How much RAM / which plan do I need for X players + Y mods (modded)?

MinecraftUpdated 14 Oct 20262 min read
On this page
  1. Rough sizing guide (modded)
  2. Choosing your tier
  3. Frequently asked questions

Sizing a modded server is different from sizing a plugin server: modpacks are RAM-hungry, and the number of mods matters far more than how many players you have. Use the guide below as a starting point and adjust upward for heavy tech or magic packs.

Rough sizing guide (modded)

For modern Minecraft (1.21 and newer):

  • Light pack (~50 mods): 6GB.
  • Medium pack (50–100 mods): 8–10GB.
  • Large pack (100–150+ mods): 10–12GB.
  • Very large pack (150–300+ mods, ATM-style): 12–16GB or more.

Mod count matters more than player count: the pack sets the baseline before anyone joins. Newer versions use far more memory than old ones; packs on 1.12 and older need much less.

Because modded Minecraft leans heavily on single-thread CPU, a Supreme/Ultimate (Ryzen 7700) tier holds TPS far better than Budget for big packs — mod count and per-core speed drive the experience, not player count alone.

Choosing your tier

  1. Estimate your mod count and match it to a band above.
  2. If your pack is heavy on world-gen, tech, or chunk-loaders, bump up a tier.
  3. For anything large, favour a Ryzen (Supreme/Ultimate) tier for better TPS.
  4. Pre-generate your world to smooth out exploration lag.

Warning: These are starting points, not guarantees. A single heavy mod (world-gen, chunk-loaders) can push you higher. Start a tier up if you can.

Frequently asked questions

Does more RAM mean more players? Up to a point. Past a certain size, CPU and good settings matter more than piling on RAM.

Why does mod count matter more than player count? The mods themselves consume most of the RAM and CPU, so a big pack is demanding even with only a few players online.

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