VPS or Root Server?

On netcup the difference is mostly CPU: a VPS shares cores with other customers, a root server gives you dedicated ones. Six questions tell you which one your workload needs. The longer explanation is in root server or VPS?

1. What will the server mainly do? Web apps, a reverse proxy, a VPN, a password manager A mix of small services plus one heavier one A database with real traffic A game server, CI builds or video transcoding

2. How busy is the CPU? Mostly idle, short bursts Busy for a while most days Above ~50% for hours every day

3. Does a random slowdown at peak hours matter? Not really Yes, people notice (players, customers, a team)

4. Are you already on a VPS, and what does steal time show? Not on one yet, or steal is near 0% I haven't checked Steal is regularly above a few percent

5. Who uses it? Just me A few friends or a small team The public

6. Is paying noticeably more per month okay? Yes, if it's the right tool No, keep it as cheap as possible

Why RAM still comes first

Most self-hosted setups run out of memory long before CPU. Whichever box you choose, size it with the VPS size calculator. If you're torn between providers instead, see netcup vs Hetzner vs Contabo.