Table of Contents
Who this is for: Server administrators, Minecraft enthusiasts planning to host multiplayer worlds, and gamers curious about server requirements.
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Basic RAM Requirements by Player Count
For a small Minecraft server with 1-5 players, you’ll typically need 2-4GB of RAM. This covers vanilla gameplay with basic world generation and simple redstone contraptions. If you’re planning to host 6-10 players, bump that up to 4-6GB to handle increased chunk loading and player activity.
Medium-sized servers supporting 10-20 players should allocate 6-8GB of RAM, while larger communities with 20+ players often require 8GB or more. Keep in mind these are starting points – your actual needs depend heavily on what you’re running.
Modded vs Vanilla Servers
Vanilla Minecraft is relatively lightweight, but modded servers are RAM-hungry beasts. Popular modpacks like FTB or Tekkit can easily consume 4-6GB even for small groups. Heavy modpacks with 100+ mods might need 8-12GB just to launch properly.
Each mod adds its own memory overhead – tech mods with complex machinery, world generation mods, and graphics enhancement mods are particularly demanding. Always check the modpack’s recommended specifications before committing to a RAM allocation.
Plugins and Performance Factors
Bukkit, Spigot, and Paper servers with plugins fall somewhere between vanilla and modded in terms of RAM usage. Essential plugins like WorldEdit, Essentials, or economy plugins add modest overhead, but poorly optimized plugins can cause memory leaks.
Your world size matters too – larger worlds with extensive builds, redstone contraptions, and mob farms consume more memory. Render distance settings also impact RAM usage, with higher distances requiring more chunk data in memory.
Optimization Tips
Don’t just throw RAM at performance problems. Use server optimization flags like Aikar’s flags for better garbage collection. Consider using Paper or Purpur instead of vanilla for better performance with the same RAM allocation.
Monitor your server’s actual RAM usage with tools like htop or your hosting panel’s metrics. Many servers run fine on less RAM than initially allocated, while others might need adjustments based on actual usage patterns.
Start conservative with your RAM allocation and scale up based on real performance data rather than theoretical maximums. For those ready to dive into server hosting, exploring different Minecraft server setups can help you find the perfect balance for your community.
TL;DR
Small Minecraft servers (1-5 players) need 2-4GB RAM, while larger servers (10+ players) require 6-8GB+. Modded servers typically need double the RAM of vanilla servers.
