VPS & Linux
What's the difference between dedicated cores and regular (shared) cores?
The difference comes down to whether your CPU cores are reserved just for you or pooled with others on the node. Both work well, but dedicated cores give the most consistent performance under heavy, sustained load.
Shared vs dedicated cores
Here's what each option means in practice.
- Shared/regular cores: you get generous CPU but share the physical cores with others on the node. This is fine for most servers.
- Dedicated cores: cores reserved solely for your server, giving the most consistent performance under load.
- Higher, heavier tiers are where you'll find dedicated-core options.
Tip: For steady, demanding workloads like big modpacks or large populations, dedicated cores remove "noisy neighbour" variability — worth it when consistency matters most.
Which should you pick?
Match the choice to how heavy and consistent your workload is.
- Shared cores handle the vast majority of servers comfortably.
- Reach for dedicated cores only when you have consistently heavy CPU demands and need steady performance.
Frequently asked questions
Which plans have dedicated cores? Our heavier tiers — open a ticket for a quote on the exact tiers and cost.
Do I need dedicated cores? Only for consistently heavy CPU workloads. Most servers do great on shared cores.