Is 16 GB of RAM enough for ARK?

It is enough for a single map with up to 20 players. Memory use climbs quickly as the mod list grows and structures accumulate; for an active community server 32 GB is recommended.

How many maps can I run in a cluster?

Budgeting 16 GB of RAM and three to four vCPUs per map is a safe approach. A 64 GB / 16 vCPU plan runs three to four maps; beyond that, consider a dedicated server.

Game servers

ARK Server Hosting

ARK is one of the most memory-hungry game servers. A single map sits in the 10-16 GB range even at low player counts, because the server keeps every creature, structure and inventory in memory. In a cluster each map runs in its own process, so the requirement grows linearly.

What is a ARK: Survival server?

An ARK: Survival server runs a map where players tame dinosaurs, build bases and progress persistently. It is one of the heaviest games on this list: a single map needs a lot of RAM even when empty, because the map, structures and every tamed creature are held in memory. If you want several maps linked together in a cluster, each map is a separate server process and the RAM requirement multiplies directly. Mods are common and push the figure higher still. The save file grows noticeably as play progresses, so storage sized against the first week will fall short within a few months.

Recommended plan by player count

These values map one to one onto the VDS plan steps in our catalogue. Intermediate values can also be selected in the configurator.

Players	RAM	vCPU	Storage	Xeon E5-2699v4	Ryzen 7950X	Note
1 harita, 1-20	16 GB	8	320 GBmax 250 GB on this product	₺2.580,00 / mo	₺4.630,00 / mo	A single map, vanilla or a light mod list.
1 harita, 20-70	32 GB	12	640 GBmax 250 GB on this product	₺3.460,00 / mo	₺7.330,00 / mo	An active community server, a moderate mod list, accumulated structures.
Cluster (3+ harita)	64 GB	16	1000 GBmax 250 GB on this product	₺5.140,00 / mo	₺12.430,00 / mo	Each map a separate process, with a shared cluster directory for transfers.

The amounts in the table are the monthly net price of each processor option and match the calculation in the configurator. The value option uses DDR4 memory, the performance option DDR5. Billing period (3, 6, 12, 24, 36 months) and extra resources are calculated in the configurator. Some recommended values exceed this product's maximum, so the price is calculated from the configuration clamped to that limit; for higher resources, review the dedicated servers.

Prices exclude VAT (20%).

How to choose the hardware

Clusters change the picture for ARK: when several maps run at once, core count genuinely helps because the processes spread across cores. This is one of the rare game scenarios where a many-core processor family makes sense. Map save files (.ark) grow over time and backups add to storage needs.

Which processor family?

Most game servers run on a single thread, so per-core performance matters more than core count.

Xeon E5-2699v4

In a cluster the maps run as separate processes, so a high core count converts directly into capacity.

View plans

Ryzen 7950X

If you run a single map, this family keeps in-game tick time lowest.

View plans

Setup steps

1Install with an Ubuntu 22.04 template and download the ARK dedicated server via SteamCMD.
2Open UDP 7777 and 7778 (game), UDP 27015 (query) and TCP 27020 (RCON).
3For a cluster, define a shared clusterdir across the maps.
4Enable snapshot backups and watch storage use, since save files grow over time.

Common mistakes

Sizing RAM for one map when building a cluster. Each map is its own process, so a three-map cluster needs three times the RAM.
Ignoring save-file growth. ARK save sizes multiply over months, and storage should be planned for that.
Changing the mod list after the server is live. Removing certain mods permanently deletes structures and tames, so decide on mods up front.
Updating versions without a backup. ARK updates can break save compatibility, so back up the save directory first.

Migrating from another provider

The order matters when moving a live server: back up the game files and the database on the old server, install the same version on the new one, import the database, then update the address your players connect to. Move the database last — if both servers stay online together for a while, player data splits in two and cannot be merged afterwards. Do not shut the old server down until the new one is verified.

If you get stuck on a step, open a support ticket; we help with the installation steps.

What is included at Datafex

Fexwall L3/L4 DDoS filtering is included free on every plan. That is the layer a game server needs; a CDN in front of HTTP does not protect the game's UDP traffic.

Every plan uses NVMe SSD. The database runs on the same machine as the game server, so storage latency turns directly into in-game stutter.

Servers are in Türkiye, at the DGN data centre in Bursa. Transit is 100 Gbps domestic and 10 Tbps international.

Setup completes automatically within minutes. Extra IPs, rDNS and firewall rules are managed from the customer panel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Configure your server

Pick the plan that matches your player count, choose the operating system and start provisioning within minutes.

Buy a virtual server All game servers

Other game servers

Games that run on the same infrastructure with comparable resource needs. Each page lists RAM, vCPU and storage guidance by player count.

Server hardware and the operating system are included; the game's server software and any game licence are NOT included — you obtain and install those yourself. Our guides walk through the setup.

Game names and logos are property of their respective owners. Datafex is not an official partner or authorised reseller of these games.