The Ultimate Guide to Game Server RAM: How Much Do You Really Need?

When starting your own server, one of the first questions you’ll face is: how much RAM do I need? It’s not just a tech detail, it directly affects whether your players lag, crash or experience smooth gameplay. In this guide, we break down how RAM works, how much you need for each game and how to make the right choice depending on what you about to host.

Why RAM Matters for Game Servers

RAM is where your game server temporarily stores data while it runs. Every player that joins, every mod you install, every action that happens, it all uses memory. Too little RAM and your server can lag, stutter or even crash entirely.

RAM is especially important for:

• Modded servers
• Large worlds and maps
• High player counts
• Games with lots of AI/NPCs

What Affects RAM Requirements?

There’s no “one size fits all.” RAM needs change based on:

• Player count: More players = more activity = more RAM usage
• Mods and plugins: Heavily modded servers require significantly more memory
• Map/world size: Larger, open-world games use more RAM to load and manage terrain
• NPCs and AI: Some games (like ARK/DayZ/Rust/etc.) have advanced AI that uses memory continuously
• Tickrate and performance settings: Higher tickrate servers update more frequently and demand more resources

General RAM Guidelines by Game Type

We can group games into three tiers to give you a general idea of RAM needs:

Lightweight Games (1–4 GB RAM)

Examples: Don’t Starve Together, Unturned, CS2, Garry’s Mod (vanilla)

Perfect for casual servers or small groups with minimal plugins.

Mid-Tier Games (4–8 GB RAM)

Examples: Minecraft, FiveM, Arma 3, DayZ, Truck Simulator

Ideal for moderate player bases, light modding, and stable performance.

Heavyweight Games (8–16+ GB RAM)

Examples: Rust, 7 Days to Die, ARK: Survival Ascended, Satisfactory, Palworld

These games are resource-hungry and need serious RAM, especially with mods or large groups.

What Happens If You Don’t Have Enough RAM?

Running a game server with insufficient RAM leads to:

• Lag and rubberbanding
• Players getting randomly disconnected
• Mods not loading properly
• Server crashes or refusing to start

This can ruin the experience and push players away, especially in competitive or modded environments.

How RocketNode Helps You Choose the Right Plan

At RocketNode, we make choosing the right RAM plan simple:

• All servers run on high-performance AMD Ryzen 5950x CPUs
• Unlimited slots on all plans
• Modding support included
• Easy upgrades and downgrades
• 24/7 support available to help you pick the right setup

Whether you’re hosting for 3 friends or 300 players, we’ve got a plan for you.

Final Tips

• Always leave room to grow — your server might become more popular than you expect
• Plan ahead if you want to add mods — they increase RAM needs fast
• Ask for help — if you’re not sure, contact our support team and we’ll recommend a plan

Need help deciding how much RAM your game server really needs? Start your RocketNode server today or reach out to support, we’re here to make hosting simple.