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Optimize Your Arma 3 Windows Server

Struggling with lag or performance issues? Let’s tune FPS and tickrate so your community gets smooth, consistent gameplay.

Start with CPU Tuning Optimize Bandwidth

Understanding FPS and Tickrate

Server FPS shows how many simulation frames the server completes each second. Tickrate is how often the server processes game logic and sends updates to clients. Higher values feel smoother but require more CPU and stable bandwidth. Your goal is a stable baseline (no big dips) rather than the highest possible spike.

1) CPU Affinity & Priority

Pin the Arma 3 process to a set of physical cores and raise its priority to keep simulation steady.

Windows (recommended)

Hex mask for cores 0–3: 0xF. Launch via cmd:

:: Start on cores 0-3, High priority
start "arma3" /high /affinity F arma3server_x64.exe -config=server.cfg

Or PowerShell:

Start-Process ".\arma3server_x64.exe" -ArgumentList "-config=server.cfg" -Priority High -ProcessorAffinity 0xF

Linux (for reference)

If you containerize or cross-run:

taskset -c 0-3 nice -n -5 ./arma3server
Tip: Prefer fewer, faster cores to many slow ones — Arma 3 benefits from high single-core clocks.

2) Bandwidth Optimization

Tune network vars in server.cfg to match your uplink. Start conservative, then raise while watching desync.

// server.cfg (examples)
maxBandwidth    = 204800;   // ~200 Mbps in Kbps units
minBandwidth    = 131072;   // ~128 Mbps floor (optional)
maxPacketSize   = 1400;     // keep under MTU
maxMsgSend      = 1024;     // messages per frame (balance CPU/net)
MinErrorToSend  = 0.002;    // lower = more frequent updates

Monitor with provider graphs and in-game diagnostics. If players see desync, ease maxMsgSend or raise bandwidth gradually.

3) Headless Client (HC) Setup

Offload AI and script-heavy logic to an HC to keep server FPS stable on large missions.

// server.cfg
headlessClients[] = {"192.0.2.10"};
localClient[]     = {"192.0.2.10"};   // allow HC to connect locally
:: Launch HC on Windows
start /high /affinity F arma3server_x64.exe -client -connect=SERVER_IP -port=2302 -password=your_password

4) Auto-Restart & Watchdog

Use a simple watchdog and schedule daily restarts during low-pop hours to keep memory fresh.

@echo off
:loop
tasklist | find /i "arma3server_x64.exe" >nul
if errorlevel 1 (
  echo [%date% %time%] restarting...
  start "" /high arma3server_x64.exe -config=server.cfg
)
timeout /t 300
goto loop

Hook this into Task Scheduler (run on boot, restart on failure). Add log rotation to prevent huge files.

5) Logging & Backups

Keep your logs and configs safe with quick scheduled copies.

# PowerShell — timestamped backup
$ts = Get-Date -Format "yyyyMMdd-HHmm"
robocopy "C:\arma3server\logs" "D:\backups\logs\$ts" /E /R:1 /W:1

Key Takeaways

Pin CPU cores & raise priority for steadier FPS.
Match maxBandwidth/maxMsgSend to your uplink.
Use Headless Client to offload AI-heavy logic.
Automate restarts & back up logs/configs.