ARK Server RAM Calculator

ARK servers are among the most resource-intensive game servers. Even a basic server needs 6-8GB of RAM. The amount depends on your map, number of players, installed mods, and how many creatures and structures are on the map. Large modded servers can easily need 12-16GB or more.

For a vanilla ARK server running The Island, 6GB of RAM is the minimum for a small group of 1-10 players. For 10-20 players, 8GB is recommended. For 20+ players, plan for at least 10-12GB. Larger maps like Ragnarok or Crystal Isles need an additional 2-4GB on top of these numbers.

Modded ARK servers require significantly more RAM. Each large mod (like Structures Plus or Dino Storage) can add 0.5-1GB of usage. A light mod setup (1-5 mods) adds 1-3GB, a medium setup (5-15 mods) adds 3-5GB, and heavily modded servers or total conversions may need an extra 5-8GB on top of the vanilla baseline.

Yes! With DoomHosting, you can upgrade or downgrade your RAM at any time through your control panel. Changes take effect immediately. This is especially useful for ARK, where RAM usage can grow significantly as players tame more creatures and build larger bases.

ARK servers are demanding on both RAM and CPU. RAM is critical because ARK loads massive maps and thousands of entities into memory — running out of RAM will cause severe lag or crashes. CPU is important for processing game ticks, creature AI, and player interactions. For most ARK servers, RAM is the primary bottleneck. Our plans provide the balanced resources ARK needs.