Many people wonder how to build a gaming server at home. It’s one of the common questions because many gamers often wish to have one at home. There are many things that they can do with a personal server.
Unfortunately, having a gaming server can be expensive to keep. Both home servers or renting a server space can cost quite some money. Not to mention that it can be quite of a headache to control.
What is a home gaming server?
A gaming server is just as the name implies. It’s a server that you can use to store and run the game you play with other people in the same network. It’s similar to a gaming PC with less GPU speed and more processor and RAM speed.
Your gaming server must be good enough to hold a LAN party with your friends at home. You also can hold a bigger party that reaches many people worldwide. As you know, some games allow their players to build personal servers to socialize with friends.
Why you should build a home gaming server
The first and foremost reason is for you to customize the game the way you want it to be. As a gamer, of course, you know that some of the famous Valve games started as a mod from an established game.
You may not have the ambition to build a mod that will be as big as DoTA 2. But at the very least, you want to have a smooth experience while playing games with your friends. Nobody enjoys lagging or some interruptions as they play.
When you have a private gaming server, it means you are in control. You can limit the number of players and only have your friends there. You don’t have to worry about playing and cooperating with random strangers.
What are the specs you need?
One of the most important questions on how to build a gaming server at home is the specifications. The next question is whether your budget can hold the minimum requirement or you can afford some more. When you’re hosting the game, it means you are responsible for keeping the game in sync and running smoothly.
The specs you need for a gaming server are similar to a regular PC. But it has some differences. Mainly, the server needs to have a bigger processor and RAM. Keep in mind that your server needs to be able to run the game smoothly. So you have to constantly check with the game publisher to see if it meets the minimum requirement.
You will need at least 16GB of RAM to optimize the speed. The processor is at least a quad-core with 2.5GHz speed. You also need an SSD for storage, since your server will have lots of reading and writing activities. Anything lower will compromise the speed and eventually make the game no longer enjoyable.
To complete your home gaming server, you can install a Windows 64-bit OS or Linux for equivalent games. 64-bit OS means that it is more capable of handling multiple data at once. And that is something that a server needs.
Since this is the minimum requirement for a gaming server, you have the option to overclock or choose a processor with a higher speed. Of course, you need to match the other items such as the motherboard and PSU to keep it running.
You need to know that it’s not about getting the best individually. But to get the ones that are compatible with each other. Make sure that you do good research on each part to see if it’s compatible with other parts that you want.
You can use Windows 64-bit or Linux to keep your costs low. But as you know, not all games are compatible with Linux. You can install a virtual machine on your Linux but that will put an even greater strain on your home server.
What are the best games for a home server?
Technically, you can play all games that support multiplayer mode on your home server. But some of those games require specs that are much higher for a regular gaming PC. Sometimes, it’s not worth the effort to build a high-end gaming server at home when you barely know anyone who plays the same game.
Minecraft, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and ARK are the top three games that allow players to hold a private server for their games. The minimum requirements for these games are not that high. In the meantime, you can run a private Discord server to keep talking with your friends.
You can have as many games as you want on your server. Given it has enough power to support multiple games at the same time. But it is best to keep it to one game at a time, so you won’t risk breaking or causing a lag in another game.
Conclusion
A gaming server can be a necessity if you like to play with your friends and prefer to keep it that way. However, it can be expensive to build and maintain. Like other servers, you also need to do regular maintenance to keep your gaming experience top-notch.
When building a gaming server, you have to use the minimum requirement as a guide. It’s the minimum value that you should meet, but it’s best to have better pieces of equipment. Especially if you can afford those parts.
Now you know how to build a gaming server at home. It can be no more expensive than your gaming PC. But it’s best to aim for the best specs that you can buy. That is because a server has more strain than a regular PC.
Always check regularly for any updates on the games that you play. You may need to upgrade your server as well to keep up with the game. Another thing you can’t forget is to maintain and do a regular security check. Being a server means multiple PCs have access to it. And each PC possesses different risks to your data. Don’t forget to like and share this post! 🙂