When it comes to gaming on your own server, the experience you have is only as good as your game server host. If you're playing on a server that's laggy or unstable, it can ruin the game for you and everyone else involved— and that's no fun at all!
That's why it's important to choose the right host for your needs. In this blog post, I'll discuss 5 things to consider when making your decision to ensure the best server hosting and gaming experience.
So, without further ado, let's get started!
What Are 5 Things to Consider When Choosing a Game Server Host?
When choosing a game server host, there are a few key factors you'll want to keep in mind to ensure the best gaming experience possible.
Here are the five things to consider:
- Server Uptime
- Customer Support
- Ease of Setup
- Pricing
- Hardware & Server Locations
Keep reading to learn more about each of these factors!
1. Server Uptime
Source: Pexels
The first thing you'll want to consider is server uptime. This is the amount of time that the server is up and running without any issues.
You'll want to choose server hosting services with a high uptime percentage to ensure that your server is online and available to play on as much as possible.
The last thing you want is to be in the middle of a game and have the server go down!
A good uptime percentage to look for is 99%, meaning the server rarely goes down.
Pro tip: Make sure to check reviews online and ask around to see other people's experiences with the server uptime before you commit to a host. You can also look into Reddit forums or relevant Discord groups for advice.
Here are some ideal features you can look out for:
- DDoS (Denial of Service) protection
- Hosting providers with money-back guarantees (they tend to be more confident in their uptime)
Having DDoS protection means you're safe from any harmful attacks from bots on your servers. A server host with DDoS protection will likely have higher uptime.
2. Customer Support
Source: Pexels
The second thing you'll want to consider is customer support. This is important because if you run into any issues with your server, you'll want to be able to get help from a knowledgeable and friendly person as soon as possible.
The last thing you want is to be left in the dark if something goes wrong!
Look for customer support that is available 24/7 and has a good reputation for being helpful and responsive. You can look up a server host's reviews on sites like Trustpilot to see what others think of the support they receive.
However, if a server host has great uptime and an easy setup, you might not even need to call for customer support in the first place!
3. Ease of Setup
Another aspect to consider when getting a game server rental is the ease of setup. You'll want to choose a host that makes it easy to get your server up and running with little to no hassle.
You wouldn't want to be stuck trying to figure out how to set up your server when all you want to do is play the game with your friends! Look for a host that offers step-by-step instructions or even better, video tutorials.
Pro tip: If you're not confident in technical setup, you should get a host that offers instant automated setup!
4. Pricing
Of course, you'll also want to consider pricing when choosing a game server host. You'll want to find a balance between getting a good deal and getting quality service.
Most game server hosts cost between $10 to $20 per month, depending on the type of game, server hardware used, and hosting provider.
Don't be afraid to shop around and compare prices before making your decision. It's important to remember that you get what you pay for—a cheap host may not offer the best service or features.
Pro tip: Look for hosting providers that have flexible pricing plans through custom plans.
5. Hardware & Server Locations
Finally, you'll want to consider the hardware options and server locations when choosing a game dedicated server hosting.
Hardware
Hardware is important because it will affect the performance of your server. Make sure to choose a host that offers high-quality hardware to ensure the best gaming experience possible.
The hardware you need is highly dependent on how resource-intensive your game is!
For example, in open-world games like Valheim, Minecraft, or ARK, you would require more processing power and storage. If you're going for older games with small maps like CS:GO, Left 4 Dead 2, or Garry's Mod, you'll require resources with lower specifications.
Here are some hardware options to look out for:
- RAM: Choose a host that offers at least 8GB of RAM.
- NVMe SSD Storage: Make sure the host offers enough storage for all of your game files and data. Having NVMe SSDs would make your servers run better.
Server Location
Server location is also important because it can affect things like latency and ping. You should know that not all connection issues come from your Wi-Fi problems!
If you're playing a game that requires fast reaction times, you'll want to choose a host with servers located close to you.
Depending on where you and your friends live, you'll want to choose a location that is close to most of your players to reduce lag.
If you have friends all over the world, you may want to consider getting a server in multiple locations to ensure the best gaming experience for everyone involved.
Wrapping Up
Choosing a game server host doesn't have to be difficult—just keep these five things in mind, and you'll be well on your way to finding the perfect host for your needs!
I hope this blog post was helpful. Happy gaming, and best of luck in your search for a game server!