What is the difference between a VPS and a VDS?

VPS means virtual private server. VDS means virtual dedicated server. Both are virtual servers. A VDS usually describes a plan with dedicated CPU resources, while a shared-CPU VPS takes turns using CPU time with other customers. Providers use the names differently, so check the actual resource allocation. Flamegrid VDS plans include dedicated Ryzen 9 9950X threads.

What is a CPU thread?

A CPU thread lets a processor run work. A shared thread takes turns running work from different servers. A dedicated thread is reserved for your server. Threads are not the same as whole CPU cores.

Do all VPS providers share CPU time?

No. Some VPS providers also offer dedicated CPU threads. Check whether the plan reserves threads for you or shares CPU time with other customers. The name alone does not tell you.

Does a VDS give me the whole machine?

No. The CPU threads in your plan are yours, but the physical machine still hosts other customers. Choose a bare-metal dedicated server if you want the whole machine.

Is a VDS better than a VPS?

A server with dedicated CPU threads can be a better fit when you need CPU time reserved for your work. A shared-CPU VPS can be enough for a smaller project. Compare the CPU model, resource allocation, memory, storage and price rather than choosing by the name alone.

Will dedicated threads always make my server faster?

They remove competition from other customers for your reserved threads. Your software, memory, storage and network still affect speed, so there is no guaranteed speed increase for every application.

Hosting guides

VPS vs VDS.
Who gets the CPU?

On a shared VPS, your server takes turns using the CPU with other customers. A Flamegrid VDS gets dedicated Ryzen 9 9950X threads reserved for it.

What is the difference between VPS and VDS?

VPS stands for virtual private server. VDS stands for virtual dedicated server. Both give you a virtual server on a physical machine. A VDS usually means dedicated CPU resources; a typical shared-CPU VPS shares CPU time with other customers.

The names are not a universal standard. Some providers sell dedicated-CPU plans as VPS hosting. Check what is reserved for you: CPU threads, RAM and storage capacity. This guide compares a typical shared-CPU VPS with Flamegrid’s dedicated-thread VDS.

Shared CPU means taking turns.

A vCPU is the processor your virtual server sees. A plan with four vCPUs does not always give you four CPU threads of your own. On a shared plan, other customers use the same CPU time. If everyone gets busy at once, some work has to wait.

What happens when other servers get busy?

Select Busy neighbors to see work waiting for the same threads.

Shared-CPU VPS

CPU time shared with other servers.

One shared CPU thread

Your server’s work

Customer A · idle

Customer B · idle

Same shared thread

Other servers are quiet. Your work can run.

There is CPU time to spare

Your server can run its work while other customers are quiet.

Flamegrid 9950X VDS

CPU threads reserved for your server.

Separate CPU threads

Your server’s work

Your dedicated thread

Customer A · idle

Customer A’s thread

Separate threads. Your work keeps running.

Your threads stay yours

Other customers use their own threads. The threads in your plan stay yours.

Your serverOther customers

On a shared CPU, orange and gray share the same blocks of CPU time. Each thread runs one task at a time. This is a simple illustration; real speed also depends on your software, memory, storage and network.

Your dedicated threads stay yours.

With a Flamegrid VDS, the Ryzen 9 9950X threads in your plan are reserved for your server. Other customers use their own threads. When they get busy, they do not take CPU time from the threads reserved for you.

Your RAM and storage allocations are dedicated too. The memory and storage capacity in your plan are reserved for your VDS.

Flamegrid’s network has the capacity to handle heavy traffic across our VDS fleet, with ample headroom to keep other servers’ traffic from slowing yours down.

Why does it matter for your server?

Game servers

A busy Minecraft server needs the CPU to keep up with players and the world. Dedicated threads give it CPU time of its own. Plugins, world size and server settings still matter.

Apps and APIs

More visitors and background tasks mean more CPU work. Dedicated threads keep that work separate from other customers. Your app still needs enough memory and the right setup.

Builds and background tasks

Building software, running tests and processing jobs can keep a CPU busy. With dedicated threads, these tasks use your own CPU time. Storage speed and software settings still matter.

VPS or VDS: which should you choose?

A shared VPS can be enough for a small project that is fine with occasional waits for CPU time. Choose a VDS when you want CPU threads reserved for your game server, app or background tasks.

Flamegrid VDS plans include 1 to 16 dedicated threads, 4GB to 64GB DDR5 memory and NVMe storage. Check the plans page for current prices and availability, or tell us what you want to run.

View 9950X VDS plans

Written by Flamegrid. Specs and availability are listed on our VDS plans page; network details are on our network page.