Game server hosting differs significantly from web hosting. Game servers need low latency, high single-core CPU performance, DDoS protection, and game-specific optimizations. This guide explains how game hosting works and what to look for in a provider.
How Game Servers Work
A game server is a dedicated process that runs the game world 24/7. Players connect to it, and the server simulates the game state — player positions, entity interactions, physics, and world changes. The server sends updates to clients (players' computers) at a set rate (tick rate). Higher tick rate = smoother gameplay = more CPU needed. Unlike a website that loads once and stays cached, game servers constantly compute game logic, entity AI, player movements, and world physics every tick.
CPU — The Most Important Component
Game servers are CPU-intensive, especially single-thread performance. Minecraft, CS2, and Valheim rely heavily on single-core speed. FiveM and ARK use multiple cores but still benefit from high clock speeds. For reference: a Ryzen 9 7950X at 5.7GHz handles 2x the players of a Xeon E-2288G at 4.7GHz on the same game. Always prioritize clock speed over core count for most game servers. CyberNex uses AMD Ryzen 9 processors with 5.7GHz boost across all game server plans.
RAM Requirements by Game
Minecraft (vanilla): 1GB per 5-10 players. Minecraft (modded): 2GB base + 1GB per 5 players. FiveM: 4GB for 32 slots, 8GB for 64 slots. Rust: 8GB base, more with mods. CS2: 4GB for competitive, 8GB for community servers. ARK: 6GB+ for cluster servers. Valheim: 2-4GB. Palworld: 4-8GB. Discord Bots: 512MB-2GB. These are starting points — monitor usage and upgrade as needed.
DDoS Protection — Non-Negotiable
Game servers are prime DDoS targets — competitors, disgruntled players, and vandals attack game servers daily. Without DDoS protection: server goes offline during attacks, players can't connect, and your community loses trust. What to look for: network-level mitigation (scrubs traffic before reaching your server), game-aware filtering (understands game protocol — prevents false positives), capacity (Tbps-level protection for large attacks), and uptime during attacks. CyberNex includes 17 Tbit mitigation on all plans.
Control Panel Features
A good control panel makes server management easy. Features to look for: one-click game/modpack installer (Paper, Forge, Fabric, modpacks), file manager (upload/download world files), console access (view logs, run commands), schedule tasks (automatic restarts, backups), backup management (automated + manual), database management (MySQL/phpMyAdmin), sub-user permissions (give friends access without full control), and DDoS monitoring. Pterodactyl is the industry standard — we use it across all plans.
Good game server hosting prioritizes CPU performance, adequate RAM, enterprise DDoS protection, and user-friendly panel features. Avoid budget hosts that oversell resources — your players will feel the difference. CyberNex was built specifically for game servers — Ryzen 9 CPUs, NVMe storage, enterprise DDoS, and Pterodactyl panel on every plan.
