Alternate Current vs ServerCore

Alternate Current is a free, MIT-licensed mod for Minecraft: Java Edition that changes how redstone dust calculates power and updates blocks. It builds networks from connected wires and spreads power from wires receiving power outside a network. The project says this makes updates deterministic and less dependent on location, while retaining high Vanilla parity.

The mod focuses on reducing server work. Its README says redstone dust contributes up to 20 times less MSPT with Alternate Current, and that network-level optimizations can reduce updates by up to 20%. Listed Minecraft versions include 1.14 through 1.21.11, with some specific releases also listed; supported versions and loaders vary by release. Modrinth lists Fabric, Forge, NeoForge, Ornithe and Quilt, and server-side and singleplayer environments. The project links to its source repository, issue reporting and a Discord server. Its GitHub repository has no detected security policy and no published security advisories.

ServerCore is a free, self-hosted Minecraft mod focused on server performance and lag-spike reduction. It runs on dedicated servers and in singleplayer, with Modrinth compatibility for Fabric, Forge, and NeoForge. Entity Activation Range reduces the entities processed by the server. Dynamic checks can adjust chunk-tick distance, view distance, simulation distance, and mobcaps according to tick time and configuration. Administrators can set spawn rates and mobcaps per spawn group, with optional rules for reinforcements, spawners, and nether-portal random ticks. Breeding Caps limit same-type breeding within a radius, while chunk-ticking-distance narrows the range for mob spawning and random ticks. Commands include reload, settings, status, mobcaps, and statistics. Configuration files are config.yml and optimizations.yml in config/servercore. Changes that alter vanilla behavior are disabled by default.