Background

Why bother?

Once upon a time, OptiFine was the way, to make your game better, faster, and stronger. Things have since changed.

Fabric/Quilt

NOTE: Most Fabric mods require the Fabric API mod in order to work, while most Quilt mods require Quilted Fabric API to work.

Sodium

Sodium is the best client-side optimisation mod available at the moment, and we highly recommend installing it when possible.

To install in PolyMC, create an instance with the Fabric (or Quilt) loader, and then go to the Mods tab and click Download Mods. There, click on Sodium, click Select mod for download, and then press OK.

Iris

Iris allows you to use OptiFine shaderpacks, while also running Sodium. It works well, but doesn't yet support every shader.

You can find a list of currently supported shaderpacks here.

To install in PolyMC, create an instance with the Fabric (or Quilt) loader, and then go to the Mods tab and click Download Mods. There, click on Iris, click Select mod for download, and then press OK.

Other Mods

If you want to further improve your performance, please also consider installing Lithium and Starlight!

If you would like to go a bit further, LambdAurora maintains a very detailed list of OptiFine alternatives for Fabric and Quilt, which you can find here.

Fabulously Optimized

If you don't want to search, and install these mods manually, then try the Fabulously Optimized modpack.

See the MultiMC/MultiMC (auto-update) guide for help installing it. These instructions will work for PolyMC too.

Forge

Note about Forge

Unlike on Fabric/Quilt, most unofficial ports of OptiFine alternatives for Forge might have some compatibility/stability issues.

While on some modpacks/with some mods they're going to work good, with others they might be very unstable so be well aware of what you're doing. If you have issues, use OptiFine.

Don't report issues with those on upstream's Discord support channels!

Rubidium

Rubidium is a Sodium port for Forge. Be aware of the statements above before using it.

To install in PolyMC, create an instance with the Forge loader, and then go to the Mods tab, click Download Mods. There, search for Rubidium, click on it, click Select mod for download, and then press OK.

Oculus

Oculus is an Iris port for Forge. Be aware of the statements above before using it.

To install in PolyMC, create an instance with the Forge loader, and then go to the Mods tab, click Download Mods. There, search for Oculus, click on it, click Select mod for download, and then press OK.

Other mods

You can find a list of performance mods for Forge here.


Pages in Getting Started: