diff --git a/apps/openmw/engine.cpp b/apps/openmw/engine.cpp
index 8d890a7b2..c7886eed1 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/engine.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/engine.cpp
@@ -852,6 +852,9 @@ void OMW::Engine::go()
         {
             mViewer->eventTraversal();
             mViewer->updateTraversal();
+
+            mEnvironment.getWorld()->updateWindowManager();
+
             mViewer->renderingTraversals();
         }
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwbase/world.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwbase/world.hpp
index 13f88243d..4070d76da 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwbase/world.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwbase/world.hpp
@@ -363,6 +363,8 @@ namespace MWBase
 
             virtual void update (float duration, bool paused) = 0;
 
+            virtual void updateWindowManager () = 0;
+
             virtual MWWorld::Ptr placeObject (const MWWorld::ConstPtr& object, float cursorX, float cursorY, int amount) = 0;
             ///< copy and place an object into the gameworld at the specified cursor position
             /// @param object
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/characterpreview.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/characterpreview.cpp
index b0899f47e..877c35bba 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/characterpreview.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/characterpreview.cpp
@@ -254,7 +254,10 @@ namespace MWRender
         sizeX = std::max(sizeX, 0);
         sizeY = std::max(sizeY, 0);
 
-        mCamera->setViewport(0, mSizeY-sizeY, std::min(mSizeX, sizeX), std::min(mSizeY, sizeY));
+        // NB Camera::setViewport has threading issues
+        osg::ref_ptr<osg::StateSet> stateset = new osg::StateSet;
+        stateset->setAttributeAndModes(new osg::Viewport(0, mSizeY-sizeY, std::min(mSizeX, sizeX), std::min(mSizeY, sizeY)));
+        mCamera->setStateSet(stateset);
 
         redraw();
     }
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.cpp
index 6ee9b8ae8..4d4a36f6c 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.cpp
@@ -222,6 +222,7 @@ namespace MWRender
             mTerrain.reset(new Terrain::QuadTreeWorld(sceneRoot, mRootNode, mResourceSystem, mTerrainStorage, Mask_Terrain, Mask_PreCompile));
         else
             mTerrain.reset(new Terrain::TerrainGrid(sceneRoot, mRootNode, mResourceSystem, mTerrainStorage, Mask_Terrain, Mask_PreCompile));
+        mTerrain->setDefaultViewer(mViewer->getCamera());
 
         mCamera.reset(new Camera(mViewer->getCamera()));
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/scene.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/scene.cpp
index 398f91c00..2326607c5 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/scene.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/scene.cpp
@@ -528,6 +528,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
     , mPreloadExteriorGrid(Settings::Manager::getBool("preload exterior grid", "Cells"))
     , mPreloadDoors(Settings::Manager::getBool("preload doors", "Cells"))
     , mPreloadFastTravel(Settings::Manager::getBool("preload fast travel", "Cells"))
+    , mPredictionTime(Settings::Manager::getFloat("prediction time", "Cells"))
     {
         mPreloader.reset(new CellPreloader(rendering.getResourceSystem(), physics->getShapeManager(), rendering.getTerrain(), rendering.getLandManager()));
         mPreloader->setWorkQueue(mRendering.getWorkQueue());
@@ -750,7 +751,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
         const MWWorld::ConstPtr player = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getPlayerPtr();
         osg::Vec3f playerPos = player.getRefData().getPosition().asVec3();
         osg::Vec3f moved = playerPos - mLastPlayerPos;
-        osg::Vec3f predictedPos = playerPos + moved / dt;
+        osg::Vec3f predictedPos = playerPos + moved / dt * mPredictionTime;
 
         if (mCurrentCell->isExterior())
             exteriorPositions.push_back(predictedPos);
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/scene.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/scene.hpp
index 586ac4f67..e2fac6438 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/scene.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/scene.hpp
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
             bool mPreloadExteriorGrid;
             bool mPreloadDoors;
             bool mPreloadFastTravel;
+            float mPredictionTime;
 
             osg::Vec3f mLastPlayerPos;
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp
index c8319dcf7..452bfab0f 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp
@@ -1711,16 +1711,14 @@ namespace MWWorld
         if (!paused)
             doPhysics (duration);
 
+        updatePlayer(paused);
+
         mPhysics->debugDraw();
 
         mWorldScene->update (duration, paused);
 
-        updateWindowManager ();
-
         updateSoundListener();
 
-        updatePlayer(paused);
-
         mSpellPreloadTimer -= duration;
         if (mSpellPreloadTimer <= 0.f)
         {
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.hpp
index 7490cb224..8dfa6b906 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.hpp
@@ -130,7 +130,6 @@ namespace MWWorld
             Ptr copyObjectToCell(const ConstPtr &ptr, CellStore* cell, ESM::Position pos, int count, bool adjustPos);
 
             void updateSoundListener();
-            void updateWindowManager ();
             void updatePlayer(bool paused);
 
             void preloadSpells();
@@ -465,6 +464,8 @@ namespace MWWorld
 
             virtual void update (float duration, bool paused);
 
+            virtual void updateWindowManager ();
+
             virtual MWWorld::Ptr placeObject (const MWWorld::ConstPtr& object, float cursorX, float cursorY, int amount);
             ///< copy and place an object into the gameworld at the specified cursor position
             /// @param object
diff --git a/components/terrain/quadtreenode.cpp b/components/terrain/quadtreenode.cpp
index 438303c27..0394adea7 100644
--- a/components/terrain/quadtreenode.cpp
+++ b/components/terrain/quadtreenode.cpp
@@ -99,8 +99,10 @@ void QuadTreeNode::traverse(osg::NodeVisitor &nv)
     if (!hasValidBounds())
         return;
 
-    if ((mLodCallback && mLodCallback->isSufficientDetail(this, nv.getEyePoint())) || !getNumChildren())
-        getView(nv)->add(this, true);
+    ViewData* vd = getView(nv);
+
+    if ((mLodCallback && mLodCallback->isSufficientDetail(this, vd->getEyePoint())) || !getNumChildren())
+        vd->add(this, true);
     else
         osg::Group::traverse(nv);
 }
@@ -130,11 +132,20 @@ ViewData* QuadTreeNode::getView(osg::NodeVisitor &nv)
     if (nv.getVisitorType() == osg::NodeVisitor::CULL_VISITOR)
     {
         osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = static_cast<osgUtil::CullVisitor*>(&nv);
-        return mViewDataMap->getViewData(cv->getCurrentCamera(), true);
+        ViewData* vd = mViewDataMap->getViewData(cv->getCurrentCamera());
+        vd->setEyePoint(nv.getEyePoint());
+        return vd;
     }
     else // INTERSECTION_VISITOR
     {
-        return mViewDataMap->getViewData(&nv, (nv.referenceCount() > 0)); // if no referenceCount, the visitor was allocated on the stack
+        static osg::ref_ptr<osg::Object> dummyObj = new osg::DummyObject;
+        ViewData* vd = mViewDataMap->getViewData(dummyObj.get());
+        ViewData* defaultView = mViewDataMap->getDefaultView();
+        if (defaultView->hasEyePoint())
+            vd->setEyePoint(defaultView->getEyePoint());
+        else
+            vd->setEyePoint(nv.getEyePoint());
+        return vd;
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/components/terrain/quadtreeworld.cpp b/components/terrain/quadtreeworld.cpp
index f2a80d673..f31064805 100644
--- a/components/terrain/quadtreeworld.cpp
+++ b/components/terrain/quadtreeworld.cpp
@@ -456,5 +456,10 @@ void QuadTreeWorld::reportStats(unsigned int frameNumber, osg::Stats *stats)
     stats->setAttribute(frameNumber, "Composite", mCompositeMapRenderer->getCompileSetSize());
 }
 
+void QuadTreeWorld::setDefaultViewer(osg::Object *obj)
+{
+    mViewDataMap->setDefaultViewer(obj);
+}
+
 
 }
diff --git a/components/terrain/quadtreeworld.hpp b/components/terrain/quadtreeworld.hpp
index 8ec75917b..ef33f158e 100644
--- a/components/terrain/quadtreeworld.hpp
+++ b/components/terrain/quadtreeworld.hpp
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ namespace Terrain
 
         void reportStats(unsigned int frameNumber, osg::Stats* stats);
 
+        virtual void setDefaultViewer(osg::Object* obj);
+
     private:
         void ensureQuadTreeBuilt();
 
diff --git a/components/terrain/viewdata.cpp b/components/terrain/viewdata.cpp
index 7b3df56b9..5c70f65f2 100644
--- a/components/terrain/viewdata.cpp
+++ b/components/terrain/viewdata.cpp
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ ViewData::ViewData()
     : mNumEntries(0)
     , mFrameLastUsed(0)
     , mChanged(false)
+    , mHasEyePoint(false)
 {
 
 }
@@ -43,6 +44,22 @@ bool ViewData::hasChanged() const
     return mChanged;
 }
 
+bool ViewData::hasEyePoint() const
+{
+    return mHasEyePoint;
+}
+
+void ViewData::setEyePoint(const osg::Vec3f &eye)
+{
+    mEyePoint = eye;
+    mHasEyePoint = true;
+}
+
+const osg::Vec3f& ViewData::getEyePoint() const
+{
+    return mEyePoint;
+}
+
 void ViewData::reset(unsigned int frame)
 {
     // clear any unused entries
@@ -95,14 +112,13 @@ bool ViewData::Entry::set(QuadTreeNode *node, bool visible)
     }
 }
 
-ViewData *ViewDataMap::getViewData(osg::Object *viewer, bool ref)
+ViewData *ViewDataMap::getViewData(osg::Object *viewer)
 {
     Map::const_iterator found = mViews.find(viewer);
     if (found == mViews.end())
     {
         ViewData* vd = createOrReuseView();
-        if (ref)
-            vd->setViewer(viewer);
+        vd->setViewer(viewer);
         mViews[viewer] = vd;
         return vd;
     }
@@ -130,8 +146,7 @@ void ViewDataMap::clearUnusedViews(unsigned int frame)
     for (Map::iterator it = mViews.begin(); it != mViews.end(); )
     {
         ViewData* vd = it->second;
-        if ((!vd->getViewer() // if no ref was held, always need to clear to avoid holding a dangling ref.
-                || vd->getFrameLastUsed() + 2 < frame))
+        if (vd->getFrameLastUsed() + 2 < frame)
         {
             vd->setViewer(NULL);
             vd->clear();
@@ -150,5 +165,15 @@ void ViewDataMap::clear()
     mViewVector.clear();
 }
 
+void ViewDataMap::setDefaultViewer(osg::Object *viewer)
+{
+    mDefaultViewer = viewer;
+}
+
+ViewData* ViewDataMap::getDefaultView()
+{
+    return getViewData(mDefaultViewer);
+}
+
 
 }
diff --git a/components/terrain/viewdata.hpp b/components/terrain/viewdata.hpp
index 30563d566..aaf5b788f 100644
--- a/components/terrain/viewdata.hpp
+++ b/components/terrain/viewdata.hpp
@@ -52,18 +52,25 @@ namespace Terrain
         /// @return Have any nodes changed since the last frame
         bool hasChanged() const;
 
+        bool hasEyePoint() const;
+
+        void setEyePoint(const osg::Vec3f& eye);
+        const osg::Vec3f& getEyePoint() const;
+
     private:
         std::vector<Entry> mEntries;
         unsigned int mNumEntries;
         unsigned int mFrameLastUsed;
         bool mChanged;
         osg::ref_ptr<osg::Object> mViewer;
+        osg::Vec3f mEyePoint;
+        bool mHasEyePoint;
     };
 
     class ViewDataMap : public osg::Referenced
     {
     public:
-        ViewData* getViewData(osg::Object* viewer, bool ref);
+        ViewData* getViewData(osg::Object* viewer);
 
         ViewData* createOrReuseView();
 
@@ -71,6 +78,10 @@ namespace Terrain
 
         void clear();
 
+        void setDefaultViewer(osg::Object* viewer);
+
+        ViewData* getDefaultView();
+
     private:
         std::list<ViewData> mViewVector;
 
@@ -78,6 +89,8 @@ namespace Terrain
         Map mViews;
 
         std::deque<ViewData*> mUnusedViews;
+
+        osg::ref_ptr<osg::Object> mDefaultViewer;
     };
 
 }
diff --git a/components/terrain/world.hpp b/components/terrain/world.hpp
index 1eafc8bd7..d0576fbd3 100644
--- a/components/terrain/world.hpp
+++ b/components/terrain/world.hpp
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ namespace osg
     class Group;
     class Stats;
     class Node;
+    class Object;
 }
 
 namespace Resource
@@ -87,6 +88,9 @@ namespace Terrain
 
         virtual void reportStats(unsigned int frameNumber, osg::Stats* stats) {}
 
+        /// Set the default viewer (usually a Camera), used as viewpoint for any viewers that don't use their own viewpoint.
+        virtual void setDefaultViewer(osg::Object* obj) {}
+
         Storage* getStorage() { return mStorage; }
 
     protected:
diff --git a/docs/source/reference/modding/settings/cells.rst b/docs/source/reference/modding/settings/cells.rst
index bbde2fc32..d2e7cf5be 100644
--- a/docs/source/reference/modding/settings/cells.rst
+++ b/docs/source/reference/modding/settings/cells.rst
@@ -155,6 +155,19 @@ preload cell expiry delay
 The amount of time (in seconds) that a preloaded cell will stay in cache after it is no longer referenced or required,
 for example, after the player has moved away from a door without entering it.
 
+prediction time
+---------------
+
+:Type:		floating point
+:Range:		>=0
+:Default:	1
+
+The amount of time (in seconds) in the future to predict the player position for. This predicted position is used to preload any cells and/or distant terrain required at that position.
+
+This setting will only have an effect if 'preload enabled' is set or the 'distant terrain' in the Terrain section is set.
+
+Increasing this setting from its default may help if your computer/hard disk is too slow to preload in time and you see loading screens and/or lag spikes.
+
 cache expiry delay
 ------------------
 
diff --git a/files/settings-default.cfg b/files/settings-default.cfg
index 9c3667a6e..40c1ed099 100644
--- a/files/settings-default.cfg
+++ b/files/settings-default.cfg
@@ -73,6 +73,9 @@ preload cell cache max = 20
 # How long to keep preloaded cells in cache after they're no longer referenced/required (in seconds)
 preload cell expiry delay = 5
 
+# The predicted position of the player N seconds in the future will be used for preloading cells and distant terrain
+prediction time = 1
+
 # How long to keep models/textures/collision shapes in cache after they're no longer referenced/required (in seconds)
 cache expiry delay = 5