Dedicated Server FAQs
Get the facts on enterprise-grade hardware, gaming performance, and how to scale your infrastructure correctly.
What is a dedicated server?
A dedicated server is a physical server where all the hardware resources—CPU, RAM, and Storage—are 100% dedicated to a single user. Unlike shared or VPS hosting, you don't share a "bus" or disk space with other tenants. For maximum isolation and raw power, Liquid Web is our primary recommendation.
What is dedicated server hosting?
It is a hosting model where you lease an entire physical machine from a provider like InMotion or Liquid Web. They manage the hardware, power, and high-speed network, while you have full root access to the OS to run any application you choose.
How much does a dedicated server cost?
Prices typically start around $99/mo for entry-level enterprise hardware and can go up to $500+/mo for high-RAM configurations. You can see the latest 2026 pricing for Bluehost and InMotion on our comparison table.
What is a dedicated server Ark / in gaming?
In gaming (specifically titles like Ark: Survival Evolved, Palworld, and Enshrouded), a dedicated server allows a player to host a persistent world that stays online 24/7. Liquid Web's high-clock-speed Intel CPUs are ideal for these games to prevent "rubber-banding" and lag when multiple players are online.
How to run/host a dedicated server on Ark?
To host a persistent Ark world, you deploy a Linux-based dedicated server from a provider like Liquid Web. You then install the Ark Server Tools. Because Ark is extremely RAM-intensive, we recommend a minimum of 32GB of RAM for a smooth experience with mods.
What is a non dedicated server Ark?
A non-dedicated server in Ark is hosted on your local PC while you play. This has major limitations, such as a "tether" that prevents other players from moving too far away from you. Upgrading to a professional InMotion Dedicated Server removes this tether and allows for 100+ players.
How to set up an Enshrouded or Valheim dedicated server?
These games require a high-reliability network. Set up your server using an InMotion Hosting dedicated plan, install SteamCMD, and download the server files. Their 99.99% uptime ensures your world is there for your friends even when you are offline.
How much dedicated RAM for Minecraft server / Palworld?
Minecraft generally requires 4GB-8GB for small groups, but heavily modded servers need 16GB+. Palworld is notorious for "memory leakage" and requires a server with at least 16GB or 32GB of RAM to prevent crashes. Liquid Web's Custom Configs allow you to scale RAM up to 128GB effortlessly.
How to make/set up a Palworld dedicated server?
Deploy a high-RAM InMotion or Liquid Web server, install the Palworld Dedicated Server component via Steam, and open the required UDP ports. A dedicated IP (provided by all our partners) is required for players to find your server in the browser.
When do I need a dedicated server?
You need a dedicated server when your site traffic exceeds 100k+ visits per month, when your database queries become sluggish on a VPS, or when you are hosting high-resource applications like game servers for titles like Terraria or Ark. Check our full guide here.
How to host a dedicated server / optimize?
Hosting is done by selecting a hardware plan from an enterprise partner. Optimization involves choosing an OS (like Ubuntu or AlmaLinux), installing a lightweight control panel, and using a provider like Vodien (for APAC latency) or Liquid Web (for global performance).
Written by Prosun
Enterprise Infrastructure Analyst & Technical Reviewer
Contact: calligraphyeasy@gmail.com