The short answer
RAM needs depend on how many friends play at once, view distance, plugins and mods. Larger crews and modpacks can need more memory.
What affects RAM use uses a Minecraft server's RAM?
The server uses RAM to keep chunks around players loaded. Five friends exploring separate areas can use more RAM than five sharing one base.
| What | Why it costs RAM | What helps |
|---|---|---|
| Players online at once | Each one loads the chunks around them. | Choose a server for the number of friends online at once. |
| View and simulation distance | View distance affects the chunks loaded around players. Simulation distance controls how far away mobs and other activity are updated. | Lower view-distance in server.properties. |
| Mods | Modpacks can add blocks, machines and code that use RAM. | Check your modpack's RAM requirements before choosing a server. |
| Farms and mobs | Mobs and dropped items use memory while their chunks are loaded. | Collect dropped items and limit the mobs in loaded farms. |
| Exploring new land | Generating new chunks uses processing power and memory. | Generate the area you plan to explore before game night. |
Do plugins or mods need more RAM?
Mods, usually. Plugins run small extras on a Paper server, which is built to run lighter than the vanilla server. Modpacks rewrite parts of the game itself, so a big pack can need a lot more memory than the same world without it.
How do we know the server is out of RAM?
- Check the log for memory errors first. Blocks reappearing and mobs freezing show lag, but don't prove you're out of RAM.
- Exploring new land can cause brief lag; it doesn't prove the server needs more RAM.
- An OutOfMemoryError means Java couldn't allocate memory. Read the rest of the error message to find the cause.
Lag isn't always caused by low RAM. CPU limits or a slow connection can also cause it. If only one friend lags, check their connection and game performance.
How big are Radclub's servers?
On Radclub you pick a server by how many friends play, and the smallest one has 4 GB. Compare current server sizes and monthly prices below.
| Server | RAM | CPU threads | Players | Whole club, a month | Each, when full |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small | 4 GB | 2 | 4 | €17.50 | €4.38 |
| Club | 6 GB | 3 | 10 | €22.50 | €2.25 |
Each, when full: the monthly price split across every player slot, rounded up to the cent.
Choose a size that fits your crew and mods. You can upgrade later and keep your world. See the Minecraft page for the server types and the plugins or mods they support.
Questions people ask
- Is more RAM always better?
- No. More RAM won't fix a slow connection or an overloaded CPU. Too many mobs and dropped items can also cause lag.
- Does Paper use less RAM than the vanilla server?
- Not necessarily. Paper aims to improve performance, but RAM use depends on your world, settings and plugins.
Sources and method
- Prices, server sizes and player limits come from GameClub's catalogue, the store Radclub sells from, and update on their own when it changes.
- PaperMC · checked 7 November 2026
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