How Much RAM Does a Satisfactory Server Need? (Player Scenarios Explained)

If you’re setting up a Satisfactory dedicated server, one of the first questions you’ll run into is:

How much RAM do I actually need?

Most answers online are vague, outdated, or clearly written to upsell hosting plans. This guide breaks down realistic RAM usage based on how people actually play Satisfactory, not marketing tiers.

Why RAM Matters So Much in Satisfactory

Satisfactory is a simulation-heavy factory builder, not a simple survival game. Memory usage grows as your world becomes more complex and interconnected.

RAM is used for:

• World state (terrain, machines, items in transit)
• Conveyor belt calculations
• Power networks and logic
• Autosaves and multiplayer synchronization

Key insight: RAM usage scales more with factory complexity than with player count.

Baseline: Minimum RAM to Start a Satisfactory Server

• Bare minimum: ~4 GB RAM
• Recommended starting point: 6 GB RAM

At 4 GB, the server can start and run early gameplay, but autosaves may stutter and there’s little headroom for growth.

For anything beyond early experimentation, 6 GB should be considered the true minimum.

RAM Requirements by Player Scenario

This is where clarity matters most. These numbers are based on real-world usage patterns, not plan tiers.

1–2 Players (Early to Mid Game)

Recommended RAM: 6–8 GB

Typical characteristics:

• Small to medium factories
• Early automation tiers
• Few logistics networks

RAM usage is generally stable at this stage.

3–4 Players (Mid Game Automation)

Recommended RAM: 8–12 GB

What changes:

• More simultaneous item flow
• Larger explored map
• First real memory spikes during autosaves

Many servers that started at 6 GB begin to feel constrained here.

5–8 Players (Late Game & Large Factories)

Recommended RAM: 12–16 GB

Typical scenario:

• Distributed factories
• Trains, drones, advanced logistics
• Large save files

At this stage:

• Autosave freezes become noticeable if RAM is tight
• Join times increase with larger worlds

Megafactories & Modded Servers

Recommended RAM: 16–24+ GB

Applies if you:

• Build megafactories
• Optimize for max throughput
• Use mods that add systems or assets
• Run long-lived worlds with massive saves

At this level, RAM spikes — especially during autosaves — become unavoidable.

Why Autosaves Cause RAM Spikes

Autosaves temporarily increase memory usage because the server must serialize the entire world state.

If your RAM limit is too tight:

• Autosaves stutter
• Servers freeze briefly
• In worst cases, the server crashes

Rule of thumb:
Leave 2–4 GB of headroom above average usage.

Player Count vs Factory Complexity (Common Misconception)

Many people size servers based on player slots alone.

That doesn’t work for Satisfactory.

What matters more:

• Number of machines
• Item throughput
• Logistics distance
• World age and save size

A 2-player megafactory can consume more RAM than an 8-player early-game server.

(No image needed — this is a conceptual correction.)

Self-Hosting vs Renting: RAM Implications

Self-hosting:

• RAM allocated upfront
• Scaling requires reconfiguration
• Idle memory still costs money

Traditional rented servers:

• Fixed monthly tiers
• Often force overbuying “just in case”

This mismatch is especially noticeable with Satisfactory’s uneven growth curve.

How Serverwave Fits Into This

Satisfactory servers don’t grow linearly — RAM usage spikes when factories scale, not gradually.

With Serverwave, you can:

• Pay $0.01 per GB per hour
• Set a maximum RAM cap
• Scale only when usage demands it
• Stop the server entirely when not playing

This matches how factory games actually behave, instead of forcing you into static plans.

Quick RAM Recommendation Summary

Final Advice

• Start with enough RAM to be comfortable
• Always leave autosave headroom
• Expect requirements to grow non-linearly
• Avoid locking into oversized plans too early

Satisfactory rewards scaling. Your server should scale with it — not against it.