Fabric · NeoForge · Quilt

Sodium

A full replacement for Minecraft's rendering engine — not a patch, not a tweak. It draws the same world using fewer resources, which raises frame rates and cuts micro-stutter without changing how the game looks. The foundation of every performance-focused setup, and the mod Iris depends on for shaders.

Fabric / NeoForge / Quilt Minecraft 26.3 Client-side only Performance mod

Quick facts

CategoryPerformance / Rendering
LoaderFabric, NeoForge, Quilt
Minecraft26.3 and older supported versions
AuthorCaffeineMC
SourceCurseForge / Modrinth
Downloads158.5M (CurseForge, Oct 2026)
SideClient-side

Source status

Verified

The download below is the file listed in our catalogue. Metadata last checked October 2026.

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Minecraft Mod

The rendering engine, rewritten

Free download

Get Sodium

One JAR per loader. Drop into mods for Fabric, NeoForge, or Quilt — client-side, works on any server.

Download Sodium

File: sodium.zip · Hosted on MinecraftDrop · No redirects, no ads

What Sodium actually does

Sodium replaces Minecraft's rendering engine with a more efficient implementation. It does not add content or change gameplay. It makes the game draw the same world using fewer resources, which results in higher frame rates and less stuttering. The world still looks the same — it's just being drawn by better code.

Since version 0.6.0, Sodium supports both Fabric and NeoForge. The CaffeineMC team recommends Fabric for new users because it is lighter and more stable for the time being. If you already run a NeoForge modpack, the NeoForge build works fine — there's no penalty for using either, it's just a recommendation.

Sodium's role in the ecosystem matters as much as its own performance benefit. Iris depends on it. Most performance-focused modpacks assume it. If you install any other rendering or optimization mod, Sodium is usually the foundation they were designed to work with.

What it improves

1
Frame rateHigher FPS in most scenes, especially with complex terrain or many entities.
2
Micro-stutterFewer frame time spikes when chunks load or entities appear — smoother motion, not just higher average FPS.
3
Graphical fixesAddresses rendering bugs present in vanilla — flickering, z-fighting, and other visual glitches.
4
Video settings menuReplaces vanilla's video settings with a cleaner, more detailed menu with per-option explanations.

Hardware requirements

Sodium requires a GPU with OpenGL 4.5 support and up-to-date drivers. Most graphics cards released in the past 12 years meet this requirement. If you're on very old hardware — pre-2012 integrated graphics, or a laptop from before the Skylake era — Sodium may not run.

Supported GPU families:

  • AMD Radeon HD 7000 Series (GCN 1) or newer
  • NVIDIA GeForce 400 Series (Fermi) or newer
  • Intel HD Graphics 500 Series (Skylake) or newer

OpenGL translation layers like GL4ES and ANGLE are not supported and will likely not work with Sodium.

How to install it

Sodium is a client-side mod. The server does not need it, and it won't cause desync or rejection if you join a vanilla or modded server. Install it like any other mod JAR.

  1. Install Fabric or NeoForge for your Minecraft version.
  2. Download the Sodium JAR from CurseForge or Modrinth for your loader and Minecraft version.
  3. Drop it into .minecraft/mods.
  4. Launch the game. Sodium has its own video settings menu that replaces the vanilla one — you'll see it in Options → Video Settings.
With Iris. Sodium is a rendering mod, not a shader loader. To run shaders, install Iris alongside Sodium. They are designed to work together.

Compatibility at a glance

Every value below comes from the creator's official source page. Where the creator doesn't state a field, we mark it "Unknown" rather than guess.

FieldValue
CategoryPerformance / Rendering
LoadersFabric, NeoForge, Quilt
Minecraft versions26.3 and older supported versions
GPU requirementOpenGL 4.5 (most GPUs from the past 12 years)
SideClient-side only
Conflicts withOptiFine (do not install both)
SourceCurseForge / Modrinth (CaffeineMC)
Last verifiedOctober 2026

Frequently asked questions

Does Sodium work with OptiFine?
No. Sodium and OptiFine both replace parts of the rendering engine and conflict. Use Sodium with Iris for shaders, or OptiFine alone. Do not install both.
Can I use Sodium on a server?
Sodium is client-side. The server does not need it. It works on any server that allows client-side mods.
Why did Sodium crash after installation?
The most common cause is a wrong loader build (Fabric JAR on NeoForge or vice versa) or an outdated GPU driver. Check the loader and update your graphics driver.
Does Sodium work on Bedrock Edition?
No. Sodium is a Java Edition mod for Fabric, NeoForge, and Quilt. Bedrock Edition does not support it.
Should I use Fabric or NeoForge for Sodium?
Both work. The CaffeineMC team recommends Fabric for new users because it is lighter and more stable for the time being. If you already run a NeoForge modpack, the NeoForge build works fine.

Why this listing exists

Most resource sites either dump hundreds of unverified links with no context, or hide downloads behind fake countdown timers and redirect chains. This page follows a different approach: it shows the resource's real metadata, links to the creator's original page, and states clearly what we have and have not verified.

If you find a broken link, an incorrect version, or a download that goes somewhere unexpected, report it using the contact form. If you are the creator and want this listing removed or changed, see Copyright / DMCA.

Related mods

Shaders

Iris Shaders

Shader loader that works with Sodium. Install alongside for shaders with performance.

 Performance

ImmediatelyFast

Immediate-mode rendering optimization for entities, particles, and GUI.

 Performance

ModernFix

Memory and bug-fix patches. Stacks with Sodium.

Report a problem with this page: contact form. If you are the creator and want this listing changed, see Copyright / DMCA.