Intel vs AMD vs Graviton: Amazon EC2 Processor Differences and Distribution

The blog post examines the differences and distribution of Intel, AMD, and Graviton processors in Amazon EC2 instances, considering factors such as performance, cost, and architecture. While Intel has traditionally dominated the EC2 landscape, AMD and Graviton are gaining traction, with Graviton offering significant cost advantages due to lower power consumption and being owned by Amazon. The x86-based architecture of Intel and AMD ensures broad software compatibility and supports multithreading, which is beneficial for certain workloads, whereas Graviton's Arm-based architecture may face some compatibility issues but provides cost-effective performance for specific use cases. The post highlights an increasing trend in the adoption of AMD and Graviton processors, reflecting a shift in customer preferences driven by workload-specific requirements and cost considerations. As of Q1 2024, the share of AMD and Graviton in EC2 spending has nearly doubled compared to the previous year, although Intel remains the processor for a larger variety of instance types.