Game Server Hardware Calculator

Estimate player capacity from hardware (Mode A), or calculate recommended hardware for a target player count (Mode B).

Open Calculator Reset

Note: share URLs are noindex to keep SEO clean. Homepage is indexable.

Mode

Choose what to calculate

MC Quick Presets

Applies scenario + common workload distances + quality. (You can still tweak after.)

1) Game & Scenario

Scenario preset

Server software

Software impacts optimization → affects CPU/RAM/Disk multipliers.

Auto-select recommended software for this scenario

Quality profile

Tip

For Minecraft tick stability, CPU single-core + optimized software (Paper/Purpur) matters most.

2) Workload

Plugins / Mods intensity Auto-tune workload for this scenario (plugins/mods)

World count

View distance (Minecraft)

Simulation distance (Minecraft)

Modpack size

Adds extra CPU/RAM/Disk load for modded environments.

Plugin count (optional)

Baseline is ~15 plugins. Above that increases multipliers.

3) Hardware (Mode A)

CPU input method

CPU search CPU model (optional)

Selecting a CPU auto-fills cores and (if present) a starter single-core score. You can override the score.

CPU single-core score

CPU cores

RAM (GB)

RAM type

RAM speed (MT/s)

CAS latency (CL)

RAM channels

Disk type

NVMe PCIe gen

IOPS tier

DB on same disk

Uplink (Mbps)

Latency (ms)

Jitter (ms)

Packet loss (%)

DDoS protection

Reset

How it works

GSH HostCalc combines scenario presets with your workload settings to estimate how CPU, RAM, disk I/O, and network stability impact player capacity. Mode A identifies the bottleneck. Mode B generates sizing profiles for a target peak.

Step 1

Pick scenario

SMP, Skyblock, Prison, Modded… (more coming).

Step 2

Adjust workload

Plugins/mods and distances increase tick load.

Step 3

Get report

Safe/Realistic/Max + bottleneck + recommendations.

Features

Save & Share

Generate a link that opens the same build and renders results instantly (GET calc=1).

CPU search + autofill

Filter CPU list quickly and auto-fill cores + score (if available).

Bottleneck detection

See whether CPU, RAM, disk I/O, or network is limiting your player count.

SEO-friendly structure

Homepage stays indexable; parameter URLs are noindex to avoid duplicate indexing.

FAQ

How accurate is GSH HostCalc?

GSH HostCalc is an estimator. Results depend on settings, plugins/mods, world size, and hosting limits. Use it for planning, then validate with real tests and monitoring.

What matters most for Minecraft: CPU or RAM?

For most scenarios, single-core CPU performance is the main limiter. RAM becomes limiting with modpacks, huge worlds, or very heavy plugins.

Why lag spikes even when CPU usage looks low?

Spikes often come from garbage collection, disk I/O during saves/backups, world generation, or network jitter/packet loss. Average CPU can look fine while ticks still spike.

Do RAM speed and channels matter?

Yes. Dual-channel improves stability under load. Faster RAM and lower latency can help tick consistency.

Do I need NVMe?

For heavy worlds, frequent saves/backups, DB usage, or modded servers, NVMe reduces I/O spikes. SATA SSD can be enough for smaller servers.

Which network stats matter the most?

Beyond bandwidth, jitter and packet loss matter a lot. High jitter/loss can cause rubberbanding even with decent ping.