Dedicated Streaming Servers

What bandwidth do I need for streaming dedicated servers?

Bandwidth requirements depend on video quality and viewer count. For 720p, allocate 2-4 Mbps per viewer. For 1080p, plan for 4-6 Mbps per viewer. For 4K content, expect 15-25 Mbps per viewer according to YouTube recommendations. Calculate total bandwidth by multiplying bitrate by concurrent viewers, then add 20% buffer. Example: 500 concurrent 1080p viewers need approximately 3 Gbps (5 Mbps × 500 × 1.2).

How much RAM and CPU do I need for video streaming servers?

For basic operations (up to 100 viewers), 8GB RAM and 4 CPU cores suffice. Medium traffic (100-500 viewers) requires 16-32GB RAM and 8-16 cores. High traffic (500-2000 viewers) needs 64GB+ RAM and 16-24 cores. For transcoding multiple bitrates or 4K content as recommended by FFmpeg documentation, opt for 128GB+ RAM and 24+ cores with high clock speeds. Our Intel Xeon processors handle video encoding efficiently.

What's the difference between streaming dedicated servers and shared hosting?

Dedicated servers provide exclusive CPU, RAM, storage, and network resources, while shared hosting divides resources among multiple users. Dedicated infrastructure offers guaranteed bandwidth, zero resource contention, private network ports, and consistent performance crucial for live broadcasts. Shared hosting cannot handle high concurrent viewers or bandwidth intensive media delivery, often resulting in buffering and interruptions.

How do I calculate bandwidth requirements for my streaming audience?

Use this formula recommended by broadcast engineers: Total Bandwidth = (Video Bitrate × Concurrent Viewers) + 20% Buffer. Example: 1000 viewers at 1080p 5Mbps = 5 × 1000 × 1.2 = 6 Gbps. For adaptive bitrate (ABR) with multiple quality options, calculate each tier separately. 720p (3Mbps) for 40% viewers + 1080p (5Mbps) for 60% = (3 × 400 × 1.2) + (5 × 600 × 1.2) = 5.04 Gbps total.

What storage type is best for streaming servers SSD vs HDD?

NVMe SSD is best for media servers due to superior read speeds essential for smooth video delivery. NVMe provides 3000-7000 MB/s versus HDD 100-200 MB/s according to storage benchmarks, crucial for serving multiple concurrent video feeds. Use NVMe SSD for live broadcasts and frequently accessed VOD content. Standard SATA SSD works for moderate traffic. HDD is only suitable for archival storage or low traffic libraries where cost matters more than performance.

How much does a streaming dedicated server cost?

Streaming dedicated server costs vary based on several factors including CPU cores, RAM capacity, storage type (NVMe SSD vs HDD), network speed (1Gbps vs 10Gbps), bandwidth allocation (metered vs unmetered), server location, and whether you need managed services. Entry level servers suitable for smaller audiences cost less than high performance configurations designed for thousands of concurrent viewers and 4K transcoding. Additional factors affecting price include DDoS protection levels, number of IP addresses, and custom hardware requirements. Check our current pricing plans above for specific configurations and costs.

What factors affect streaming dedicated server pricing?

Several key factors influence streaming server pricing. The number of CPU cores and amount of RAM are primary cost drivers, with more powerful processors and larger memory allocations commanding higher prices. Storage type significantly impacts cost, as NVMe SSDs are considerably more expensive than traditional HDDs but offer superior performance for media delivery. Network capabilities also affect pricing, with 10Gbps connections costing substantially more than 1Gbps ports, and unmetered bandwidth plans carrying a premium over metered options. Geographic location plays a role, as data center costs vary across European regions. Additional services like managed support, advanced DDoS protection, and extra IP addresses will increase the overall monthly cost.

Is a dedicated server worth it for streaming vs cloud hosting?

Dedicated servers become cost effective as your streaming audience grows, particularly with high concurrent viewers or significant bandwidth usage. Cloud hosting charges per gigabyte transferred, leading to unpredictable costs during traffic spikes. Dedicated servers with unmetered bandwidth offer fixed monthly pricing and superior performance consistency with guaranteed resources. For serious streaming platforms planning for growth, dedicated infrastructure eliminates surprise billing while maintaining professional grade reliability.

How do I scale my streaming dedicated server for more viewers?

Vertical scaling: Upgrade to higher tier server with more cores, RAM, and bandwidth. Horizontal scaling: Deploy multiple servers with load balancing per NGINX best practices to distribute viewer connections. Use CDN integration to offload bandwidth. Implement origin edge architecture where dedicated server acts as origin, CDN handles delivery to viewers. For 5000+ viewers, consider multi server setup with dedicated encoding servers, origin servers, and CDN for global distribution.

When should I upgrade from VPS to dedicated server for streaming?

Upgrade when you consistently exceed 200 concurrent viewers as recommended by capacity planning experts, experience buffering during peak hours, need guaranteed bandwidth above 500 Mbps, require transcoding for multiple quality options per HLS specifications, or face resource throttling on VPS. Other indicators include monthly traffic exceeding 10TB, need for dedicated IP blocks, requiring physical security for content, or when VPS costs approach 70% of dedicated server pricing.

Can I handle sudden traffic spikes with streaming dedicated servers?

Yes, dedicated servers handle traffic spikes better than VPS due to dedicated resources per Cloudflare load testing data. Our 10Gbps unmetered connections support burst traffic without throttling. For protection against extreme spikes, implement CDN caching, enable adaptive bitrate (ABR) per Apple HLS guidelines, configure connection limits, and use our DDoS protection. Dedicated servers with 10Gbps can handle 2000+ concurrent 1080p viewers or 10000+ concurrent 720p viewers during spikes.

In summary, dedicated servers are the optimal choice for broadcasting businesses requiring maximum performance, unmetered bandwidth, low latency delivery, and the ability to handle thousands of concurrent viewers. Our European infrastructure provides the perfect combination of power, connectivity, and reliability for professional live broadcast operations.