Best CPU For Minecraft Server 2023– The Ultimate Guide To a Kickass Server!

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Best CPU For Minecraft Server

Do you want to figure out what specs you need to set up the best CPU for a Minecraft server?

Need to know what kind of processor would be best, how much RAM you need and how many players can you easily handle?

Well, buckle up! 

Today is your lucky day!

I have bought the best of the internet for you. We’ll go through each of the requirements and help you figure out what you need to get that server up and running. 

But make sure to read till the end of the article, maybe I’ll convince you to tweak your requirements a bit 😉

Pro Tips before we get started:

Setting up a server is a little more complicated than just buying 16 Gigs of RAM and slapping it onto some old PC you have lying around. So here’s a couple of basic rules to get you started:

  1. Put in a little more than needed: Try to figure out as many things as you can that will increase the load on the server. This could be anything from the number of players to the OS you want to run. But even after that, just keep some extra juice because you never know. 
  2. Don’t go for overkill:  You could always add 64 GB of RAM, but do you really need to? Sure if you need 16GB minimum and you have 20 or even 24GB that makes sense. But no point in burning cash. Instead, use the same cash to upgrade something else.
  3. Don’t forget about the Mods: Maybe you are happy with the vanilla version, maybe you just want to add a simple Mod. Whatever the case, keep that into account when choosing your hardware.
  4. Be strategic: Yes, you need a high-quality CPU. But upgrading to an SSD from a hard drive will reduce server load times and make the server snap to life. So make sure to plan out your budget before you start spending the bucks.
  5. There are no threads: You are looking for high clock speed on a single core. Multiple cores won’t help because Minecraft doesn’t have multi-thread support. Unless you are going for a very complex Mod(s) and you expect dozens and dozens of players, don’t fret about the cores.
  6. Think Cool: If you have the right cooling setup, you could simply overclock your processor. Since that Clock is really what matters, this could achieve that smooth gameplay that players are looking for.
  7. “Limited by the technology of my time.” Yes, it’s better to buy a 10th Generation Intel over a 9th Gen Intel. But don’t obsess over the generation of the processor. It’s about the overall package. Just use that.

What sells like hot cake?

Apparently the following CPUs. So, before we set up the best CPU server for Minecraft. Lets’ have a look at what the market offers and what people love to buy. First, we will go through the most common options that you could use. And later on, compare them and decide what we actually want. Let’s see what these bad boys have to offer.

CPU Reviews

  1. Intel Core i3-10100
  2. AMD Ryzen 3 3200G
  3. AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
  4. Intel Core i5-10600K 
  5. Intel Core i7-10700K
  6. AMD Ryzen 9 5900X  

These are some of the top-selling processors in the range of processors that we are looking for. So let’s break each of them down and see what’s under the hood.

Top 5 Best CPU For Minecraft Server Products

1. Intel Core i3-10100 for a sweet Minecraft server

This is your basic 10th Gen intel desktop processor. But Intel has continued to add a 5-10% performance increase with every generation. So, it still packs a mean punch.

The CPU speed is a decent 3.6 GHz but it can be overclocked to an impressive 4.3 GHz. With a lovely 4 cores, this is a delight for playing any high-end games if you were just using it for yourself.

As a server, it has a really useful feature that the cooler is included. For someone who’s already planning to overclock it, this is an absolute necessity.

With support for Intel Optane memory, this is a deal we should gladly take. And at the price, it’s a steal!

2. AMD Ryzen 3 3200G for a mean Minecraft server

AMD is putting the heat on Intel with these machines. Starting with a base clock of 3.6 GHz and going all the way up to 4 GHz. This machine can handle a decent number of players comfortably. Not only does it have 4 cores. But with the Radeon Vega 8 Graphics card, this is a sweet deal and then some. 

Is that all? 

Oh, no. There’s a superb wraith cooler by AMD to keep your Minecraft server running at optimum temperature and top performance. Let’s not forget to keep our server ( and our heads) cool!

To top that all out it has support for the advanced AM4 platform. With a pretty decent price, it’s a good deal.

3. AMD Ryzen 5 5600X for an overpowered machine

AMD, the bane of Intel is back! AMD is truly bringing the game to Intel and here’s proof. 

This CPU clocks a sweet 3.7 GHZ with a hot 4.6 GHz max overclock. Add an AMD Wraith Stealth cooler and this becomes cool as a cucumber. When talking about building a great CPU server for Minecraft this is a comfortable fit. And its 6 cores could come in handy when handling a large number of players and some heavy Mods. Sure some people might call it’s 12 threads overkill. But one day you might need them.

Don’t forget about the massive 35MB of cache. That’s the closest memory to the processor, making it work even faster. It even supports PCIe 4.0 on X570 and B550 motherboards! Sure that makes it a little expensive, but aren’t all things in life like that?

4. Intel Core i5-10600K for getting your money’s worth

Intel 10th gen does not disappoint! Here’s another great choice to make the best CPU server for Minecraft.

Clocking in at a superb base clock rate of 4.1 GHz and going all the way up to a massive 4.8GHz. This beast with 6 cores is sure to get the job done smoothly. Intel Optane memory support is just another delight.

Another feat in its cap is that its compatible with Intel 400 chipset-based motherboards. (more on that later) 

I’ll admit, this machine is a bit expensive and there’s no way round to it. With a Wattage of 125 Watts, this beast burns a lot of fuel and generates a lot of heat. Not having a cooler might be an issue, especially if you want to overclock it. So that’s something you will have to consider before you bring home this bad boy.

5. Intel Core i7-10700K for showing off for CPU

 Coming to one of Intel’s finest masterpieces. This is definitely an investment for people willing to pay top dollar. The beauty has a massive 8 cores with 16 threads. With a sublime base clock rate of 3.8 GHz, it can go to a ridiculous overclock rate of 5.1 GHz.  Now that’s overclocking. 

With the built-in support of Intel Optane memory, this system can give better responsiveness and access information more quickly.

Not only that! With Turbo Boost 3.0 Tech it shifts the more important workload to your processor’s fasters cores. Thereby enhancing performance especially single-threaded performance.

With all these little add-ons it feels like a dream machine. Just add a Corsair iCUE H115i liquid CPU cooler and with some overclocking this will be pretty close to the perfect CPU for a Minecraft server.

Sure it will cost a lot, but you are getting your money’s worth with all those cores.

6. AMD Ryzen 9 5900X for melting the competition

This absolute BEAST from AMD was made to tear apart the competition from Intel and whoever else dares cross its path. With a mind-numbing 12 cores and 24 threads, AMD has left no holds barred. Starting with a base clock of 3.7 GHz and reaching the skies with an overclock rate of up to 4.8 GHz. This machine is made to handle anything.

With a 105 Watt minimum Wattage, you know that it’s going to be drawing up more energy with overclocking.

AMD promises that the Zen 3 architecture will give higher instruction per clock, a larger L3 cache, and lower latency.

AMD knows you are going to overclock this monster. So they’ve given you complete executive control with a UI that’s a dream to work with!

the AMD Ryzen Master Utility helps you track your PC’s performance down to the per-core clock rates while keeping an eye on the temperature.

Performance comes at a price! You might have to sell your soul to the devil to afford it. But I won’t judge you if you do. 😉 

P.s If you really want to go into the details of the specs of each of these options and see their benchmark Performances, help yourself. Here’s a great place to start:

Recommended Setup For Ultimate CPU Server for Minecraft

Before I reveal the winner, Make sure to think about these aspects to judge your Minecraft server build:

  1. Ease of setup
  2. Inbuilt CPU cooler
  3. Hard disk vs. SSD
  4. Power Consumption
  5. Power Supply
  6. RAM 
  7. Generation of the hardware
  8. Single-Core Overclock Speed
  9. Total number of Cores/Threads
  10. Operation system (Windows vs Linux matters!)

So out of so many options in the market, which one should you choose? Which one lies in that sweet spot of performance versus cost?

Which one will set you up for success without leaving you bankrupt?

And the winner is!

*Drum roll*

. . . . . . . 

Intel Core i5-10600K 

What? Am I biased against AMD? 

It’s not what it looks like . . .

Hold on just a second! 

Let’s start from scratch.

  • You don’t have to sell your soul to the devil to buy it
  • It’s 10th Gen
  • It has 6 cores
  • It has Intel Optane memory support
  • You can add a sweet amount of RAM to it
  • Add an SSD to make it run through the loading time
  • It’s almost $100 cheaper than the next best thing, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X.
  • Intel hardware has many more blogs and tutorials than AMD.

At the end of the day, you are building a server. Not just buying a new CPU for your personal computer. So you have to factor in the costs of everything else and compare the final Minecraft server build to get the Best server you can make in your budget.

Sure you will need to buy a power source, and get a cooler for the CPU. But you also get to overclock it and a large number of cores make its future proof. You can start with maybe 2 dozen players and a Modded server that runs like a Roadrunner. Build a reputation for having a kick-ass server and then grow the server as time goes by.

Also like I mentioned before, if you pair this with the right motherboard then this baby can run laps around the competition. Here’s a great option for a suitable motherboard: MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Plus Gaming Motherboard.

That’s it?

Not really.

See, I am kind of working with a couple of assumptions when making this recommendation. So let’s get them out in the open.

  • I kind of assumed you aren’t a major nerd. 
  • And haven’t worked with AMD hardware before. 
  • I also assumed that you aren’t going to make a server with a hundred players. 
  • You don’t have a CPU cooler or a power source lying around the house.

Of course, your preference could change given your case. Maybe you’ve been using AMD already and you are NEVER GOING BACK. That’s understandable. 

Maybe you live in a really hot place, and you have to buy the CPU with internal cooling. 

Maybe you sold your soul to the devil to buy an AMD Ryzen 9 5900X. That’s okay too. ( I guess)

Personally, If I had to buy something for my personal use, ( and I could afford it) I would definitely go for AMD. Sure there’s a lot of overhead that I just wouldn’t have to deal with if I just bought and intel. But that’s a personal choice. And this blog is about the best CPU Minecraft server setup. The Best has to balance value and cost. Convenience and reliability. Present needs versus the option to upgrade later.

Buyer’s Guide – Q/A

How to get something that’s out of stock?

Ask around. Maybe your local PC shop owner knows someone, who knows someone. Sometimes, there’s just no way around it. And you might have to work with the closest alternative you can find.

How to overclock your CPU to make it best suited to be a Minecraft server?

Well, that’s a tough one. Overclocking machines safely is a little tricky. You might have to go through quite a few blogs to get the hang of it, I recommend you start small and then monitor the temperature and other specs of the machine. As your experiments get bigger and your confidence increases. You can begin to take your PC to its maximum safe limits.

What is the ideal placement of the server?

You could always put it on the floor. But that’s not how the pros do it. Although a rack would be ideal, any kind of an open-air stand, even a small table will do. As long as the server is dissipating heat properly it shouldn’t cause any trouble. Make sure the wires are all tidied up and no one can disturb the server by mistake.

Where should you buy everything from?

 Your best bet is to try to find 1 vendor who can sell you all the stuff. Sure Amazon might have slightly better prices but it can be worth it to strike a deal where the shop owner. He agrees to help you get the hardware up and running and you pay a little extra. Now that is a win-win. Also, it’s a great way to save your time and learn from an expert.

Go big or go home?

 Some people might say you need to have space for 50 people on your server the day you start. I don’t recommend that. Yes, the CPU should have the capacity to handle more people in the future. But you don’t have to go broke trying to make a server for 50 people. Start with what you can and then see where it goes.

 Lag? What’s that?

No one likes a laggy server. Not even the guy who made it. So you better invest in a great internet connection and high-quality LAN cables to make sure the server gets the best download speed and upload speed. It doesn’t get more basic than this. If it’s not smooth as a baby’s butt. people leave.

Hosting and Other things

Where to host your Minecraft server? How much does it cost to host it? Those are real questions and need to be answered. Just not here, not today. This is a pretty dope guide for the hardware part of setting up the Best CPU server for Minecraft, let’s leave it at that.

All things, together

The tricky part isn’t getting the CPU right. It’s getting everything right. Here’s an idea of how to figure out exactly what you are going for and then you can come back to this article to figure out how to get there:

Conclusion

Look, we’ve talked and talked and talked. Compared and thought about selling our soul to the devil.

But here’s the deal: People set up this server for Minecraft to make a profit. And if you are reading this you probably are going in the exact same direction. So if everyone could stop being emotional about AMD vs Intel that would be nice, especially me!

Having said that. I need to accept that buying the RAM and the cooler will be costly. Don’t forget the motherboard and the power source. And don’t even get me started on the costs you forget to plan for. 

Take my advice:

Buy the Intel Core i5-10600K. Set it up with enough cooling to make ice feel cold. Give it enough SSD to get people addicted to the speed. Have an internet connection that makes you feel like the flash. And you should be on your way to making a profit in no time.

Bonus tips–

How to make your server into THE for best CPU for a Minecraft server in the galaxy!

  1. Make your own rules: that’s what people are looking for. There are literally too many servers out there for someone to try all of them. They just need to like one. And you can add engaging and interesting rules on your server to make them want to stay.
  2. MODS run the world: Well it wasn’t for nothing that someone invented mods and other people spent a ridiculous amount of time making more Mods. Mods add a new layer of reality and experience to the gameplay. Something which vanilla servers just can’t match. Play around a little bit and figure out which one makes the most sense.
  3. Keep your skin in the game: If you haven’t played Minecraft in a long time, especially on other people’s servers, are you really up to date with what is happening in the industry?
  4. Overclock, but don’t be cocky! : Yes it’s pretty useful to increase the clock speed. But never do it on all cores. Also when I say overclock I mean to do it within the safe limits. read up a couple of blogs and how-tos before you. Call in an expert if you need but just make sure your server is well cooled and doesn’t have a tendency to overheat.
  5. Stay real: You are spending a lot of money. SO you better be damn sure why. Are you a fan of the sport or looking to make a profit? Decide before you start and you will be able to optimize for the best results.

What does the internet say?

If you want a taste of what Linux techies have to say about this.

About the Author Michael E. Yates

Hi! The words you are going to read comes from me! A geek passionately and a writer of 5+ years professionally. If you ask about my likings, well, I love to tag along with upcoming technology trends. Though I also have contributed to many more technology sites through my writings. If you ask about my dreams, then one of them is finding an instant solution for every device malfunction, so I am creating a blog post. A blog post that will help more people like me. I, introduce thepcstuff.com the result of my hard work and patience. Do not worry, with me and my team behind the computers will make sure every vital information related to technology reaches all of you people. So, if you are ready to go on an adventurous ride with thepcstuff.com and me, let's get started!

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