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Originally Posted On: https://aleforge.net/blog/ultimate-guide-to-choosing-a-counter-strike-source-server
With thousands of people playing Counter-Strike Source at all times, it is no surprise you might want to get a piece of this action. Of course, one of the best ways to have the kind of experience you want is to invest in your own server. So, what should you bear in mind when taking this leap?
Below, we list some of the main things to consider when putting together a Counter-Strike Source server. Be sure to bear them all in mind as you look for the best server options.
Get Something With High Performance
The first thing you want to do is make sure you are renting a server from a company that offers a high-quality experience. You do not want to wait for a long time when a server restarts, and you want a fast connection at all times for all the players when the server is up.
CPU
You want at least a 1.0Ghz Intel CPU, although these days, such chips are ancient, so you can expect anything you install to be much faster. Even only last year, most CPUs had several cores, and each of them was at least 3GHz in power. So, this might not be too much of a concern unless you aim to install powerful modding tools that might increase the server’s processing needs.
RAM
To run any average server for up to sixty players or more, you will want to aim at having at least 1GB of RAM. As the average for high-quality gaming in any computer these days is 32GB, it is unlikely you will find a computer that cannot meet this demand.
Low-Latency Connection
The bandwidth of your server will always be in demand. More specifically, expect your upload bandwidth to be the highest drag. So, when shopping around, try to find a provider who can guarantee a silky-smooth low-latency connection with high upload speeds.
Stay Within Your Budget
Of course, when renting a server, picking up a high-quality connection will cost you money. Most servers have different options you can alter to match your needs, but more powerful servers will always cost more money.
When you find the exact stats you need, look at what is on offer from several places. It might turn out that your exact needs are cheaper at one site after increasing your demands.
Some of the things which might increase the costs include:
- Supporting more connections
- Increasing the CPU speed
- Upping the RAM
- Increasing the connection speed
- Asking for better live support
Some of the best offerings out there will offer non-hardware benefits, such as 24/7/365 support. As such, you will want to make sure you have the money to support the electronic demands of your server before anything else.
Ask Your Clan to Help
If you are a part of a larger group of players, such as a CS: Source clan, you could always ask them for help. If they want to use your server, you can always request a small donation each month to help pay for access to the server.
You might even find with the contributions of others, you can increase the server’s hardware statistics further. This will help give everyone the perfect experience.
Select the Right Number of Players
Depending on the type of game you want to have, you want to select the right number of players for the server. If you plan to play sprawling 64-player games, ensure you have the right amount of bandwidth for it. Also, find yourself a dedicated server that allows you to support this many players.
If you want to aim for smaller, more intimate games, such as 32 or 16 players, you can choose smaller maps and servers to support this.
Scalability
You do not always want to have the same size and settings for a server forever. Over time, you may bring more people into your community, or you might find people drift off to other games.
Because of this, you will want to find a server provider who can allow you to scale your demands over time. Ensure you can add extra slots, better hardware, or better bandwidth. Also, find out if you can reduce this if something happens to mean you do not need the same power later.
Can You Mod the Server
The CS: Source community has created many popular and valuable mods you might want to look into over time. Many of them can offer you stat recording, new experiences, or new maps for when you play.
To enable this customization, you will need to seek a server provider who allows you to make such changes. Some of them do not allow this level of interaction, so ensure you find a location that can help you.
Of course, modding a server might sometimes cause things to go wrong. Because of this, you will also want to find a server that allows you to create data backups. If a mod causes more problems than it is worth, with an excellent hosting service provider, you can roll your server back before you installed any mods.
Choose a Close Location
The location of your server can make all the difference in the world to your latency. This is because your data needs to travel across the Internet in the real world to the server and then propagate to all other players or vice versa. Although, you should remember you are not the only person who might log into it.
Consider the location of all the people in your clan. While this might often be people in the same country or global area, it is not always the case. You might be better off if you choose a location closer to more other players than yourself.
As such, look into the listings for any servers you investigate. You want to find a provider with servers in the best country to suit your group, if not your immediate area.
Can You Get High-Quality Support
There might be times when something goes wrong with your server. You can expect this to occur once or twice in the server’s lifetime. After all, computers sometimes crash, and data gets corrupted despite best efforts.
When the worst happens, you will want to know you have professionals waiting to resolve any issues. They should have the expertise to get your server back into pristine condition. Search for server hosts who can offer you 24/7 support every day of the year.
This is especially important if you are a group that runs a special event for Christmas, New Year, or any other holiday.
Security for your Server
The mention of hacking is prevalent in the CS: Source community. Lucky for you, the majority of it is limited to players’ computers. Still, it is better to be safe than sorry, and you will want assurances regarding the security of your servers’ connections.
Some examples of the types of things you will want to see in a professional host include:
- Distributed denial of service protection
- Antivirus software to protect your computer and your server
- Intrusion prevention protocols
- Regular system backups in case of data corruption
You do not want to spend even more money on such things. Ensure you work with a provider who can do all this for their core price.
Simple Interface
While you might have a good handle on powerful tools such as server console commands, you should not always be expected to. Instead, a good service provider should give you a well-designed UX for any user.
When searching for a good CS: Source server host, look for one who can allow you to get started with the smallest amount of fuss. You should have a good understanding of the ins and outs of your server without the system forcing you to do a great deal of learning to get started.
Good Customer Reviews
Of course, whatever a company offers might not be accurate. It would be best to look around to ensure you get what they say they will give you.
The best way to do this is to look for testimonials and reviews online. Do not only look at the article reviews and blog posts but also talk to your peers and find online forums with information about different servers. You want a wide range of different opinions before you lock into any decision.
A Better Counter-Strike Source Server
With all the above information, it should be easy to find good Counter-Strike Source gaming servers in no time. Of course, why go searching when there are some right here? Our servers are ready for you to set up a new dedicated space for online gaming as soon as you want.
Our servers can host many different types of games. So, no matter your gaming setup, look at what we can do for you. Sign up today and get your server set up within minutes.
