What Are the Minimum and Recommended System Requirements for an Ark Server?
The official minimum RAM requirement for an Ark: Survival Evolved server is 8GB, but this assumes a small player count (5-10) with no mods. For stable performance with 10-20 players or mods, 16GB is recommended. CPU speed (3.0GHz+), SSD storage, and network bandwidth also significantly impact server stability.
What Is Dedicated Hosting and How Does It Work?
Modern Ark servers benefit from multi-core processors due to parallel task handling for AI behaviors and physics calculations. A quad-core CPU with 3.5GHz base clock shows 40% better performance than dual-core setups in stress tests. Storage-wise, mechanical hard drives cause 2-3x longer world save times compared to NVMe SSDs, increasing crash risks during auto-saves. Network requirements scale with player activity – a 20-player PvP raid needs 10Mbps upload bandwidth to prevent rubberbanding, while peaceful PvE servers manage with 5Mbps.
How Does Player Count Affect RAM Usage in Ark Servers?
Each connected player adds 100-300MB RAM usage. An 8GB server supports 10-15 players comfortably but struggles beyond 20. Large tribes building complex structures increase memory demands due to entity rendering. Dinosaur taming and breeding systems also consume extra resources as active AI entities multiply.
Player interactions create compounding effects – a 10-player tribe simultaneously breeding 50 dinosaurs can push RAM usage to 9GB within 2 hours. During raids, projectile calculations and structure damage tracking temporarily increase memory allocation by 15-20%. The game’s garbage collection system struggles to keep pace, leading to gradual memory creep. Server admins can implement automated dino wipes (using DestroyWildDinos command) every 12 hours to reclaim 1-2GB RAM, but this impacts gameplay immersion.
| Player Count | Average RAM Usage | Recommended Configuration |
|---|---|---|
| 1-5 | 4-6GB | 8GB + SSD |
| 10-15 | 7-9GB | 16GB + NVMe |
| 20+ | 12GB+ | 32GB + RAID SSD |
What Impact Do Mods Have on Ark Server Memory Requirements?
Popular mods like Structures Plus add 500MB-2GB RAM usage each. Total conversion mods (e.g., Primal Fear) may require 16GB+. Mod conflicts can create memory leaks, causing gradual RAM bloat. Curated mod lists and regular server restarts help mitigate this, but 8GB becomes insufficient quickly with multiple quality-of-life mods.
Mod stacking demonstrates nonlinear memory growth – 10 small mods might consume 4GB collectively versus 3GB individually. Texture overhauls particularly strain resources, with 4K texture packs doubling VRAM requirements. A study of 50 modded servers showed average memory increases of:
- Core gameplay mods: +1.2GB
- Dino additions: +800MB
- Building mods: +1.5GB
- QoL UI mods: +400MB
How Does Map Choice Influence Ark Server RAM Needs?
| Map Name | Baseline RAM Usage |
|---|---|
| The Island | 6-8GB |
| Ragnarok | 8-10GB |
| Genesis Part 2 | 10-12GB+ |
“While 8GB meets bare minimum specs, it’s like trying to run a zoo with a hamster wheel. We’ve seen RAM usage spike to 14GB during raids on modded servers. For serious communities, 32GB DDR4 with ECC is becoming the new standard.” – Lars Mikkelsen, Server Admin at NordicHost (8 years ARK hosting experience)
FAQ
- Q: Can I upgrade RAM while the Ark server is running?
- A: No – RAM changes require full server reboot. Plan upgrades during maintenance windows.
- Q: Does using Linux reduce Ark server RAM needs?
- A: Yes – Linux typically uses 1-2GB less overhead than Windows Server, allowing more memory for ARK.
- Q: How often should I restart an 8GB Ark server?
- A: Every 6-8 hours to clear memory leaks. Automate restarts using CRON jobs or Task Scheduler.