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ARK: Survival Ascended

Dino Survival · Open World · Studio Wildcard

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ASA Server RAM: How Much Does ARK Survival Ascended Need?

How much RAM does an ASA server need? 16 GB minimum per map, 32 GB recommended, 48–64 GB for clusters — plus app ID, disk needs and all maps as of 2026.

Last updated July 20, 2026 · RespawnHost

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How much RAM does an ASA server need?

For an ARK: Survival Ascended dedicated server the numbers are: 16 GB RAM minimum per map (the server process uses around 10 GB, plus the operating system), 32 GB recommended for comfortable operation with mods and more players, and 48–64 GB for a two-map cluster. Studio Wildcard publishes no official minimum — these figures are community consensus from real-world operation.

Note

All RAM figures in this article are community experience, not an official spec sheet. Depending on map, mod load and player count, your server may land above or below them.

RAM recommendations at a glance

SetupRAM
One map, vanilla, small group16 GB (minimum; the server uses ~10 GB)
One map, mods / more players32 GB (recommended)
Cluster with 2 maps48–64 GB

Besides RAM, single-core performance matters most — the server’s main tick runs on one thread. Details on the rest of the hardware are in the hub article.

How much disk does the installation need?

The download via SteamCMD (dedicated server app ID 2430930) is a surprisingly lean ~11 GiB. Still budget 20–30 GB: save files, logs and mods keep growing during operation.

Which maps exist in 2026 — and what do they cost?

The map catalog has grown considerably since 2025 (as of July 2026):

MapReleasePrice
Ragnarok AscendedJune 19, 2025Free
Valguero Ascended (with Megaraptor)October 7, 2025Free
Lost ColonyDecember 19, 2025Paid ($29.99)
Pyranthos (Astraeos desert)February 25, 2026—
Genesis 1 remaster (“Tides of Fortune”)July 3, 2026— (newest map)

On top of that, the May 20, 2026 content update brought the Araneo TLC and the Burrowbuck. Every additional map you run in parallel is its own server process — and needs its own RAM budget (see the cluster row above).

Warning

Don't plan RAM to the edge: once the server hits its memory limit, load and save times climb first, then the process crashes — worst case in the middle of your group's boss fight.

What do I host an ASA server on?

ASA game servers can’t be rented from third-party hosts (exclusive server licensing, details in the hub article). The route for your own server is self-hosting: a RespawnHost Windows VPS with at least 16 GB RAM, set up following the install guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is 8 GB of RAM enough for an ASA server? No. The server process alone uses around 10 GB per map — below 16 GB total RAM, operation becomes unstable.

How much RAM does a two-map cluster need? Community consensus: 48–64 GB. Each map runs as its own process with its own memory footprint.

What’s the app ID of the ASA dedicated server? 2430930 on SteamCMD. (The old ARK Survival Evolved server is listed separately under 376030.)

Are the new maps free? Ragnarok Ascended and Valguero Ascended are free; Lost Colony is a paid map ($29.99). The Genesis 1 remaster arrived on July 3, 2026 as the newest map so far.