I pick for modded Skyrim?

For a Wabbajack modlist, take Power or Power Lite: both have 20 GB of VRAM and 28 GB of RAM. Power streams up to 5K and gives you 210 hours a month. Power Lite streams in 1440p, with 120 hours a month and sessions of up to 4 hours. Neo handles Skyrim with a lighter load order. Every offer has a dedicated NVIDIA RTX graphics card and comes with no commitment.