Introduction

High RAM usage is one of the most common causes of Hytale server crashes, lag spikes, and failed world loading. If your server freezes during exploration or throws OutOfMemory errors, memory pressure is almost always the root problem. High RAM usage on a Hytale server matters because every loaded chunk, entity, and mod is processed server-side, consuming memory continuously. In this guide, you will learn how to fix high RAM usage on a Hytale server using proven configuration, JVM tuning, and infrastructure optimizations. These strategies can reduce memory usage by 40–60% while maintaining stable performance for 20+ concurrent players in 2026.

Quick Summary Box

• Lower view distance to reduce per-player memory consumption by up to 70%
• Set explicit JVM heap limits to prevent uncontrolled RAM growth
• Optimize garbage collection for large, persistent server workloads
• Control entity and mob counts to avoid memory spikes
• Use fast NVMe storage to reduce RAM buffering during chunk loading

Understanding Hytale Server RAM Requirements

Hytale servers handle world simulation, AI behavior, physics, and mod logic entirely on the server. Unlike client-heavy games, the server is responsible for every loaded chunk and active system. This design delivers rich gameplay but places heavy and continuous demand on system memory.

Each additional player increases memory usage non-linearly. When players explore independently, the server must load and retain separate world regions simultaneously. A single player generating new terrain can temporarily spike RAM usage by 1–2 GB during world creation.

Official RAM Requirements vs Real-World Usage

Official documentation lists 4 GB of RAM as the minimum requirement for a Hytale server. In real-world testing, this only supports 2–4 players with minimal exploration and no mods. Memory usage scales exponentially with view distance and player spread.

Server Type	Players	Recommended RAM	CPU Cores	Primary Bottleneck
Private Test	2–5	4–6 GB	2–4	View distance
Friends / Co-op	5–10	6–8 GB	4	Entity counts
Community	10–20	8–12 GB	4–6	Mod complexity
Public	20–40	12–16 GB	6–8	Concurrent loading
Large Network	40+	16–32 GB+	8+	Multi-instance overhead

These values assume optimized configurations. Default settings often exceed these limits rapidly.

Primary Causes of High RAM Usage

View Distance: The Largest Memory Driver

View distance determines how many chunks are loaded around each player. Doubling view distance does not double memory usage—it quadruples it.

Approximate memory usage per player:

• 12 chunks (192 blocks): ~300 MB
• 24 chunks (384 blocks): ~800 MB
• 32 chunks (512 blocks): ~1.5 GB

Many servers ship with a default view distance of 32 chunks, which is excessive for most use cases. Ten players at this distance can consume over 12 GB of RAM from world data alone.

Entity and Mob Overpopulation

Each active entity tracks AI state, position, inventory, and behavior logic. High-traffic areas can accumulate hundreds of entities if spawn limits are not enforced.

Servers with more than 500 active entities often see an additional 2–3 GB of RAM usage. Dropped items, custom NPCs, and persistent mobs are common culprits.

Mod and Script Overhead

Mods introduce long-lived data structures that remain in memory even when players are offline. RPG systems, minigames, and scripting engines often scale non-linearly.

Poorly optimized mods can double baseline memory usage. Custom NPC behaviors and persistent world events are especially memory-intensive.

JVM Heap Misconfiguration

By default, Java allows the heap to grow dynamically without strict limits. Without an explicit maximum heap size, the server can consume all available system RAM, triggering swap usage and severe lag.

Frequent garbage collection pauses are a sign of memory pressure, not insufficient RAM.

Step-by-Step RAM Optimization

Configure JVM Memory Limits

Always set explicit initial and maximum heap sizes using the -Xms and -Xmx flags. Matching these values prevents dynamic resizing overhead.

Small server (6–8 GB total RAM):

java -Xms4G -Xmx4G -jar HytaleServer.jar --assets Assets.zip

Medium server (12–16 GB total RAM):

java -Xms8G -Xmx8G -jar HytaleServer.jar --assets Assets.zip

Large server (24+ GB total RAM):

java -Xms12G -Xmx12G -jar HytaleServer.jar --assets Assets.zip

Always leave 2–4 GB of system RAM available for the operating system and disk cache.

Enable Optimized Garbage Collection

G1GC is the recommended garbage collector for Hytale servers due to its ability to handle large heaps with predictable pause times.

Add these flags after your -Xmx value:

-XX:+UseG1GC
-XX:+ParallelRefProcEnabled
-XX:MaxGCPauseMillis=200

For Java 25 and newer, ZGC can provide even lower latency on high-performance servers:

-XX:+UseZGC -Xms8G -Xmx8G

Reduce View Distance in Server Configuration

Edit your config.json file and set conservative view distance values:

{
  "MaxViewRadius": 12,
  "DefaultViewRadius": 8
}

This change reduces loaded chunks per player from over 1,000 to fewer than 200, cutting RAM usage by up to 70%. Increase gradually only after confirming stability under peak load.

Limit Entity Counts and Mob Caps

Add strict entity limits to prevent memory spikes in populated areas:

{
  "MaxEntitiesPerChunk": 50,
  "MobSpawnLimit": 100,
  "ItemDespawnTime": 300
}

Setting item despawn time to five minutes clears dropped objects quickly without impacting gameplay.

Optimize World Generation and Storage

Fast storage reduces the need for aggressive memory buffering during chunk loading. NVMe SSDs significantly outperform SATA SSDs in this workload.

Servers running on slower disks often consume an additional 500–800 MB of RAM as Java caches disk I/O operations.

Enable Ahead-of-Time caching to reduce startup memory pressure:

java -XX:AOTCache=HytaleServer.aot -jar HytaleServer.jar --assets Assets.zip

Performance Monitoring and Diagnostics

Essential Metrics to Track

• Memory usage: Stay below 80% of allocated heap
• TPS (Ticks Per Second): Hytale targets 30 TPS; sustained drops below 25 indicate issues
• Chunk load time: Values over 100 ms suggest disk or memory bottlenecks
• GC frequency: More than one pause every 30 seconds signals memory pressure

Monitoring Tools and Flags

Enable garbage collection logging to diagnose memory behavior:

-XX:+PrintGC
-XX:+PrintGCDetails
-XX:+PrintGCTimeStamps

Use system-level tools such as htop on Linux or Task Manager on Windows to monitor resident memory usage. The Hytale server process appears as a Java process with sustained CPU activity.

Tips, Common Mistakes, and Optimization Best Practices

Avoid Allocating All System RAM

Never allocate 100% of system memory to the JVM. Leaving no headroom forces the operating system to swap, causing severe lag and crashes.

Do Not Ignore View Distance

Keeping the default 32-chunk view distance wastes the majority of server memory on terrain players never see. This is the single most impactful optimization.

Avoid Outdated JVM Flags

Deprecated flags such as -XX:PermSize or legacy garbage collectors can reduce performance and stability on modern Java versions.

Test Mods Individually

Each mod can add 100–500 MB of baseline RAM usage. Test new mods in isolation before deploying them to production servers.

Schedule Regular Restarts

Even well-optimized servers accumulate minor memory leaks over time. Schedule automatic restarts every 24–48 hours during low-traffic periods.

Scale with Multiple Instances

For servers with more than 50 players, run multiple server instances on separate JVMs. Cap each instance at around 20 players with 8 GB of RAM and distribute players using a proxy.

FAQ: Hytale Server RAM Issues

How much RAM does a Hytale server need for 10 players?

A 10-player community server typically requires 8–12 GB of RAM with moderate view distance and light modding. Player exploration patterns affect usage more than raw player count.

Why does my Hytale server crash with OutOfMemoryError?

This error occurs when the JVM exceeds its maximum heap size. Increase -Xmx by 2 GB or reduce view distance and entity caps. Poorly optimized mods are a common cause.

What are the best JVM arguments for Hytale server performance?

For most medium servers, use:

-Xms8G -Xmx8G -XX:+UseG1GC -XX:MaxGCPauseMillis=200

Matching heap sizes and enabling parallel reference processing provides stable tick rates.

How does view distance affect RAM usage?

Each additional chunk loads terrain data and entities. Doubling view distance quadruples the loaded area. Reducing from 32 to 12 chunks cuts per-player memory usage from roughly 1.5 GB to 300 MB.

Can mods cause memory leaks in Hytale servers?

Yes. Mods with persistent data structures, custom NPCs, or chunk handlers can leak memory over time. Regular restarts and careful mod selection are essential.

Conclusion

High RAM usage on Hytale servers is caused by configuration and workload patterns—not inadequate hardware alone. Reducing view distance, setting explicit JVM heap limits, controlling entity counts, and using optimized garbage collection can dramatically improve stability. For public servers, balanced CPU performance and fast NVMe storage often deliver better results than adding more RAM. Apply these optimizations, monitor real-world performance, and scale gradually to maintain a stable and responsive Hytale server in 2026.

Published by UpbeatUptake.com