Architecture & Sizing
Local NVMe SSD vs EBS-Only: C7g vs C7gd
When ephemeral local NVMe storage beats EBS gp3 and io2
Instances with the 'd' suffix include direct-attached high-speed NVMe SSD storage. Compare raw IOPS, latency, and cost implications versus EBS-attached volumes.
1. Architectural & Silicon Specs Head-to-Head
Comparing underlying processor microarchitectures, memory ratios, and Nitro generation features using representative xlarge sizing.
c7gARM64 (Graviton)
C7G Compute Optimized
ProcessorAWS Graviton3 Processor
Clock Speed2.5 GHz
RAM / vCPU2.0 GiB/vCPU
Max Network30 Gbps
Max EBS IOPS80,000
AWS NitroSupported
Min Rate (c7g.xlarge)$0.0982/hr
Monthly Est.$71.69/mo
Cost per vCPU$0.0245/hr
Cost per GiB RAM$0.0123/hr
CoreMark Benchmark99,782
CoreMark / $1,016,110
Price IndexLowest Cost
Save 15% vs most expensive
Compute / $ Value100% (Leader)
c7gdARM64 (Graviton)
C7GD Compute Optimized
ProcessorAWS Graviton3 Processor
Clock Speed2.5 GHz
RAM / vCPU2.0 GiB/vCPU
Max Network30 Gbps
Max EBS IOPS80,000
AWS NitroSupported
Min Rate (c7gd.xlarge)$0.1152/hr
Monthly Est.$84.10/mo
Cost per vCPU$0.0288/hr
Cost per GiB RAM$0.0144/hr
CoreMark Benchmark100,484
CoreMark / $872,257
Price Index100% of highest
Compute / $ Value86% of leader
2. Side-by-Side Sizing & Pricing Matrix
Direct price and benchmark comparison across matching instance tiers in the lowest-cost region. Lowest hourly cost in each row is highlighted in green.
| Size Tier | vCPU | Memory | c7gLinux Rate | c7gdLinux Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| .medium | 1 | 2 GB | ||
| .large | 2 | 4 GB | ||
| .xlarge | 4 | 8 GB | ||
| .2xlarge | 8 | 16 GB | ||
| .4xlarge | 16 | 32 GB | ||
| .8xlarge | 32 | 64 GB | ||
| .12xlarge | 48 | 96 GB | ||
| .16xlarge | 64 | 128 GB |
3. Workload Decision Framework
Clear, actionable rules on when each family wins based on workload profile, runtime language, and licensing boundaries.
Recommended:C7g (EBS only)
When: Stateless microservices or workloads with persistent storage on EBS/S3
Why: Lower hourly price; avoid paying for unused local NVMe drive capacity.
Recommended:C7gd (Local NVMe)
When: High-IOPS temporary scratch space, build artifact caching, or local swap
Why: Microsecond NVMe latency without paying per-IOPS or per-throughput EBS fees.
5. Related Architecture Comparisons
Explore adjacent generational comparisons and silicon trade-offs.