MonkerSolver Server Guide: What You Need and What It Costs

If you are serious about studying with MonkerSolver, at some point you will hit the limits of your home PC. Trees get cut short, solve times stretch into days, and you end up compromising on bet sizes just to make the sim feasible. The solution is a dedicated server — and this guide covers everything you need to know from someone who actually runs one.

This is not a theoretical guide. I run a 512GB dedicated server specifically for MonkerSolver and have been using it to solve PLO trees around the clock. Here is what I have learned.

Why You Need a Server

MonkerSolver's performance scales directly with two things: RAM and CPU. RAM determines how large a tree you can solve — the more you have, the more bet sizes, raises and streets you can include without the solver having to cut the tree. CPU speed and core count determine how fast the solver gets to an answer.

On a typical home PC with 32GB or 64GB of RAM you will constantly be making compromises — fewer bet sizes, less accurate solutions, or very long solve times. A dedicated server removes those constraints. With 512GB of RAM you can run almost any sim you want without worrying about memory limits.

The other big advantage is that you can leave it running 24 hours a day using MonkerSolver's queue feature. Set up your sims before you go to bed, check back in the morning and they are done. Your home PC can get on with other things.

What Specs Actually Matter

RAM — The Most Important Factor

RAM is by far the most important spec for MonkerSolver. The size of trees you can solve is directly limited by how much RAM you have. Here is a rough guide:

My recommendation is 128GB as a minimum if you are serious about it. Having 512GB means you never have to think about memory — you just build the tree you want and let it run.

CPU — Speed and Cores

More cores mean faster solve times. MonkerSolver uses all available cores when solving, so a 36-core server will solve significantly faster than an 8-core home PC. Clock speed also matters — higher GHz means faster per-core performance.

My current setup runs dual Intel Xeon E5-2695v4 processors giving 36 cores and 72 threads at 2.1–3.3GHz. A SRP 100bb solve to 2 volatility with 1 or 2 bet sizes and raises every street takes around 3 hours. That is comfortably fast for serious study.

Storage

MonkerSolver .mkr files can get large, especially for complex trees. If you plan to save a lot of sims you will need substantial storage. My server has 2 x 3.84TB SSDs which is more than enough.

My Current Server Setup

I use GTHost for my dedicated server. Here are the exact specs:

Cost Breakdown

Here is a rough guide to what you can expect to pay at different performance levels:

Don't forget to add Windows Server to the cost if you go with a provider that charges separately for it — GTHost charges around $30/month for this.

Operating System — Windows or Linux?

MonkerSolver runs on Windows, so you need a Windows Server installation. Most dedicated server providers offer Linux by default and charge extra for Windows. Budget for this from the start.

Accessing Your Server Remotely

You access the server via Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) — the same way you would remote into any Windows machine. Just open Remote Desktop Connection on your PC, enter the server's IP address and log in. It works exactly like sitting in front of the machine. I found this straightforward to set up — if you need help figuring out RDP just search Google and you will find plenty of guides.

Using the Queue to Solve 24/7

One of the biggest advantages of a dedicated server is being able to use MonkerSolver's queue feature to leave sims running around the clock. Set up your list of boards or spots you want solved, add them to the queue, and the server just works through them while you get on with other things. I check in periodically to see progress but the server is basically always doing something useful.

This approach means you can build up a library of solved trees much faster than you could on a home PC where you are competing with everything else the machine needs to do.

Is It Worth It?

That depends on how seriously you play. If you are grinding PLO for real money, the cost of a server at $200-300 a month is a few buy-ins. If the study it enables helps you improve your win rate even slightly, it pays for itself quickly.

The other way to look at it is access to better sims means better decisions at the table. At higher stakes where pots are larger, the edge from better preparation compounds quickly.

My honest take — if you are playing PLO4 seriously at any reasonable stake, a dedicated server for MonkerSolver is worth the investment. Start with 128GB if you are budget conscious and upgrade when you feel the limits.

If you have any questions about setting up a server for MonkerSolver, feel free to reach out at support@plodalong.com.