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How to Host a Create Modpack With Friends (Above and Beyond, Astral)
Create-based packs (Create: Above and Beyond, Create: Astral, Create: New Age and friends) are gorgeous mechanical-engineering sandboxes — and their performance story is different from a kitchen-sink pack. The bottleneck isn't usually RAM; it's the per-tick CPU cost of large moving contraptions.
Why Create packs behave differently
Every moving contraption, rotating shaft and belt is simulated each tick. A few players each running big factories will load a single CPU core long before they run the server out of memory. So you tune for CPU headroom and sane builds, not just a big RAM number.
How much RAM does a Create modpack need?
| Players | Recommended server RAM | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1–4 | 6 GB | Most Create packs are mid-weight. |
| 5–8 | 8–10 GB | Comfortable for a building-focused group. |
| 9–12 | 10–12 GB | Watch contraption count more than RAM. |
| 12+ | 12 GB+ | CPU per-tick is your real ceiling. |
Setup steps
- Pick a plan with 8 GB RAM as a sensible default for a group.
- Install your Create pack (Above and Beyond, Astral, etc.) or paste the CurseForge/Modrinth pack.
- MineXEngine detects the loader (Forge or Fabric depending on the pack) and the right Java version automatically.
- Set a modest view-distance and start the server.
- Agree on build etiquette with your crew — clutched-off idle contraptions and reasonable factory sizes keep ticks healthy.
Common Create-server problems
- Tick lag from huge contraptions — clutch idle machines, split big factories, and avoid enormous always-moving builds.
- Loader confusion — Create packs ship on both Forge and Fabric; let the engine detect rather than guessing the wrong one.
- Version mismatch — Create's versions are tightly coupled; keep server and clients identical.
- Chunk-loading sprawl — limit always-loaded factory chunks per player.
MineXHost runs Create-based packs on MineXEngine — our launcher auto-detects the modpack, picks the right Minecraft loader and Java version, tunes the JVM for your RAM, and auto-recovers from the crashes that normally end a modded server's evening. Pick your RAM, paste the pack, and play.
See hosting plansFrequently asked questions
How much RAM does a Create modpack server need?
6 GB suits 1–4 players and 8–10 GB covers most groups of 5–8. Create packs are usually mid-weight on memory — the real limit is CPU per-tick from large moving contraptions.
Why does my Create server lag even with plenty of RAM?
Create simulates every moving contraption each tick. A few huge or always-on builds load a single CPU core regardless of free memory. Clutch idle machines and keep factory sizes reasonable.