Arma Reforger Performance & AI Limit Calculator
Input player count, scenario type, and hardware to get recommended aiLimit, serverMaxViewDistance, networkViewDistance, and RAM estimate. Tuned to real Arma Reforger CPU/memory behaviour.
Server profile
Priorities
Recommended Settings
AI captures objectives in background — keep aiLimit >= 20 or objective logic breaks.
{
"game": {
"gameProperties": {
"serverMaxViewDistance": 2000,
"networkViewDistance": 1200,
"serverMinGrassDistance": 0,
"fastValidation": true
}
},
"operating": {
"aiLimit": 50
}
}Performance tips
- Lower aiLimit first — biggest CPU impact.
- Reduce serverMaxViewDistance — second biggest.
- Disable grass:
serverMinGrassDistance: 0. - Schedule restarts every 6-8 hours — memory leak mitigation.
- Audit mods — some add 1-3 GB RAM overhead.
- Keep server/client versions in sync.
Why Arma Reforger Servers Lag
Arma Reforger is a CPU-bound simulation. The engine loops through every AI unit, every replicated entity, and every streamed terrain tile on a single hot path — so two settings dominate server FPS. The first is aiLimit: every active AI burns CPU whether the player can see them or not. The second is serverMaxViewDistance: raising it from 1600 to 2500 roughly doubles the entities in simulation range. Mods are the silent third cause — a single heavy faction or vehicle pack can add 1-3 GB RAM and measurable CPU per tick. When a server feels like it is lagging, the order of investigation is always AI, view distance, mods, then hardware.
aiLimit Recommendations by Player Count
| Players | Conflict / Combat Ops / C&H | Game Master | PvP-only |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-16 | 80 | 150 | 0 (disableAI) |
| 17-32 | 50 | 80 | 0 (disableAI) |
| 33-64 | 30 | 40 | 0 (disableAI) |
| 65-128 | 10 | 10 | 0 (disableAI) |
View Distance Settings Explained
Arma Reforger exposes two view distance knobs in the gameProperties section of config.json:
- serverMaxViewDistance — the hard ceiling on simulation distance. Controls how far out the server actually computes entity state. Lowering this value is the second-biggest CPU win after aiLimit.
- networkViewDistance — how far entities are replicated to clients. This must always be less than or equal to serverMaxViewDistance; a higher value is ignored by the engine.
| Players | serverMaxViewDistance | networkViewDistance |
|---|---|---|
| 1-16 | 2500 | 1500 |
| 17-32 | 2000 | 1200 |
| 33-64 | 1600 | 1000 |
| 65-128 | 1200 | 800 |
RAM Requirements by Player Count
| Players | Base RAM | + High AI (> 50) | + Game Master |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-16 | 4 GB | +2 GB | +2 GB |
| 17-32 | 6 GB | +2 GB | +2 GB |
| 33-64 | 8 GB | +2 GB | +2 GB |
| 65-128 | 12 GB | +2 GB | +2 GB |
Add +1 GB if aiLimit is above 20 (and you did not already add the +2 GB for aiLimit above 50).
Performance Tips
- Lower aiLimit first — by far the biggest CPU impact on an Arma Reforger server. Every active AI burns a tick slice even when idle.
- Reduce serverMaxViewDistance — the second biggest CPU lever. Dropping from 2500 to 1600 roughly halves the simulation area.
- Disable grass rendering server-side — set
serverMinGrassDistance: 0to skip grass authority work on the host. - Schedule restarts every 6-8 hours — Reforger has known memory growth over long uptime; a rolling restart keeps RAM usage flat.
- Audit your mods — large faction, vehicle, or map packs can each add 1-3 GB of RAM overhead. Remove anything unused.
- Keep server and client versions in sync — mismatched builds cause desync and join failures.
FAQ
Arma Reforger Performance & AI Limit Calculator — FAQ
Is this Arma Reforger Performance & AI Limit Calculator free to use?
Yes, the Arma Reforger Performance & AI Limit Calculator is 100% free — no signup required, no hidden fees, no downloads. Everything runs in your browser.
How accurate is the Arma Reforger Performance & AI Limit Calculator?
Values are pulled from the Arma Reforger game files and community-verified formulas. Results match what you see in-game, and we update the tool when the game gets major patches.
Can I host a Arma Reforger server with XGamingServer?
Yes. XGamingServer offers instant Arma Reforger server hosting with mod support, automatic backups, DDoS protection, and 24/7 support. All popular game settings are pre-configured.
Does the Performance & AI Limit Calculator work on mobile?
Yes, the Performance & AI Limit Calculator is fully responsive and works on desktop, tablet, and mobile browsers.
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