What do you need to run a modded Minecraft server?
As a fellow hardcore Minecraft fan, I‘ve spent countless hours researching and refining what combination of hardware and software offers the smoothest server performance with lots of players and extensive content additions through mods.
Over the years I‘ve discovered and optimized a few sweet spots that provide responsive, lag-free gameplay without breaking the bank. Let‘s dive in and cover what‘s essential step-by-step.
Robust CPU and Ample Memory
The latest AMD and Intel processors like the Ryzen 7 or Core i7 series offer excellent multi-core performance to handle the demands of modded worlds. I recommend at least 6 physical cores and 16 threads paired with 32GB of 3200Mhz DDR4 RAM or more. This combo keeps gameplay buttery even with render distances maxed out.
I‘ve found the extra threads and RAM headroom to be critical to maintain high framerates once you pile on graphics enhancements like texture packs, shaders, and raytracing mods.
A powerful system like this runs you $1,000-$1,500 but provides incredible FPS for years. If your budget is tighter, you can start with a Ryzen 5 or Core i5 CPU and 16GB of RAM.
Recommended Hardware
| Component | Suggested Parts |
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D or Intel Core i7-12700K |
| RAM | 32GB+ DDR4-3600Mhz |
| Storage | 1TB NVMe M.2 SSD |
| GPU | NVIDIA RTX 3060 Ti or AMD RX 6700 XT |
High Speed Wired Network
A fast network connection keeps everything feeling responsive despite distant terrain still loading in. I suggest at least a 500 Mbps fiber plan. Make sure to use a wired ethernet connection – WiFi adds too much jitter for precision gameplay.
Configure your router to forward the standard Minecraft server ports for external access. I recommend assigning a static LAN IP address to your server computer so port forwarding rules don‘t get broken by DHCP lease changes down the road.
Latest Server Software Stack
On the software side you need to start with the latest and greatest:
- Windows 11 – For best hardware optimization
- Java 17 – Faster and supports newer mods
- Minecraft Forge – Stable modding API
Ensure Java and Fors are 64-bit versions to take full advantage of your hardware resources. Allocate at least 8GB of RAM to the Java process running the Forge server.
Time and Technical Skill
Expect to invest many hours experimenting with mods to find the right combination that doesn‘t overload your system. Monitoring with tools like Task Manager helps quantify impact.
Be ready to tweak software settings like RAM allocation and Java garbage collection flags to eke out extra performance. Learn some basic server admin and command line skills to fully customize your environment.
The more technical knowledge you build up-front, the easier it will be to manage your modded server long-term.
Monthly Hosting Cost
For most home users, hosting companies now offer robust dedicated servers equipped with high core count Xeon CPUs starting around $100/month. These deliver excellent performance for modded Minecraft compared to self-hosted options.
I hope this guide gives you a great starting point for planning your ultimate modded server build! Let me know if you have any other questions.
