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Game servers

SA-MP and MTA Server Hosting

SA-MP and MTA:SA servers are very light compared with modern titles; a 100-slot roleplay server runs on 2 GB of RAM. The deciding factors are latency and uptime rather than raw resources, and for a Turkish audience a domestic location is the biggest variable.

What is a SA-MP / MTA:SA server?

SA-MP and MTA:SA are two separate projects that make GTA San Andreas multiplayer, and both have long hosted large roleplay communities in Türkiye. SA-MP uses the Pawn language on the server side while MTA:SA uses Lua; the two are not compatible and need different server software. On resources these are the lightest games on this list: because the engine is old and 32-bit, RAM stays modest even at high slot counts and single-core performance is again what matters. Script density, on the other hand, can be very high — on a 500-player roleplay server thousands of lines of Pawn run every tick, and the limit is usually script efficiency rather than hardware.

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.

PlayersRAMvCPUStorageIntel i9-10980XEXeon E5-2699v4Note
1-1002 GB140 GB₺380.00 / mo₺270.00 / moA new roleplay or freeroam server.
100-5004 GB280 GB₺910.00 / mo₺670.00 / moActive roleplay with MySQL on the same machine.
500-10008 GB4160 GB₺1,970.00 / mo₺1,470.00 / moA large community with heavy script and database load.

The amounts in the table are the monthly net price of each processor option and match the calculation in the configurator. Billing period (3, 6, 12, 24 months) and extra resources are calculated in the configurator.

Prices exclude VAT (20%).

How to choose the hardware

Pawn (SA-MP) and Lua (MTA) script execution is single-threaded, so core speed matters more than core count. When the database runs on the same machine, NVMe storage clearly lowers query latency. On large roleplay servers the real load comes from script complexity and database queries.

Which processor family?

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

Setup steps

  1. 1Install with a Debian 12 or Ubuntu 22.04 template; SA-MP needs 32-bit libraries (lib32z1).
  2. 2Open UDP 7777 for SA-MP, or UDP 22003 and TCP 22005 for MTA.
  3. 3Install MySQL/MariaDB and import your gamemode database.
  4. 4Verify the query port is reachable so the server appears in the public list.

Full step-by-step guide: how to set up a SA-MP / MTA:SA server →

Common mistakes

  • Scaling up the hardware without optimising scripts. On these games the limit is usually the amount of code running each tick, not the hardware.
  • Treating SA-MP and MTA:SA as interchangeable. Scripts do not transfer, so decide which platform you are building on from the start.
  • Ignoring the 32-bit engine's memory ceiling. Giving the server process unlimited RAM achieves nothing; extra RAM only helps when you run several servers on one machine.

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

Layered Fexwall DDoS protection is included free on every plan. Game traffic is protected at network level, from distributed nodes and the router through Fexwall's L4–L7 inspection; 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

How much RAM does a SA-MP / MTA:SA server need?
It depends on the player count. Our recommendations: 1-100 players: 2 GB RAM and 1 vCPU; 100-500 players: 4 GB RAM and 2 vCPU; 500-1000 players: 8 GB RAM and 4 vCPU. Pick the next tier up as mods, plugins and map size grow; you can upgrade RAM later from the customer panel without reinstalling.
How much does SA-MP / MTA:SA server hosting cost?
SA-MP / MTA:SA server plans start from ₺270/month + VAT with 2 GB RAM, 1 vCPU and NVMe storage. The price depends on the vCPU, RAM and disk you choose; the table on this page lists current monthly prices for the recommended plans by player count. Fexwall DDoS protection is included in every plan.
What does a 1000-slot SA-MP server need?
The game server itself is light; 8 GB of RAM and four vCPUs suffice. The real load is script complexity and MySQL queries, so database optimisation matters more than hardware.
Is SA-MP still supported?
You manage the server software while we provide the infrastructure. SA-MP, open.mp or MTA:SA can all be installed as long as the 32-bit library requirements are met.

Configure your server

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

Configure your SA-MP / MTA:SA serverAll 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.