Optimizing Performance for Your Space Engineers Server

Why Server Performance Matters in Space Engineers

Space Engineers is one of the most computationally demanding multiplayer sandbox games, requiring precise server optimization to deliver smooth gameplay, stable world interactions, and consistent performance across multiple players. 

Unlike traditional first-person shooters or real-time strategy games, Space Engineers uses a real-time physics engine, voxel-based world simulation, and intricate automation scripting, making server resource management the key to a lag-free experience.

At the core of server performance lies sim speed, a metric that determines how efficiently the game processes in-game events, block interactions, ship movements, and AI calculations. 

A well-optimized server provides:

✅ Real-time block updates and accurate physics simulations.
✅ Seamless multiplayer interactions without rubberbanding or lag.
✅ Efficient execution of scripts, automation grids, and voxel deformations.

Failing to optimize server settings, hardware configurations, and mod management leads to crippling performance issues, including:

❌ Severe lag spikes when large structures move.
❌ Desynchronization between players due to processing delays.
❌ Frequent server crashes from excessive AI pathfinding calculations.

Who Should Follow This Guide?

• Dedicated server administrators looking to prevent slowdowns and crashes.
• Gaming communities managing high-traffic multiplayer environments.
• New server owners setting up a Space Engineers server for the first time.

What You’ll Learn in This Guide

✅ Best CPU, RAM, and SSD configurations for peak performance.
✅ How to optimize server settings for higher sim speed.
✅ Mod and plugin management to prevent unnecessary performance drain.
✅ World cleanup strategies for long-term server health.
✅ Why Host Havoc’s Space Engineers hosting provides superior optimization features.

Core Performance Factors & Optimization Strategies

Optimizing a Space Engineers server requires a precise balance between hardware capability, software efficiency, and in-game configuration. Unlike static multiplayer environments, Space Engineers dynamically calculates gravity, collisions, voxel deformation, AI pathfinding, and ship movement in real time, making performance tuning a priority for stable gameplay.

Sim Speed: The Most Important Performance Metric

Sim speed is the single most important indicator of server health in Space Engineers. It determines how smoothly the server processes in-game actions. A perfectly optimized server runs at 1.00 sim speed (100% real-time performance), while a lagging server experiences drops below 1.00, leading to in-game slowdowns.

Impact of Low Sim Speed:

❌ Delayed ship movement and block interactions.
❌ Automation grids process slowly, breaking complex builds.
❌ Severe desync between players, causing teleporting effects.

Common Causes of Sim Speed Drops & Optimization Solutions

Use Torch Server’s Profiler Plugin to monitor real-time CPU load and sim speed issues, identifying the most resource-intensive scripts and grids.

CPU & RAM: Choosing the Right Hardware for Maximum Efficiency

Space Engineers servers demand high single-threaded CPU performance due to the physics-driven nature of the game. Unlike games that distribute tasks across multiple cores, Space Engineers relies on fast per-core processing speeds to handle voxel updates, collision detection, and AI behavior.

Best CPU Options for Space Engineers Servers

Key Takeaways for CPU Selection:

• Prioritize single-threaded speed over high core counts (Xeon processors are NOT recommended).
• Provide proper cooling for high-performance CPUs to prevent throttling.
• Overclocking can boost performance but requires active temperature monitoring.
• Recommended RAM Configurations
  • 16GB RAM (Minimum) >> Suitable for small to medium-sized servers (~10 players).
  • 32GB RAM (Recommended) >> Necessary for large-scale multiplayer environments.
  • 64GB RAM (Advanced) >> Ideal for heavily modded servers running automation scripts.

Use DDR5-6000+ or DDR4-3200+ RAM to improve data transfer rates and prevent memory bottlenecks.

Storage & Autosave Optimization: How SSDs Prevent Lag

Frequent autosaves and large world file sizes create I/O bottlenecks that increase server lag and slow load times. A slow HDD can delay autosaves, leading to game freezes, player disconnects, and longer startup times.

Best Storage Options for Space Engineers Servers

Optimized Autosave Configuration:

✅ Use a dedicated SSD for world saves to avoid bottlenecks.
✅ Increase autosave intervals to 10-15 minutes for better stability.
✅ Activate incremental backups instead of full world overwrites.

Server Software & Configuration Tweaks for Max Efficiency

Space Engineers offers extensive server configuration options that, when fine-tuned, can significantly boost performance, stabilize sim speed, and improve overall player experience. 

The key software tweaks discussed in this section include:

✅ Torch Server & plugin-based optimizations for resource efficiency.
✅ Simulation distance & block limits for CPU & memory load balancing.
✅ Mod & script optimizations to prevent bottlenecks and execution delays.

Each of these factors contributes to improving real-time calculations, reducing frame-time inconsistencies, and improving server-wide stability.

Torch Server: The Best Tool for Space Engineers Performance Optimization

Torch Server is an optimization tool developed by the Space Engineers community to address key performance limitations in the official dedicated server software. It introduces:

✅ Improved CPU load balancing, reducing performance strain from high-traffic scenarios.
✅ Automatic cleanup scripts that remove excess grids, floating debris, and abandoned ships.
✅ Real-time performance tracking tools for diagnosing lag sources and optimizing server behavior.

Key Features of Torch Server & Their Performance Impact

Implementation Guide: How to Install and Optimize Torch Server for Space Engineers

1️⃣ Download Torch Server from the official Torch API repository.
2️⃣ Extract the package into your Space Engineers Dedicated Server directory.
3️⃣ Activate performance plugins, such as:

• Torch Profiler >> Provides real-time sim speed diagnostics and lag source tracking.
• Concealment Plugin >> Dynamically reduces rendering overhead for distant objects.
• Auto-Cleanup Plugin >> Periodically removes floating debris and inactive grids.

4️⃣ Adjust simulation settings in the Torch configuration files to align with best practices.

Monitor real-time server metrics via Torch’s built-in profiling tools to track CPU/memory load and adjust settings accordingly for optimal performance.

Simulation Distance & Block Limits: Reducing Server Strain

Space Engineers servers process an enormous number of in-game calculations, including:

✅ Voxel terrain deformation updates.
✅ Physics interactions between grids, thrusters, and impact forces.
✅ Player and NPC movement, AI pathfinding, and environmental collisions.

By optimizing simulation distance and block limits, server admins can reduce unnecessary computational strain while maintaining gameplay balance.

Optimizing Simulation Distance for Performance Gains

Simulation distance defines how far the server calculates active physics interactions. Higher values increase CPU workload, while lower values optimize performance at the cost of distant object interactions.

Recommended Simulation Distance Settings

Adjust simulation distance dynamically based on active player count to maximize efficiency during peak hours.

How Block Limits Improve Server Efficiency

Excessive block counts per player or faction lead to physics overload, memory strain, and increased autosave times. Establishing block limits allows a fair, efficient multiplayer environment while preventing server degradation.

Recommended Block Limits for Optimal Server Performance

Encourage players to design ships and bases with efficiency in mind. Larger structures should use fewer individual grid elements to optimize performance.

Mod & Plugin Optimization: Preventing Server Slowdowns

Mods add unique gameplay features and customization, but improper mod management can lead to:

❌ Severe sim speed reductions.
❌ Unstable game behavior, crashes, or desync.
❌ Memory leaks and high CPU load from inefficient scripts.

How to Identify & Remove Performance-Damaging Mods

Common Signs of Performance-Heavy Mods:

❌ Unusually long world load times (10+ minutes).
❌ Drastic sim speed drops when specific scripts execute.
❌ Server crashes following major mod updates.

How to Optimize Mod Performance:

✅ Limit total active mods to 10-30, depending on server size.
✅ Use the Torch Profiler Tool to track CPU/memory impact per mod.
✅ Regularly update and test mods for compatibility.
✅ Disable unnecessary mods to free up resources.

Activate selective mod execution - disable unused scripts during low-traffic periods to conserve processing power.

Only use well-coded mods to avoid unnecessary strain on server resources. Prioritize performance-first mods that upgrade stability rather than overload processing threads.

In-Game Settings Adjustments for Maximum Stability

Server-side configuration is only part of the equation, optimizing in-game settings is required for maintaining stability and preventing unnecessary computational overhead. 

Space Engineers processes a vast number of in-game interactions, including:

✅ Voxel terrain modifications and deformations.
✅ Physics-based object collisions and thruster calculations.
✅ Real-time AI movements and cargo ship navigation.
✅ Floating debris accumulation and world clutter.

Without proper in-game optimizations, these factors accumulate excessive CPU load, increase memory consumption, and degrade overall performance over time.

NPC & Cargo Ship Adjustments: Reducing CPU Load

One of the largest contributors to unnecessary server lag is uncontrolled NPC and cargo ship activity. AI-controlled entities consume excessive CPU resources by performing:

✅ Pathfinding calculations for AI-controlled patrol ships and drones.
✅ Real-time navigation adjustments to avoid obstacles and collisions.
✅ Persistent AI routines that remain active beyond player visibility.

Symptoms of Excessive AI Processing Overload:

❌ Severe sim speed drops when AI ships spawn or navigate complex environments.
❌ Lag spikes when multiple AI-controlled cargo ships enter render distance.
❌ Increased CPU utilization due to high-frequency AI updates.

Recommended NPC & Cargo Ship Spawn Limits for Performance Optimization

Disable redundant NPC factions and manually adjust AI patrol zones to prevent excessive AI presence in critical areas.

World Cleanup: Removing Unused Grids & Floating Objects

Over time, servers accumulate an excessive number of inactive grids, floating debris, and abandoned structures, leading to performance degradation and increased memory usage. Without proper cleanup procedures, world file sizes increase, autosave times grow longer, and server responsiveness declines.

Consequences of Poor World Cleanup Management:

❌ Excessive floating debris causes prolonged collision calculations.
❌ Unnecessary object persistence increases world file size and RAM consumption.
❌ Autosave cycles slow down due to excessive data processing.

Optimized World Cleanup Automation Strategy

Activate automatic cleanup scripts using Torch Server plugins to remove unneeded grids and floating objects with zero manual intervention.

View Distance Optimization: Balancing Performance & Visual Quality

View distance settings dictate how far objects render on-screen, affecting server-side entity tracking and client-side GPU load. Optimizing this setting is required for reducing computational overhead while preserving gameplay immersion.

Effects of Improper View Distance Settings:

❌ Overly high values increase physics and rendering calculations unnecessarily.
❌ Overly low values cause sudden object pop-in and reduced visual quality.
❌ Servers with inconsistent view distances suffer from desynchronization issues.

Recommended View Distance Settings for Optimized Performance

Use dynamic view distance adjustments to automatically scale rendering settings based on player population density.

Routine Maintenance Practices for Long-Term Stability

Server stability isn’t just about initial setup, it requires proactive monitoring and scheduled maintenance to prevent long-term performance degradation.

Performance Monitoring: Tracking Sim Speed & CPU Usage

Performance Monitoring Tools

Host Havoc for Superior Server Hosting

Global Server Locations: Reducing Latency for International Players

Choosing a strategically placed server location minimizes latency, reducing real-time processing delays for players across different regions.

Host Havoc offers multiple global data centers, allowing server owners to select the best location based on their primary player base.

Built-in DDoS Protection for Secure & Stable Gameplay

DDoS attacks can cripple multiplayer servers, leading to prolonged downtime and compromised security. Host Havoc provides:

✅ Automated threat detection and mitigation.
✅ Real-time traffic filtering to block malicious attack vectors.
✅ Guaranteed uptime protection for uninterrupted gameplay.

Using a hosting provider with built-in security eliminates the need for costly third-party DDoS mitigation services.

Peak Performance for Your Space Engineers Server

Key Takeaways:

✅ Optimize in-game settings to prevent excessive CPU and memory usage.
✅ Schedule regular maintenance and performance monitoring to detect early issues.
✅ Host with Host Havoc for professional-grade server optimization.

Ready to build the ultimate Space Engineers server? Get started with Host Havoc today! 🚀