Game Panel

PlayNHost / Tools

How much memory does a game server really use?

Measured on real servers, dated, and free to use. 18 games so far.

What this is

For each game we start a real server on our own hardware and watch how much memory it uses. Every number on this page is a measurement, not a guess, and it carries its date.

What it helps with

Picking the right plan size, comparing games, and checking a host's claims. If a game only uses 859 MB idle, you know you are not buying 16 GB for nothing.

What it does not tell you

These servers had nobody connected. Players, mods and long-running worlds use more, and we do not publish player-load figures because we have not measured them. How we measure.

18 games measured so far

The bar shows memory used ten minutes after the server started, with nobody connected. Click a game for the readings minute by minute.

PZProject Zomboid
Starts in 31 s, installs in 2 min 45 s3,164 MBV Rising
Starts in 47 s, installs in 42 s2,865 MBASKA
Starts in 16 s, installs in 42 s1,530 MBValheim
Starts in 16 s, installs in 1 min 44 s1,349 MBCore Keeper
Starts in 3 min 06 s, installs in 42 s1,312 MBIcarus
Starts in 16 s, installs in 3 min 46 s1,297 MBPalworld
Starts in 0 s, installs in 2 min 04 s859 MBUnturned
Starts in 16 s, installs in 1 min 43 s828 MBEnshrouded
Starts in 16 s, installs in 3 min 05 s756 MBCounter-Strike 2
Starts in 16 s, installs in 20 min 08 s755 MBTerraria
Starts in 31 s, installs in 22 s567 MBNecesse
Starts in 0 s, installs in 42 s440 MBFactorio
Starts in 0 s, installs in 22 s312 MBBarotrauma
Starts in 16 s, installs in 42 s282 MBDay of Infamy
Starts in 0 s, installs in 2 min 24 s243 MBSatisfactory
Starts in 0 s, installs in 1 min 23 s175 MBL4Left 4 Dead 2
Starts in 16 s, installs in 3 min 47 s157 MBGMGarry's Mod
Starts in 16 s, installs in 1 min 23 s91 MB

Questions

How is this different from the system requirements on a game's page?

Those are the publisher's minimums, often for a client or for a full server. These are readings from dedicated servers on real hardware, one per minute, with the date of the test.

Why are some games missing?

Only games that finished the full test are listed. Games still waiting for a test, or that did not complete one, are left out until they do.

Can I use this on my site?

Yes. Quote the numbers and link to this page.