Answer: The best server for Factorio balances performance, mod support, and scalability. Dedicated hosting services like Nitrado, GTXGaming, and Survival Servers lead due to customizable RAM, low latency, and 24/7 uptime. Self-hosted options suit small teams, while paid servers handle large factories and multiplayer stability. Prioritize providers with SSD storage and DDoS protection for optimal gameplay.
How Do Factorio Server Requirements Impact Performance?
Factorio servers demand CPU power for simulation calculations and RAM for large factories. A 4 GHz CPU and 4 GB RAM handle 10-20 players, while 8+ GB RAM scales for megabases. SSD storage reduces autosave lag, and 100 Mbps bandwidth prevents desync. Avoid shared hosting for late-game factories—dedicated servers minimize tick delays.
Factorio’s entity-update calculations are single-threaded, making clock speed more critical than core count. A 5 GHz Intel i9-13900K outperforms a 32-core Xeon processor for bases with 50,000+ active entities. RAM allocation becomes vital when using mods like Space Exploration, where 16 GB is recommended for galaxy-spanning factories. Monitor UPS (updates per second) through the debug menu—consistent drops below 60 UPS indicate hardware bottlenecks.
| Player Count | Minimum CPU | Recommended RAM |
|---|---|---|
| 1-10 | 3.8 GHz Quad-Core | 4 GB |
| 20-50 | 4.5 GHz Hexa-Core | 8 GB |
| 50+ | 5.2 GHz Octa-Core | 16 GB |
What Security Measures Prevent Griefing and DDoS Attacks?
Enable whitelisting, role-based permissions, and daily snapshots. OVHcloud and Nitrado include free DDoS mitigation scrubbing 100 Gbps attacks. Use Factorio’s built-in encryption for blueprints. Audit logs detect unauthorized deconstruction—set alerts for mass entity deletion. For public servers, Captcha gates block bot spam.
Advanced protection involves combining server-side tools with hosting provider features. Role-based access control (RBAC) should restrict blueprint imports and console commands to trusted moderators. Services like Akamai Prolexic can mitigate sustained DDoS attacks targeting factory coordinates. For anti-griefing, install the “Player Roles” mod to limit demolition permissions and enable rollback scripts that restore 15-minute save intervals automatically.
| Provider | DDoS Protection | Snapshot Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Nitrado | 120 Gbps | Hourly |
| GTXGaming | 60 Gbps | Every 4 Hours |
| Survival Servers | 80 Gbps | Daily |
Which Hosting Providers Offer the Lowest Latency?
Nitrado (EU/NA nodes) and GTXGaming average 25 ms latency via global CDNs. Survival Servers uses Tier-3 data centers for <30 ms response. PingPerfect optimizes routes for oceanic players. Test providers with free trials—latency under 50 ms ensures smooth belt synchronization and combat responsiveness.
What Mod Support Features Are Critical for Factorio Servers?
Look for one-click modpack installers, version rollback, and 500+ mod slots. GTXGaming auto-updates Bob’s Mods and Space Exploration. Avoid hosts limiting mod size—Angel’s/Bob’s suites require 2 GB+ storage. Clusterio compatibility is essential for cross-server logistics. Admins need FTP access to manually upload .zip mods for niche overhauls.
Why Does Server Location Affect Multiplayer Experience?
Geographic proximity reduces packet travel time—hosting in Frankfurt suits EU players, Dallas for NA. Latency above 100 ms causes delayed inserter actions and ghost entities. Use providers with regional node selection. For global teams, Singapore/Australia servers split the difference but expect 80-120 ms latency. Cloudflare integration can shave 15% off intercontinental pings.
How to Balance Cost and Performance for Small vs Large Bases?
Starter bases (1-10 rockets) run on $10/month VPS with 2 vCPUs. Megabases (10k SPM+) need $40+/month dedicated cores. Allocate budget for RAM upgrades—each 1k SPM adds 0.5 GB RAM usage. GTXGaming’s tiered plans let you scale RAM from 4 GB to 12 GB as factories grow. Schedule off-peak backups to reduce CPU throttling costs.
“Factorio’s deterministic lockstep architecture makes single-thread performance king. We’ve seen 5.2 GHz overclocked CPUs handle 50-player factories at 60 UPS where 3.8 GHz servers drop to 45 UPS. Always request benchmark results for your target player count.”
— Hosting Industry Analyst, GameServerPundit.com
Conclusion
Choosing the best Factorio server hinges on matching hardware specs to factory scale, prioritizing low-latency nodes, and ensuring mod flexibility. Dedicated hosting outperforms DIY setups for large multiplayer bases, while security tools maintain gameplay integrity. Regularly benchmark UPS and upgrade RAM/CPU as your factory expands into megabase territory.
FAQ
- Can I Host a Factorio Server on My Home PC?
- Yes, but only for 2-4 players. Use port forwarding and disable power saving modes. Expect UPS drops beyond 5k SPM. Residential upload speeds often bottleneck multiplayer sync.
- How Much RAM Do Modded Servers Require?
- Light mods (QoL tweaks) add 1-2 GB. Overhaul modpacks like Krastorio 2 need 6-8 GB. PvP scenarios with 100+ combat mods may spike to 10 GB during peak waves.
- Are Cross-Platform Servers Supported?
- Factorio servers are OS-agnostic—Windows/Linux hosts can serve all clients. Steam/Standalone players interconnect seamlessly. No native console support yet.