Amazon EC2 R8i and R8i-Flex instances are now available in Europe (Milan) region

Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced the availability of Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2) R8i and R8i-flex instances in the Europe (Milan) region, powered by custom Intel Xeon 6 processors. These processors, exclusive to AWS, are designed to deliver the highest performance and fastest memory bandwidth among comparable Intel processors in the cloud. The new instances offer up to 15% better price-performance compared to previous generation Intel-based instances, with significant improvements in memory bandwidth and workload-specific performance gains.

The R8i-flex instances, introduced as the first memory-optimized Flex instances, are tailored for memory-intensive workloads that do not fully utilize all compute resources. They are available in common sizes ranging from large to 16xlarge, providing a cost-effective option for applications requiring high memory capacity. R8i instances, available in 13 sizes including two bare metal options and a new 96xlarge size, are recommended for workloads needing the largest instance sizes or continuous high CPU usage, including mission-critical SAP applications.

AWS highlighted that R8i instances are SAP-certified, delivering 142,100 aSAPS, the highest performance among comparable machines in both on-premises and cloud environments. This certification underscores their suitability for demanding SAP workloads. Customers can purchase these instances through Savings Plans, On-Demand instances, or Spot instances, providing flexible pricing options to suit different operational needs.

To access the new EC2 R8i and R8i-flex instances, customers can sign in to the AWS Management Console. Additional details about the instances, including specifications and use cases, are available on the AWS News blog. The launch expands AWS’s compute offerings in the Europe (Milan) region, supporting organizations with enhanced performance for memory-intensive and mission-critical applications.