Title

AWS re:Invent 2023 - Deploy new workloads efficiently without additional investments (BIZ210)

Summary

• Mike Thompson from AMD, a senior cloud product manager, discusses the benefits of using AMD processors in AWS Cloud.
• He emphasizes the importance of considering processor and instance types, as they can significantly impact performance and cost.
• AMD's fourth-generation EPYC processor, Genoa, is highlighted for its performance, efficiency, and the ability to enable business transformation.
• AMD processors offer confidential computing, protecting data in use with silicon-powered security.
• The partnership between AMD and AWS has led to the creation of EC2 instances that offer the best x86 performance and price performance.
• AMD-powered instances are available globally across various types and are integrated into numerous AWS services.
• AMD offers marketing opportunities, proof of concept/value funding, and is part of AWS's ISV Accelerate program.
• AMD's market share in the data center has grown significantly due to performance and cost efficiency.
• AMD processors provide up to 2x performance, cost savings, reduced power consumption, and ease of migration.
• AMD's SEV-SNP feature allows for confidential computing with minimal performance impact.
• Two generations of AMD instances are recommended: 7th gen for performance/time-bound applications and 6th gen for always-on or non-CPU-bound applications.
• AMD's performance per watt is significantly higher than the competition, leading to operational cost savings and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
• AMD offers a range of instances optimized for different workloads, including general purpose, memory optimized, compute optimized, GPU optimized, and high-performance computing.
• AMD processors power many AWS services, and there are opportunities for further collaboration and deployment.

Insights

• Processor choice in AWS can lead to substantial cost savings and performance gains, particularly when selecting AMD-powered instances.
• AMD's Genoa processors are built to provide leadership in performance and energy efficiency, which can be a critical factor for businesses looking to optimize their operations and reduce environmental impact.
• The growth in AMD's market share within the data center space suggests a shift in customer preference towards AMD's offerings over traditional Intel processors.
• AMD's focus on confidential computing with SEV-SNP is a unique selling point, especially for businesses with stringent security requirements.
• The trailing 'A' in AWS instance names indicates AMD-powered instances, which is a simple way for users to identify and select AMD options.
• AMD's collaboration with AWS extends beyond just providing processors; it includes marketing initiatives, funding for proof of concept/value, and participation in AWS's ISV Accelerate program, which incentivizes AWS sellers to promote AMD-powered solutions.
• The presentation suggests that AMD is poised to release new GPU instance types, indicating ongoing innovation and expansion of their product offerings within AWS.
• The significant savings in operational costs and greenhouse gas emissions when using AMD processors can be a compelling argument for businesses with sustainability goals or regulatory requirements to reduce their carbon footprint.