Choosing a dedicated server is one of the most important infrastructure decisions your business will make. Unlike shared hosting or VPS, a dedicated server gives you full control over hardware, security, and performance — but only if you choose the right configuration.
In this guide, we'll walk through every specification that matters for Dutch businesses in 2026, from CPU cores to network peering.
1. CPU: Cores, Clock Speed & Architecture
Your CPU choice depends on your workload:
- Web servers & databases: Higher clock speeds (4.0 GHz+) with 8–16 cores — Intel Xeon or AMD EPYC
- Game servers: Balance of single-thread performance and core count — 6–12 high-frequency cores
- Compute/rendering: Maximum core count (16+ cores) — AMD EPYC shines here
- Dev environments: 4–8 cores with moderate clock speeds
Retslav's NL1 server features an AMD EPYC 7282 with 8 cores @ 3.2 GHz — ideal for most business workloads. For heavier needs, the NL3 offers 16 cores, and the NL409 Elite provides enterprise-grade EPYC performance.
2. RAM: How Much Do You Need?
RAM requirements have grown steadily. Here's a rough guide for 2026:
- 32 GB: Entry-level web server, small game server (Minecraft, Valheim)
- 64 GB: Medium web app, database server, multiple game instances
- 128 GB: Heavy database workloads, virtualization host, large game networks
- 256 GB+: Enterprise applications, data analytics, high-traffic platforms
All Retslav dedicated servers use ECC DDR4 RAM for maximum reliability — critical for production environments.
3. Storage: NVMe vs. SSD vs. HDD
Storage speed directly impacts your application performance:
| Type | Speed | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| NVMe | 3,500–7,000 MB/s | Databases, high-traffic web, game servers |
| SATA SSD | 500–550 MB/s | Web servers, file storage, backups |
| HDD | 150–250 MB/s | Archival storage, backups (not recommended for active workloads) |
Retslav's NL-series servers come standard with NVMe storage, ensuring your I/O-heavy applications never bottleneck on disk speed.
4. Bandwidth & Network Peering
For Dutch businesses, where your server is located matters as much as the hardware. Retslav's Amsterdam data center peers directly with AMS-IX, the world's second-largest internet exchange:
- Sub-millisecond latency to Dutch end-users
- Unmetered bandwidth on most plans (1–10 Gbps ports)
- Direct peering with NL ISPs (KPN, Ziggo, T-Mobile)
- Built-in DDoS mitigation at no extra cost
5. Managed vs. Unmanaged
Consider your team's expertise:
- Unmanaged: Full control, you handle OS, security, updates — best for experienced sysadmins
- Managed: Retslav handles OS updates, security patches, and basic monitoring — ideal for teams without dedicated ops staff
Making Your Choice
Start by assessing your workload requirements, then match them against the Retslav dedicated server lineup:
| Plan | CPU | RAM | Storage | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NL1 | 8 vCPU (EPYC) | 32 GB | 2×256 GB NVMe | Web servers, small databases, game servers |
| NL2 | 12 vCPU (EPYC) | 64 GB | 2×512 GB NVMe | Medium web apps, multiple game instances |
| NL3 | 16 vCPU (EPYC) | 128 GB | 2×1 TB NVMe | Heavy databases, virtualization hosts |
| NL409 Elite | 24 vCPU (EPYC) | 256 GB | 2×2 TB NVMe | Enterprise workloads, large-scale platforms |
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