Valheim Server Requirements: RAM, CPU and Disk by Group Size

A Valheim dedicated server needs about 4 GB of RAM for up to 5 players on a vanilla world, 6 GB for a full crew of 10 or big late game bases, and 8 GB for BepInEx modpacks. Give it a modern CPU with fast single core speed, 2 to 4 cores, an SSD with a few GB free for the install, world and backups, and a stable upload. Valheim is light compared with most survival games.

What are the minimum requirements for a Valheim server?

Community documentation lists a 4 core CPU, 2 GB of RAM and 2 GB of storage as the floor for the dedicated server. In practice, even a small world with a couple of players uses around 3 GB once it has loaded, so treat 2 GB as "it boots", not "it runs well".

The server is a free, separate download from Iron Gate (app 896660 in SteamCMD). It runs headless, so it needs no graphics card.

How much RAM does a Valheim server need by group size?

Memory grows with what exists in the world more than with the player count. Every placed build piece, dropped item, tamed animal and explored zone is data the server keeps track of. A ten player crew that builds one sensible village needs less than five players who each built a castle in a different biome.

Valheim caps a world at 10 players (Iron Gate's 1.0 FAQ calls it a game for 1 to 10), so you never size for more than that.

Does a Valheim server need a fast CPU?

It needs a fast core more than many cores. Much of the server's work runs on one main thread, so a high clock speed helps more than extra cores. A recent desktop CPU with strong single thread performance is ideal. An old many core server chip at low clocks is a poor fit.

There is a twist that makes Valheim different from most games, though. In vanilla Valheim, the simulation of an area (enemies, physics, carts, falling trees, tamed animals) runs on the PC of the player who owns that zone, usually whoever arrived first. The server mostly stores and forwards the world. That has three consequences:

• A Valheim server needs less CPU than you might expect for 10 players.
• A player with a weak PC or a bad connection can cause lag for everyone near them, even on a strong server.
• Upgrading the server does not fix every kind of lag. Our Valheim server lag fix explains how to tell which kind you have.

Some community mods move zone simulation onto the server itself. If you run one of those, server CPU matters much more, and you should size up a step.

How much disk space does a Valheim server use?

The server install is around 1 to 2 GB. Worlds start small and grow as players explore and build. A busy world played for months can reach a few hundred megabytes.

Backups multiply that. By default the dedicated server keeps 4 automatic backups (-backups 4), takes the first 2 hours after start (-backupshort 7200) and then every 12 hours (-backuplong 43200), and saves the world every 30 minutes (-saveinterval 1800). Valheim also keeps a backup when it converts an older world. Since Valheim 1.0, worlds are folders split into chunk files and only changed chunks are saved, which makes saves faster, but each backup is still a full copy.

Budget 5 to 10 GB and you will not think about disk again. Use an SSD: a slow disk makes the save every 30 minutes a noticeable hitch.

How much bandwidth does a Valheim server need?

Not much by modern standards. Valheim sends position and world updates rather than video, so a typical home connection handles a full crew. What matters more than raw speed:

• Stable upload. If you self host, a saturated upload (cloud backups, streaming, big downloads) causes rubber banding for everyone.
• Wired connections. Both for a home server and for players, since zone owners send updates about their area to everyone else.
• Distance. Players far from the server see more delay, whatever the bandwidth.

Do mods change the requirements?

Yes. BepInEx itself adds a little memory, and every plugin adds more. Content mods that add many items, creatures or build pieces add the most. Valheim mods often need an update after big patches like 1.0, and a broken mod can spike memory or crash the server, so add mods in small batches and watch usage.

Two rules of thumb for modded servers:

1. Start at 8 GB for any real modpack.
2. If a mod moves simulation to the server, pick a faster CPU as well.

Crossplay servers must stay vanilla, since console players cannot use mods. The BepInEx mod guide covers installing them.

Can you run a Valheim server on the same PC you play on?

You can. Hosting from the game does exactly that, and so does running the dedicated server in the background. Your PC then renders the game and runs the server at the same time, so you want 16 GB of system RAM or more and a decent CPU. The bigger limits are practical: the world is only online while that PC is on, and its upload carries everyone. If your crew plays at different times, see how to play Valheim with friends for the options.

FAQ

How much RAM does a Valheim server need for 10 players?

About 6 GB for a vanilla world with a full crew of 10, and 8 GB if you run BepInEx mods or have very large bases.

Can a Valheim server run on 2 GB of RAM?

It can boot, but even small worlds use around 3 GB once loaded. Plan for at least 4 GB.

Does a Valheim server need a graphics card?

No. The dedicated server runs headless with no graphics output, so only CPU, RAM, disk and network matter.

Why does my Valheim server lag with good hardware?

Usually zone ownership. In vanilla Valheim, the player who owns an area simulates it, so one player's weak PC or connection can lag everyone nearby.

Is Valheim server CPU or RAM heavy?

Neither, compared with most survival games. RAM grows with world size and mods, and the CPU mainly needs good single core speed.

The easy option

Our Valheim server plans follow the same sizing: Starter is 4 GB for up to 5 Vikings at 9.99 USD a month, Standard is 6 GB for a full crew of 10 at 14.99 USD, and Pro is 8 GB for BepInEx modpacks or heavily built worlds at 19.99 USD. You can upgrade or downgrade any time without losing the world, and new customers get 50% off the first month.