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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchFor an Enshrouded dedicated server, size the whole host—not just the game process. Keen Games’ published recommendation is a 16 GB RAM machine with SSD storage and at least 30 GB free. Its January 12, 2024 guidance pairs 6 cores/12 threads at 3.2 GHz with a 4–6-player group and 8 cores/16 threads at 3.7 GHz with a 16-player server. A separate FAQ dated February 21, 2025 reports approximately 4.4 GB RAM for an idle server process, up to 100 MB per active player, and no more than 6 GB for the process itself. Those figures describe different layers of the system, so 4.4–6 GB is not a recommendation for total machine memory.
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Official Enshrouded server requirements at a glance
Keen’s specifications are recommendations, not independently tested minimums or performance guarantees. The CPU and player-count article is dated January 12, 2024; the RAM and configuration FAQ is dated February 21, 2025. Keen has not published benchmark results or a CPU-utilization target on these pages, and a newer replacement for the CPU table has not been confirmed.
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| Active-player scenario | CPU recommendation | Host RAM | Storage | Network capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4–6 active players | Intel Core i7 at 3.2 GHz or equivalent AMD; 6 cores/12 threads | 16 GB | SSD with at least 30 GB free | About 2 Mbit/s upload per active player; download roughly matches |
| Up to 16 players | Intel Core i7 at 3.7 GHz or equivalent AMD; 8 cores/16 threads | 16 GB | SSD with at least 30 GB free | About 2 Mbit/s upload per active player; download roughly matches |
These values come from Keen Games’ Recommended Server Specifications. Keen summarizes the scaling principle directly: “For the dedicated server, the required hardware specs depend strongly on the number of players playing actively on the server.”
How much RAM does an Enshrouded server need?
Server-process memory
Keen’s Dedicated Server FAQ, dated February 21, 2025, says the process uses about 4.4 GB of physical RAM when idle. It can add up to 100 MB for each player, and Keen says total server-process use should not exceed 6 GB. This is the memory consumed by the dedicated-server software under the conditions described by Keen, not the amount of RAM that should be installed in the computer.
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Why the host recommendation is higher
The machine also needs memory for Windows, Steam or the server tool, drivers, antivirus, monitoring, logs, file caches and any other applications running alongside the server. Keen therefore recommends a 16 GB host for both its smaller and full 16-player tiers. Treat that as the practical sizing target for a machine dedicated to the server, even though the game process itself is expected to remain below the separate process-use ceiling.
Planning headroom
- Use 16 GB of system RAM as the documented baseline rather than building a 6 GB machine around the process figure.
- Leave free memory for the operating system and maintenance tasks; avoid running a browser, game client or heavy backup job on the same host during play.
- Watch actual memory use after adding mods or other software. Keen’s figures do not quantify third-party tools or future game updates.
What CPU do I need for an Enshrouded dedicated server?
Four to six active players
Keen lists an Intel Core i7-class processor at 3.2 GHz, or an equivalent AMD CPU, with 6 cores and 12 threads for a 4–6-player group. The specification is a class-and-frequency recommendation; it does not identify a particular generation, model, boost behavior or benchmark score.
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For a server supporting up to 16 players, Keen raises the example to a 3.7 GHz i7-class CPU or AMD equivalent with 8 cores and 16 threads. A server configured for 16 slots can still have fewer than 16 people online, but the higher tier is the published reference for that maximum group size.
What the numbers do not prove
Neither official article supplies a frame-time test, tick-rate result, CPU-percentage limit or guarantee that every processor with those labels will behave identically. Clock speed, architecture, sustained cooling and background load can all affect real performance. Use Keen’s table as a starting point and validate your own workload rather than treating it as a universal minimum.
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Storage, worlds and save files
SSD and free-space requirement
Keen recommends an SSD and at least 30 GB of free disk space. The February 2025 FAQ puts the uncompressed server files at approximately 13 GB, so the larger free-space figure provides room for the installation, updates, logs and saved worlds. The documentation does not require a particular SSD interface, capacity or brand.
World and save growth
Keen’s 2024 specification notes up to 100 MB for each additional saved world. The 2025 FAQ says saves are generated every five minutes and an individual save can range from 1 MB to 100 MB, depending on the size of the world and its bases. Keep additional space for the number of worlds and backups you intend to retain; frequent saves make a nearly full disk an avoidable failure point.
How much network bandwidth is required?
Keen recommends about 2 Mbit/s of upload capacity per active player, with download capacity roughly matching upload. That is a per-player planning figure, not a guaranteed throughput requirement for every moment. A four-player session therefore implies approximately 8 Mbit/s upload, while 16 active players imply approximately 32 Mbit/s; leave margin for other traffic, protocol overhead and household use.
Home-host checks
- Measure upstream capacity at the location where the server will run, not only the advertised download rate.
- Check whether other users, cloud backups or video calls consume upload during play.
- Prefer a stable wired connection and a regionally close host when possible; bandwidth alone does not determine latency.
Keen’s FAQ states that the dedicated server uses IPv4 and identifies query port 15637 as the default. Port-forwarding and firewall details can change with the current Steam tool and network setup, so consult the current official FAQ and Steam’s port requirements before applying a rule. Do not assume that opening an unrelated port or exposing the host broadly is sufficient.
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Slots affect performance
The configuration guide documents a maximum-player setting from 1 to 16, with 16 as the default. Keen says every slot increases performance impact, even if all slots are not occupied, and that lowering the configured maximum can help when CPU or RAM is the bottleneck. The setting is therefore a tuning control as well as a capacity limit.
Open the generated enshrouded_server.json after the first launch and set the slot count to the largest group you genuinely expect. A private four-person server does not need to advertise 16 slots, while a group that regularly fills the server should size hardware for that higher tier. Make a copy of the file before editing so you can restore a known working configuration.
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How to install and configure a dedicated server
Keen’s Steam installation article is dated February 23, 2024. It described Windows as the supported platform at that time; platform support can change, so verify the current documentation before treating Windows as a permanent limitation.
- Open Steam and go to Library. Change the library filter from Games to Tools, then install Enshrouded Dedicated Server.
- Launch the dedicated-server tool once. The first launch creates
enshrouded_server.jsonin the server files. - Stop the process and open that JSON file in a text editor. Set the server name and the maximum slots within the documented 1–16 range. The official example uses
queryPort15637 and 16 slots by default. - Save the file as valid JSON, restart the server and check its console or log for startup errors. A missing comma or altered quote can prevent the configuration from loading.
- Configure IPv4 reachability and firewall rules using the current Keen and Steam guidance. Test from a friend’s connection rather than assuming that a local join proves internet access.
- Back up the JSON and world files before updates or major configuration changes. Because saves are produced every five minutes, include the save directory in your backup plan.
Should I host or rent an Enshrouded server?
A dedicated server lets friends play without the owner keeping the game client online. Keen identifies GPORTAL as a partner whose servers can be rented from inside the game and notes that other providers may also offer rentals. That establishes rental hosting as an option, not a ranking or price endorsement.
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| Decision factor | Self-hosting at home | Rented server |
|---|---|---|
| Recurring cost | Uses existing hardware and internet; electricity and upgrades are your responsibility. | Requires a recurring fee; current price and billing terms vary by provider and plan. |
| Hardware allocation | You control the CPU, RAM and storage, but must meet Keen’s baseline. | Check the plan’s actual RAM, CPU generation and whether CPU resources are shared. |
| Capacity | You can configure 1–16 slots and tune the limit to your machine. | Confirm that the plan supports the required slot count and Enshrouded configuration. |
| Latency and region | Latency depends on your home connection and location. | Choose a data-center region close to most players and verify network quality. |
| Backups and files | Direct access to worlds, JSON settings and your own backup schedule. | Verify whether world-file download, automated backups and restore tools are included. |
| Maintenance | You handle updates, restarts, firewall settings and troubleshooting. | The provider may handle restarts and support, but policies differ by plan. |
Choose self-hosting when you already have a suitable always-on machine, reliable upstream bandwidth and the confidence to manage networking. Renting is simpler when no household connection can meet the upload target or when you want support and off-site availability without maintaining hardware.
Practical sizing examples
Small private group
For four to six active players, use the first CPU tier, 16 GB of host RAM, an SSD with at least 30 GB free and roughly 8–12 Mbit/s of available upload for four to six players. The last figure is a direct multiplication of Keen’s per-player guideline; reserve additional capacity for normal household traffic.
Full community server
For a group that may fill all 16 slots, use the 8-core/16-thread, 3.7 GHz class CPU recommendation, the same host-memory target, an SSD with ample free space and approximately 32 Mbit/s upload before overhead and other traffic. Configure no more than 16 slots, because that is the documented limit.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshooting common bottlenecks
Memory pressure
If the operating system begins paging or the server becomes unstable, check total machine memory rather than only the server-process number. Stop unrelated applications, retain free disk space for the page file and reduce the configured slot count if the workload allows.
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CPU saturation
When simulation slows while memory remains available, compare the processor with Keen’s player-count tier, inspect background processes and lower the slot maximum. Do not infer a precise required CPU percentage from Keen’s documentation; no such threshold is published.
Connection or join failures
Verify upstream capacity, the host’s public IPv4 reachability and the configured query port. Test with a player outside the local network and consult the current port requirements before changing firewall rules. If the host works locally but not remotely, the issue is usually reachability or router configuration rather than RAM.
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Check that at least 30 GB remains free, confirm that the service account can write to the server and world directories, and include the five-minute save files in backups. A full disk can interrupt saves even when the server process itself is within its expected memory range.
Checklist before inviting players
- Host has 16 GB system RAM and an SSD with at least 30 GB free.
- CPU matches the 4–6-player or 16-player recommendation for your intended maximum.
- Upload capacity is approximately 2 Mbit/s per active player with household overhead.
- Slot count is set deliberately between 1 and 16.
enshrouded_server.jsonis valid, backed up and using the intended query port.- IPv4 and firewall settings have been tested by someone outside the host’s local network.
- World files and five-minute saves are included in a recovery plan.
For the source specifications and dates, consult Keen Games’ Recommended Server Specifications, Dedicated Server FAQ, Dedicated Server Configuration and Steam installation guide. Keen’s general FAQ is available at kg-www.keengames.com/en-US/faq.
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