diff --git a/synth/de25_nano/top_psmct32_raster_demo/de25_nano_psmct32_raster_demo_top.qsf b/synth/de25_nano/top_psmct32_raster_demo/de25_nano_psmct32_raster_demo_top.qsf
index 9ad62dc..04f51f9 100644
--- a/synth/de25_nano/top_psmct32_raster_demo/de25_nano_psmct32_raster_demo_top.qsf
+++ b/synth/de25_nano/top_psmct32_raster_demo/de25_nano_psmct32_raster_demo_top.qsf
@@ -984,13 +984,16 @@ set_global_assignment -name HPS_INITIALIZATION "HPS FIRST"
 # AUTO_RESOURCE_SHARING=OFF from fresh synthesis through route and produced an
 # identical netlist, resource count, placement, and timing path; sharing was
 # therefore not the source of the tap-to-texture-cache STA arc.
-# Ch415: was "AGGRESSIVE AREA" (a leftover from the pre-useg-strip LAB-overflow era). That mode
-# suppresses register duplication, which left the 8K Z-req FIFO's read-address register (u_zc_emit|
-# u_req|raddr_hi1_q) fanning out to 6 spread M20K blocks and failing 310 MHz EMIF setup by ~103 ps
-# (Quartus TMC-20551: "duplication candidate likely requires more duplication"). Utilization has ample
-# headroom now (ALM 85%, DSP 45%, RAM unaffected by opt mode), so BALANCED lets the fitter duplicate
-# that address register to close the path. Revert to AGGRESSIVE AREA only if a future build re-overflows ALMs.
-set_global_assignment -name OPTIMIZATION_MODE "BALANCED"
+# AGGRESSIVE AREA keeps the long texture-address combinational paths (e.g. vert_count -> u_texcache RAM)
+# placed compactly enough to meet the 25 MHz design clock (+0.631 ns). A global switch to BALANCED closed
+# the EMIF path but blew that design-clock path to -6.119 ns (a 6.7 ns placement swing), so DON'T change the
+# global mode. Instead close the one 310 MHz EMIF miss surgically via the MAX_FANOUT below.
+set_global_assignment -name OPTIMIZATION_MODE "AGGRESSIVE AREA"
+# Ch415: the 8K Z-req FIFO read-address register u_zc_emit|u_req|raddr_hi1_q fans out to ~6 spread M20K blocks
+# and missed 310 MHz EMIF setup by 103 ps (Quartus TMC-20551 asked for more register duplication, which the
+# AGGRESSIVE AREA global mode suppresses). Force duplication of JUST this register so each copy drives a nearby
+# block cluster -> shorter routing. Surgical (no global area/placement disruption); ~a few ALMs.
+set_instance_assignment -name MAX_FANOUT 3 -to "u_zc_emit|u_req|raddr_hi1_q*"
 set_global_assignment -name AUTO_RESOURCE_SHARING ON
 # Ch357 (Codex) — SEED left at default (1): seed 1 gave -0.019 (quasi-static EMIF-lock ONLY, all real datapaths met);
 # seed 2 was worse (-0.155, exposed a different marginal path). The last sliver is closed via the scoped false-path in the SDC.