Configuring and managing your server
How to Optimize Your Minecraft Server with Performance Mods
Here is an up-to-date list of Forge mods focused on optimizing Minecraft performance. The listed mods cover Minecraft versions up to 1.21.5, with a focus on recent versions (1.19.x, 1.20.1, 1.21.x). All mods listed are compatible with Forge. Each mod comes with a brief description of its purpose and the supported Minecraft versions. You can combine several of these mods to significantly improve client-side FPS as well as server-side performance (TPS).
General Optimizations (Server & CPU/TPS)
Adaptive Performance Tweaks (APT)
A modular and configurable set of tweaks aimed at improving overall game performance, both on the server and client sides. It includes multiple optimizations to dynamically adjust game behavior based on system load, helping maintain high TPS on the server.
Versions: Forge 1.16 – 1.21.1.
AI Improvements
Optimizes entity and mob behavior by making AI less CPU-intensive. This mod reduces CPU load from pathfinding and navigation, which helps reduce server lag related to entities.
Versions: Forge 1.7.10 – 1.20.6.
Performant
An all-in-one server optimization pack for older versions aimed at improving TPS. It modifies internal systems to enhance server efficiency and fix Vanilla bottlenecks.
Versions: Forge 1.14.4 – 1.16.5.
Canary (Lithium for Forge)
An unofficial port of the popular Lithium mod. It enhances overall performance by optimizing many physics and world management calculations on both the server and client sides.
Versions: Forge 1.18.2 – 1.20.4.
Radium Reforged
Another Lithium port for Forge/NeoForge, offering a comprehensive set of optimizations to the game engine to improve TPS and server performance.
Versions: Forge 1.16.5 – 1.20.x (NeoForge 1.21).
Alternate Current
Reimplements the redstone system in a more efficient way to reduce lag caused by complex redstone circuits. It drastically reduces redundant updates, lightening server load.
Versions: Forge 1.18.1 – 1.20.2 (NeoForge 1.21).
Smooth Chunk Save
Prevents lag spikes during chunk saving by spacing out and optimizing disk write operations over multiple ticks.
Versions: Forge 1.18.1 – 1.20.1.
Chunk Sending
Optimizes how chunk data is sent to players (server-side), reducing bandwidth spikes and lag when players join or teleport.
Versions: Forge 1.19.2 – 1.20.1.
Connectivity
Fixes and improves various networking aspects under Forge, resolving connection issues like login timeouts and oversized packet errors.
Versions: Forge 1.16.2 – 1.20.1.
Pluto
Forge port of the Krypton mod that enhances Minecraft’s network stack. Especially useful in multiplayer to reduce bandwidth usage and improve connection handling.
Versions: Forge 1.18.2 – 1.19.3.
Clumps
Automatically merges XP orbs on the ground into a single larger orb to reduce the number of active entities and associated lag.
Versions: Forge 1.10.2 – 1.21.x.
In Control!
Allows fine-tuned customization of mob spawning rules via config files to limit the number of monsters and prevent lag spikes caused by mob overpopulation.
Versions: Forge 1.12.2 – 1.20.1.
Magnum Torch
Adds items like the mega torch that prevent hostile mob spawns within a radius, reducing the CPU load from their AI in critical base areas.
Versions: Forge 1.18 – 1.20.4.
Chunky
A tool for pre-generating chunks in advance, preventing lag from on-the-fly world generation during exploration.
Versions: Forge 1.16.5 – 1.20.6.
Graphical Optimizations (Client & FPS)
Note: Unless otherwise noted, these mods should not be installed on servers.
OptiFine
The well-known graphics optimization mod. It improves FPS by optimizing the rendering engine and adds advanced graphical options and shader support.
Versions: Forge 1.7.2 – 1.21.4.
Rubidium
A fork of Sodium for Forge, offering massive FPS gains by rewriting Minecraft’s OpenGL rendering engine. Incompatible with OptiFine.
Versions: Forge 1.16.5 – 1.20.x.
Oculus
Complements Rubidium by reintroducing shader support. Required if you want to use shaderpacks without OptiFine.
Versions: Forge 1.16.5 – 1.20.x.
Starlight
Fully replaces Minecraft’s light engine with a much faster implementation, eliminating performance issues and lighting bugs during chunk generation.
Versions: Forge 1.17.1 – 1.20.2.
Entity Culling
Improves FPS by not rendering entities that are out of the player’s view or blocked by obstacles, saving GPU and CPU rendering time.
Versions: Forge 1.6.3 – 1.21.5.
CullLessLeaves Reforged
Improves foliage rendering by hiding the hidden faces of leaf blocks, reducing polygons in dense forests.
Versions: Forge 1.18.2 – 1.20.2.
Entity Collision FPS Fix
Reduces client-side CPU usage by disabling unnecessary entity collision checks in single-player.
Versions: Forge 1.18.2 – 1.19.2.
Better Biome Blend
Rewrites biome color blending to be more efficient, reducing FPS drops while exploring with high graphical settings.
Versions: Forge 1.12.2 – 1.19.
BetterFPS
An older optimization mod providing alternative mathematical algorithms to slightly improve FPS on legacy versions.
Versions: Forge 1.7.10 – 1.12.2.
Memory Optimizations
FerriteCore
Drastically reduces RAM usage by optimizing how data is stored in memory. Essential for large modpacks.
Versions: Forge 1.16.4 – 1.20.1 (NeoForge 1.20.2+).
Saturn
Reduces memory footprint by applying engine-level optimizations to byte buffers and caching systems.
Versions: Forge 1.16.5 – 1.20.6.
FoamFix
Optimization mod for older versions that reduces memory usage and speeds up mod loading by removing redundant data structures.
Versions: Forge 1.8.9 – 1.12.2.
TexFix
Optimizes RAM usage by clearing out unused texture data after the game loads.
Versions: Forge 1.10.2 – 1.12.2.
VanillaFix
All-in-one mod for 1.12.2 combining FPS and memory optimizations with critical bug fixes and crash prevention.
Version: Forge 1.12.2.
LazyDFU
Speeds up startup by delaying the loading of the DataFixerUpper until it is actually needed.
Versions: Forge 1.16.1 – 1.19.3.
DataFixerSlayer
Fully disables the DataFixerUpper to reduce memory usage and speed up modded setups. Warning: Not recommended if upgrading old worlds.
Version: Forge 1.16.5.
ModernFix
Extensive performance and memory improvements for modern versions. It can launch modpacks up to 2x faster and significantly lower RAM requirements.
Versions: Forge 1.16.5 – 1.19.4 (NeoForge 1.20+).
Faster Startup and Loading
Smooth Boot (Reloaded)
Improves task distribution during startup to avoid CPU usage spikes and prevent system freezing while the game launches.
Versions: Forge 1.14 – 1.20.
Fastload
Significantly reduces world loading times by optimizing initialization steps when joining a world or server.
Versions: Forge 1.18.2 – 1.20.1.