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 Arma 3 server – depending on player count, AI units and whether you use mods. Arma 3 is extremely CPU-hungry, so choosing the right hardware is crucial.
Without Mods (Vanilla Arma 3)
Vanilla refers to a pure Arma 3 server without mods – only the content provided by the game. Rare, but sometimes sufficient for small private servers or pure PvP servers without AI.
| Players | RAM | CPU |
|---|---|---|
| 1–10 | 8 GB | 4 cores at 3.5 GHz+ |
| 10–32 | 12–16 GB | 4–6 cores at 4.0 GHz+ |
| 32–64 | 16–24 GB | 6 cores at 4.5 GHz+ |
| 64+ | 24 GB+ | 6–8 cores at 4.8 GHz+ |
Important: Arma 3 primarily runs on a single thread. Anything over 4 cores brings little benefit, but high clock speed brings a lot. A modern i5 at 4.5 GHz beats an old 16-core Xeon by far.
With Mods (Community Servers with ACE, RHS, CUP and more)
Most servers use mods. Even small clans usually have ACE, TFAR and a few vehicle mods. Large communities often run 50–100 mods. Mods drastically increase RAM usage and loading times, CPU load increases more moderately.
| Players | RAM | CPU |
|---|---|---|
| 1–10 | 12–16 GB | 4 cores at 4.0 GHz+ |
| 10–32 | 16–24 GB | 4–6 cores at 4.2 GHz+ |
| 32–64 | 24–32 GB | 6 cores at 4.5 GHz+ |
| 64+ | 32 GB+ | 6–8 cores at 4.8 GHz+ |
Rule of thumb for mods:
- Small modpacks (10–20 mods): +4 GB RAM
- Medium modpacks (20–50 mods like ACE, RHS, TFAR): +8 GB RAM
- Large modpacks (50–100+ mods): +12 GB RAM or more
- RHS or CUP alone need 2–4 GB extra when loading
With or without AI?
AI units are the biggest CPU eater in Arma 3. A server with 64 players and 200 AI units needs more CPU power than a server with 100 players without AI.
- Without AI (pure PvP): CPU requirements as in the tables above
- Few AI (50–100): Plan +20% CPU power or use a headless client
- Many AI (100–300): +50% CPU or distribute across multiple headless clients
Storage
- Vanilla: 50 GB
- With mods: 100–200 GB (depending on modpack – RHS alone is 20 GB)
- In general: NVMe SSD is mandatory – mods take several minutes to load on HDD
Network
- Plan about 1–2 Mbps upload per player
- From 32 players, at least 50 Mbps upload recommended
- UDP ports 2302–2306 must be open
Summary: How to choose the right hardware
- Estimate player count: How many people do you expect simultaneously?
- Mods yes/no: With typical community mods, go two tiers higher on RAM
- Plan for AI: Heavy AI = headless clients or stronger CPU
- CPU: Highest single-core performance you can afford. 4.5 GHz+ recommended
- RAM: 16 GB minimum for mod servers, better 24–32 GB
- Storage: NVMe SSD, no HDD – otherwise mods take forever to load