Hosting vs Dedicated Server: What Specs to Look At

Choosing a hosting or dedicated server seems like a simple task, but in practice it confuses even those who have been in IT for a long time. If you understand which parameters are critical and which are just marketing, choosing the optimal solution is not difficult.

Hosting vs dedicated server

Hosting — renting a small portion of resources on a shared server. The provider manages the entire infrastructure; you get a convenient control panel. Ideal for simple projects. Dedicated server — a separate physical machine entirely for one client. Full root access, your own OS and configuration. For loaded and critical projects.

Selection criteria: what really matters

1. CPU: for a dedicated server, look at frequency (2.2–3.5 GHz) and core count (6–12 for CRM and e-commerce). 2. RAM: minimum 512 MB for hosting, from 16–32 GB for a dedicated server. 3. Disks: NVMe — maximum speed for databases; SSD — a reliable compromise; HDD — archival storage only.

4. Bandwidth: dedicated server standard — 1 Gbps; with media and high loads — 10 Gbps. 5. Uptime and SLA: the difference between 99% and 99.9% is 87 hours vs 8.7 hours of downtime per year. 6. 24/7 support with 10–30 minute response — not marketing, but a real necessity for critical projects.