AC

Alternate Current

Free#14 of 24 in Minecraft Performance Mods

Alternate Current: A focused Fabric mod for reducing redundant redstone updates on servers. Ranked #14 of 24 in Minecraft Performance Mods by our editors (7.9/10); pricing: Free plan; best for redstone-heavy server workloads.

7.9/10★★★★☆Editor score

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At a glance

• Editor score
  7.9 / 10
• Pricing
  Free plan
• Best for
  Redstone-heavy server workloads
• Free plan
  Yes
• Paid from
  Free
• Mod loader
  Fabric
• Facts checked
  20 Sep 2026

• Where it wins

  • Optimizes redstone power calculations and reduces redundant block updates
  • Supports deterministic, non-locational update ordering
  • Offers per-world settings and in-game update-order commands

• Where it doesn't

  • Its focus is redstone behavior rather than broad server optimization
  • Fabric is the listed mod loader
  • Changing redstone dust behavior may not suit every vanilla setup

Our verdict on Alternate Current

Alternate Current is an open-source Minecraft mod from SpaceWalkerRS that replaces vanilla redstone dust behavior with a more efficient implementation. It is intended for Minecraft worlds and servers where redstone-heavy mechanisms create processing overhead. The project aims to stay close to vanilla behavior while optimizing power calculations, reducing redundant block updates, and reducing redundant shape updates. Its published version range covers Minecraft 1.14 through 1.21.11, including 1.21.2, with Fabric listed as the mod loader.

The standout feature is its approach to redstone network updates. Alternate Current uses deterministic, non-locational update ordering instead of relying on location-based ordering, and it provides configurable block update orders. An in-game command lets administrators query and set the update order, while per-world configuration controls whether the mod is enabled and which order is used. That combination gives redstone-focused server operators more control over behavior without making the mod a general-purpose performance suite.

The project is a strong fit for servers built around complex redstone mechanisms, especially when redundant calculations and updates are a recurring concern. It is less suitable for owners seeking wide-ranging improvements across unrelated Minecraft systems, since its scope is centered on redstone dust and its update behavior. The listed Fabric support should also guide loader selection. Choose Alternate Current when redstone performance and configurable update ordering are the priority; consider a broader performance mod when the main goal extends beyond redstone workloads.

Your product? Our editors can test Alternate Current in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →

Alternate Current pricing

Alternate Current fact sheet

Alternatives to Alternate Current

• SodiumA free client mod for broad Minecraft rendering and FPS improvements.9.4
• LLithiumA broad, compatibility-focused performance mod without gameplay or visual changes.9.3
• ModernFixA multi-loader performance mod focused on loading, memory use, compatibility, and debugging.9.2

See all Alternate Current alternatives →

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Featured on iTechGuides

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update