Carl S.
If your Minecraft server starts stuttering every time players load chunks, you’re likely hitting a CPU bottleneck. There are plenty of ways to fix it without expensive hardware upgrades.
In this guide, we’ll explore proven methods to reduce CPU usage, from switching to optimized server jars to tuning your JVM and analyzing plugin performance. Whether you host on your PC or with WiseHosting’s optimized plans, these tweaks will make your gameplay smoother.
Quick Overview
| Method | Impact | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Switch to Paper/Purpur | 🔥 High | ⭐ Easy |
| Apply Aikar's JVM Flags | ✴️ Medium | ⭐⭐ Moderate |
| Update BIOS & Firmware | 🔥 High | ⭐⭐ Moderate |
| Remove bad plugins/mods | ✴️ Medium | ⭐⭐ Moderate |
| Use NVMe SSD & fast RAM | ⚡ High | ⭐ Easy |
| Use Optimization Mods | ⚡ High | ⭐ Easy |
How To Optimize CPU Performance For Minecraft Server
1. Use Optimized Server Software (Paper or Purpur)
The easiest and most impactful change you can make is to switch from the default Mojang server (Vanilla) to an optimized fork such as Paper or Purpur.
These versions are built by the Minecraft developer community to improve CPU efficiency without changing the gameplay experience.
They include:
- Smarter chunk loading and saving
- Better entity and redstone processing
- Support for asynchronous tasks (less main-thread blocking)
2. Use Proper JVM Flags (Aikar’s Flags)
Your CPU’s efficiency also depends on how the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) allocates and manages memory. Using Aikar’s recommended startup flags helps Minecraft’s garbage collector work smarter, reducing lag spikes and keeping tick times stable.
3. Keep Your System, BIOS, and Firmware Updated
It’s easy to overlook, but outdated BIOS or firmware can stop your CPU from hitting its full boost speeds or cause instability.
Make sure to:
- Update your motherboard BIOS
- Install the latest chipset and CPU drivers
- Apply firmware updates for your operating system
These updates often include microcode improvements that fix throttling, power management, and boost behavior, ensuring your CPU runs at its intended clock speeds consistently.
4. Remove Unnecessary Plugins and Mods
Every plugin or mod you add increases the CPU’s tick workload. Many servers run dozens of extras that constantly process entities, redstone, or player data even when they don’t add much gameplay value.
If you’re unsure which ones are slowing you down, use timing tools like Spark.
5. Use Fast SSD Storage and Low-Latency RAM
While Minecraft is CPU-bound, storage and memory speed still matter. The server constantly reads and writes chunks, player data, and logs.
- Use a NVMe SSD instead of SATA.
- Use low-latency, dual-channel RAM (3200 MHz+ for Ryzen 5000, 6000 MHz+ for Ryzen 7000).
6. Optimize View Distance and Simulation Settings
The fewer chunks Minecraft processes, the lighter your CPU load.
In your server.properties file you can change:
view-distance=6
simulation-distance=8
On Paper edit paper.yml file:
max-auto-save-chunks-per-tick: 6
7. Install Optimization Mods When Using Forge/Fabric
If you’re running a modded Minecraft server you can always install optimization mods for better performance. These mods focus on improving performance without changing gameplay, reducing CPU load by optimizing rendering, chunk updates, and entity behavior.
Final Thoughts
Reducing CPU usage isn’t just about hardware, it’s about efficiency. Switching to Paper/Purpur, fine-tuning JVM flags, cleaning up plugins, and optimizing configs can make your server run like a dream.
