How to Optimize Arma Reforger Server Performance
Learn how to improve your Arma Reforger server's performance and reduce lag.
Arma Reforger servers can experience performance issues as player counts increase and scenarios grow more complex. Here's how to optimize your server for the best experience.
Key Performance Settings
Open the config editor
Go to Arma Reforger Config on the XGamingServer panel and navigate to the Game tab.
Adjust player slots
Lower player counts improve performance significantly:
| Player Count | Performance Impact |
|---|---|
| 1–32 | Smooth |
| 32–64 | Moderate load |
| 64–128 | Heavy load, needs tuning |
Set the max player count to match your server's resources.
Configure network settings
In the Network tab of Arma Reforger Config:
- Visible — Set to
truefor server browser listing - Bind Address — Leave as
0.0.0.0 - Bind Port — Your assigned port
Optimize the scenario
Some scenarios are more demanding than others:
- Conflict — Higher performance cost (AI, vehicles, large map)
- Game Master — Lower cost (no AI by default)
- Combat Ops — Moderate cost
Choose scenarios appropriate for your player count and server resources.
Manage AI count
AI entities are the biggest performance drain. In the Game tab:
- Reduce AI group count for scenarios with configurable AI
- Use scenarios with lower AI density for smaller servers
- Disable AI entirely if running a PvP-only server
Configure view distance
Reduce server-side view distance to lower the processing load. This affects how far the server simulates entities.
Monitoring Performance
Check server FPS
Arma Reforger servers target a specific tick rate. Monitor server FPS in Console — consistent drops below the target indicate performance issues.
Watch RAM usage
Check Dashboard for memory usage. Arma Reforger servers typically need:
| Players | Recommended RAM |
|---|---|
| 1–32 | 4 GB |
| 32–64 | 6 GB |
| 64+ | 8 GB+ |
Mod Performance Impact
Audit your mods
Go to the Mods tab in Arma Reforger Config. Each mod adds processing overhead:
- Remove mods you're not actively using
- Test mods individually to identify performance-heavy ones
- Keep your mod list lean — quality over quantity
Restart Schedule
Set up regular restarts
Long-running servers accumulate memory leaks. Schedule restarts via Schedules:
- Every 6–12 hours for busy servers
- Every 24 hours for lighter servers
💡 Tip: Start with lower player limits and gradually increase as you optimize. It's better to have a smooth 32-player server than a laggy 64-player one.
📝 Note: Arma Reforger's server performance improves with engine updates. Keep your server updated to benefit from Bohemia Interactive's optimizations.
See also: Arma Reforger Getting Started | Adding Mods
If you need help, join our Discord.
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