If you’re serious about owning a gaming server, picking the right host is essential. With a good hosting provider, you can enjoy low latency, rapid load times, and smooth performance. This is where the Liquid Web game servers come into play.
Liquid Web is a popular choice for gaming thanks to its wide range of plans, powerful hardware, and flexible contracts. With a 100% network uptime guarantee, fast customer support, and trusted management services, it’s one of the best choices on the market according to my research.
However, with Liquid Web having so many options and types of servers, selection is tricky. So, the Cybernews research team and I wanted to help you make a decision quicker. In this article, I take a deep dive into Liquid Web's VPS and dedicated gaming server options.
Discover the best deals for both, and choose the perfect system for your needs.
Liquid Web VPS vs dedicated gaming servers: what’s the difference?
Whether you’re launching a small Minecraft session or powering a large‐scale Rust tournament, choosing the right hosting tier is critical. Below, I compare Liquid Web’s VPS vs dedicated gaming solutions to help you decide which best fits your needs.
Liquid Web offers 2 types of gaming servers, VPS and dedicated. It’s important you understand the difference to get the perfect balance between price and performance.
When you choose a VPS, you don’t get the complete server. In other words, you don’t get all the computing power. Instead, you get a virtual section of the physical computer, and the rest of the hardware is distributed among other Liquid Web users.
On the other hand, when you pick a dedicated server, you get the entire machine to yourself. This allows for full customization and generally better performance. However, acquiring a dedicated server is usually much more expensive than getting a VPS.
Liquid Web VPS game servers: overview
If you are thinking about using Liquid Web’s VPS game servers but are not sure if they are right for you, check out my overview table below to see if they fit your needs.
| Best for gamers who need | Affordability and simplicity |
| Typical performance | Great, but not as reliable as dedicated servers |
| Flexibility | Monthly contracts and customizable hardware |
| Pricing | From $5/month |
I recommend you choose Liquid Web VPS servers if you’re on a tight budget, just getting started, or want to experiment with game servers.
When you use one of Liquid Web’s VPS plans, you share server resources with others, making it a cheaper option. These plans can also include management and straightforward app integration, so setup is easy.
However, it is a smaller server and fewer compute resources mean more limitations. So, I suggest you check out dedicated servers if you’re a pro gamer.
VPS gaming server benefits
Pick one of Liquid Web’s VPS servers, and you get a plan that’s:
- Affordable: VPS packages start at $5/month. Naturally, for gaming, you’re probably going to pay more for better resources, but it’s a great starting price.
- Scalable: It’s unlikely you’re going to outgrow Liquid Web. With up to 8 vCPUs, 32GB RAM, 200GB storage, and 10TB bandwidth per server (on Windows managed), it delivers enterprise-grade performance.
- Root accessible: Using a VPS doesn’t mean you lose control or that others can see your files. You still get exclusive root access and user permissions to the virtual section of the server you’re renting.
- Flexible: There are six vCPUs, 10 RAM, nine storage, and nine bandwidth options (for self-managed). So, as demand for your gaming server changes, you can quickly adjust for stability.
- Easy to set up: The dashboard is user-friendly and a fully managed service is available. Plus, installing third-party tools is pretty simple.
3 best Liquid Web VPS game servers
Considering pricing, performance, and use cases, I analyzed Liquid Web’s VPS game servers. These are the three best and why.
1. Medium – the best VPS all-around with well-balanced features
| CPU | 2 vCPUs |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Bandwidth | 2TB |
| Starting price | $89/month, including full management |
| Operating system | Linux (included) or Windows (+$37/month) |
| Automatic backups | 50GB Acronis backups |
| DDoS defense | Layer 4 attack protection |
The Medium package is my favorite VPS gaming option with Liquid Web, mainly because it features what the average game server host needs.
With two vCPUs and 8GB of RAM, it handles basic multiplayer games and mid-sized Minecraft and Rust servers. Although limited, I believe that the performance is great considering the price.
If you’re a professional gamer or eSports team, consider upgrading to an Intel 6130 Dual for full hardware control.
2. Premium – the ideal package for the performance hungry
| CPU | 4 vCPU |
| RAM | 12GB |
| Bandwidth | 4TB |
| Starting price | $111/month, including full management |
| Operating system | Linux (included) or Windows (+$37/month) |
| Automatic backups | 50GB Acronis backups |
| DDoS defense | Layer 4 attack protection |
When you have a busy server, are running heavy mods, or manage high-traffic gaming events, Liquid Web’s premium VPS plan could be the perfect solution.
Including four vCPUs and 12GB of RAM, it can manage much more demand than the Medium package. It works great for larger Minecraft servers, Conan Exiles, regular-sized Rust communities, and mid-sized gaming events.
For high-traffic or heavily modded games, consider upgrading to a dedicated server – such as the Intel 6130 Dual plan – which provides more CPU cores, RAM, and bandwidth to handle intense workloads. Additionally, to mitigate latency caused by limited server options, choose a data center region closer to your player base or select a higher-tier network package that includes premium routing and DDoS protection.
3. Sandbox – the best gaming server for beginners
| CPU | 1 vCPU |
| RAM | 2GB |
| Bandwidth | 2TB |
| Starting price | $72/month, including full management |
| Operating system | Linux (included) or Windows (+$37/month) |
| Automatic backups | 50GB Acronis backups |
| DDoS defense | Layer 4 attack protection |
I’d recommend the Sandbox package to anyone new to game server hosting or those who want to avoid spending too much.
With one vCPU and 2GB of RAM, it can only handle the likes of Terraria, Stardew Valley, Valheim (for small groups), and Minecraft (unmodded). But it’s incredibly affordable, and you can upgrade any time, so it’s a great place to start.
If you need more performance or want to support larger groups, consider upgrading to Liquid Web’s Medium VPS plan (2 vCPU, 4GB RAM) or higher. That tier can handle games like Valheim for medium-sized groups, lightly modded Minecraft, and other popular titles with smoother performance. You’ll also get more vCPUs and RAM, which expands your gaming options and keeps latency low even with several players.
Liquid Web dedicated game servers: overview
If you are looking for top-tier performance, then Liquid Web’s dedicated game servers may be the right fit for you. Check out my table below for a quick look at what they offer.
| Best for gamers who need | Performance and reliability |
| Typical performance | Fast, robust, and reliable |
| Flexibility | Monthly contracts and customizable hardware |
| Pricing | From $39.50/month |
You should pick one of Liquid Web’s dedicated servers if you’re a professional or a hardcore gaming enthusiast.
With a dedicated Liquid Web package, you get completely private access to a physical server – only you can use its resources. Everything is more stable because you don’t have to worry about others limiting your resources.
That said, this better quality gaming experience comes at a cost. Dedicated plans are much more expensive. So, if price is a big concern, I’d recommend a VPS plan.
Dedicated gaming server benefits
When you choose a dedicated server for gaming, you can enjoy:
- Excellent performance: With up to 7.68TB storage, 48 4.1GHz cores, and 256GB RAM, Liquid Web delivers high-end dedicated hosting. It’s a great choice if you’re a studio, an advanced dev team, or run large-scale projects.
- Complete system control: You get more than root access with dedicated plans. You can install extra performance-boosting software because, unlike with a VPS, you have complete hardware ownership.
- Flexibility: With higher-performing hardware, Liquid Web’s dedicated servers handle more load and deliver better graphics. Plus, with monthly plans, adjusting your plan is easy.
- Guaranteed uptime: Liquid Web is so confident in its servers' ability that it offers a 100% network uptime guarantee. If your gaming server goes down at any time, the host gives you 10 times the amount of downtime in free credits.
3 best Liquid Web dedicated game servers
Looking at cost, power, and gaming ability, I identified Liquid Web’s most promising dedicated servers for gaming. These are my top three.
1. Intel 6130 Dual – Liquid Web’s best dedicated game server
| CPU | 32 cores 2.1GHz |
| RAM | 256GB |
| Bandwidth | 10TB |
| Starting price | $299/month, self-managed |
| Operating system | Linux (included) or Windows (+$148/month) |
| Automatic backups | 50GB Acronis backups |
| DDoS defense | Layer 4 attack protection |
Liquid Web’s Intel 6130 Dual is, in my opinion, the best dedicated gaming server because it offers the perfect balance between price and power.
Delivering 32 cores at 2.1GHz with 256GB RAM, it provides more than enough in performance. It works well in any large competitive game – ARK Mega Tribes, Rust Clans, Conan Exiles (full map), and large GTA V RP servers.
Luckily, Liquid Web offers managed hosting services, where their experts handle server setup, security, updates, and monitoring. Alternatively, you can use control panels like cPanel or Plesk to simplify server management through user-friendly interfaces.
2. AMD EPYC 7443 Dual – the plan with the highest performance
| CPU | 48 cores 4.1GHz |
| RAM | 256GB |
| Bandwidth | 10TB |
| Starting price | $874/month, self-managed |
| Operating system | Linux (included) or Windows (+$222/month) |
| Automatic backups | 50GB Acronis backups |
| DDoS defense | Layer 4 attack protection |
If you want a dedicated gaming server for resource-intensive and player-heavy sessions, that’s the AMD EPYC 7443 Dual.
With 48 cores at 4.1GHz and 256GB of RAM, it has the best-performing hardware among all the Liquid Web plans I could find. You can use it for FiveM RP servers, ARMA 3 modded scenarios, or even powering your own gaming server empire.
If you don’t need all 48 cores and 256GB RAM, you might save by choosing the Intel 6130 Dual (32 cores/256GB) instead – or even the E-2456 (6 cores/32GB). Also, If you’re hosting a handful of friends on unmodded Minecraft or a small Valheim world, a VPS with 4GB-8GB RAM is more than enough. Upgrade to EPYC 7443 Dual only once you truly need enterprise-grade CPU/RAM headroom.
3. Intel E-2456 – the most budget-friendly dedicated game server
| CPU | 6 cores 3.3GHz |
| RAM | 32GB |
| Bandwidth | 10TB |
| Starting price | $134/month, self-managed |
| Operating system | Linux (included) or Windows (+$37/month) |
| Automatic backups | 50GB Acronis backups |
| DDoS defense | Layer 4 attack protection |
The Intel E-2456 is a great option if you’re looking for dedicated server performance quality at a fair price.
It’s the cheapest of Liquid Web’s dedicated server options, but with six robust cores and 32GB of RAM, it's still powerful. You usually won’t have any problems with well-sized Rust, Valheim, and ARK groups, or with mod packs.
If you're expecting heavy mod usage or rapid growth, the E-2456’s 6 cores and 32GB RAM may fall short. As such, consider the Intel 6130 Dual for 32 cores and 256GB. For smaller groups of 20-30 players with light mod use, a mid-level VPS can save 40-50%. Specialized needs may require a custom or higher-tier dedicated setup.
Final word on Liquid Web gaming servers
Both Liquid Web VPS and dedicated server plans are excellent options for gaming. However, there are some key differences in terms of pricing and performance. So, you must consider your specific needs to find the best Liquid Web gaming server.
Choose a VPS game server if you don’t want to spend a lot or only need minimal resources for small lobbies and lightweight games. I recommend the Medium plan as it handles basic multiplayer games well and offers good performance.
Pick a dedicated game server when you can afford a premium-grade system and want the best performance to handle modded games, big multiplayer sessions, and demanding titles. In this case, I would advise you to choose the Intel 6130 Dual plan because it hits the sweet spot between cost and power.
FAQ
How much RAM do you need for a game server?
It depends on the game. For lightweight games like Minecraft (without many mods) or Terraria, 2-4GB is acceptable. But if you want to run Rust, ARK, or heavily modded Minecraft, you’re going to need at least 8GB.
Can I upgrade from a VPS to a dedicated server?
Yes, with Liquid Web, you can usually upgrade from a VPS to a dedicated server. All of its plans have monthly options, meaning you can switch deals at the end of the month for no extra cost.
Is bandwidth important for game servers?
Yes, bandwidth is important for game servers because downloads, patches, and multiplayer activity all add up, especially on resource-intensive games. Luckily, both Liquid Web’s VPS and dedicated servers offer TBs of bandwidth, so all its plans are suitable for gaming.
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