> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.freakhosting.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to Optimize for High Player Counts in GMod

> Tune your server for 60+ players. Learn how to optimize networking rates, physics iterations, and tickrate for high-population GMod communities.

## Technical Performance Scaling

Scaling a Garry's Mod server to support 100+ simultaneous players requires a strategic departure from standard out-of-the-box settings. To maintain a smooth experience, you must optimize how the Source engine calculates physics and how data packets are distributed across the network. By reducing collision precision and widening your network "pipes," you can significantly mitigate server-side "Hitching" and improve synchronization for players with high-latency connections.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Difficulty" icon="gauge-low">
    Intermediate
  </Card>

  <Card title="Time" icon="clock">
    7 Minutes
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

***

## Step 1: Strategic Networking Rates

High-capacity servers require increased bandwidth thresholds to prevent packet loss during intense gameplay events. Append these variables to your `server.cfg`.

```cfg theme={null}
sv_minrate 35000            // Enforces a minimum 35kbps bandwidth per client
sv_maxrate 0                // Allows for unlimited maximum bandwidth usage
net_splitpacket_maxrate 1048576
sv_minupdaterate 16
sv_maxupdaterate 66
```

***

## Step 2: Physics Engine Optimization

Complex physics interactions (specifically collisions between player-spawned props) are the primary cause of server CPU spikes.

| Variable                  | Recommended Value | Technical Result                                                                            |
| :------------------------ | :---------------: | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **`gmod_physiterations`** |        `2`        | Dramatically improves performance by reducing collision calculation precision.              |
| **`sv_turbophysics`**     |        `1`        | Prevents players from becoming dynamic physics objects when standing on moving props.       |
| **`phys_timescale`**      |       `1.0`       | **Do Not Modify:** Changing this value will permanently desynchronize movement and gravity. |

***

## Step 3: Tickrate Selection

While competitive FPS titles use 128 Tick, high-population GMod servers (DarkRP/Sandbox) must use **lower** values to maintain infrastructure stability.

* **Recommended Threshold:** Use **16** or **33** Tick.
* **The Risk of High Tickrates:** Initializing a server at **66 or 100 Tick** with 80+ players will likely overwhelm the single-threaded capacity of the CPU, resulting in massive rubber-banding and frequent player timeouts.
* **Implementation:** Modify the `-tickrate` variable within your Game Panel **Startup Settings**.

***

<Important>
  ### Managing the Prop Budget

  Even with perfect technical optimization, a map containing over 5,000 active dynamic props will trigger performance degradation. We strongly recommend implementing an **Automated Cleanup Script** that programmatically removes "Abandoned" props (items left behind by players who have disconnected) to reclaim server resources.
</Important>

***

<Note>
  ### Need Extra Help?

  If you encounter any issues, our support team is ready to assist:

  * **Live Chat:** Quick assistance via our website.
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  * **Email:** [support@freakhosting.com](mailto:support@freakhosting.com)
</Note>

<Tip>
  ### Save on Your Hosting

  Ready to get a new server? Use code **KB20** at checkout for **20% off** your first month!
</Tip>

***

<div align="center">
  **Last Updated:** January 2026 | **GMod:** Optimization applied.
</div>