AWS Compute Series Evolution: C4 vs C5 vs C6i vs C7i vs C7g
Tracking a decade of compute optimization from Xen hypervisors to Graviton3 Nitro
See how AWS compute instances evolved across 5 generations. Compare price reductions, CoreMark benchmarks per vCPU, network bandwidth leaps, and the architectural transition from legacy Xen to Nitro.
1. Architectural & Silicon Specs Head-to-Head
Comparing underlying processor microarchitectures, memory ratios, and Nitro generation features using representative xlarge sizing.
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 | c4Linux Rate | c5Linux Rate | c6iLinux Rate | c7iLinux Rate | c7gLinux Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| .medium | 1 | 2 GB | — | — | — | — | |
| .large | 2 | 4 GB | |||||
| .xlarge | 4 | 8 GB | |||||
| .2xlarge | 8 | 15 GB | |||||
| .4xlarge | 16 | 30 GB | |||||
| .8xlarge | 36 | 60 GB | — | ||||
| .9xlarge | 36 | 72 GB | — | — | — | — | |
| .12xlarge | 48 | 96 GB | — | ||||
| .16xlarge | 64 | 128 GB | — | — | |||
| .18xlarge | 72 | 144 GB | — | — | — | — | |
| .24xlarge | 96 | 192 GB | — | — | |||
| .32xlarge | 128 | 256 GB | — | — | — | — | |
| .48xlarge | 192 | 384 GB | — | — | — | — |
3. Workload Decision Framework
Clear, actionable rules on when each family wins based on workload profile, runtime language, and licensing boundaries.
4. Architecture & Migration Considerations
Technical caveats, instruction set differences, and compiler flags to know before deploying.
Hypervisor Migration
C4 used the legacy Xen hypervisor. C5 and later rely on the hardware-accelerated AWS Nitro system, eliminating hypervisor CPU jitter and unlocking dedicated EBS bandwidth.
5. Related Architecture Comparisons
Explore adjacent generational comparisons and silicon trade-offs.