Unlock the Full Potential of Minecraft Java with These RTX Tips

Ready to take your Minecraft Java gameplay to the next level with stunning RTX graphics?

This comprehensive guide explores what exactly RTX is and how it differs from other graphics options.

We also provide system requirements for RTX, step-by-step instructions on how to enable RTX in Minecraft Java, tips for optimizing your RTX experience, and troubleshooting common issues you may encounter.

Get ready to transform your gaming experience with realistic lighting and textures!

What is RTX?

RTX is an NVIDIA technology that allows users to get lighting, reflection, and shadowing effects akin to real life. The technology is based on ray tracing, a rendering method for generating images by tracing the path where each inclusive light ray bounces and interacts.

This allows for much more complex visual effects than rasterization, which is the traditional rendering method. NVIDIA’s page describes that ray tracing is based on the physical properties of light itself, which is how it generates such realistic lighting effects.

The previously released RTX2000 series graphics cards could handle but struggled with ray tracing, while the RTX3000 series has lost most of the previous problems and is capable of running advanced and realistic RTX games efficiently.

What Makes RTX Different from Other Graphics?

RTX is different from other graphics in that it is a system for the simulated behavior of light, whereas traditional graphics programs paint pixels on a screen in a certain color. The rendering of pixels on computer screens and televisions has been done with a rasterization algorithm for years. Rasterization decides what color and intensity should be produced by the pixel at a certain X, Y point on the screen. The result is a high-quality, colorful, and vibrant image.

Ray tracing was developed by Turner Whitted in 1979 and models light by running rays (beams of light) from one object to the other in the virtual 3D environment. RTX graphics from Nvidia use acceleration hardware and proprietary rendering software to cooperate with ray tasks. They accentuate the already existing pixels on a screen, thus producing better illumination to simulated scenes and naturally lit and colorful scenes.

What are the System Requirements for RTX?

For RTX in Minecraft Java, the basic system requirements are as follows.

1. OS: Windows 10 (any other non-desktop Windows won’t work, period)
2. GPU: Any NVIDIA GeForce RTX 20 / 30 Series GPU.
3. CPU: Intel Core i5/i7 with at least 6 cores/12 threads; or AMD Ryzen 5/7 with more cores/threads.
4. RAM: Must have at least 16GB of fast DDR4 memory.
5. Storage: Fast NVMe SSD storage, preferably with at least 8GB of available capacity on an installation drive.

How to Enable RTX in Minecraft Java?

To enable RTX in Minecraft Java, you should install the most recent Minecraft for Windows 10 RTX build from the Microsoft store. A license is required, which you can purchase for $29.99 before installing. The latest builds of this version have eventually matched or exceeded the graphics performance of the older Java F5 version. This version will not work on a dedicated Java edition server.

Step 1: Make Sure You Have the Correct Graphics Card

Making sure you have the correct GPU will require you to have one in Nvidia’s RTX series with second-generation ray tracing cores. The official list of card models that supports RTX can be found on the NVIDIA site.

Desktop (Founders Editions Only) –

• RTX 3090
• RTX 3080
• RTX 3070
• RTX 3060 Ti
• RTX 2080 Ti
• RTX 2080 Super
• RTX 2080
• RTX 2070 Super
• RTX 2070
• RTX 2060 Super
• RTX 2060

Special Desktop – ZOTAC RTX 3070, ZOTAC RTX 3060, MSI RTX 3070, MSI RTX 3060, Gigabyte RTX 3060, EVGA RTX 3060, eVGA RTX 3080,Colorful RTX 3000, Asus RTX 3070, RTX 3060

Desktop Workstations – Razer Blade Stealth 13.2, AFTERSHOCK PC IE, Aftershock PC Impulse, AORUS, BOXX GoBOXX MXL

NVIDIA has also included some Quadro (RTX) models as well if necessary.

Currently all these models are running the Ampere architecture, which according to NVIDIA’s Chief Architect of Optix Jordan Sechler, the Ampere architecture has equivalent hardware comparisons to second-generation Cast units that companies teamed up with NVIDIA for. Specifying the requirement of a second-generation is particularly important because despite being branded as RTX, the early models were found to offer limited function due to limitations in hardware and software development.

Step 2: Update Your Graphics Drivers

To ensure that you get the best out of your NVIDIA GPU for Minecraft, it is good practice to make sure your GPU’s graphics drivers are up to date. Nvidia releases a new version of its drivers once a month on average. In some cases, newer versions may not perform as well as slightly older versions. Articles like this by PC Gamer assess driver performance in various games, including Minecraft. You Expand suggests that once a month might be a bit much, but in general it is a good idea to keep your drivers up to date as an option for finding fixes for any game performance issues that may be due to an outdated or buggy driver.

The simplest way to access the latest driver is to open the Nvidia Control Panel, click on the System Information tab, and under the System Summary section you can find the current driver package, version, and date.

Step 3: Download and Install the Latest Version of Minecraft Java

If Minecraft Java is already installed, you can go to Step 4. If Minecraft Java is not installed, you can skip this step and other steps related to Minecraft Java including Step 4 and Step 5 on how to download and install the required Fabric Mod Loader.

1. Download Minecraft Java by purchasing or redeeming a key.
   A Minecraft Java key can be redeemed at the Microsoft Store. You can either purchase a key through the official Minecraft website at $26.95 or search retail websites.
2. After purchasing or finding a key, create a Mojang account.
   If you already have an account, then go to step 3.
3. Download and start the Minecraft Launcher.
   The Minecraft launcher can be downloaded from the Minecraft Java website.
4. Sign in with the account you created.
   This account must be purchased to start the game.

Step 4: Download and Install the Latest Version of OptiFine

To install Minecraft with RTX, get OptiFine from OptiFine.net. OptiFine increases the game’s graphics possibilities beyond those given by Vanilla Minecraft. Then set your Path Tracing settings to the desired level within the Optifine shaders. RTX on Minecraft differs in the way that web search is used to find OptiFine with a version matched to the version of Minecraft you are playing with.

RTX in Java Edition does not have to deal with a process similar to Bedrock Edition to get a version that supports “Minecraft with RTX”. In late 2020 Mojang studios revealed there will soon be a downloadable form of Minecraft Java for RTX. This should simplify matters for Java Edition players going forward.

To install OptiFine for Minecraft With RTX: Go to OptiFine.net. Do an OptiFine versions search for the matching version of Minecraft. Click Download on the correct OptiFine version. Under #2 click the downloaded OptiFine file to install it, then open Minecraft. Under Options -> Video -> Shaders, click on Shaders Folders. Move the downloaded, unmodified shader pack .zip file to the Shaderpacks folder. Now go to the shader option in Minecraft, select your downloaded shader pack, and enjoy it.

Step 5: Download and Install the Latest Version of SEUS PTGI Shader

After you have Minecraft, Optifine, Java SE Development Kit (for Windows users), and NVidia RTX driver installed, now it is time to install Continuum graphics. You’ll notice Continuum graphics is not free, and it costs $15 USD. You might be able to find earlier versions of their shaders for free, but there is a general uncomfortable question about copyright and legal issues. We recommend just purchasing it to avoid any challenges in the future.

Step 6: Configure OptiFine and SEUS PTGI Shader Settings

Minecraft should look noticeably better now that OptiFine is installed and configured to work with the SEUS PTGI shaders. Before applying the SEUS PTGI shaders directly, configure their settings.

1. Hit ESC after starting into Minecraft and left-click Options.
2. Click the purple-tinted SEUS PTGI settings button in the bottom center-left corner. This interface allows for a range of settings adjustments for light, texture, shadow, reflection, ambient occlusion, and global illumination tweaks. Turn down the shader effects if Minecraft is lagging or too many graphical effects are appearing.
3. After setting up SEUS PTGI, go into a Minecraft world and see if Minecraft with the RTX effect turned on looks better. Saxs Persson from Minecraft says that even at the lowest setting of PTGI, one can notice a big difference in lighting.

Step 7: Launch Minecraft and Enjoy RTX Graphics!

Either create a new world or load an existing world. Press F3 to make sure you are in the Developer version and if so, press F3+T to reload textures. Compare the view between the two versions to see the difference between RTX on and RTX off. You are now able to lower your quality settings and jump between Gameplay and RTX on-and-off easily for the full comparison. Again, Developer (Non-RTX) is the version appropriate for all servers.

What Are Some Tips for Optimizing RTX in Minecraft Java?

Some tips for optimizing RTX in Minecraft Java include upgrading to a higher-end, RTX capable graphics card if you are currently using an older model, and adjusting performance settings within the in-game settings, Nvidia control panel for your specific graphics card, and Minecraft-specific settings advised by Optifine or Nvidia. You may also want to try uninstalling and reinstalling both your graphics driver and Minecraft Java. An older or broken version may not run optimally, or the driver may have been patched.

Lower Your Render Distance

To reduce RTX issues such as ghosting and light leaks in your Minecraft RTX world, lower your Render Distance. In some cases this setting of 24 chunks will cause glitches. The amount of ghosting following a block that has moved off-screen is decreased by lowering the render distance. It is important to note that the render distance scale on Minecraft Java does not work the same as on custom editions and realms.

Turn Off Vsync and Anti-Aliasing

These settings are known as Vertical Synchronization (V-Sync) and Anti-aliasing (FXAA) in Minecraft. V-Sync synchronizes the frames of the lower resolution game with the refresh rate of the screen and is useful if you are encountering screen tearing. Turning off V-Sync can improve gaming performance. The Anti-aliasing setting reduces ligatures you may see in the game and creates blurred edges. Turning it off can sharpen the overall game.

Use a Resource Pack with RTX Support

Several resource packs enable you to activate RTX and provide high-resolution textures to look brilliant in Minecraft. These are the top resource packs you may wish to use:

• Natural Mystic Shaders
• Bare Bones RTX
• SonosFix

Bare Bones RTX is a high-performance resource/texture pack that may be useful if you are having trouble achieving the necessary frames per second or are looking for a non-intrusive RTX experience. Even in absolute darkness, it keeps the world from appearing muddled and has the unique quality of the sunshade from the sun or moon changing the color of everything on the planet.

Natural Mystic Shaders is a complete shader pack with more vibrant bright lights than Bare Bones, though maintaining an unshadowed appearance in complete darkness. SonosFix is a minimum resource pack. SonosFix may be used in combination with any other pack to provide beautiful high-resolution textures.

How to install Minecraft RTX resource packs?
To install these RTX resource packs, follow these steps:

1. Download the Resource Pack file.
2. Open Minecraft.
3. Launch Minecraft.
4. Go to Options > Resource Packs > Click on ‘Open Resource Pack Folder’.
5. Place the RTX Resource Pack in the loading resource pack window.
6. Move the downloaded RTX Resource Pack file to the ‘shaderpacks’ and/or ‘ressourcepacks’ folders of Minecraft, located at:
   `%appdata%.minecraftresourcepacks` or `resourcepacks` and/or `%appdata%.minecraftshaderpacks` or `shaderpacks`
7. Enable the pack in the in-game resource packs menu.
8. Select the Resource Pack.
9. Click ‘Done’.

Close Other Programs and Background Tasks

RTX demands a lot of graphics memory and processing power to deliver the best performance. Having other programs open that are using your GPU and CPU resources can take away from the performance of your RTX edition of Minecraft. To optimize it, simply make sure that you have all other non-essential programs closed and that you aren’t running any processes that draw significant two-dimensional memory usage in your computer’s background.

Adjust Your In-Game Settings

Using Alt + F3 will pull up the Java Debug Screen in Minecraft. This screencan be useful for checking the following settings and features:

1. If the biome supports Ray Tracing
2. How much free and used system memory (RAM) you have
3. In-game output log settings
4. Current lag
5. How much VRAM (video RAM) you’re using
6. If chunk loading is causing any lag
7. OpenGL error status

And much more; take some time looking around the diagnostics screen if you encounter any issues within the game.

This screen tells you directly if the biome can support Ray Tracing. For quick checks and fixing, Edge staff recommends keeping it on for those casual Minecraft with Ray Tracing gaming days.

What Are Some Common Issues with RTX in Minecraft Java and How to Fix Them?

These are some common issues with RTX in Minecraft Java and solutions for them:

1. Chunks not loading: Restart the game
2. Plug-in errors:
   Restart the game and installed pack, run Minecraft in safe mode, install newest game version
3. Install or play button does not appear:
   Make sure your system is up to date, do a clean install of Minecraft or test with other installations
4. Green screen flickering: Update graphics card drivers, increase brightness settings in game if only affecting dark areas
5. Low FPS: Install Optifine, reduce render distance and mob spawn locations, reduce view distance, restart the pack
6. Installation errors: Use publisher repair tool or manually delete incomplete installation and reinstall

RTX in Minecraft is still in its beta phase and will have numerous bugs and issues. When users experience performance issues they might try allocating more memory or VRAM to Minecraft.

Black Screen or Crashes on Launch

If you get a black screen or crashes on launch, the following solutions can help you play Minecraft Java with RTX on and disable legacy pack support. Go to Settings > Profile > Block with incomplete block models and enable Full (but be advised this experimental setting can lag your machine if it does not meet minimum requirements).

If this does not help, try the following steps to disable the legacy pack support completely. Close the Minecraft launcher. Open the following file in a text editor: %appdata%.minecraftoptions.txt. Remove the following line near the bottom of the file and save the changes.

resourcePacks [ “vanillartr (incompatible) “[Minecraft HD] Vanilla RT (incompatible)” ]. Relaunch the game and open the advanced settings to verify this worked. Legacy Pack Support should be zero or disappeared entirely.

Glitchy or Missing Textures

If you see glitchy or missing textures, it may be a sign that Minecraft is not currently recognizing your GPU for some reason and is instead rendering in software mode. This can happen if you are using a LAPTOP with both integrated and dedicated cards. It will automatically switch between them based on detected usage requirements. You can check your graphic settings for Minecraft by pressing Esc and going to Options… then Video Settings... If software mode is being used, you can disable the dedicated card, and sometimes this will force Minecraft to switch to the integrated card and render in hardware mode.

If you have just upgraded to an NVIDIA RTX card, it may not have been properly recognized. It sometimes takes a system restart or multiple startups for GPU detection to work, and this could be the cause of Minecraft not rendering with RTX features on your new card. With the latest update, the RTX beta feature of Minecraft should automatically detect a compatible RTX card on your computer. If you have a newly installed card and Minecraft is not recognizing it as an RTX card, ensure that the RTX card is properly inserted into the PCIe slot and has power properly connected through PCIe power connectors.

Low FPS or Lag

Low frames per second or FPS is a common problem users face multiple reasons and solutions. These include incompatible optifine settings or mods, shaders, slow graphics cards, overclocking, web browsers, big render distances, and excess world loading.

The first solution is to press Esc > Options > Video Settings > Shadows to turn off shadows. Reducing the number of chunks rendered can also help. You can reduce this number by pressing Esc > Options > Video Settings > Render Distance and choosing between any of the options besides Far. Decreasing the resolution in Video Settings may provide a performance boost as well. Looking under the Performance settings in Optifine can be a source of ending lag. Smooth Lighting and Mipmap Levels are good settings to tinker with.

You can also check in F3 to see the number of entity updates per second. Numerous these updates can consume your process and cause lag, but they are good for pinpointing the source of the problem.

Red and Blue Tint on Screen

If you have red and blue tint on your screen like RGB channels split in 3s, your viewer is probably seeing the Sped Up Water. Urgestein executes this display of rapidly moving red and blue water by increasing his Water & Wet Medium in the Animation Shaders tab, together with low spawn rates and a low duration for all free components and doing the same for visual effects. Set different components of different shaders to move randomly or sin direction frequently. Nether and glass skyboxes deceivingly complete the disappearing item effects.

Stuttering or Freezing

Stuttering and freezing are two common problems users experience when trying to solve their framerate and performance issues. Stuttering happens during gaming when a system experiences a lag in performance, causing the game to freeze momentarily. The reason for such a freeze may be that the system is unable to handle the high settings at which Minecraft with RTX must be run.

To combat stuttering and freezing in Minecraft with RTX, users should first try lowering in-game settings to ensure the smoother performance of the game. Then, they should try looking at their Power Management Mode setting and change it if necessary. Check the Memory Compression setting in the Windows settings tab, double-check that Windows Game Mode is turned off, or check if DX 11 games are running on scheduled tasks. If unsuccessful at improving performance, try adjusting the allocated thermal paste, cleaning the gaming desktop, or look at related problems such as update interference.

Checking the graphics driver or reinstalling it if necessary is another tip for smoothing performance. From the GeForce Experience Overlay, users can update to the newest Game Ready Driver update. But some people notice a decrease in frame rates and loud noise coming out of their GPU. This can arise if the installation is interrupted, incomplete, or performed improperly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is RTX in Minecraft Java and how can you turn it on?

RTX in Minecraft Java is a feature that allows for realistic and stunning graphics in the game. To turn it on, make sure you have an RTX-enabled graphics card and go to the game settings to enable it.

Can I use RTX in Minecraft Java on any device?

No, RTX in Minecraft Java can only be used on devices that have an RTX-enabled graphics card. This feature is not available on all devices.

Are there any additional requirements for using RTX in Minecraft Java?

In addition to having an RTX-enabled graphics card, you will also need to have the latest version of Minecraft Java installed and have the latest drivers for your graphics card.

How do I know if I have an RTX-enabled graphics card?

You can check if your graphics card is RTX-enabled by looking at the specifications on your device or by checking the manufacturer’s website. You can also use the “dxdiag” command on Windows to see your graphics card information.

Can I turn RTX off in Minecraft Java after enabling it?

Yes, you can turn off RTX in Minecraft Java at any time by going to the game settings and disabling it. This can be useful if you experience any performance issues while using RTX.

Are there any other graphics settings I should adjust when using RTX in Minecraft Java?

To get the best experience with RTX in Minecraft Java, it is recommended to also enable V-sync and set your render distance to at least 12 chunks. You may also need to adjust other graphics settings depending on your device’s capabilities.