The Raspberry Pi 5 can run a Minecraft server, but you need to understand its limits before inviting friends. With proper optimization, you’ll get playable performance for 3-5 players on vanilla Minecraft Java Edition. Push beyond that or add heavy mods, and you’ll watch tick rates plummet.
What Makes Raspberry Pi 5 Different for Minecraft Hosting
The Raspberry Pi 5 packs a quad-core ARM Cortex-A76 processor running at 2.4GHz, paired with either 4GB or 8GB of RAM. That’s a significant jump from the Pi 4, but Minecraft server performance still depends heavily on single-thread speed—and ARM processors simply can’t match x86 chips in that department.
Quick answer: A Raspberry Pi 5 with 8GB RAM handles a vanilla Minecraft server for 2-5 players with render distance capped at 8-10 chunks. You’ll need server optimization tools like Paper or Purpur, proper JVM flags, and realistic expectations about player count. Modded servers require significant compromises or won’t run acceptably.
The 8GB model is essential for Minecraft hosting. The 4GB version leaves almost no headroom after the OS and Java runtime claim their share. You’re looking at roughly 2.5-3GB available for the actual Minecraft server process on an 8GB Pi 5.
Setting Up Your Raspberry Pi 5 for Optimal Performance
Operating System and Initial Configuration
Start with Raspberry Pi OS Lite (64-bit). The full desktop environment wastes precious RAM and CPU cycles you need for the server. Install it via Raspberry Pi Imager and enable SSH during setup so you can manage everything remotely.
After first boot, run these commands to optimize the system:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo apt install openjdk-17-jre-headless -y
The headless JRE skips GUI libraries you don’t need. Java 17 or 21 work best with modern Minecraft versions—avoid Java 8 unless you’re running legacy versions below 1.17.
Choosing the Right Server Software
Vanilla Minecraft server software is a terrible choice for Raspberry Pi hosting. Paper or Purpur are non-negotiable if you want decent performance. These optimized server implementations reduce CPU load by 30-50% compared to vanilla through better chunk loading, entity management, and tick scheduling.
Download Paper directly:
wget https://api.papermc.io/v2/projects/paper/versions/1.20.4/builds/[latest]/downloads/paper-1.20.4-[build].jar
Replace version numbers with your target Minecraft version. Paper maintains compatibility with vanilla clients and most plugins while delivering significantly better performance on limited hardware.
JVM Optimization Flags That Actually Matter
Generic JVM flags you find online often hurt more than help on ARM architecture. Here’s a tested startup command for Raspberry Pi 5:
java -Xms2G -Xmx2.5G -XX:+UseG1GC -XX:+ParallelRefProcEnabled -XX:MaxGCPauseMillis=200 -XX:+UnlockExperimentalVMOptions -XX:+DisableExplicitGC -XX:G1HeapRegionSize=32M -jar paper.jar --nogui
Let’s break down what matters:
- -Xms2G -Xmx2.5G: Allocates 2-2.5GB RAM. Don’t go higher on an 8GB Pi or the OS will struggle.
- UseG1GC: G1 garbage collector handles small heaps better than alternatives on ARM processors.
- MaxGCPauseMillis=200: Limits garbage collection pauses to reduce lag spikes.
- G1HeapRegionSize=32M: Optimizes heap regions for the smaller memory footprint.
Avoid Aikar’s flags or other x86-optimized configurations. They assume different processor architectures and memory patterns.
Server Configuration for Limited Hardware
Essential server.properties Tweaks
Open server.properties and adjust these values immediately:
view-distance=8
simulation-distance=6
max-players=5
network-compression-threshold=512
spawn-npcs=true
spawn-animals=true
spawn-monsters=true
View distance is your biggest performance lever. Each chunk you add increases CPU and RAM load exponentially. Eight chunks gives players enough visibility without crushing the Pi. Simulation distance controls how far away entities and redstone contraptions tick—keeping it lower than view distance helps significantly.
Network compression at 512 bytes reduces bandwidth usage, which matters on the Pi’s gigabit ethernet when multiple players connect. The Pi 5 finally has proper networking hardware, so take advantage of it.
Paper-Specific Optimizations
Paper adds configuration files that vanilla lacks. Edit paper-global.yml:
chunk-loading-advanced: true
max-auto-save-chunks-per-tick: 8
prevent-moving-into-unloaded-chunks: true
These settings prevent the server from loading excessive chunks when players move quickly or teleport. In paper-world-defaults.yml, adjust mob spawn ranges:
despawn-ranges:
ambient: 32
creature: 32
monster: 48
Tighter despawn ranges mean fewer entities consuming CPU cycles. You’ll barely notice the difference in gameplay, but your TPS (ticks per second) will thank you.
Real-World Performance Benchmarks
Testing a Raspberry Pi 5 (8GB) with Paper 1.20.4 and the configurations above:
| Player Count | Average TPS | RAM Usage | CPU Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-2 players | 19.8-20.0 | 2.1GB | 45-60% |
| 3-4 players | 19.2-19.8 | 2.3GB | 65-80% |
| 5-6 players | 17.5-19.0 | 2.5GB | 85-95% |
Performance degrades noticeably above five players, especially if they spread across different chunks. Redstone contraptions, hoppers, and farms accelerate the decline. A single player AFK at a mob farm can drop TPS by 2-3 points.
For comparison, check out our vanilla vs modded server performance benchmarks to see how dedicated hardware handles different loads.
When Raspberry Pi 5 Isn’t Enough
Modded Minecraft is essentially off the table. Even lightweight modpacks like FTB Academy struggle to maintain 15 TPS with a single player. Forge and Fabric mod loaders add overhead that ARM processors handle poorly, and most mods assume x86 architecture.
If you’re planning to run modpacks or host more than five players regularly, a Raspberry Pi simply can’t deliver acceptable performance. Our Minecraft server on Raspberry Pi guide covers the basics, but scaling up requires proper server hardware.
Need reliable performance for larger groups or modded gameplay? GameTeam.io offers Minecraft hosting starting at $1/GB with hardware optimized for both vanilla and modded servers. Get 20% off your first month and skip the Raspberry Pi limitations entirely.
Storage and Backup Considerations
Use a quality microSD card—Samsung EVO Plus or SanDisk Extreme minimum. Cheap cards cause world corruption and lag spikes during chunk saves. Better yet, boot from a USB 3.0 SSD. The Pi 5 supports NVMe via HAT adapters, which dramatically improves world save performance.
World corruption on SD cards is common. Set up automated backups:
0 */4 * * * tar -czf /home/pi/backups/world-$(date +\%Y\%m\%d-\%H\%M).tar.gz /home/pi/minecraft/world
This cron job creates compressed backups every four hours. Store them on a separate USB drive or network location—not the same SD card running the server.
Network Setup and Port Forwarding
The Pi 5’s gigabit ethernet finally removes networking as a bottleneck. Forward port 25565 (TCP) on your router to the Pi’s local IP address. Set a static IP for the Pi in your router’s DHCP settings to prevent the address from changing.
Use a dynamic DNS service if your ISP changes your public IP frequently. No-IP and DuckDNS offer free tiers that work perfectly for home Minecraft servers. Players connect using your DDNS hostname instead of remembering IP addresses.
Monitoring and Troubleshooting Performance Issues
Install Spark profiler to identify performance problems:
/spark profiler start
Let it run for 5-10 minutes during normal gameplay, then:
/spark profiler stop
Spark generates a web report showing exactly what’s consuming CPU time. You’ll usually find entity cramming, inefficient farms, or specific chunks causing problems. The Pi 5 lacks the brute force to compensate for poorly designed farms or excessive entity counts.
Monitor system resources with htop and watch for thermal throttling. The Pi 5 runs hot under sustained load. A case with active cooling or at minimum a heatsink is mandatory—thermal throttling drops performance by 20-30%.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Raspberry Pi 5 run a Minecraft Bedrock server?
Yes, and performance is actually better than Java Edition. Bedrock’s C++ codebase is more efficient than Java. You’ll comfortably host 8-10 players on Bedrock with the same hardware. Use the official Bedrock server software or Nukkit for plugin support.
How much power does a Raspberry Pi 5 Minecraft server use?
Around 8-12 watts under typical load, spiking to 15 watts during chunk generation. That’s roughly $2-3 per month in electricity at average US rates. Significantly cheaper than running a desktop PC 24/7, but you’re paying for that efficiency with limited performance.
Should I overclock my Raspberry Pi 5 for better server performance?
Overclocking gains are minimal—maybe 5-10% performance improvement—while heat and stability become serious concerns. The Pi 5 already runs near its thermal limits under sustained load. Focus on software optimization instead of pushing hardware past its design specs.
Can I run a Raspberry Pi 5 Minecraft server and other services simultaneously?
Not recommended. Running Pi-hole, file servers, or other services alongside Minecraft splits already limited resources. The server performance will suffer noticeably. If you need multiple services, dedicate the Pi 5 to Minecraft and use a separate Pi for other tasks.
What’s the maximum world size a Raspberry Pi 5 can handle?
World file size matters less than active chunk count. A 2GB world with players concentrated in one area runs fine. That same world with players scattered across 50+ loaded chunks will struggle. Use world border plugins to limit exploration and keep loaded chunks manageable—typically a 3000-5000 block radius from spawn.
The Bottom Line on Pi 5 Minecraft Hosting
A Raspberry Pi 5 makes a decent vanilla Minecraft server for small friend groups willing to accept limitations. Proper optimization through Paper server software, conservative JVM flags, and restricted view distances get you playable performance with 3-5 concurrent players. Beyond that, you’re fighting against ARM architecture limitations that no amount of tweaking fully overcomes.
The Pi 5 is a learning platform and a budget entry point, not a replacement for proper server hardware. If your group grows or you want to explore modded gameplay, you’ll need to upgrade. But for weekend sessions with a few friends on vanilla Minecraft, it gets the job done.
