Understanding game servers can be tricky business. With all the various settings, it’s hard to know which configuration will maximize your server registration and make for the best playing experience. Fortunately, the pros over at NuclearFallout (nfoservers.com) have been kind enough share some of their secrets on how to choose the right game server for you.
The Basics
To understand server settings, it’s important to understand how your computer interacts with the game server. As you play, your computer sends little bits of data, called “commands,” to the server. These commands tell the server where you are and what you are doing (i.e. shooting, ducking, jumping, etc.). The server accepts and processes these commands and sends more little bits of data, called “updates,” back to your computer.
There are several settings you can configure on your side to manage the sending and receiving of data, but that is for another guide. This guide focuses on settings specific to the game server itself.
There are two major factors that impact a server’s performance and registration:
- Frames, usually referred to as “FPS” (frames per second, not first-person shooter)
- Tickrate
FPS is a measurement of how often the server engine processes “network frames.” Network frames are simply incoming and outgoing network events – the packets of data coming from your PC (commands) and the packets of data being sent back (updates).
Tickrate, on the hand, refers to how often the game server engine recalculates the world. Every time a “tick” happens, the server runs all the necessary calculations to decide where people are located, where shots have landed, etc.
What the Numbers Mean
Most Game Server Providers (GSPs) offer varying levels of “server quality”, usually centered on the FPS statistic. 250, 500, 1000 FPS — what exactly does this mean? How does 1000 FPS translate to better registration?
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