Choosing the right hardware for your Valheim server hinges on balancing CPU clock speed with sufficient RAM, scaling according to your expected player count. This guide breaks down hardware priorities, provides performance tuning tips, and includes ready-to-use tables via Hugo protable shortcodes.

Sizing Summary

For small groups (1-5), prioritize CPU but maintain 4 GB RAM.
Mid-size (6-20), quad-core 3.0+ GHz with 8-12 GB RAM.
Large communities (21+), hexa- to octa-core 3.5-4.0+ GHz and 16-32 GB RAM.
Always leave ~20% RAM headroom and use NVMe storage for best I/O.

Hardware Priorities by Player Count

Valheim Hardware Recommendations by Player Count
Player Count	CPU	RAM	Storage	CPU:RAM Priority
1-5	Dual-core 2.5+ GHz	4 GB	20 GB SSD	CPU:RAM = 60:40
6-10	Quad-core 3.0+ GHz	8 GB	40 GB SSD	CPU:RAM = 70:30
11-20	Quad-core 3.5+ GHz	12 GB	60 GB NVMe	CPU:RAM = 80:20
21-30	Hexa-core 3.5+ GHz	16 GB	80 GB NVMe	CPU:RAM = 85:15
31+	Octa-core 4.0+ GHz	32 GB	100+ GB NVMe	CPU:RAM = 90:10

Balancing CPU and RAM

Valheim is single-thread sensitive for world simulation and physics, making CPU clock speed paramount. However, insufficient RAM leads to server lag during world saves and garbage collection.

CPU: High single-core performance for terrain generation, physics, and world ticks.
RAM: Stores world state, player data, and mod/plugin overhead.

Performance Tuning Guidelines

Key Valheim Server Tuning Tips
Tuning Focus	Recommendation
CPU Affinity	Bind server to highest-clock cores
RAM headroom	Leave 20% free for OS and backups
Storage I/O	Use NVMe for world saves and backups
Network	Ensure 1 Mbps per 2 players upload

CPU Affinity: Bind your server process to the highest-clock cores to reduce context switching.
RAM Headroom: Allocate ~80% of total RAM to the server; leave OS and backup jobs free.
Storage I/O: Use NVMe drives for fast world save operations and snapshot backups.
Network Bandwidth: Ensure at least 1 Mbps upload per 2 concurrent players; monitor with in-game /status.

Scaling Strategies

Sharding: Split large worlds into multiple server instances for >30 players.
Mod Selection: Limit high-overhead mods; use light-weight quality-of-life plugins.
Scheduled Restarts: Automate restarts during off-peak to clear memory.

Conclusion

Selecting the correct CPU and RAM configuration for your Valheim server ensures smooth gameplay and minimal lag. Start with the player count tiers above, adjust for mods and world size, and follow the tuning guidelines for optimal performance. Continuous monitoring and incremental upgrades will keep your server running at peak efficiency.

Valheim Server Hardware: CPU vs RAM Priorities and Player Count Scaling