For a Space Engineers dedicated server, Keen Software House lists 6 GB of RAM, a 3.2 GHz CPU with three logical cores, and 5 Mbps bandwidth as minimums. Its recommended baseline is 10 GB of RAM and a 4.5 GHz CPU with three logical cores. Those figures describe the server process, not the separate game client, and they are vendor baselines rather than guarantees for a particular player count, world size, or mod load.
You can run the server on a Windows PC you control or rent managed hosting. A dedicated instance runs independently of any one player’s game session, so the world can remain available after the person who started it disconnects. A player-hosted world is a different arrangement: the host’s game session performs the simulation and the session ends when that host leaves.
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Keen’s published dedicated-server requirements
The following figures come from Keen Software House’s official Dedicated Servers documentation. They apply to the dedicated-server application, not to the hardware requirements for playing Space Engineers on a client PC.
| Resource | Minimum | Recommended | What is actually specified |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | 3.2 GHz, 3 logical cores | 4.5 GHz, 3 logical cores | Clock speed and logical-core count; no processor model is named |
| RAM | 6 GB | 10 GB | Server memory allocation; no RAM generation or module layout is specified |
| Bandwidth | 5 Mbps | Not stated | Minimum network bandwidth listed by Keen |
| Graphics card | Not required for headless operation | A community-maintained Wiki.gg guide explains that a dedicated server does not render the game | |
| Storage | Not stated | Keen’s cited requirements do not give a capacity figure | |
The CPU entry is easy to misread. “3.2 GHz, 3 logical cores” is not a recommendation for a particular Intel or AMD model, and the recommended entry changes the clock-speed figure to 4.5 GHz while keeping three logical cores. Keen does not publish a conversion from these baselines to a guaranteed number of players, mods, grids, or simulation quality.
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What the RAM numbers mean
6 GB is the minimum baseline
Six gigabytes is Keen’s minimum dedicated-server memory figure. It should be treated as the amount required by the server software under the vendor’s baseline conditions, not as a promise that every six-gigabyte machine will run a heavily populated or heavily modded world smoothly. The operating system and any other services on a self-hosted PC also need memory, so the machine’s total installed RAM must exceed the server allocation.
10 GB is the recommendation, not a player-count formula
Keen recommends 10 GB for the server. The documentation does not say “10 GB supports X players,” nor does it provide a formula for adding memory for each mod or player. World complexity, scripts, active grids and other workload factors can change resource use, but the cited guidance does not quantify those effects. Use 10 GB as the published target when selecting or configuring a host, then monitor the actual machine rather than treating it as a capacity guarantee.
What hardware to buy
If a desktop needs an upgrade, a 16 GB desktop RAM kit is a practical shopping search because it leaves room for Windows and other processes while exceeding the 10 GB server recommendation. It is an optional hardware choice, not Keen’s requirement. Verify the motherboard’s supported memory type and capacity, the operating system’s limits, and whether the kit matches the existing modules before purchasing.
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CPU clock and logical cores
The minimum CPU specification is 3.2 GHz with three logical cores; the recommended specification is 4.5 GHz with three logical cores. Since no processor model, architecture, boost behavior or benchmark is supplied, comparing CPUs solely by the printed GHz number can be misleading. Choose a processor that genuinely meets the stated clock and logical-core figures, and avoid promising a specific simulation rate from those numbers alone.
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Network requirement
Keen lists 5 Mbps as minimum bandwidth. That is the only bandwidth figure in the cited page; a recommended value is not stated. The available upstream capacity of a home connection, traffic from other devices, and the host’s latency to players all affect the experience, but no player-count sizing table is published. If you are self-hosting, measure the connection you will actually use and keep other heavy uploads from competing with the server.
Static IP for a public server
Keen recommends a static IP address when the server will be public. A stable address makes it easier for players to reconnect and for you to publish a consistent endpoint. A private, invite-only setup may use a different networking arrangement, but the static-IP recommendation specifically concerns public hosting.
Prerequisites and installation routes on Windows
Keen identifies Windows and the required runtime packages as setup prerequisites. The official installation routes are Steam’s Tools library or SteamCMD, using server app ID 298740.
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- Prepare a Windows machine. Confirm that the PC meets at least the 3.2 GHz/three-logical-core CPU baseline, has 6 GB available for the server process, and can provide the 5 Mbps minimum bandwidth. For a public server, arrange a static IP as Keen recommends.
- Choose an installation method. In the Steam client, open the Tools section of your Library and install the dedicated-server tool, or use SteamCMD if you prefer a command-line deployment.
- Install the required runtime packages. The server page lists these packages as prerequisites. Install the versions required by the current Keen documentation before launching the server.
- Use app ID 298740 with SteamCMD. Keep the application ID exact; it identifies the dedicated-server package.
- Configure the instance and network. Set the world and access options in the server configuration, then make the server reachable to the intended players. Public deployments should follow the static-IP guidance and your router or firewall’s rules.
- Test before inviting the group. Connect from a separate game client, verify that the world loads and that players can reconnect after the administrator disconnects. Watch memory, CPU and network use while the world is active.
The installation path tells you how to obtain the server software; it does not supply a guaranteed hardware-to-player conversion. If a particular runtime package, port, or configuration label changes, use the current instructions on Keen’s server page rather than relying on an old screenshot or community post.
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Dedicated server versus hosting from the game client
| Characteristic | Dedicated server | Player-hosted session |
|---|---|---|
| Where simulation runs | A separate server instance | The host player’s game session |
| When the world is available | Can remain online while individual players leave, provided the server itself stays running | Depends on the host remaining in the world, according to the community Wiki.gg guide |
| Rendering hardware | No graphics card is needed for headless operation, according to Wiki.gg | The host is running the full game client, so client hardware requirements apply |
| Administration | Requires installing and maintaining a separate server | Quickest for an occasional private session, but tied to the host’s play time |
For a small group that only plays when one person is present, player-hosting may be sufficient. Choose a dedicated server when people need to join at different times or when you want the world to continue without the original host’s game client open. The distinction is about how the session is run, not a promise that one option supports a particular number of players.
Self-hosting on your own PC
Advantages
- You control the Windows installation, configuration, saves and maintenance schedule.
- You avoid renting a separate machine, although the computer must remain powered and connected when players need access.
- You can inspect CPU, RAM and network use directly and decide when to upgrade.
Responsibilities and common failure points
- The server process, Windows and runtime packages must be kept working and updated.
- A public endpoint needs stable networking; a changing home address can make reconnecting difficult.
- Other household traffic can consume upstream bandwidth, especially when backups or uploads run.
- The PC must have enough total memory for Windows and other applications in addition to the server’s 6 GB minimum or 10 GB recommendation.
- Keen does not publish storage requirements in the cited page, so leave room for the operating system, server files, worlds, logs and backups instead of assuming a specific disk size.
A self-hosted machine does not need a gaming GPU solely for the dedicated server’s headless process. You still need a normal game-capable PC elsewhere to play, and the server computer’s CPU, RAM and network connection remain the relevant server-side resources.
Renting managed hosting
Managed hosting moves the Windows machine and much of its administration to a provider. Keen names GTX Gaming as the official host for the PC version and Nitrado as the official host for Xbox. These are platform-specific names; do not assume that a PC server plan and an Xbox configuration are interchangeable.
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- You do not have to leave a personal PC running at home.
- The provider supplies a server environment instead of requiring you to assemble compatible hardware.
- Administration can be simpler for a group that wants to play without maintaining Windows and runtime packages themselves.
What the cited guidance does not establish
Keen’s page does not provide current prices, plan sizes, uptime promises, included backups, support terms or a like-for-like capacity comparison. Check the provider’s current platform support and specifications before paying. Compare the allocated CPU, RAM and network resources with Keen’s 6 GB/10 GB memory and CPU baselines, and confirm how worlds, backups, mods and access controls are handled.
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PC, Xbox and cross-platform considerations
Keen identifies separate official hosts for PC and Xbox, so start by deciding which platform your players use. A configuration that works for a PC dedicated server should not be presented as a universal Xbox setup.
The community-maintained Wiki.gg guide also notes limitations for cross-platform configurations, including no Steam Workshop mods. Treat that as practical community guidance rather than a timeless guarantee: verify the current cross-platform and mod compatibility rules before building a world around Workshop content. If mods are central to the plan, test the exact platform combination and mod source with a disposable world first.
A decision checklist
- Choose the session model. Use player-hosting for occasional play that ends when the host leaves; choose a dedicated instance for an independently available world.
- Choose self-hosting or rental. Self-host when you are comfortable maintaining Windows, networking and an always-on machine. Rent when avoiding that maintenance matters more than direct hardware control.
- Check the platform. PC and Xbox have separate hosting paths named by Keen. Confirm compatibility before selecting a provider or configuration.
- Check the baseline. For self-hosting, verify 3.2 GHz and three logical cores minimum, 6 GB RAM minimum, and 5 Mbps bandwidth. Target 4.5 GHz and 10 GB RAM when following Keen’s recommendation.
- Plan the network. Arrange a static IP for a public server and test connectivity from outside the host’s local network.
- Validate the workload. Because Keen publishes no player-count or mod-count formula, run the intended world and monitor CPU, memory and network behavior before committing to a larger group.
Troubleshooting by symptom
The server will not start
Recheck that Windows and the required runtime packages are installed, then confirm that you used the dedicated-server package rather than the game client. SteamCMD installations should use app ID 298740.
Players cannot connect from outside the home
Check the public address, router and firewall configuration, and whether the address changes. Keen’s static-IP recommendation is particularly relevant to a public server.
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The machine runs out of memory
Confirm how much RAM is available to Windows and other software, not just the nominal server allocation. Six gigabytes is the minimum and 10 GB is Keen’s recommendation; a 16 GB total desktop kit may provide additional operating-system headroom if the motherboard and OS support it.
Performance is inconsistent
Do not infer a guaranteed player count from the minimum or recommended table. Record CPU, memory and network use while the actual world, scripts and grids are active. If the machine is at its limits, reduce competing workloads or move to hardware or a hosted plan with more allocated resources.
Bottom line
Start with Keen’s numbers: 6 GB RAM, 3.2 GHz and three logical cores, and 5 Mbps bandwidth are the minimum dedicated-server figures; 10 GB RAM and 4.5 GHz with three logical cores are recommended. Self-host on Windows when you want control and can maintain an always-on PC, or rent a platform-appropriate service when you want the server separated from your home machine. Neither path comes with a published player-count guarantee, so test the world you actually intend to run.
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