The cheapest option is rarely the best. A server that looks good on paper can lag, crash or lack support when you need it. These are the six things that actually matter.
1. Hardware and CPU
The difference between a 2015 Xeon E5 and a Ryzen 9 7950X is enormous. Game servers, especially Minecraft, run mostly on a single CPU thread. Clock speed and IPC (instructions per clock) determine performance.
At HostValues, servers run on AMD Ryzen 9 7950X processors: currently the best-performing CPU for game servers.
2. RAM: shared or dedicated
Some hosts sell "shared RAM": multiple customers share the same memory pool. When it gets busy, you get less than promised. Dedicated (guaranteed) RAM means your 4 GB is always 4 GB.
At HostValues, all RAM is guaranteed. No overcommit.
3. Location
The distance between the server and your players determines latency (ping). A server in Amsterdam gives European players 5 to 15 ms ping. A server in the US gives 100 to 150 ms. Choose a host with servers in your region.
4. Support
Support only matters when something goes wrong, and then it is the most important thing. Check: is there a ticket system, what is the response time, do they help with game server configuration or just infrastructure.
5. DDoS protection
Game servers are popular DDoS targets. Check if protection is included and at what level. Some hosts offer basic protection that fails at 1 Gbps. Professional mitigation absorbs hundreds of gigabits.
6. Panel and features
A modern game panel (Pterodactyl/Pelican) gives you: file management, console access, automatic backups, scheduled tasks, database creation, SFTP access and easy version switching.
Is the cheapest host always bad?
Not necessarily, but extremely low prices (less than one euro per GB) indicate overcommit, old hardware or poor support.
Can I migrate my server to a different host?
Yes. Download your files via SFTP and upload them at the new host. At HostValues you can ask for migration help through a ticket.
Game hosting plan or VPS?
A game plan is simpler: nothing to install, you get a panel. A VPS gives full control but requires Linux knowledge. For a single server, a plan is faster. For multiple servers or a website alongside, a VPS is more flexible.
Check the game plans and KVM VPS plans at HostValues.
