Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Use PGARK as the level name, install the ARK: Survival Evolved dedicated server with SteamCMD (app ID 376030), and define the procedural-generation values before anyone builds. The MapSeed and the other generation settings determine the world that is created. Record them, open both server ports through your firewall and router, then restart and verify the generated save before inviting players.
Godlike.Host offers hosted ARK: Survival Evolved servers with its own game panel, SFTP access and free DDoS protection, if you would rather not host it yourself.
What a procedural ARK map is
ARK: Survival Evolved can generate a world from a set of terrain and biome parameters instead of loading one of the game’s fixed, hand-authored maps. The dedicated server identifies this mode with the level name PGARK. If the launch command names another level, the server will load that map instead, so the level name is the first thing to check when a supposed procedural server starts on a familiar fixed map.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThe generator uses random and noise functions. A seed provides the repeatable starting value, while the other generation settings shape the result. As Host Havoc Technical Support Team put it in 2026: “A procedurally generated map is defined by its generation settings, especially the map seed.” In practical terms, a seed is not a cosmetic label. Changing it can produce a different world, and changing a terrain or biome control can also make the result incompatible with the world your players have already built.
Decide the world before you install for players
Write down the values you intend to use before the first public launch. A later change to the seed or another generation control should be treated as a new-world decision, not as a routine configuration tweak. Keep the launch script, configuration files, seed and every other value in the same backup set.
#1 Best Overall
- BLUE LIGHT BLOCKING GLASSES: Our blue light glasses for women boast UV400 protection, blocking harmful blue rays from computer screens. With these bluelight glasses women, you can enjoy gaming, reading, or watching TV with no worries of eye strain.
- EYE RELIEF: Our blue light glasses are engineered to reduce blurry vision or strain caused by prolonged screen time. These womens blue light glasses aid in better sleep by preventing blue light from disrupting your natural sleep cycle, helping you fall asleep faster and enjoy a more restful night's sleep, making them the perfect christmas present.
- COMFORTABLE: Crafted from durable material, our trendy blue light glasses for woman or blue light glasses men ensure long-lasting comfort. The high-transmittance lenses accessories, gamer gifts for men, help keep your eyes relaxed. Perfect stocking stuffers, gifts for gamers men, christmas gifts for men, halloween costumes.
- LIGHTWEIGHT: These clear blue light glasses feature a lightweight frame, meaning they’ll stay comfy for long-term wear. Perfect as blue blockers glasses for women or mens blue light glasses, these non-prescription fake glasses for men can be worn throughout the day. The blue light blocking glasses women feature polycarbonate HD lenses, which are anti-reflective and restore true color.
- WORRY-FREE PURCHASE: If you experience any issues, our support team is ready to assist you quickly. These are the perfect costume glasses for cosplay dressing up.
Core values to record
| Setting | What it controls | Operational consequence |
|---|---|---|
MapSeed |
The seed used by the generator’s noise and random functions. | The same seed, with the same other generation values, is the key to reproducing the same map. |
LandscapeRadius |
The radius of land before the outer water area. | Altering it changes the overall land-and-water footprint. |
MountainHeight |
The mountain-height multiplier. | Altering it changes terrain elevations and can invalidate routes and builds. |
GrassDensity |
The density of grassland foliage. | Altering it changes vegetation distribution and the appearance of the world. |
JungleBiomeStart |
The height at which the jungle biome begins. | Altering it moves a biome boundary and changes the generated terrain’s ecology. |
ErosionIterations |
The number of simulated erosion droplets used to smooth terrain. | Altering it can change slopes, valleys and other terrain features. |
The names above are the practical controls identified for the current guide. A value that is not supported by your installed server build should not be invented or substituted; confirm that the key is accepted in the configuration used by your installation.
Install the dedicated server with SteamCMD
The official dedicated-server installation uses SteamCMD and the ARK: Survival Evolved app ID 376030. Choose a permanent installation directory with enough space for the server, its generated save and backups. Do not install into a temporary download directory that may be cleaned automatically.
Recommended Free Tools
Windows installation
- Install SteamCMD and note its executable location.
- Open a command prompt in the directory where SteamCMD is installed.
- Run the installation command, replacing
<install_dir>with the absolute path you chose:steamcmd +force_install_dir <install_dir> +login anonymous +app_update 376030 +quit - Wait for SteamCMD to finish downloading and updating the server. The resulting installation contains the
ShooterGame/Binaries/Win64/directory. - Create a batch file in that
Win64directory. Keeping the launcher beside the executable makes relative paths and future updates easier to manage.
Linux installation
- Install SteamCMD using the package method appropriate for your distribution.
- Run the same app-update command, using the Linux path as
<install_dir>:steamcmd +force_install_dir <install_dir> +login anonymous +app_update 376030 +quit - Confirm that the installation contains
ShooterGame/Binaries/Linux/. - Create a shell script in that directory and make it executable before the first launch.
Use the exact executable produced by your installation. A script that points to a different directory, an old copy or the wrong platform binary can fail before map generation begins.
Create a PGARK launch script
The level name belongs immediately after the server executable. The remaining values are query-string parameters separated by question marks. Replace every placeholder with your own value; do not leave angle brackets in a live command.
Rank #2
- WINDEX GAMING WIPES: effortlessly clean all your gaming gear and gaming electronics in one easy step with our new Windex Gaming Wipes
- AMMONIA FREE: our ammonia-free formula is safe to use on all of your favorite gaming equipment like consoles, headsets, controllers, screens, keyboards, and more
- PRE-MOISTENED WIPES: each wipe instantly removes dust, dirt, and stubborn smudges and fingerprints leaving a streak-free shine
- ANTI-STATIC: great for cleaning and wiping down your gaming gear and electronics leaving behind no visible residue
- COMPACT RESEALABLE PACKAGE: store your pack of Windex Gaming Wipes anywhere in your home for whenever a quick and easy wipedown is needed
Minimal launch pattern
ShooterGameServer PGARK?SessionName=<server_name>?Port=<port>?QueryPort=<query_port>?MaxPlayers=<max_players>?ServerAdminPassword=<admin_password>On Windows, put the line in the batch file in ShooterGame/Binaries/Win64/. On Linux, put the equivalent command in the shell script in ShooterGame/Binaries/Linux/, then make the script executable. If your executable requires a platform-specific prefix or path, use the path generated by SteamCMD rather than copying a path from another server.
Choose and document the ports
- Port: the game connection port clients use to join.
- QueryPort: the query and server-discovery port.
- MaxPlayers: the player cap you intend to support.
Write the selected ports in the same operating note as the seed and generation settings. A server can appear to run correctly on the host while remaining unreachable if either port is blocked or forwarded to the wrong machine.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteProtect the administrator password
Use a strong, unique administrator password and restrict access to the launch script and configuration files. The password appears in the command line, so protect backups and any process-management interface that exposes the running command. Do not paste it into public troubleshooting posts.
Put procedural-generation settings in the server configuration
Use the server configuration files created for the installation, not a client-side ARK configuration directory. The exact file location depends on how and where you installed the dedicated server. If you maintain more than one server instance, verify that you are editing the configuration read by the same installation directory and launcher as the PGARK process.
Rank #3
- Ergonomic & Adjustable Design: Fight "text neck" and improve your posture. Designed for comfort, it offers an adjustable height (7.1in-8.5in) (1.4in adjustable range) and angle (5°-85°) Please note: cell phone stand is only 9 inches tall—the length of a standard pencil
- Without blocking subtitles Perfect for office desk Tiktok Face Time Zoom video—this is the ultimate kitchen desk essential for phones! Perfect viewing experience while reducing neck back strain, A must-have for gamers streamers desk, and anyone who values both style and support!
- Sleek & Stable Design fits Otterbox Case: Say goodbye to bent cables, tangles, and tip-overs! LISEN’s stylish adjustable desk phone holder features a built-in charging hole and smart cable management, keeping your phone secure and your workspace clutter-free cool gadgets for men
- ANTI-SLIP DESIGN free hands: The under 10.00 items easy gadgets back and the bottom of this kitchen essentials for women are fully covered by anti-skid silicone, which LISEN stand up desk decor can provide maximum protection device from any scratches and slides
- Your Perfect Viewing Companion:If your product arrives damaged or breaks within 365 days, reach out to LISEN for a quick and hassle-free solution. Struggling with assembly, like tightening the screw? We’ve got your back! Your experience matters to us. (Product including: phone Holder stand*1, screw*1, hexagon screwdriver*1, specification*1)
Example value block
Enter the supported keys in the configuration format accepted by your server. A key-value block can be kept with your deployment notes as a record of the intended world:
MapSeed=<seed>
LandscapeRadius=<radius>
MountainHeight=<height_multiplier>
GrassDensity=<density>
JungleBiomeStart=<height>
ErosionIterations=<iterations>The angle-bracket values above are placeholders for your chosen values, not literal settings. Keep a dated copy of the completed block. The record should include the exact seed, every generation value, the server build used to create the map and the date on which the world was first generated.
Save, then restart to generate
- Stop the server cleanly if it is already running.
- Save the configuration containing the seed and generation values.
- Start the server with
PGARKin the launch command. - Wait for the log to show world generation and save creation.
- Stop and start once more only if your operating procedure requires a restart after configuration changes; do not repeatedly restart while the initial save is still being created.
Generation may take time and resource use varies with the map, connected players, world age, configuration and mods. No authoritative numeric RAM or CPU requirement specific to procedural ARK maps is established here, so size the machine from observed load rather than relying on an invented guarantee.
Open the firewall and forward the router ports
Both the operating-system firewall and the network router must permit the ports in your launch command. Allow the game port and the query port using the protocol required by your server setup, and apply the rules to the machine that actually runs the dedicated server.
Rank #4
- Easy Installation: Our gaming lights have been designed to enhance your entertainment experience. Simply position the led light bar next to your TV or game console to create a game room environment with ease. They come with USB power and a 60 inch cord for direct mounting and mobility
- Audio Syncing & Extensive Mode: The built-in high-sensitivity music sensor allows you to sync the TV led lights to your favorite music. Lights react and move to the beat of music, film and game audio, creating an incredible immersive sound and light experience – and all without the need for an additional hub. You can choose from 64+ patterns, including strobe, illusion, jump, energy, gradient, running, chasing, fluttering mode etc. Each mode can be applied to different scenes
- 64+ Chasing IC+RGB & W Effect: The independent control design of IC+RGB and white all-in-one multifunctional rgbw led bar lights monitor backlight allows you to easily switch the led lights for desk between IC+RGB and white to enjoy a variety of lighting effects, you can choose white lighting mode with high brightness for better illumination when working, etc. Choose IC+RGB lighting mode when you need to create an entertaining atmosphere for the light show, 16 million colours of Color changing rgb light bar let you dance to the beat and create a dynamic party atmosphere
- Dynamic and Dimmable Lights: 1%-full brightness free brightness adjustment gives you the flexibility to adjust dimmable led light bar for room decorations or a variety of occasions
- USB Powered: USB light bars for room can be powered by powernank, usb charger, TV, Monitor, laptop PC mainframe, making behind TV led lighting bar easy to install in any location.TV led lights are powered by the TV usb interface / PC mainframe, can be turned on/off synchronously with TV / PC
| Network layer | Action | Common failure when omitted |
|---|---|---|
| Host operating-system firewall | Create inbound rules for the configured game and query ports. | The process is running locally, but outside clients cannot establish or discover it. |
| Router or gateway | Forward each configured port to the server machine’s local address. | Clients reach the router but traffic is sent to the wrong device or discarded. |
| Server launch command | Ensure the forwarded numbers exactly match Port and QueryPort. |
Rules exist, but they protect different ports from those the process is listening on. |
Reserve the server machine’s local address when your router supports that feature. Otherwise, a DHCP address change can silently break a previously correct forward. Test from a client outside the host network; a test from the same LAN can succeed even when internet-facing forwarding is wrong.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Verify the first launch
Do not hand the address to players until the process, map and network path have all been checked.
- Confirm the level name: inspect the launch command and startup log for
PGARK. If a fixed map loads, stop the process and correct the level name before changing anything else. - Confirm generation: look for log entries indicating successful world generation rather than an immediate crash, fallback or missing-save error.
- Confirm save creation: verify that the generated world has produced save data in the installation’s normal save location.
- Confirm discovery: search for the server from a client and check that the displayed name matches
SessionName. - Confirm external joining: connect from outside the host network. If local joining works but external joining fails, investigate firewall and router rules rather than regenerating the map.
- Confirm reproducibility records: copy the final launch script, configuration, seed and generation values to a separate backup location.
Keep the same procedural map after restarts
Routine restarts should use the same PGARK level name and the same generation configuration. Preserve the generated save instead of deleting it during maintenance. The seed is the most important reproducibility value, but it is not the only one: the other generation controls also belong in the record.
A practical backup set
- The Windows batch file or Linux shell script used to launch the server.
- The server configuration files that contain the procedural values.
- The exact
MapSeed. LandscapeRadius,MountainHeight,GrassDensity,JungleBiomeStartandErosionIterations, when used.- The generated save data.
- The chosen game and query ports, plus the server’s local network address.
Take a backup before updates, configuration experiments or any action that might remove or replace the save. Store at least one copy away from the server machine. A script backup without the save protects your instructions but not the players’ world; a save backup without the seed and settings makes later reproduction harder.
Best Value
- Compatible with Wide Screens - To ensure compatibility with the dual monitor mount, your each monitor must meet three conditions at the same time: First, computer screens size range: 13 to 32 inches. Second, screen weight range: 4.4 to 19.8 lbs. Third, the back of the monitor screen must have VESA mounting holes with a pitch of 75x75mm or 100x100mm.
- Regarding the compatibility with desks - Your desk must meet three conditions at the same time: First, desk material: Only wooden desks are recommended, plastic or glass desks cannot be used. Second, desk thickness range: 0.59" - 3.54". Third, the bottom of the desk should not have any cross beams or panels, as this will interfere with installation. We recommend carefully checking that your desk and monitors meets all above conditions before purchasing.
- Dual C-Clamp Hold - Worried your dual monitors might wobble or slip? Our upgraded base uses a larger platform plus a dual C-clamp structure to lock the dual monitor arm firmly to your desk. Each arm safely keeps your screens steady while you type, click and game—no shaking, no sliding, just a clean and secure setup you can trust every day. It also provides Grommet Mounting installation choice, both options ensure stable and secure fixation for your 0.59" - 3.54" desk.
- Full-Motion Adjustment For Comfortable View - Pull the screen closer when you’re deep in a spreadsheet, push it back to watch videos, or rotate to portrait for coding — moving everything smoothly with just one hand. The monitor stand offers +85°/-50° tilt, ±90° swivel and 360° rotation. Raise your monitor up to 15.75″ to support a healthy sitting posture. Whether you’re working from home, gaming through the night, or switching between video calls and documents, getting the screens to your natural line of sight helps relieve neck, shoulder and back strain so you can stay focused longer with less fatigue.
- Keep Your Desk Organized: By lifting both screens off the desktop, this dual monitor stand opens up valuable space for your keyboard, notebook, docking station or a simple, clutter-free work area. Built-in cable management guides wires along the arms, keeping cords out of sight and out of the way. Enjoy a tidy, modern workstation that looks as good as it feels to use.
What happens when you change a generation value?
Changing MapSeed or another terrain or biome control should be handled as a new-world decision. Players may lose the relationship between their bases, resource routes and the surrounding terrain if the generated result changes. Explain the consequence before making the change, stop the server, archive the old save and configuration, then generate the replacement as a separate, documented world.
Do not overwrite the only copy of the established save while testing a new seed. Use a separate instance or a complete backup so that you can restore the previous world if the new result is unsuitable.
Troubleshooting by symptom
The server loads a fixed map
- Check that the executable is followed by
PGARK, not a fixed-map identifier. - Check that the launcher you edited is the launcher you actually run.
- Review the startup log for the selected level and stop the process before players connect.
The world does not match the recorded map
- Compare the active configuration with the archived values, including every generation control, not only the seed.
- Check for a second installation or instance using a different configuration directory.
- Restore the known-good save and its matching script and settings before attempting another generation.
The server starts but cannot be found
- Confirm that the query port in the command is the same number allowed by the host firewall.
- Confirm that the router forwards the query port to the current local address of the server.
- Test from outside the host network to rule out misleading local-network success.
Players cannot join after discovery
- Check the game port separately from the query port; discovery and gameplay use different paths.
- Verify that both numbers are documented consistently in the launcher, firewall and router.
- Check the server log for a completed save and a process that remains running after startup.
Linux refuses to run the script
- Confirm that the script is in
ShooterGame/Binaries/Linux/. - Make the script executable and invoke the exact Linux server binary installed by SteamCMD.
- Run it from the intended installation directory so that relative paths resolve to the correct save and configuration locations.
Generation appears slow or unstable
Map size, player count, world age, configuration and mods all affect resource use. Monitor the host during generation and normal play, remove unnecessary mods from the test instance and avoid promising a fixed hardware requirement that has not been measured for your specific setup.
Self-hosting versus managed ARK hosting
Running the dedicated server yourself gives you direct control over the launch script, files, procedural settings, mods and backups. It also makes you responsible for SteamCMD updates, firewall rules, router forwarding, restart automation, save protection and diagnosing failures. A managed ARK host can remove much of that operating work, but you still need to verify that the provider supports procedural PGARK maps, exposes the generation configuration, permits the mods you need and lets you export backups.
| Decision area | Self-hosted server | Managed server |
|---|---|---|
| Files and mods | Direct control over scripts, configuration, saves and installed mods. | Depends on the provider’s control panel, file access and mod policy. |
| Updates | You run SteamCMD and decide when to update. | The provider may automate updates; confirm timing and rollback options. |
| Networking | You open the host firewall and forward the router. | The provider normally handles the public network endpoint. |
| Restarts | You create your own service or scheduled-task automation. | Restart scheduling is commonly supplied, but the exact controls vary. |
| Backups | You choose where and how often to copy saves and settings. | Check retention, restore access and whether configuration and saves are both included. |
| Cost and support | You pay for your own hardware, power and connection and provide your own support. | You pay a recurring hosting fee in exchange for provider infrastructure and support; current plan limits must be verified separately. |
Whichever model you choose, keep an independent copy of the seed, generation values and save. A host dashboard is not a substitute for a reproducible world record.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Operational checklist
- SteamCMD installed the ASE dedicated server with app ID
376030. - The launcher uses the installation’s correct platform executable.
- The level name is exactly
PGARK. MapSeedand the chosen generation values are saved in the active server configuration.- The launch script, configuration and generated save are backed up.
- The game port and query port are allowed by the host firewall.
- The same ports are forwarded to the server machine by the router.
- The startup log confirms generation and save creation.
- An external client can discover and join the server.
- Everyone understands that changing the seed or generation controls can mean starting a new world.
Once these checks pass, restart using the same script and settings. That is the simplest way to preserve the procedural map while you maintain the server.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
