Requirements
Let’s dive into the essential hardware requirements and server settings to ensure seamless gameplay. Discover how CPU power and internet speed play crucial roles in keeping your game running smoothly.
Learn how to troubleshoot common issues like lags and desyncs with easy-to-follow tips. Follow this article to unlock the full potential of your Palworld Dedicated Server performance!
The performance of a Palworld server is based on multiple factors, such as RAM speed, CPU speed, cores, network capacity, and more. This is a general recommendation of the server requirements, but note that it may vary depending on the fabricator of the hardware.
| Parameter | Requirement |
|---|---|
| CPU | 4 Core (Recommended) |
| Memory | 16GB For servers with large player-bases, 32GB is recommended. |
| Bandwidth | 250 Mbit/s |
| Storage | 40GB Free storage SSD is recommended. |
| OS | Windows 64bit Linux 64bit (Ubuntu, AlmaLinux etc…) |
Common Performance Issues
In some instances, even when meeting the hardware requirements, a Palworld server may encounter issues like lags, rubberbanding, and desync. To ensure smooth operation, consider the following practices:
Regular Restarts: Palworld Dedicated Servers commonly experience memory leaks over time. It’s advisable to restart the server periodically to maintain optimal performance. Here’s a recommended interval for upkeep:
- Restart the server every 4 hours, regardless of player activity. (Recommended)
- Based on your performance observations, you may adjust this interval as needed but aim to restart the server at least every 8 hours for consistent performance.
Disable VPN Usage: It's advisable to disable the use of VPNs while playing Palworld. The impact on gameplay varies depending on factors like distance and VPN speed. However, if you encounter performance issues, it's recommended to disable the VPN when playing on your Palworld Dedicated Server.
Server Configuration Optimizations
Several configuration parameters can significantly impact server performance. Consider adjusting these settings in your PalWorldSettings.ini file:
Disable Invader Enemies: It has been reported that disabling the
"Invader Enemies" parameter can improve dedicated server
performance. Set bEnableInvaderEnemy=False in your configuration to disable random enemy raids on bases.
DropItemMaxNum: Another community suggestion is to lower the parameter for the maximum number of items that can be dropped in the world. The default value is 3000, and we recommend lowering it to 500. This reduces the number of physics objects the server must track, improving performance especially on populated servers.
DropItemAliveMaxHours: It has also been reported to help lower the parameter for the number of hours an item can remain dropped before despawning. The default is set to 1.0 hour, but lowering it to 0.5 (half an hour) has been reported to boost performance by reducing item clutter.
Additional Performance Settings:
- bEnableAimAssistPad=False - Disable aim assist to reduce server calculations
- bEnableAimAssistKeyboard=False - Same as above for keyboard users
- CoopPlayerMaxNum=4 - Limit concurrent players to match your hardware (default is 4)
- ServerPlayerMaxNum=32 - Adjust based on RAM availability (each player uses ~500MB)
- bIsStartLocationSelectByMap=True - Allows players to select spawn points, reducing congestion
Advanced Performance Tuning
Base Complexity Management: Large bases with many Pals and structures consume significant server resources. Encourage players to:
- Limit active Pals at bases (use Palboxes efficiently)
- Reduce unnecessary decorative structures
- Consolidate multiple small bases into fewer larger ones
- Regularly cull unused items and structures
World Settings Impact: Some world settings affect performance more than others:
- DayTimeSpeedRate / NightTimeSpeedRate - Higher values = faster day/night cycles = more frequent time-based calculations
- PalSpawnNumRate - Lower values reduce wild Pal population, improving performance
- PalDamageRateAttack / PalDamageRateDefense - Doesn't significantly affect performance, adjust for difficulty
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What are the hardware requirements for running a Palworld server?
A: Palworld server performance relies on various hardware components including RAM speed, CPU specifications, number of cores, network capacity, and storage. It is recommended to have at least a 4-core CPU, 16GB of memory (32GB for larger player bases), 250 Mbit/s bandwidth, 40GB of free storage (preferably SSD), and a 64-bit operating system (Windows or Linux) for optimal performance.
Q: What are some common performance issues that Palworld servers may encounter?
A: Despite meeting the hardware requirements, Palworld servers may experience performance issues such as lags, rubberbanding, and desyncs. These issues can often be attributed to memory leaks over time, VPN usage, or certain in-game parameters.
Q: How can I address performance issues on my Palworld server?
A: To improve performance on your Palworld server, consider implementing the following strategies:
- Regular Restarts: Schedule periodic restarts (every 4 hours is recommended) to mitigate memory leaks.
- Disable VPN Usage: Avoid using VPNs while playing Palworld to minimize performance impact.
- Adjust In-Game Parameters: Experiment with disabling certain in-game parameters such as “Invader Enemies” and adjusting values like “DropItemMaxNum” and “DropItemAliveMaxHours” to optimize performance.
Q: Where can I find more information on tweaking Palworld server settings?
A: Server settings are stored in PalWorldSettings.ini located in Pal/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/ (Linux) or Pal\Saved\Config\WindowsServer\ (Windows). You can edit this file directly to modify all gameplay parameters, spawn rates, difficulty settings, and more.
Q: My server crashes frequently. What should I check?
A: Frequent crashes are usually caused by insufficient RAM, corrupted save files, or incompatible mods. Try these steps:
- Allocate more RAM to the server (at least 16GB recommended)
- Restore from a backup save file
- Remove all mods and test stability
- Check server logs in
Pal/Saved/Logs/for error messages - Ensure you're running the latest server version
Q: How do I monitor server performance in real-time?
A: Use these methods to monitor your Palworld server:
- Check server logs for warnings about memory usage or performance
- Use system monitoring tools (Task Manager on Windows,
htopon Linux) - Monitor player ping times - high ping indicates network or performance issues
- Watch for "rubberbanding" - players teleporting backwards indicates server lag
- Enable server FPS counter if available in your hosting control panel
Practical sizing reference per player count (refreshed 2026-05-21)
The minimums above are the floor. These are the realistic numbers operators reach after running long-lived worlds at each scale.
RAM by player count (vanilla, no mods)
| Player count | RAM (vanilla) | RAM (with heavy base building) | RAM (with mods) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 players | 8 GB | 10-12 GB | 12-16 GB |
| 10 players | 12-16 GB | 16-20 GB | 20-24 GB |
| 20 players | 20-24 GB | 24-32 GB | 32-40 GB |
| 32 players (max default) | 32-40 GB | 40-48 GB | 48-64 GB |
Palworld's RAM growth pattern: a server that runs in 12 GB at week 1 commonly hits 18 GB at month 3 as players build out bases and accumulate Pals. Always size for month 3, not week 1.
CPU: single-thread frequency, not core count
Palworld's main simulation thread is the limiter. A 16-core 2.3 GHz Xeon Gold runs worse than a 4-core 4.5 GHz Ryzen for this workload.
| Player count | CPU recommendation |
|---|---|
| 1-10 players | 4+ cores at 4.0 GHz+ all-core boost |
| 10-20 players | 6+ cores at 4.3 GHz+ |
| 20-32 players | 8+ cores at 4.5 GHz+ (Ryzen 9, EPYC 7003, i9) |
Disk: NVMe is not optional anymore
Palworld autosaves every few minutes. On HDD, every autosave freezes the server briefly. On SATA SSD, autosaves are noticeable. On NVMe, they're invisible.
Storage sizing:
- Server binary + game files: 40-50 GB
- World save (established): 5-10 GB
- Mods (light stack): 1-3 GB
- Backups (tier-2 rolling, 7 days): 30-50 GB
Realistic minimum NVMe: 256 GB for a single server, 512 GB if you keep aggressive backups.
Network upload
| Player count | Upload bandwidth |
|---|---|
| 4 players | 3-5 Mbps |
| 10 players | 10-15 Mbps |
| 20 players | 25-40 Mbps |
| 32 players | 50+ Mbps, business fiber or datacenter |
Self-host vs managed break-even
- Under 4 players: self-host if you already have idle hardware.
- 4 to 8 players: break-even. Self-host if your time is free and hardware is sunk; rent otherwise.
- 8 to 20 players: managed almost always wins on cost-per-player-hour once you account for patch days and backup discipline.
- 20+ players: rent. Residential bandwidth and 24/7 uptime are no longer realistic.
The hidden cost of self-hosting Palworld is patch day. Pocketpair pushes updates often enough that mod compatibility breaks regularly. On a managed host, this is one-click after certification; on self-host, it's hours of admin work each time.
Looking for managed Palworld server hosting? Supercraft runs Palworld dedicated servers with daily backups, instant setup, and 5 region options. Plans from $5.99/mo.