Amazon EC2 R8i and R8i-Flex instances are now available in Canada West (Calgary) region

Amazon Web Services announced the availability of Amazon EC2 R8i and R8i-flex instances in the Canada West (Calgary) region, powered by custom Intel Xeon 6 processors exclusive to AWS. These instances deliver up to 15% better price-performance and 2.5x more memory bandwidth than prior Intel-based cloud instances, with performance improvements of 20% or more over R7i instances depending on workload. The new instances are optimized for memory-intensive applications, including databases, web servers, and AI models, with speed gains of up to 30% for PostgreSQL, 60% for NGINX, and 40% for AI deep learning recommendation workloads compared to R7i. AWS describes the R8i-flex instances as the simplest way to access price-performance benefits for memory-heavy workloads that do not fully utilize compute resources, offering sizes from large to 16xlarge.

R8i instances are designed for memory-intensive workloads requiring large instance sizes or sustained high CPU usage, with 13 size options including two bare metal sizes and a new 96xlarge configuration. AWS states these instances are SAP-certified, delivering 142,100 aSAPS, the highest performance among comparable machines in both cloud and on-premises environments for mission-critical SAP workloads. Customers can deploy these instances through Savings Plans, On-Demand, or Spot pricing models, providing flexibility in cost management. The instances are accessible via the AWS Management Console, with additional details available on the AWS News blog.

The introduction of R8i and R8i-flex instances in the Calgary region expands AWS’s compute offerings in Canada, providing local access to high-performance memory-optimized instances for enterprises with stringent latency or compliance requirements. The new instances leverage Intel’s latest processors, which AWS claims offer the fastest memory bandwidth among comparable Intel processors in the cloud, enhancing performance for data-intensive applications. The R8i-flex instances are positioned as a cost-effective entry point for memory-optimized workloads, while the R8i instances cater to larger-scale or compute-intensive deployments. AWS emphasizes the instances’ suitability for mission-critical workloads, including SAP environments, where performance and reliability are paramount.

AWS customers in Canada can now provision R8i and R8i-flex instances in the Calgary region to support workloads such as databases, web applications, and AI models, with pricing available through multiple models. The instances are designed to address the growing demand for high-memory, high-performance compute resources in the cloud, particularly for workloads that require low latency or compliance with regional data residency standards. AWS has not disclosed specific pricing details for the new instances in the Calgary region, but customers can explore options via the AWS Management Console or consult the AWS pricing documentation for further guidance.