Memory
Measured on an idle Sandbox server with a 21-addon Workshop collection (GMod 2026.09.17): about 175 MB in use. Players, props and big addon packs, DarkRP's above all, are what grow it, and the server is a 32-bit process, so it never uses more than about 4 GB however much the machine has.
CPU
srcds runs the game on one main thread, so a fast core matters more than many. Physics is the cost: hundreds of props, contraptions and NPCs are what slow a busy server, which is what the sandbox limits in server.cfg are for.
Hardware by plan
| Plan | CPU | RAM | Storage | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Players | 2 vCores | 3 GB | 20 GB SSD | $4.99/mo |
| 32 Players | 2.5 vCores | 4 GB | 30 GB SSD | $5.99/mo |
| 64 Players | 3 vCores | 5 GB | 40 GB SSD | $7.49/mo |
Disk
The server install is about 7 GB. Workshop addons download beside it, and a collection of 21 small addons took 236 MB; a DarkRP server with custom models and maps can take several gigabytes, which is why the plans grow to 40 GB.
Ports
- UDP 27015 by default for the game and the Steam query (A2S). The server tells Steam the port it bound, so the port players reach must be the port it binds.
- TCP on the same number for RCON, when an rcon_password is set.
- Port 27005 is the CLIENT's port, used by the game on the player's side; the server does not need it open.
Frequently asked questions
How much RAM does a Garry's Mod server need?
Very little to start: about 175 MB idle on Sandbox with 21 addons. Plan for 2 to 3 GB for a small server and 4 to 5 GB for a busy DarkRP server with a large addon pack; the 32-bit server never uses more than about 4 GB.
What ports does a Garry's Mod server use?
Port 27015: UDP for the game and the Steam query, TCP for RCON. 27005 is the client's port and does not need to be open on the server.
How much disk does a Garry's Mod server need?
About 7 GB for the server itself, plus your Workshop addons, from a few hundred megabytes to several gigabytes.