How much RAM does a FiveM server need?

Choosing the right server size saves you money and keeps your city lag-free. Here is a simple guide based on real FiveM servers with a framework like QBCore or ESX.

Quick guide by player count

• Up to 32 players — 4 vCores and 12 GB RAM
• Up to 64 players — 6 vCores and 16 GB RAM
• Up to 85 players — 6 vCores and 20 GB RAM
• Up to 128 players — 8 vCores and 32 GB RAM
• 200+ players — a dedicated server, so the whole machine is yours

What uses the most memory?

• Custom maps (MLOs) and big map packs.
• Add-on vehicles — every car with high-resolution textures adds up.
• Scripts — especially badly optimised ones that keep data in memory forever.
• The database — MariaDB grows with your player data, inventories and logs.

CPU matters more than you think

FiveM runs most of its work on one main thread. That means a fast CPU with a high clock speed (like AMD Ryzen) gives a smoother server than a slow CPU with many cores. If your server lags with free RAM left, the CPU is usually the reason.

How to keep your server fast

1. Remove resources you don't use — every running script costs memory and CPU time.
2. Optimise textures on add-on cars and maps — huge textures are the number one memory waster.
3. Watch the performance chart in txAdmin to spot spikes after adding a new script.
4. Restart daily with a scheduled restart in txAdmin — it frees memory and keeps things stable.
5. Use NVMe storage — players download your assets faster when they join.

When should you upgrade?

• RAM usage stays above 85% most of the time.
• Players report lag at peak hours while CPU is near 100%.
• You plan a big update with many new cars or maps.

Moving to a bigger plan is easy — contact our team and we help you upgrade. Compare all sizes on our FiveM VPS page.