Better Render Distance
Minecraft's render distance was changed from a cube to a cylindrical shape back in 1.18. The problem is that this shape isn't actually a cylinder but rather a rounded rectangle. This mod optimizes this.
Recommended to use Better Resolution for significantly more GPU performance.
Performance Benefits
I get about a 10-15% boost on my system. Impacts both the CPU and the GPU. It could create a larger benefit for lower end systems.
Lightweight
Built to be lightweight and uses optimized functions. When Sodium is installed, Better Render Distance hooks into Sodium’s own occlusion culler to keep overhead as low as possible.
What Does The Mod Do?
This mod makes three optimizations to improve upon this.
Circular Horizontal Distance
Changes the render distance formula to be as a perfect circle as it can be which reduces the overextended diagonals.
Spherical Render Shape
Upgrades the shape from a cylinder to a sphere. Which extends the diagonal culling from only being done horizontally to vertically as well.
Vertical Render Distance (Configurable)
Ships with vertical distance set to the Balanced preset by default. Useful especially at higher render distances.
Configuration
Available in Sodium’s Video Settings. You can toggle the optimizations on/off and adjust the vertical culling amount.
Auto Vertical Scale setting that includes three presets (Performance / Balanced / Quality) which automatically adjust Vertical Scale based on your current Render Distance.
The manual adjustment slider is disabled when the Auto setting is enabled.
Mod Compatibility
Compatible with all the popular performance mods. If you find an incompatibility please report it and I will check it out.
Updates & Future Plans
I will be updating this mod to every stable Minecraft release. I have additional optimization ideas planned, but they’ll be explored and added over time.
I am also looking into porting back to popular older versions of Minecraft. Check back later if a version you are looking for isn't currently supported.
Contact
You can join the Discord server to report bugs, request features, ask questions, or reach out to me for any purpose.
All Versions
+ Add Version
- Ported to 26.3.
- Improved handling of compatibility-breaking changes in other mods.
- Minor culling overhead optimizations.
- Improvements to Distant Horizons compatibility.
- Added compatibility for the new Ocean Physics code in Physics Mod.
- Added compatibility for the new culling code in Sodium 0.9+.
- Added compatibility for the new culling code and settings API in Sodium 0.8.12+.
- Updated compatibility with Distant Horizons.
- Added compatibility for the new Ocean Physics code in Physics Mod.
- Added compatibility for the new culling code in Sodium 0.9+
- Fixes to the Physics Mod Ocean Physics compatibility.
- Updated to 26.2
- Added compatibility for the new Ocean Physics code in Physics Mod v184.
- Made a lot of internal changes for the new version.
- Updated to 26.1.2
- Updated Distant Horizons related optional dependencies to the latest versions.
- All the changes from 1.2.0 beta.
- Minor improvements over the beta release.
- Backported to 1.21.0
- Updated to 26.1
- Will be taken out of beta once Distant Horizons updates to 26.1 and I can verify everything works as expected.
- Added Distant Horizons integration. Slightly tweaks Overdraw Prevention Radius for seamless transitions when using the Auto Vertical Scale presets.
- Improved entity culling math, now better synced with render distance.
- Entity culling distance now more compatible with the Vanilla Entity settings.
- Improved culling behavior when Sodium isn’t installed.
- General cleanup and polish. Lots of bug fixes.
- Backported to 1.21.1.
- All the changes from 1.2.0 beta.
- Minor improvements over the beta release.
- Backported to 1.21.2-1.21.3
- All the changes from 1.2.0 beta.
- Minor improvements over the beta release.
- Backported to 1.21.4
- All the changes from 1.2.0 beta.
- Minor improvements over the beta release.
- All the changes from 1.2.0 beta.
- Minor improvements over the beta release.
- All the changes from 1.2.0 beta.
- Minor improvements over the beta release.
- Added Distant Horizons integration. Slightly tweaks Overdraw Prevention Radius for seamless transitions when using the Auto Vertical Scale presets.
- Improved entity culling math, now better synced with render distance.
- Entity culling distance now more compatible with the Vanilla Entity settings.
- Improved culling behavior when Sodium isn’t installed.
- General cleanup and polish. Lots of bug fixes.
- Minor improvements over the beta release.
- Backported to 1.21.5.
- Backported to 1.21.6–1.21.8.
- Added Distant Horizons integration. Slightly tweaks Overdraw Prevention Radius for seamless transitions when using the Auto Vertical Scale presets.
- Improved entity culling math, now better synced with render distance.
- Entity culling distance now more compatible with the Vanilla Entity settings.
- Improved culling behavior when Sodium isn’t installed.
- General cleanup and polish. Lots of bug fixes.
- Added Distant Horizons integration. Slightly tweaks Overdraw Prevention Radius for seamless transitions when using the Auto Vertical Scale presets.
- Improved entity culling math, now better synced with render distance.
- Entity culling distance now more compatible with the Vanilla Entity settings.
- Improved culling behavior when Sodium isn’t installed.
- General cleanup and polish. Lots of bug fixes.
- Backported to 1.21.9–1.21.10.
- Added Auto Vertical Scale setting with presets (Performance / Balanced / Quality). Enabled by default and set to Balanced.
- Improved transitions with Distant Horizons out of the box.
