# Improve ARK Server Performance

Improve Ark performance: reduce lag, boost tick rate – optimization tips from NexoraHost.

**Quick answer:** Improve server performance with targeted config changes – check RAM/CPU usage, tune settings and remove heavy mods/scripts.

This guide shows you how to optimize your ARK: Survival Evolved server performance – for fewer lags, more stable connections and a better gaming experience even on large servers with many players.

## Optimize hardware

    - **CPU:** ARK benefits greatly from high single-core performance. A modern processor with high clock speed is more important than many cores
- **RAM:** 8 GB minimum per map, 16 GB for modded servers. Clusters need correspondingly more
- **Storage:** Use NVMe SSD instead of HDD – autosaves and chunk loading are much faster

## Optimize startup parameters

Add these parameters to your startup file to improve performance:

`start ShooterGameServer.exe TheIsland?SessionName=MyServer?MaxPlayers=20?Port=7777?QueryPort=27015 -log -NoBattlEye -useallavailablecores -high`

    - **-useallavailablecores:** Uses all available CPU cores
- **-high:** Sets server process to high priority in Windows
- **-NoBattlEye:** Disables BattlEye if not needed – saves CPU

## Optimize GameUserSettings.ini

You'll find the file at `ShooterGame/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/GameUserSettings.ini`:

`[ServerSettings]
MaxPlayers=20
TamingSpeedMultiplier=3.0
HarvestAmountMultiplier=2.0
XPMultiplier=2.0
ResourcesRespawnPeriodMultiplier=0.5
StructurePreventionResourceRadius=1.0
MaxStructuresInRange=5000
MaxTamableDinos=5000
bAllowPlatformSaddleMultiFloors=false
bDisableStructurePlacementCollision=true
DinoCountMultiplier=0.8
bUseDinoLevelUpAnimations=false`

    - **MaxStructuresInRange:** Limits structures in an area – prevents massive base lags
- **MaxTamableDinos:** Reduces the maximum number of tamable dinos per server
- **DinoCountMultiplier:** Fewer wild dinos = less server load
- **bDisableStructurePlacementCollision:** Disables structure collision check – saves CPU
- **ResourcesRespawnPeriodMultiplier:** Slower resource respawn saves CPU

## Optimize Game.ini

You'll find the file at `ShooterGame/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/Game.ini`:

`[/Script/ShooterGame.ShooterGameMode]
bAllowFlyerCarryPvE=false
bDisableFriendlyFire=true
MaxNumberOfPlayersInTribe=10
OverrideOfficialDifficulty=5.0
bUseSingleplayerSettings=false

[/Script/Engine.GameNetworkManager]
TotalNetBandwidth=2000000
MaxDynamicBandwidth=1000000
MinDynamicBandwidth=50000`

    - **TotalNetBandwidth:** Increases available network bandwidth per player
- **MaxNumberOfPlayersInTribe:** Limits tribe size – fewer structures per tribe

## Reduce dino spawns

    - Wild dinos are one of the biggest CPU loads. Reduce **DinoCountMultiplier** to 0.6–0.8
- Disable unnecessary dino types in Game.ini, e.g. Ichthyornis and Pegomastax
- Reduce fish and other water creatures separately

## Optimize autosave and backup

    - Increase autosave interval to 20-30 minutes – every save briefly freezes the server
- Create backups only during low-traffic times
- Regularly archive and delete old save files

## Manage mods

    - Only install mods that are actually needed
- Large mods like Structures Plus (S+) and dino overhauls put heavy load on the server
- Regularly check mods for updates – outdated versions cause errors and lags
- Optimize mod load order: Load large mods first

## Restart server regularly

    - Daily restart prevents memory leaks – ARK is known for this
- Use Windows Task Scheduler for automatic restarts
- Always stop the server with `cheat saveworld` then `exit`

## Quick checklist

    - Choose CPU with strong single-core performance, use NVMe SSD
- Use startup parameters -useallavailablecores and -high
- Reduce DinoCountMultiplier to 0.6-0.8
- Limit MaxStructuresInRange
- Increase autosave interval to 20-30 minutes
- Deactivate unnecessary mods
- Restart server daily