When Ryujinx runs TotK, it compiles graphics shaders on the fly. This causes , frame drops , and slowdowns the first time you see new effects (explosions, enemies, weather, etc.). A shader cache pre-compiles these shaders so the emulator doesn’t have to — resulting in smooth, stutter-free gameplay after the cache is loaded.
Open the Nvidia Control Panel > Manage 3D Settings > Global Settings. Find Shader Cache Size and set it to 10GB or Unlimited .
The authors analyze the performance of the shader cache and propose optimizations to improve its efficiency. They evaluate their approach using various games, including BOTW, and demonstrate significant performance improvements. ryujinx totk shader cache
| Scenario | Shader Cache State | Observed FPS (Lookout Landing) | Stutter frequency | |----------|--------------------|--------------------------------|-------------------| | Fresh launch | Empty | 25–45 FPS | Every 5–10 seconds | | After 2 hours | Partial (~5k shaders) | 45–55 FPS | Every 30–60 seconds | | After 20 hours | Complete (~32k shaders) | 55–60 FPS | <1 per 5 minutes | | Pre-built cache from online | Full (different version) | 30–50 FPS + crashes | Inconsistent |
This reduces VRAM usage, preventing stuttering on GPUs with less than 8GB of VRAM. 2. Utilize Macro HLE When Ryujinx runs TotK, it compiles graphics shaders
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On a first-time playthrough, as you enter a new area or trigger a new visual effect, Ryujinx must translate the associated shaders. This process, called "shader compilation stuttering," causes the game to freeze or drop frames momentarily, which can severely impact immersion. Open the Nvidia Control Panel > Manage 3D
While building a large cache is ideal, you should delete your current shader cache file if you encounter:
Are you aiming for (like 144k/4K)?
That being said, here's a relevant paper that might interest you: