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How to Optimize Your SCP: Secret Laboratory Server

Last updated: September 18, 2026

SCP: Secret Laboratory is more sensitive to fast single-thread CPU than to large amounts of RAM, because rounds, AI, movement, and plugins all compete for timely simulation. This guide covers the settings and habits that keep a server running smoothly.

Find the Cause First

  • Compare an empty server against a full round. If lag only appears when the server is busy, it is load-related; if it appears when idle, check the panel resource usage instead.
  • Disable recently added plugins and restart. A single poorly written plugin can cause more lag than any config value.
  • Watch the server console for tick warnings or errors that point at a specific cause.

Gameplay Settings That Matter

These live in config_gameplay.txt. Stop the server before editing, then start it again to apply the changes.

Setting Default Effect
max_players20Player limit. Lower it if the hardware cannot keep up. SCP:SL has no hard cap, so the practical limit is your CPU.
server_tickrate60Simulation rate. Leave it at 60 for a healthy server; lowering it toward 30 can help a CPU-limited server at some cost to smoothness.
ragdoll_cleanup_time120Seconds before a ragdoll is removed, in seconds. Lower it to reduce entity buildup; 0 keeps ragdolls forever.
idle_mode_enabledfalseWhen true, the server drops to a low tickrate while nobody is connected, saving CPU on empty servers.
idle_mode_tickrate1Tickrate used while idle mode is active.
restart_after_rounds0Restart the server after this many rounds. 0 disables it; a value such as 15 counters the slowdown that builds up over long sessions.
use_crypto_rngtrueSet to false to avoid the extra CPU cost of secure random numbers.
Important: Only use keys that exist in your own config_gameplay.txt. Some third-party guides list generic keys that are not part of the real SCP:SL config, so verify before adding anything.

Recommended Starting Point

max_players: 20
server_tickrate: 60
ragdoll_cleanup_time: 60
idle_mode_enabled: true
restart_after_rounds: 15
use_crypto_rng: false

Adjust one value at a time and re-test, so you can tell which change actually helped.

Plugins

  • Use actively maintained plugins and remove abandoned ones. See Install Plugins.
  • Prefer plugins that hook only the events they need. A plugin that listens to every game event adds load on every tick.
  • Keep plugin logging low. Verbose logging and debug options cost CPU and fill the log quickly.

Restart Regularly

SCP:SL, like many Unity servers, slows down gradually over a long uptime. A scheduled restart clears accumulated state. Setting restart_after_rounds automates this, or you can restart manually from the panel's Console page during a quiet moment.

Tip: If the server still struggles after tuning, the most effective upgrade is a faster single-core CPU rather than more RAM. Lowering max_players is the quickest free win.