id: combien-de-ram-pour-un-serveur-minecraft
How Much RAM for a Minecraft Server? Complete Guide 2026
Last updated: January 2026
Starting a Minecraft server and wondering how much RAM to allocate? This is THE question every server administrator asks, from beginners to experienced hosts. Too little RAM means lag and crashes. Too much RAM means wasted money and degraded performance due to Java's garbage collector.
In this guide, we'll cover exactly how much RAM you need based on your server type, player count, and especially the modpacks you want to run.
id: combien-de-ram-pour-un-serveur-minecraft
Why RAM Is Critical for Your Minecraft Server
RAM (Random Access Memory) is where your server stores all active data: loaded chunks, player data, mobs, entities, and everything your plugins or mods use.
The more RAM available, the more elements your server can keep loaded and ready without stuttering or crashing.
However, RAM isn't the only performance factor. Your CPU (especially single-thread performance) handles tick-processing, which includes all calculations that run the world. A server with lots of RAM but a weak CPU will still experience TPS (ticks per second) issues.
id: combien-de-ram-pour-un-serveur-minecraft
Quick Reference: Recommended RAM by Server Type
| Server Type | Players | Minimum RAM | Recommended RAM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vanilla | 1-4 | 2 GB | 3-4 GB |
| Vanilla | 5-10 | 8 GB | 8-12 GB |
| Vanilla | 10-20 | 12 GB | 12-16 GB |
| Paper/Spigot (light plugins) | 1-10 | 8 GB | 8-12 GB |
| Paper/Spigot (moderate plugins) | 10-20 | 12 GB | 12-16 GB |
| Paper/Spigot (heavy plugins) | 20+ | 16 GB | 16-24 GB |
| Forge/Fabric (light mods) | 1-4 | 4 GB | 6-8 GB |
| Medium modpack (50-100 mods) | 1-10 | 8 GB | 12-16 GB |
| Heavy modpack (150+ mods) | 1-10 | 12 GB | 16-24 GB |
| Very heavy modpack (300+ mods) | 5-15 | 16 GB | 16-32 GB |
| Very heavy modpack (300+ mods) | 20+ | 16 GB | 16-64 GB |
id: combien-de-ram-pour-un-serveur-minecraft
Recommended RAM by Popular Modpack
Here are specific recommendations for the most played modpacks in 2026:
All The Mods 10 (ATM10)
ATM10 is the ultimate modpack beast with over 500 mods including Create, Mystical Agriculture, Apotheosis, and Allthemodium machines. It's the most demanding modpack available today.
| Players | Minimum RAM | Recommended RAM | Optimal RAM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | 8 GB | 10-12 GB | 14 GB |
| 4-8 | 10 GB | 12-14 GB | 16 GB |
| 8-15 | 12 GB | 14-16 GB | 32 GB |
| 15+ | 14 GB | 16-32 GB | 32 GB |
Warning: ATM10 requires Java 21 and NeoForge. Automation machines (Create, Allthemodium) consume enormous resources. Plan for 2-4 GB more if your players build complex automated farms.
id: combien-de-ram-pour-un-serveur-minecraft
RLCraft
RLCraft transforms Minecraft into a hardcore RPG with 169+ mods including Lycanites Mobs, dragons, and realistic survival mechanics (thirst, temperature, fatigue).
| Players | Minimum RAM | Recommended RAM |
|---|---|---|
| 1-4 | 4 GB | 6 GB |
| 5-10 | 8 GB | 8-16 GB |
| 10-20 | 12 GB | 16-32 GB |
Pro tip: RLCraft generates many entities (mobs, projectiles, effects). Reduce view-distance to 6-8 chunks to save RAM and improve TPS.
id: combien-de-ram-pour-un-serveur-minecraft
Pixelmon Reforged
Pixelmon adds over 800 Pokemon with their AI, stats, and movesets. Each Pokemon is an entity that consumes memory.
| Players | Minimum RAM | Recommended RAM |
|---|---|---|
| 1-5 | 4 GB | 8 GB |
| 5-10 | 6 GB | 12 GB |
| 10-20 | 8 GB | 16 GB |
| Public server | 10 GB | 16-32 GB |
Pro tip: Pre-generate your world with Chunky before opening the server. Pokemon spawning during new chunk generation creates significant lag spikes.
id: combien-de-ram-pour-un-serveur-minecraft
Cobblemon Academy 2.0
Cobblemon Academy 2.0 is the trending new Pokemon modpack, popular on servers like Pokerayou. It includes over 1000 Cobblemon, mega evolutions, and custom structures.
| Players | Minimum RAM | Recommended RAM |
|---|---|---|
| 1-5 | 6 GB | 8 GB |
| 5-10 | 8 GB | 12 GB |
| 10-20 | 16 GB | 16-32 GB |
| Public server | 16 GB | 32-64 GB |
Important: This modpack requires Java 21 and NeoForge. The author recommends 5-8 GB client-side and 6-8 GB minimum server-side. Plan for more if your players explore extensively (chunk generation = RAM spikes).
id: combien-de-ram-pour-un-serveur-minecraft
Factors That Increase Your RAM Requirements
Beyond server type, several factors can increase your needs:
1. Player Count and Distribution
The more spread out your players are across the map, the more chunks must be loaded simultaneously. 10 players in one location consume less RAM than 5 players scattered across the world.
2. World Size and Age
A freshly generated world is lightweight. A world played for months with thousands of explored chunks, builds, and accumulated entities weighs significantly more.
3. View Distance
Default view-distance is 10 chunks. Reducing to 8 chunks can save significant RAM. For large modpacks, 6 chunks is often recommended.
4. Entities and Automated Farms
Mob farms, item frames, armor stands, villagers, and automation machines all consume memory. A server with complex farms needs more RAM than a build-focused server.
id: combien-de-ram-pour-un-serveur-minecraft
How to Optimize Your Server's RAM
Use Proper JVM Arguments (Java Flags)
Aikar's flags are the standard for optimizing Minecraft servers. Here's an example for 8 GB of RAM:
java -Xms8G -Xmx8G \
-XX:+UseG1GC \
-XX:+ParallelRefProcEnabled \
-XX:MaxGCPauseMillis=200 \
-XX:+UnlockExperimentalVMOptions \
-XX:+DisableExplicitGC \
-XX:+AlwaysPreTouch \
-XX:G1NewSizePercent=30 \
-XX:G1MaxNewSizePercent=40 \
-XX:G1HeapRegionSize=8M \
-XX:G1ReservePercent=20 \
-XX:G1HeapWastePercent=5 \
-XX:G1MixedGCCountTarget=4 \
-XX:InitiatingHeapOccupancyPercent=15 \
-XX:G1MixedGCLiveThresholdPercent=90 \
-XX:G1RSetUpdatingPauseTimePercent=5 \
-XX:SurvivorRatio=32 \
-XX:+PerfDisableSharedMem \
-XX:MaxTenuringThreshold=1 \
-jar server.jar nogui
Important: Keep -Xms and -Xmx identical to avoid memory allocation delays during gameplay.
Choose the Right Server Framework
| Framework | Advantages | Ideal For |
|---|---|---|
| Paper | Optimized, supports plugins | Servers with plugins |
| Purpur | Paper + advanced options | Deep customization |
| Forge | Mods only | Forge modpacks |
| Fabric | Lightweight, modern | Fabric mods/performance |
| NeoForge | New Forge standard | ATM10, Cobblemon 2.0 |
Pre-Generate Your World
Real-time chunk generation is a major cause of lag. Use Chunky to pre-generate your world:
/chunky world minecraft:overworld
/chunky radius 5000
/chunky start
Let it run 12-24 hours before opening the server to the public.
id: combien-de-ram-pour-un-serveur-minecraft
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Allocating Too Much RAM
Contrary to popular belief, more RAM isn't always better. Java uses a garbage collector that must clean unused memory. The more RAM you have, the longer garbage collection pauses become.
General rule: Don't allocate more than 12-16 GB unless you genuinely need more (large modpack + many players).
Using All Available RAM
Always leave headroom for the operating system and background processes. If your machine has 16 GB, don't allocate more than 12 GB to Minecraft.
Ignoring the CPU
A server with 32 GB of RAM but a weak CPU will have TPS problems. Minecraft runs primarily on a single thread, so CPU frequency (GHz) matters more than core count.
id: combien-de-ram-pour-un-serveur-minecraft
FAQ: Your Minecraft Server RAM Questions
Can I run a Minecraft server with 4 GB of RAM?
Technically yes for a vanilla server with 1-2 players on older versions. But for Minecraft 1.18+ with larger chunks, it's not recommended. 4 GB is the absolute minimum for modern vanilla.
Is 8 GB enough for a modded server?
For a small modpack (under 50 mods) with 2-4 players, yes. For modpacks like ATM10 or RLCraft, no. Plan for 6-8 GB minimum.
How do I know if my server needs more RAM?
The signs: frequent lag, slow chunk loading, crashes with "OutOfMemory" errors, low TPS. Use /spark health (if you have the Spark plugin) to monitor usage.
Should I restart my server regularly?
Yes, especially for modded servers. A daily restart helps clean up memory leaks and maintain good performance.
Pro tip: On the LordHosting panel, you can automate server restarts in just a few clicks. See our tutorial: Schedule an automatic restart
Does Minecraft Bedrock require as much RAM as Java?
No, Bedrock is more optimized. A Bedrock server can generally run with 1-2 GB less than an equivalent Java server.
id: combien-de-ram-pour-un-serveur-minecraft
Conclusion: Choosing the Right RAM for Your Project
To summarize:
- Vanilla server with friends (1-5 players) - 3-4 GB
- Paper server with plugins (10-20 players) - 8-12 GB
- Medium modpack (RLCraft, Pixelmon) - 8-16 GB
- Heavy modpack (ATM10, Cobblemon Academy 2.0) - 16-64 GB
The key is to start with what you need and scale up if necessary. A good host allows you to easily upgrade your RAM without losing data.
id: combien-de-ram-pour-un-serveur-minecraft
Ready to Launch Your Server?
At LordHosting, we offer optimized Minecraft servers with AMD Ryzen 9 processors, ultra-fast NVMe storage, and included Anti-DDoS protection.
Our plans start at $3.99/month and include:
- 1-click installation of all modpacks (ATM10, RLCraft, Pixelmon, Cobblemon...)
- Intuitive management panel
- 24/7 technical support
- Instant RAM upgrade without data loss
Discover our Minecraft hosting plans
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Have questions about RAM requirements for your specific project? Contact our support team - we're happy to help!