The latest Amazon EC2 instances – R8i and R8i-flex – are now available on AWS and powered by the new Intel® Xeon® 6 processors with Performance-cores. These instances deliver top-tier computing performance and the highest memory bandwidth available from Intel-powered options in the cloud.
This rollout marks a significant step forward in the long-standing collaboration between Intel and AWS, aimed at offering scalable, efficient, and powerful infrastructure tailored to modern enterprise needs. By combining advanced processor architecture with deep software integration, the two companies continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in cloud computing.
“This release is a landmark moment in our joint efforts with AWS,” said Ronak Singhal, Senior Fellow at Intel. “The infrastructure we’ve built accelerates AI workloads, boosts memory performance, and simplifies deployment – all of which help businesses gain insights faster and improve return on investment.”
As businesses handle more real-time data and rely heavily on artificial intelligence and compliance-heavy tasks, they require versatile platforms that deliver both speed and flexibility. Xeon 6 processors are designed as a general-purpose compute solution, eliminating the need for multiple types of specialized hardware. This makes managing complex environments easier and more cost-effective.
“Our customers are running increasingly demanding workloads,” said Nishant Mehta, Vice President of EC2 Product Management at AWS. “With the new R8i and R8i-flex instances, we’re offering 2.5 times the memory bandwidth and a 15% boost in price-performance over previous generations. This level of innovation helps organizations get more value out of their cloud investments.”
Intel optimized every layer of the technology stack – from chip design and firmware to software frameworks and virtualization. This end-to-end refinement ensures customers can take full advantage of Xeon 6 capabilities on AWS’s global platform.
This development strengthens Intel’s role as a core provider of technology within the AWS ecosystem, supporting engineers, data scientists, and IT leaders as they build, scale, and deploy advanced applications more efficiently.
AWS’s newest instance types, powered by Intel® Xeon® 6 processors, deliver significantly enhanced compute capabilities thanks to a redesigned core architecture. With increased core counts and improved threading efficiency, these instances support high-density configurations like the 96xlarge size, providing the scale and power needed for demanding enterprise workloads such as large-scale simulations, real-time data analysis, and backend processing.
Memory performance also takes a major leap forward with support for DDR5 running at speeds up to 7200 MT/s. This boost in bandwidth and reduction in latency is especially beneficial for data-intensive applications, including in-memory databases, advanced analytics, and machine learning pipelines that rely on rapid data movement and real-time responsiveness.
For AI workloads, the integration of Intel® Advanced Matrix Extensions (AMX) enables up to double the performance in machine learning inference and training compared to previous generations. This built-in AI acceleration reduces the dependency on separate hardware components, making it easier and more cost-effective for teams to deploy and scale AI-powered applications.
Security and efficiency are further enhanced through Intel® QuickAssist Technology (QAT), which provides hardware-level acceleration for encryption and data compression. By offloading these compute-heavy tasks from the CPU, systems maintain high performance even when handling sensitive or regulated data—an advantage for industries like finance, healthcare, and government services.
Major players such as Netflix and CrowdStrike are already testing Xeon 6-based instances to support cloud-native and AI-driven applications. Early reports show marked improvements in computing throughput, machine learning tasks, and overall system efficiency.
Intel is a global leader in semiconductor innovation, dedicated to building technology that drives progress and improves everyday life. Through continuous advancements in chip design and manufacturing, Intel helps solve critical challenges across industries. By embedding smart technology into every part of the computing ecosystem – from cloud to edge – Intel is unlocking the full power of data to fuel innovation and transformation worldwide.
