Maximize Your Arma 3 Server Performance: A Guide to Launch Parameters

Optimizing your Arma 3 Server is crucial for a smooth and enjoyable multiplayer experience. By correctly configuring your server’s launch parameters, you can significantly improve performance, especially when dealing with demanding missions and larger player counts. This guide will walk you through essential Arma 3 server launch parameters to help you get the most out of your hardware.

Key Arma 3 Server Launch Parameters Explained

Arma 3 utilizes several launch parameters that directly impact server performance. Understanding and properly setting these parameters is vital for administrators looking to enhance server stability and responsiveness. Here are some of the most important parameters you should consider:

Memory Allocation: -maxMem

The -maxMem parameter dictates the maximum amount of system RAM that your Arma 3 server can utilize. By default, Arma 3 servers are limited to 4GB of RAM. If your server machine has more than 8GB of RAM, increasing this limit can dramatically improve performance by allowing the server to cache more data in memory, reducing loading times and stuttering.

To allow your server to use 8GB of RAM, append the following to your launch line:

"-maxMem=8192"

Important Considerations for -maxMem:

• System RAM: Do not set -maxMem higher than half of your system’s total RAM. For example, with 8GB total RAM, do not exceed -maxMem=4096. For 16GB RAM, -maxMem=8192 is a safe value.
• Over-allocation: Setting -maxMem too high can lead to system instability and performance degradation as the operating system struggles to manage memory.

CPU Core Utilization: -cpuCount

The -cpuCount parameter allows you to specify the number of CPU cores that Arma 3 server will utilize. This is particularly important for servers running on multi-core processors, especially those with Hyper-Threading technology (Intel).

Intel CPUs (with Hyper-Threading):

Hyper-Threading allows a single CPU core to act as two virtual cores. To leverage this technology for your Arma 3 server, set -cpuCount to double the number of physical cores.

• Quad-Core (Hyper-Threaded): -cpuCount=8
• Six-Core (Hyper-Threaded): -cpuCount=12
• Eight-Core (Hyper-Threaded or Xeon): -cpuCount=16

Example Launch Line for Intel Xeon Eight-Core (Hyper-Threaded):

C:Program Files (x86)SteamsteamappscommonArma 3 Serverarma3server.exe" -port=2302 "-config=serverconfig.cfg" "-cfg=basic.cfg" "-profiles=configs" " -maxMem=8192 -world=empty -cpuCount=16

AMD CPUs (Generally Non-Hyper-Threaded):

AMD CPUs typically do not use Hyper-Threading in the same way as Intel. For AMD processors, set -cpuCount to the number of physical cores.

• Quad-Core (Non-Hyper-Threaded): -cpuCount=4
• Six-Core (Non-Hyper-Threaded): -cpuCount=6
• Eight-Core (Non-Hyper-Threaded): -cpuCount=8

Caution: Incorrectly setting -cpuCount to a value higher than your actual (or virtual in the case of Hyper-Threading) core count can lead to system instability. Always verify your CPU specifications before setting this parameter.

Process Priority: -high

The -high parameter instructs your operating system to prioritize the Arma 3 server process, giving it preferential access to system resources. This can potentially improve responsiveness, especially under heavy load.

However, use -high with caution:

• System Instability: On systems that are already heavily loaded or experiencing resource constraints, -high can exacerbate instability and potentially lead to crashes.
• Overclocking: If your system is overclocked, using -high might increase the risk of instability.

Only use -high if you have a stable and well-performing server machine and understand the potential risks.

Disable Startup Videos: -noSplash

While not directly related to performance, -noSplash is a useful parameter to skip the startup videos and advertisements when launching your server. This can slightly reduce server startup time.

Additional Basic Launch Parameters

The example launch line also includes other standard parameters:

• -port=2302: Specifies the server port (default Arma 3 port).
• "-config=serverconfig.cfg": Specifies the server configuration file.
• "-cfg=basic.cfg": Specifies the basic configuration file.
• "-profiles=configs": Specifies the profiles directory.
• "-world=empty": Starts the server with an empty world (useful for headless servers).

By understanding and correctly implementing these Arma 3 server launch parameters, you can optimize your server’s performance to provide a better experience for all players. Remember to test different configurations and monitor your server’s performance to find the optimal settings for your specific hardware and server load.