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There is no universal RAM or CPU requirement for a dedicated game server: the game’s own server documentation is the specification to follow. Minecraft Bedrock lists 4 GB of RAM, while Pocketpair’s Palworld guide recommends 16 GB and more than 32 GB for larger setups. Start with the requirements for your exact game, then account for players, world size, mods, other workloads and the operating system before choosing a machine or hosting plan.
What “dedicated server requirements” actually means
A dedicated server is software running on a machine set aside to host a game session. “Dedicated” describes the role of the server; it does not imply one standard hardware configuration. A machine that can launch a server may still lack enough capacity to run it reliably for the intended number of players.
Requirements come from several layers: the game server’s CPU and memory needs, its supported operating system and architecture, storage performance and space, and network access. If the machine also runs other services, those workloads compete for resources. Renting a server changes who owns and maintains the hardware, but it does not remove the game’s software requirements.
Start with the game’s own requirements
Use the official documentation for the exact game and server edition you intend to run. Requirements vary considerably even among popular multiplayer titles. The following figures are published specifications or recommendations, not independent performance benchmarks; actual headroom depends on workload and configuration.
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| Server software | Memory | CPU | Storage | Platform and network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minecraft Bedrock Dedicated Server | 4 GB listed; the page says at least 1 GB may suffice for small servers, with more for larger worlds or player counts. | Core i3-3210 or AMD A8-7600 equivalent | 180 MB to 1 GB available storage | Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or later for Linux; Windows 10 version 10.0.15063 or later, or Windows Server 2016 or later |
| Palworld dedicated server | 16 GB; more than 32 GB recommended. 8 GB can boot but increases out-of-memory crash risk. | Four CPU cores recommended | Faster SSD recommended | 64-bit Windows or Linux; UDP 8211 by default, and the port can be changed |
| DayZ | 6 GB | Dual-core 2.4 GHz Intel or 2.5 GHz AMD | 2.5 GB drive space; SSD highly recommended for logs and installation | Broadband is listed in the cited specification |
The Minecraft figures are from Mojang’s Bedrock Dedicated Server requirements page, the Palworld figures are from Pocketpair’s Server Guide version 0.5.0, and the DayZ figures are from the Bohemia Interactive Community wiki. The DayZ wiki figures are title-specific; verify them against documentation for the release you plan to run. None of these figures should be transferred to another game as a universal rule.
Use general hardware guidance as a fallback, not a specification
When the game’s documentation is incomplete, Intel’s 2026 guidance offers a broad starting point for many 32-player multiplayer games: a 64-bit Windows system or compatible Linux distribution, SSD storage, at least 8 GB of RAM (16 GB or more described as optimal), and a quad-core Intel CPU running at a minimum of 2.5 GHz. Intel notes that 64 or more players may require additional resources.
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This baseline is not a promise of a particular player capacity or performance level. It is not a substitute for the game’s own instructions, and Intel’s CPU guidance does not establish that adding cores always improves a particular server. Match the processor to the game’s workload, player count and any other processes sharing the host.
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How much RAM should you choose?
Separate the amount that lets a server start from the amount that leaves room for it to run under the conditions you expect. Palworld’s guide makes this distinction explicit: 8 GB may boot the server, but it carries more out-of-memory crash risk; the guide specifies 16 GB and recommends more than 32 GB for larger setups. Minecraft Bedrock’s listed baseline is much lower, while its documentation says larger worlds or more players need additional memory, storage and processing power.
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Estimate for the actual workload
- Use the game’s published figure as your starting point, not a number borrowed from a different title.
- Account for your expected player count and world size. Where the game offers a larger-world, high-player or modded configuration, check whether its documentation specifies separate needs.
- Consider anything else running on the same machine. The game server is not the only process that uses memory.
- Prefer headroom over treating a minimum or bootable configuration as a target for a busy server. The available sources do not provide a universal formula for converting players or mods into a precise RAM total.
If a server runs out of memory, increasing RAM may address that constraint, but the evidence does not establish that memory is always the cause of a crash. Check the game’s logs and system resource use before making a change.
Choose a CPU for the game, not just the core count
The available recommendations vary: Intel gives a broad quad-core, 2.5 GHz baseline for many 32-player games, Pocketpair recommends four cores for Palworld, and the cited DayZ specification lists a dual-core processor with title-specific clock speeds. Those differences are a reason to check the chosen server’s documentation rather than treating a single core count as a general rule.
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Consider both the CPU model and the work it must do. Player activity, world simulation and other services sharing the machine can affect the load. The reviewed specifications do not establish a universal relationship between core count and performance, nor do they justify a particular player limit for a given processor. If renting, look for clear information about CPU allocation and whether other workloads share it; do not assume a listed number of virtual cores alone guarantees a result.
Storage, operating system and network are part of the requirements
Storage: favor an SSD
Intel recommends SSD storage for its broad baseline and cautions that frequent read/write work on slower mechanical drives can cause problems. Pocketpair likewise recommends a faster SSD and warns that low-performance storage may corrupt Palworld saves. These recommendations support choosing an SSD, but they do not establish a universal capacity or a required SATA or NVMe interface. Check the game’s installation and save requirements, then allow for the data you expect to retain.
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Operating system: verify the server software’s support
Operating-system requirements belong to the game server, not to the word “dedicated.” Minecraft Bedrock’s Linux server documentation specifies Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or later and says other distributions are unsupported. Pocketpair lists 64-bit Windows and 64-bit Linux for Palworld. Check the exact game’s supported OS and architecture before buying a machine or selecting a rented instance.
Do not confuse the operating system’s own minimum with what a game server needs. For example, Ubuntu Server 24.04 LTS amd64 lists 1.5 GB RAM minimum for ISO installations and 1 GB for cloud images, with 3 GB or more suggested. Its storage minimums are 5 GB for ISO installations and 4 GB for cloud images, with 25 GB or more suggested. Those are Ubuntu OS figures, not game-server recommendations; the Ubuntu requirements page was last updated July 2, 2026.
Network: check ports and access
A server needs a network path players can reach. Intel notes that an internet connection may require router or network changes. For Palworld, the default is UDP port 8211; Pocketpair says it can be changed and its setup instructions call for router port forwarding. That port is specific to Palworld, not a general game-server port. Follow the chosen game’s network instructions and make sure the host or provider allows the required traffic.
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| Consideration | Self-hosting | Hosted infrastructure |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware | You choose, own or repurpose the machine and are responsible for its capacity. | You select from the provider’s available resource profiles; confirm the allocation fits the game. |
| Setup and maintenance | You handle the supported OS, server setup, configuration, updates and troubleshooting. | Management features vary; check what the provider handles and what remains your responsibility. |
| Networking and location | You configure access on your network and consider where players connect from. | Check available locations, network options and the game’s port requirements. |
| Cost decision | Consider hardware and ongoing operating costs. | Compare the total recurring cost and included resources for the exact configuration. |
Both routes are established. Cfx’s FXServer setup documentation lists Windows, Linux, txAdmin and hosting providers as setup paths. AWS GameLift documents managed EC2 fleets with different compute, memory, storage and networking profiles; instance availability varies by location, and AWS advises matching the instance choice to the game build’s architecture and requirements. These examples illustrate different deployment approaches, not a claim that one route suits every game.
Quick Recap
A practical selection process
- Identify the exact server edition. Confirm the game, edition and release you intend to host; server and client requirements are not interchangeable.
- Read its current server documentation. Record its memory, CPU, storage, OS, architecture and network requirements. Treat a minimum as a floor, not necessarily as a comfortable operating target.
- Define the workload. Estimate the number of players and world size, and identify mods or other services that will share the host. Use title-specific guidance for larger configurations where available.
- Check the machine or plan against every requirement. Verify RAM, CPU allocation, SSD storage, supported operating system and network access. For a rental, confirm location and resource profile rather than relying on a generic “game server” label.
- Choose who will operate it. If you self-host, plan to manage hardware, OS support, updates, configuration and router or firewall setup. If you rent, establish which tasks the provider manages and which you must do.
- Review the ongoing cost and operational fit. Compare the total recurring cost with the resources and management included. The published figures here do not establish provider prices, performance tests, latency, uptime or a guaranteed player capacity.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Applying one game’s RAM number to another. Minecraft Bedrock and Palworld publish sharply different figures; use the documentation for your server software.
- Buying to the boot minimum. A server that starts can still run out of memory under load, as Pocketpair’s Palworld warning illustrates.
- Adding cores without diagnosing the bottleneck. The reviewed specifications do not show that core count alone fixes performance. Check the game’s guidance and the host’s actual CPU allocation.
- Using an OS minimum as the full server requirement. Ubuntu’s published installation figures describe Ubuntu itself, not the additional resources needed by a game.
- Assuming every Linux distribution or port works. Server software may support only specified operating systems, architectures and network settings.
- Assuming a GPU is required. The cited server specifications do not establish a universal GPU requirement. Follow the chosen game’s own server documentation.
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