“How much RAM should I get?” is the question we hear most from people looking for a Minecraft server. The answer: it depends on what you’ll run. Here’s a practical overview.
Quick overview
| Server type | Recommended RAM |
|---|---|
| Vanilla, a few friends | 2–4 GB |
| Paper + plugins, 20–50 players | 6–8 GB |
| Light modpack (up to ~100 mods) | 6–8 GB |
| Heavy modpack (ATM, RLCraft…) | 10–16 GB |
| Network with a proxy (lobby + several servers) | 12 GB or more |
Why more RAM isn’t always better
RAM matters, but Minecraft is mostly about the CPU. The server’s main loop runs on a single thread – if the CPU can’t keep up, no amount of memory will save your TPS. That’s why we build on AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D CPUs.
Allocating too much can even hurt: the garbage collector occasionally has to walk a huge heap, which can cause short freezes. So we recommend a sensible allocation and properly tuned Java flags.
What uses the most memory
- Loaded chunks – the higher the
view-distanceand the more players in different parts of the world, the more memory. - Mods – every mod adds blocks, entities and logic. Heavy modpacks need a lot.
- Plugins – most are lightweight, but some (maps, economies with caches) can use a lot of memory.
- Entities – farms, animals, dropped items.
Tips to save memory and performance
- Use Paper or Purpur instead of vanilla – they’re far more optimised. More in Paper, Purpur, Fabric or Forge?
- Lower
simulation-distance– players still see far (view-distance), but the server only simulates the nearby area. - Pre-generate the world with a plugin like Chunky – generating chunks on the fly is expensive.
- Limit entities and keep an eye on farms.
- Use proper JVM flags – our control panel sets optimised flags (inspired by Aikar’s) automatically.
Java and versions
Modern Minecraft versions (1.20.5 and newer) require Java 21. In our control panel the right Java version is set automatically based on the server version – nothing to worry about.
When to upgrade
Watch the RAM graph and especially TPS/MSPT in the panel. If memory sits just below the limit and the garbage collector runs often, it’s time to add more. You can upgrade your plan any time without losing data.
Summary
For most community servers the sweet spot is 6–8 GB. For modpacks, plan for 10–16 GB. And remember: a great CPU does more than extra gigabytes.
