Cutting Costs with Cloud Innovation: Arm Computing Gets a Boost

Key points

Google Cloud introduces Axion N4A, a new Arm-based compute instance that offers up to 2x better price-performance and 80% better performance-per-watt compared to x86-based VMs.
The N4A instances are designed for general-purpose workloads and are available in preview, with configurable options up to 64 vCPUs and 512GB of DDR5 Memory.
Google Cloud is expanding its Arm-based offerings, including the upcoming C4A Metal bare-metal instance, to attract enterprises looking to optimize costs and reduce dependency on x86-based instances.

According to sources, Google Cloud is doubling down on Arm-based computing with the introduction of Axion N4A, a new compute instance that offers significant cost savings and performance benefits. The N series of compute instances are typically used for general-purpose workloads such as web and application servers, containerized microservices, and small-to-medium databases. The N4A instances, currently available in preview, are configurable up to 64 vCPUs with support for 512GB of DDR5 Memory and 50 Gbps networking connection.

Google is marketing N4A as the most cost-effective N series instance yet, offering up to 2x better price-performance and 80% better performance-per-watt compared to comparable current-generation x86-based VMs. This is made possible by Google’s in-house design of the Arm-based Axion processors, which are sourced directly from manufacturers such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). This direct sourcing effectively halves the cost of the underlying hardware, making Google’s Arm-based instances a compelling alternative for enterprises.

The savings are so attractive that Google is already using Arm instances internally for services including YouTube, Gmail, and BigQuery. Other major cloud providers, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft, are also developing their own Arm-based chips to reduce costs and improve performance. AWS introduced its own Arm-based chip, Graviton, in 2018, and now 50% of new AWS instances run on it. Microsoft, too, recently developed an Arm chip, Cobalt, to run Microsoft 365 and offer Azure services.

The N4A instances will be available across services including Compute Engine, Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE), and Dataproc, and will be accessible in several regions initially. Google describes N4A as a complement to the C4A instances it launched last October, which are designed for heavier workloads such as high-traffic web and application servers. Additionally, C4A Metal, a bare-metal instance for specialized workloads, is expected to be available soon. This expansion of Arm-based offerings is a significant move by Google Cloud to attract enterprises looking to optimize costs and reduce dependency on x86-based instances. With the introduction of Axion N4A, Google Cloud is well-positioned to compete with other major cloud providers in the Arm-based computing market, and its commitment to Arm-based technology is likely to have a significant impact on the industry as a whole.