Fabric Performance Mods: Lithium, Sodium and What Runs Where
Players often ask which optimisation mods to install on a server. The answer depends on whether the mod improves the game logic or the rendering.
Server side versus client side
- Server mods optimise game logic such as ticking, pathfinding and chunk handling.
- Client mods optimise graphics. They do nothing useful on a dedicated server, which has no screen.
Lithium
Lithium is a Fabric mod that optimises many parts of game logic while aiming to keep vanilla behaviour. It belongs on the server, and players do not need it installed. It is one of the first mods to add to a Fabric server.
Sodium
Sodium is a rendering engine for the client. Install it on player computers to improve frame rates. Do not put it on the server. Using it on a server only wastes a mod slot and may cause startup errors.
Other common mods
- FerriteCore reduces memory usage and works on the server.
- Mods like Krypton target networking. Check that they support your version before installing.
- Older lighting mods such as Starlight may be discontinued or integrated elsewhere, so check the current status.
Always verify the latest status and supported versions on each mod page.
Fabric versus Forge
Fabric is lightweight and tends to update to new Minecraft versions quickly, with a strong set of optimisation mods. Forge and NeoForge have large content modpacks. Performance depends mostly on the pack you run, not the loader alone. The Forge side has its own client rendering mods, such as Embeddium, a Sodium port, though check the current names on the mod sites.
How to install
- Download the build for your exact Minecraft version and loader.
- Stop the server and upload the jar to the mods folder in the Files tab.
- Start and check the Console for load errors.
- Remove any mod that crashes on startup.
Tips
Do not stack many mods that do the same job. Test TPS before and after, and use a profiler such as spark to confirm gains. See our guide on installing Forge and Fabric mods.