Dedicated server hosting: when do you really need one?
With dedicated server hosting you rent a complete physical machine: all the processor cores, all the memory and all the disks for you alone, with no neighbours on the same hardware. You genuinely need that for a large game network, your own virtualisation with Proxmox, databases that write all day or business software that has to perform predictably. For a single game server or a small website it's almost always overkill: a game server, VPS or VDS gets you there cheaper and faster.
A dedicated server is an entire machine, and you're the administrator
You rent one physical server in a data centre. The host takes care of power, cooling, network and the hardware; everything from the operating system up is yours. You get root or administrator access and install whatever you want: a hypervisor, a web server, a game panel or your own software.
Important: a dedicated server is usually unmanaged. Updates, backups, firewall and security are up to you, unless management is explicitly part of your contract. A failed disk gets replaced by the host; a hacked account is your problem.
Game server, VPS, VDS or dedicated: the difference is in what you share
- Game server: you share the entire machine. Our game panel is based on Pterodactyl, which runs each server in its own Docker container. You manage the game; we manage the system underneath.
- VPS: your own virtual machine with its own operating system, but you share the processor cores with other customers. More on that in What is a VPS and when do you need one?
- VDS: also a virtual machine, but with cores, memory and storage permanently reserved for you. You do still share the physical machine, and with it the disks and the network connection. The difference is explained in VDS versus VPS.
- Dedicated: you share nothing. No hypervisor from the host between you and the hardware, no neighbours on the same disks.
When you actually need one
- A large game network. A Minecraft network with a proxy, a lobby and several game modes, or a few FiveM servers with a shared database. According to the Minecraft Wiki, a single Minecraft server typically uses three cores at most, and what counts most is speed per core. Twelve or sixteen fast cores can therefore run a lot of servers side by side.
- Your own virtualisation with Proxmox. Proxmox VE is a Debian-based platform for virtual machines (KVM) and containers (LXC), and for virtual machines it requires a processor with Intel VT or AMD-V. On a VPS that's only possible through nested virtualisation, which the host has to allow; without hardware support, the Proxmox wiki warns of virtual machines that are ten times slower, or worse.
- Databases and storage with heavy IO. A database that writes all day gains little from fast cores if someone else is hammering the same disks. On a dedicated server, the disks are yours alone.
- Business applications. An ERP package, a Windows server for your team, or tools where your customers require that nobody else runs on the hardware.
- Fixed cores without neighbours. A VDS gives you fixed cores; if you also want the disks and the network port to yourself, only dedicated is left.
When you don't need one
Let's be honest: most people searching for this don't need one.
- A single game server. A Minecraft server starts at €0.50 per month, a FiveM server at €1.75. Those come with a panel, backups and DDoS protection; on a dedicated server you arrange all that yourself. Not sure? Read VPS or game server: what do you actually need?
- A small website or a few bots. A VPS from €2.00 or regular web hosting is more than enough.
- You want fixed cores but don't want to manage hardware. A VDS starts at €28.00 with two fixed cores on a Ryzen 9 7950X3D and is ready within a minute.
- You don't want to be a system administrator. Then any unmanaged server is too much work.
What to look for in dedicated server hosting
Processor: generation and speed per core
For games, speed per core matters more than the number of cores. An Intel Xeon E3-1275 v6 from 2017 has four cores and reaches up to 4.2 GHz; an AMD Ryzen 9 9950X from 2024 has sixteen and boosts to 5.7 GHz, on a much newer architecture. So look at the exact model.
ECC memory
ECC memory detects and corrects bit errors in RAM. For databases, virtualisation and servers that run for months on end, that's real added value. The Xeon E3-1275 v6 supports ECC; with Ryzen, according to AMD, it depends on the motherboard. So ask whether the memory really is ECC rather than assuming it.
Storage: not every SSD is the same
"SSD" can mean a SATA drive or an NVMe drive, which is much faster over PCIe. The class matters too: the Proxmox documentation recommends SSDs with power-loss protection and advises against consumer SSDs. If you can take two drives, mirror them in RAID 1.
Network, IPv4 and DDoS protection
Look at the uplink and at your traffic allowance: fair use or a limit in terabytes per month. IPv4 addresses are scarce; the RIPE NCC, which allocates them in Europe, ran out of free addresses on 25 November 2019. If each of your virtual machines gets a public address, check how many addresses you get and what extra ones cost. And without DDoS protection, a game server is an easy target.
Management, delivery time and contract
Unmanaged means: installing updates yourself, making backups and storing them elsewhere, and locking the server down with SSH keys instead of a password, a firewall and only the ports open that you actually use. Also allow for delivery time: a dedicated server is set up for you, which takes days rather than seconds. Finally, check the contract term and one-off setup fees, and compare the total in the shopping cart, not the "from" price.
What MC-Node offers
Our dedicated servers run on our own hardware in the Previder data centre in Hengelo, with DDoS protection included, and can be cancelled monthly. The four models, with the prices as they currently appear on the store page:
| Model | Processor | Memory and storage | Uplink | From p/m |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECO-001 | Intel Xeon E3-1275 v6, 4 cores / 8 threads, up to 4.2 GHz | from 32 GB DDR4 ECC, 500 GB – 1 TB SSD | 1 Gbit, 1× IPv4 | €49.95 (on request) |
| CORE-001 | AMD Ryzen 9 5900X, 12 cores / 24 threads, up to 4.8 GHz | from 32 GB DDR4, 500 GB – 3.8 TB NVMe | 2 – 20 Gbit | €134.99 |
| PRIME-001 | AMD Ryzen 9 7900X, 12 cores / 24 threads, up to 5.6 GHz | from 32 GB DDR5, 500 GB – 3.8 TB NVMe | 2 – 20 Gbit | €186.87 |
| PRIME-002 | AMD Ryzen 9 9950X, 16 cores / 32 threads, up to 5.7 GHz | from 32 GB DDR5, 500 GB – 3.8 TB NVMe | 2 – 20 Gbit | €206.37 |
You order CORE and PRIME directly, with a delivery time of 48 to 72 hours according to the product card. ECO-001 is on request, with delivery within a few days. When ordering, you configure memory, disks, network and the number of IPv4 addresses, and choose the operating system, including Ubuntu, Debian, AlmaLinux or Windows Server. Note for Windows: the licence is not included. You can have Pterodactyl pre-installed. The exact monthly amount and the one-off setup fee are shown in the order step.
Honest advice on this list: the ECO-001 has an older processor with ECC memory. Fine for web hosting, a media server or a homelab, but not for a busy game network; CORE and PRIME are much faster per core for that. For CORE and PRIME, neither the product card nor the order step mentions ECC; if you need ECC, choose the ECO-001. And assume you'll be managing the server yourself.
Frequently asked questions
How much does dedicated server hosting cost per month?
At MC-Node, a dedicated server starts at €49.95 per month (ECO-001, on request) and at €134.99 for the CORE-001, which you can order directly. The PRIME models start at €186.87 and €206.37. The final amount depends on the memory, disks, network and IPv4 addresses you choose.
What is the difference between a dedicated server and a VPS?
With a VPS you share a physical server, and with it the processor cores, with other customers. With a dedicated server, the entire machine is yours. A VPS is cheaper; a dedicated server is more predictable and suited to your own virtualisation and heavy databases.
Do I need a dedicated server for a Minecraft or FiveM server?
For a single server, almost never. A game server package (Minecraft from €0.50, FiveM from €1.75) is cheaper and comes with a panel, backups and DDoS protection. A dedicated server only makes sense for a network of several servers that you want to manage yourself.
Can I install Proxmox on a dedicated server?
Yes. Proxmox VE needs a processor with Intel VT or AMD-V, and on a dedicated server you have direct access to it. Proxmox isn't among the operating systems you can pick when ordering, but the Proxmox wiki describes how to install it on top of Debian. If you want to give virtual machines their own public address, allow for extra IPv4 addresses.