DayZ Server Hardware Requirements
Understanding hardware needs for running a stable DayZ server based on your player count and configuration.
Minimum Requirements
For small servers (10-20 players) with vanilla setup:
- CPU: 4 cores @ 3.0GHz
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 30GB SSD
- Bandwidth: 1-2 Mbps per player
Recommended Requirements
For medium servers (20-40 players) with some mods:
- CPU: 6-8 cores @ 3.5GHz+
- RAM: 12-16GB
- Storage: 40GB SSD
- Bandwidth: 2-3 Mbps per player
High-End Requirements
For large servers (40-60+ players) with many mods:
- CPU: 8+ cores @ 4.0GHz+
- RAM: 16-32GB
- Storage: 60GB+ NVMe SSD
- Bandwidth: 3-5 Mbps per player
Factors Affecting Performance
Player Count
DayZ scales significantly with player count. Each player adds:
- Network traffic
- Entity sync overhead
- Loot calculation load
- Zombie and animal spawning
Mods and Scripts
Popular mods and their impact:
- Expansion Mod: Moderate CPU increase
- VPPAdminTools: Minimal impact
- Base Building mods: Can increase CPU load with complex bases
- Custom maps: Varies by map complexity
Map Choice
Different maps have different requirements:
- Chernarus: 225km², standard load
- Livonia: 163km², slightly less demanding
- Deerisle: Larger map, higher requirements
- SaVeg: Medium map, moderate load
Zombie and Animal Counts
Adjust in cfgEconomyCore.xml:
Storage Recommendations
SSD is essential for DayZ servers. HDDs cause:
- Long server startup times
- Lag spikes during player movement
- Desync issues
- Poor performance during loot respawns
Important: DayZ is CPU-intensive. Single-core performance is critical. Higher clock speeds are better than more cores.
Network Requirements
Minimum Upload: Players × 1.5 Mbps
Recommended Upload: Players × 2.5 Mbps
OS Considerations
- Windows: Official support, easier setup
- Linux: Better performance, requires Wine/Proton or experimental Linux builds