Getting started
How much RAM does my game server need?
On this page
It depends on the game and how many of you play at once. Here’s where we’d start for each game we host, and it’s the same starting point the plan picker on each game’s page gives you.
| Game | Small group | Medium group | Large group |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rust | Up to 12 GB (up to 50 players) | Up to 16 GB (up to 100 players) | Up to 20 GB (up to 160 players) |
| Minecraft | 2 GB (up to 10 players) | 4 GB (up to 25 players) | 8 GB (50 or more players) |
| ARK: Survival Evolved | Up to 10 GB (up to 10 players) | Up to 12 GB (up to 30 players) | Up to 16 GB (up to 60 players) |
| Palworld | Up to 10 GB (up to 10 players) | Up to 12 GB (up to 16 players) | Up to 16 GB (up to 32 players) |
| Valheim | Up to 10 GB (up to 10 players) | Up to 16 GB (up to 24 players) | Up to 24 GB (up to 32 players) |
| 7 Days to Die | Up to 10 GB (up to 8 players) | Up to 12 GB (up to 16 players) | Up to 16 GB (up to 30 players) |
| Enshrouded | Up to 5 GB (up to 4 players) | Up to 8 GB (up to 8 players) | Up to 8 GB (up to 16 players) |
| Satisfactory | Up to 8 GB (up to 4 players) | Up to 16 GB (5 to 8 players) | Up to 24 GB (9 or more players) |
| V Rising | Up to 10 GB (up to 10 players) | Up to 10 GB (up to 20 players) | Up to 10 GB (up to 40 players) |
These sizes are a guide. Mods, game settings and updates can all change how much RAM a server needs.
What pushes it up
- Mods and plugins. Every one of them loads into memory alongside the game. If you’re planning a modded server, start a size up.
- Bigger maps. Facepunch puts it plainly for Rust: “The larger the map, the more disk space and memory you need.”
- How much of the world stays loaded. In Minecraft,
view-distanceandsimulation-distanceinserver.propertiesdecide how many chunks the server keeps around each player. Both default to 10. - Worlds that grow. The more people build, tame, breed and explore, the bigger the world the server has to keep in memory. A server that’s comfortable on day one can feel tight a month later.
- Game updates. New content can change how much memory a game uses, up or down.
Signs you need more
- The server crashes or restarts on its own, and it happens more as people join.
- The console or logs mention running out of memory.
- Lag that creeps in over days and weeks, rather than only at busy times.
Tip
Not sure? Ask the assistant in your Game Panel. It can read your server’s console and logs and tell you whether memory is the problem before you change anything.
Lag isn’t always RAM, though. A slow server can also come down to the game’s settings, a plugin, or a player’s own connection, and what to check when your server is lagging walks through those first.
Moving up a size
If you’re still picking a plan, each game’s page has a plan picker that works out the starting size from your player count and whether you’ll run mods. All of them are on the game servers page.