Not Enough Bandwidth
by USS-Shenzhou
Players on a busy NeoForge server can cut outbound traffic with Not Enough Bandwidth, which compresses and reshapes the packets the game already sends.
What it does
The mod reduces the amount of data sent over the network during play while leaving mods and players unaffected by the change. Packet headers are replaced with a compact index instead of the full packet type name, so each mod's packets carry a fixed 3 to 4 bytes of overhead. The author reports a measured server outbound reduction to about 13.8% of the raw size on a standard benchmark dataset, and to 18% in a vanilla test.
Vanilla tends to send many small packets. Not Enough Bandwidth collects them at the connection level, merges them into one larger packet every 20 milliseconds and compresses that before sending. It also delays the forgetting of chunks behind a moving player, so walking back to a spot does not force the full chunk data to be resent. Both sides need the mod, and the source code and issue tracker are public. It is open source under the GNU General Public License v3.0 or later, and the 26.2 build is a beta.
Key features
Compact packet headers
Each mod's packet type is mapped to a numeric index, with support for up to 4096 mods and 4096 channels per mod.
Packet batching
Small outgoing packets are gathered into one larger packet every 20 milliseconds and compressed before sending.
Delayed chunk forgetting
Chunks behind a moving player stay cached for a while, so returning to a position does not resend the full chunk data.
Adjustable compression window
The context window for compression can be set from 2MB to 32MB, trading memory use for better bandwidth savings.
Compatibility blacklist
A compatibility mode skips packets listed in a blacklist, which includes Velocity-related packets by default.
In-game traffic view
Pressing Alt+N in game shows the current network traffic status.
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
How it compares
ZstdMC is a NeoForge-only mod for 1.21.1 under the MIT License, so it covers a single version. BandwidthOptimizer is open source under the GNU Lesser General Public License v2.1 or later and spans Fabric, Forge, NeoForge and Quilt for 1.19.2 – 26.2. Enhanced Packet Compression is open source under the MIT License and targets Fabric and NeoForge for 1.0 – 1.21.1, and it works on either side, and neither side needs it.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not Enough Bandwidth | NeoForge | 1.21.1 – 26.2 | Client and server | 2026-10-06 |
| ZstdMC | NeoForge | 1.21.1 | Client and server | 2026-02-20 |
| BandwidthOptimizer | Fabric, Forge, NeoForge and Quilt | 1.19.2 – 26.2 | Client and server | 2026-10-12 |
| Enhanced Packet Compression | Fabric and NeoForge | 1.0 – 1.21.1 | Client or server, optional | 2024-09-17 |
Questions
Does Not Enough Bandwidth need to be installed on both sides?
Which versions does Not Enough Bandwidth support?
Does Not Enough Bandwidth change how other mods work?
In the catalog
Not Enough Bandwidth is one of 3,545 Optimization mods on ModsFinder, and one of 1,250 Optimization mods for NeoForge. 13,894 mods support Minecraft 26.2.
More from USS-Shenzhou
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What the author says
NEB uses various methods to save as much network traffic as possible during Minecraft gameplay, while remaining transparent to both mods and players. In the ZZZZ Dataset from TeaCon Jiachen, compared to raw uncompressed data, NEB can theoretically reduce the server's outbound traffic to 7.6% of its original size…
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/not-enough-bandwidth
- Owner
- USS-Shenzhou
- Published
- 2026-02-26
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2026-10-06
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15