- GeneralPurpose.8xlarge offers 32 virtual cores, 128GB memory plus 275GB storage
- This is much cheaper than Azure or Google Cloud, but more expensive than OnPrem if you plan to keep it for 6 months or more
- You will, of course, need a separate computer to access this virtual workstation
AWS has expanded its Workspaces-as-a-Service desktop offering with the introduction of two new workstation class instance types.
The company says these new cases will provide its customers with powerful cloud desktops for resource-intensive Windows workloads.
The new instance types, GeneralPurpose.4xlarge and GeneralPurpose.8xlarge, feature 16 and 32 virtual CPUs (VCPUs) with 64GB and 128GB of memory, respectively. Both include a 175GB root level and 100GB for user file storage.
Windows only
Amazon is positioning the two new offerings as ideal for developers, scientists, financial analysts, and engineers who need to run demanding applications.
“Developers can handle large compilation and development tasks with tools like Visual Studio, Intellij, and Eclipse, while engineers and scientists can perform complex simulations with Matlab, Gnu Octave, R, and Stata,” the company says.
The GeneralPurpose.8xlarge instance is the first from AWS to offer 32 VCPus but it’s not cheap. With a Windows license, the 32 VCPU version costs $590 per month, while the VCPU model costs $16 per month. Hourly rates of $4.56 and $2.28 are also available for an additional monthly fee of $19.
There’s no mention of pricing for Linux users, so it seems as if this is a Windows-only offering at the moment. Users with their own Windows licenses can save a small amount – the 32 VCPU version drops at $544 ($4.40 per hour) while the 16 VCPU model is $272 ($2.20 per hour).
Although AWS’s 32-core virtual workstation offers competitive hourly rates compared to Azure and Google Cloud, it remains more stable than on-premises options for extended use. In addition, users will obviously require a separate device to access these cloud desktops.
In parallel with this announcement, AWS also introduced updates to its EC2 Image Builder, allowing Microsoft Windows ISO files to be converted directly into Amazon Machine Images (AMIS), simplifying the process of using existing Windows licenses with Amazon Workspaces.