For a performant alt:V server supporting more than 100 players, the official specification lists a 3.2 GHz CPU with four cores and 4 GB of RAM, plus additional memory for databases and other services. Disk capacity depends on your database and scripts. Those figures are a baseline, not a guarantee: player count, script complexity, database activity and enabled features can change the load substantially.
There is also an important planning limitation. The alt:V website currently says the platform is “in the process of a structured shutdown” and directs readers to an announcement for key dates and migration information. Exact shutdown and migration dates are not available in the published material covered here. Existing operators can use the requirements to size short-term hosting, but anyone starting a new project should verify the shutdown announcement before purchasing hardware or signing a long contract.
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Official alt:V server requirements at a glance
The alt:V specification describes the following baseline for a performant server above 100 players:
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors| Resource | Published guidance | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| CPU clock | 3.2 GHz | A baseline clock speed for the processor running the server. It is not a promise that every 3.2 GHz processor will deliver the same result. |
| CPU cores | 4 cores | The documented baseline for a server above 100 players. Available hardware threads and per-core performance still matter. |
| RAM | 4 GB, plus extra capacity | The extra headroom is for the database, custom resources, operating system and other services on the machine. |
| Disk space | Depends on the database and scripts | There is no universal capacity number. Server files, logs, database growth, backups and custom assets determine the requirement. |
The specification warns: “This will always be subject to change based on upcoming features or performance changes.” Treat the figures as a starting point that should be checked against your actual workload.
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How much RAM does an alt:V server need?
Start with 4 GB for the server process
The 4 GB figure applies to a performant server above 100 players according to the official specification. It should not be read as 4 GB for the entire machine. Your operating system, monitoring tools, database, voice or web services and custom resources all compete for memory. A host advertising 4 GB total therefore leaves little practical headroom once those services are running.
Add memory for databases and resources
Database processes can consume a variable amount of memory for caches, connections and indexes. Scripts and resources also differ widely: a small role-play configuration and a large framework with inventories, jobs, vehicles, permissions and persistent state do not have the same footprint. Reserve memory for the busiest expected activity rather than the average quiet period.
For an existing server, check memory usage while players are connected and database activity is normal. Look at the operating system’s total used memory, the alt:V process, the database process and any swap or paging activity. Sustained paging is a sign that the machine needs more RAM or that a service needs to be reduced; it is not a useful way to create capacity.
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What CPU do you need to host alt:V?
Clock speed and cores serve different purposes
The published baseline is a 3.2 GHz CPU with four cores. Clock speed is relevant because game-server work often includes time-sensitive main-thread tasks. Core count provides room for concurrent server work, database activity and other processes. A processor with many slow cores is not automatically better than one with fewer, faster cores, and a high advertised boost clock may not be sustained under continuous load.
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Documented mid-tier observations
The same documentation describes observed average mid-tier servers reaching roughly 300–600 players at peak with less than 1.25 GB of RAM in use, around eight cores, a 3.7 GHz CPU clock and 6–42% CPU utilization. The page does not provide a measurement date or methodology, so these values are contextual observations rather than independently validated benchmarks or a promise that your server will support that population.
| Documented observation | Qualification |
|---|---|
| 300–600 peak players | Described as an average mid-tier observation; workload and configuration details are not supplied. |
| Under 1.25 GB RAM | Observed usage in that description, not a recommended allocation for every installation. |
| Around eight cores | Hardware characteristic of the described servers, not a minimum requirement. |
| 3.7 GHz CPU | Clock speed reported for those observations. |
| 6–42% CPU utilization | Reported range with no published test methodology. |
Why player count alone cannot size a server
Two servers with the same number of connected players can have very different resource use. CPU work changes with scripts, event frequency, entity counts, synchronization settings and database calls. Memory use changes with loaded resources, caches and the number of services sharing the machine. Disk growth changes with logs, saved player data, assets and backups.
- Player population: plan for peak concurrent users, not only the daily average.
- Custom resources: profile CPU and memory after enabling each major framework or module.
- Database workload: include the database process and its storage growth in the same capacity plan.
- Background services: leave room for monitoring, scheduled backups, administration panels and the operating system.
- Future changes: features and performance behavior can change; the specification expressly cautions that requirements are subject to change.
Storage: calculate it from your workload
alt:V does not publish one disk-size requirement because the answer depends on the database and scripts. Count the base server files, downloaded resources, custom assets, database files, logs and backups. Then allow free space for updates and temporary files. A nearly full disk can prevent database writes, crash logging and leave an update incomplete even when CPU and RAM are adequate.
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Configure processing threads and player capacity
The configuration documentation advises keeping configured processing threads within the machine’s hardware-thread count. Its example allocates more threads to sync sending than to receiving. This is a deployment guideline, not a universal performance formula: the useful values depend on the processor and workload.
- Confirm hardware threads. Check the operating system’s CPU information and count the available hardware threads, not just the number of physical cores.
- Review the thread settings. Open your
server.tomlconfiguration and compare processing-thread values with the hardware available to the server. - Keep capacity realistic. Do not configure more processing threads than the machine can provide. Leave capacity for the database and operating system.
- Set the player limit deliberately. The configuration allows you to set player capacity. Choose a limit your measured workload can sustain instead of selecting a larger number because the hardware appears underused at idle.
- Change one variable at a time. After adjusting threads or capacity, test during a representative peak and record CPU, memory, tick or latency symptoms and database load.
Operating system and software prerequisites
The official JavaScript server setup guidance lists Windows 10 or later or Linux as supported operating-system choices. It also lists the latest Node.js, a code editor, basic command-prompt knowledge and the latest Visual C++ Redistributable. On Linux, the required libatomic1 package must be installed.
These are setup prerequisites, separate from the CPU and RAM baseline. Confirm that your chosen host offers the required operating system and that you can install or update the listed components. Keep the server files, configuration and database data in a location covered by your backup plan.
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Ports, protocol and basic network setup
The default server port is 7788, and the configuration reference allows you to change it. When no content-delivery network is used, the specification says the default port uses both TCP and UDP. With a CDN, it says only UDP is used. Your firewall and host-level security rules must match the mode you actually deploy.
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- Choose a port and record it in
server.toml. - Allow the required protocol traffic through the operating-system firewall and any provider firewall.
- Check that the port is reachable from the public internet before inviting players.
- If you change the port later, update firewall rules, connection instructions and monitoring checks together.
A port that is open but mapped to the wrong service, or a rule that permits TCP while the deployment requires UDP, can look like a game-server failure even when the process is running correctly.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to compare hosting options
Use the documented requirements as comparison axes rather than choosing a host by advertised player slots. No provider or hardware model is named by the official specification, so a specific component recommendation would go beyond the evidence.
| What to compare | Questions to ask |
|---|---|
| CPU | What sustained clock speed and single-core performance are available? Are four or more cores and sufficient hardware threads dedicated to your instance? |
| Memory | How much RAM remains after the operating system, database and control panel are counted? Can you upgrade without migrating immediately? |
| Storage | Is there enough capacity for server files, database growth, logs, backups and updates? Is the storage separate from backup storage? |
| Operating system | Can you run Windows 10 or later or Linux and install the required Node.js, Visual C++ Redistributable or Linux package? |
| Networking | Can you configure port 7788 or another port and permit the required TCP/UDP traffic? |
| Flexibility | Can resources be increased, and can you cancel or migrate without a long commitment? |
Because the platform is undergoing a structured shutdown, migration flexibility and contract length matter more than they would for a new platform with a long support horizon. Existing operators may need only temporary capacity; a long prepaid term can create unnecessary risk if the service schedule changes.
Measure before and after every major change
Keep a simple capacity record containing peak players, CPU utilization, memory use, database load, disk free space and any latency or timeout symptoms. Capture readings during a busy session, not only immediately after startup. A server that looks comfortable with no players can still exhaust a core or database connection pool at peak.
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- Alert before disk space becomes critical.
- Watch for swap or paging, which indicates memory pressure.
- Compare CPU usage per core where the operating system provides it; low total utilization can hide one saturated core.
- Review database logs and slow queries when script activity rises.
- Test restoration from a backup rather than assuming that a completed backup file is usable.
What the structured shutdown means for your decision
The current alt:V website notice says the platform is “in the process of a structured shutdown” and refers readers to an announcement for key dates and migration information. The exact dates are not stated in the material available here, so they should not be guessed.
If you already operate a server
Use the 3.2 GHz, four-core and 4 GB-plus baseline to estimate short-term capacity, then validate it against your own peak measurements. Keep backups current, document your configuration and avoid upgrades that are difficult to reverse unless they solve a demonstrated bottleneck.
If you are planning a new project
Read the official shutdown and migration announcement before buying equipment or entering a long hosting contract. Confirm that the build you intend to run remains supported for the period you need. A technically adequate machine cannot remove the platform-lifecycle risk.
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Quick Recap
Practical sizing checklist
- Start with at least the documented 3.2 GHz CPU, four cores and 4 GB RAM baseline for a performant server above 100 players.
- Add RAM for the database, scripts, operating system and every other service on the machine.
- Estimate storage from server files, resources, database growth, logs and backups.
- Check CPU performance under your actual scripts and peak player load.
- Keep configured processing threads within the machine’s hardware-thread count.
- Install a supported Windows 10-or-later or Linux environment and the listed software prerequisites.
- Configure port 7788, or your chosen replacement, with the correct firewall protocols.
- Monitor CPU, memory, disk and database behavior during representative peaks.
- Verify the shutdown schedule and migration information before committing to new infrastructure.
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