Quick answer: This guide walks you through the topic step by step with practical examples and configuration tips.
This overview helps you choose the right hardware for your ARK: Survival Evolved server – depending on player count and server type.
Without Mods (Vanilla ARK)
Vanilla refers to a pure ARK server without additional mods – only the content provided by the game. The values are guidelines for normal gameplay with standard settings.
| Players | RAM | CPU |
|---|---|---|
| 1–10 | 6–8 GB | 3 cores at 3.5 GHz+ |
| 10–20 | 8–12 GB | 4 cores at 3.8 GHz+ |
| 20–40 | 12–16 GB | 4–6 cores at 4.0 GHz+ |
| 40–70 | 16–24 GB | 6 cores at 4.2 GHz+ |
| 70+ | 24 GB+ | 6–8 cores at 4.5 GHz+ |
Important: ARK primarily runs on a single thread. A CPU with high clock speed (3.5 GHz+) is more important than many cores. A modern i5 at 4.5 GHz beats an old 16-core Xeon.
Single Map vs. Cluster
| Setup | RAM | CPU |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Map (e.g. The Island) | 8–12 GB | 4 cores at 3.8 GHz+ |
| 2 Maps (Cluster) | 16–20 GB | 4–6 cores at 4.0 GHz+ |
| 3–4 Maps (Cluster) | 24–32 GB | 6 cores at 4.2 GHz+ |
| 5+ Maps (large cluster) | 32–48 GB | 8 cores at 4.5 GHz+ |
Rule of thumb: Each additional map needs about 6–8 GB RAM extra. A 3-map cluster with The Island, Ragnarok and Aberration requires at least 24 GB RAM.
Storage per map
| Map | Storage |
|---|---|
| The Island | 15–25 GB |
| Ragnarok | 20–30 GB |
| The Center | 15–25 GB |
| Scorched Earth | 12–20 GB |
| Aberration | 15–25 GB |
| Extinction | 15–25 GB |
| Valguero | 18–28 GB |
| Crystal Isles | 20–30 GB |
| Genesis Part 1 | 20–30 GB |
| Genesis Part 2 | 25–35 GB |
| Lost Island | 22–32 GB |
| Fjordur | 25–35 GB |
In general: NVMe SSD is mandatory – HDD makes the server unplayable. Plan an additional 20–30 GB per map for backups.
Network
- Plan about 1–2 Mbps upload per player
- From 20 players, at least 25 Mbps upload recommended
- From 50 players, at least 50 Mbps upload recommended
Summary: How to choose the right hardware
- Estimate player count: How many people do you expect simultaneously?
- Determine number of maps: Single map or cluster?
- CPU: High single-core performance (3.5 GHz+) > many cores
- RAM: 8 GB per map as base, plus 2 GB per 10 players
- Storage: NVMe SSD, 25–35 GB per map plus backups
- Network: Plan sufficient upload bandwidth