Amazon EC2 Hpc8a Instances: 5th Gen AMD EPYC Processors Deliver 40% Performance Boost for HPC Workloads

Amazon Web Services has announced the general availability of Amazon EC2 Hpc8a instances, a new high-performance computing (HPC) optimized instance type powered by the latest 5th Generation AMD EPYC processors. These instances deliver up to 40% higher performance, 42% greater memory bandwidth, and up to 25% better price-performance compared to previous generation Hpc7a instances, making them ideal for compute-intensive tightly coupled HPC workloads.

The Hpc8a instances are specifically designed for demanding computational workloads including computational fluid dynamics, simulations for faster design iterations, high-resolution weather modeling within tight operational windows, and complex crash simulations that require rapid time-to-results. The instances feature 192 cores, 768 GiB memory, and 300 Gbps Elastic Fabric Adapter (EFA) networking to run applications requiring high levels of inter-node communications at scale.

Technical Specifications and Architecture

Hpc8a instances are available in a single 96xlarge size with a 1:4 core-to-memory ratio, providing 192 physical cores and 768 GiB of memory. The instances utilize sixth-generation AWS Nitro cards, which offload CPU virtualization, storage, and networking functions to dedicated hardware and software. This architecture enhances both performance and security for workloads running on these instances.

The instances achieve their high performance through several key architectural features:

• 5th Generation AMD EPYC processors with a maximum frequency of up to 4.5 GHz
• 300 Gbps Elastic Fabric Adapter (EFA) networking for low-latency, high-throughput inter-node communication
• 42% greater memory bandwidth compared to previous generation instances
• Simultaneous Multithreading (SMT) disabled by default to optimize performance for HPC workloads

Use Cases and Workload Optimization

Hpc8a instances are particularly well-suited for tightly coupled HPC workloads that require extensive inter-node communication. Common use cases include:

• Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD): Simulating fluid flow for aerospace, automotive, and energy applications
• Weather Modeling: Running high-resolution weather simulations within operational timeframes
• Crash Simulations: Performing complex automotive and structural crash analysis
• Design Iterations: Accelerating engineering simulations for faster product development cycles

Customers can use Hpc8a instances with AWS ParallelCluster and AWS Parallel Computing Service (AWS PCS) to simplify workload submission and cluster creation. For storage, Amazon FSx for Lustre provides sub-millisecond latencies and up to hundreds of gigabytes per second of throughput, ensuring that storage performance doesn't become a bottleneck for these high-performance compute instances.

Regional Availability and Pricing

The Hpc8a instances are now available in US East (Ohio) and Europe (Stockholm) AWS Regions. For the most up-to-date regional availability and future roadmap information, customers can search the instance type in the CloudFormation resources tab of AWS Capabilities by Region.

Pricing for Hpc8a instances follows standard EC2 pricing models. Customers can purchase these instances as On-Demand Instances or through Savings Plans for additional cost optimization. For detailed pricing information, visit the Amazon EC2 Pricing page.

Performance Benefits and Customer Impact

The performance improvements delivered by Hpc8a instances translate directly to business benefits for organizations running HPC workloads:

• 40% higher performance enables faster job completion times
• 25% better price-performance reduces the total cost of ownership
• 42% greater memory bandwidth improves data throughput for memory-intensive applications
• High core density allows efficient scaling of large compute jobs

These improvements help organizations scale efficiently and reduce job completion times for compute-intensive simulation workloads. The combination of high core count, substantial memory, and high-bandwidth networking makes Hpc8a instances particularly effective for workloads that would previously have required multiple instance types or custom configurations.

Getting Started with Hpc8a Instances

Customers can begin using Hpc8a instances immediately through the Amazon EC2 console. The instances support standard EC2 features including custom launch configurations, integration with AWS management tools, and compatibility with existing HPC software stacks.

For organizations new to HPC on AWS or looking to optimize their existing HPC workloads, AWS provides comprehensive documentation and support resources. Customers can learn more about Hpc8a instances on the Amazon EC2 Hpc8a instances page and can send feedback through AWS re:Post for EC2 or through their usual AWS Support contacts.

The introduction of Hpc8a instances represents AWS's continued investment in providing specialized compute instances for demanding HPC workloads. By leveraging the latest AMD EPYC processor technology and AWS's networking and storage infrastructure, these instances offer a compelling option for organizations looking to accelerate their computational workloads while optimizing costs.