Amazon Launches EC2 M9g and M9gd Instances with Graviton5 Processors

Amazon Launches Graviton5-Powered M9g and M9gd Instances

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has officially launched its M9g and M9gd instances, powered by the new Graviton5 processors. Announced at re:Invent 2025, these instances aim to deliver significant improvements in compute performance, energy efficiency, and price-performance for a variety of workloads. With the general availability of M9g and M9gd, AWS continues to strengthen its position in the cloud computing market by providing advanced solutions tailored to meet the growing demands of modern applications.

Performance Enhancements with Graviton5

The Graviton5 processors represent a major leap forward in AWS’s custom silicon development. Featuring 192 cores and a fivefold increase in L3 cache size compared to previous generations, Graviton5 is designed to handle CPU-intensive tasks more efficiently. The architecture reduces inter-core latency by up to 33%, which allows for faster processing of instructions and better performance across concurrent environments.

Initial tests from major companies like ClickHouse and Honeycomb have shown impressive results. ClickHouse reported a 36% performance boost over the previous M8g instances without any code modifications. Similarly, Honeycomb experienced a 36% improvement in throughput per core during a six-month A/B test focused on observability workloads. HubSpot also leveraged the new instances for MySQL databases, achieving a remarkable 60% reduction in query durations.

New Features of M9g and M9gd Instances

The M9g instances are built upon AWS’s sixth-generation Nitro System, which enhances compute performance while ensuring improved memory and I/O scalability. Compared to their predecessors, Graviton4-based instances, the new Graviton5 processors offer up to 25% better compute performance across various applications—35% faster for web applications and machine learning inference tasks, and 30% faster for database operations.

M9g instances come equipped with enhanced networking capabilities as well. They provide up to 15% higher network bandwidth and 20% increased Amazon Elastic Block Store (EBS) bandwidth on average across different instance sizes. The introduction of Instance Bandwidth Configuration (IBC) allows users to optimize bandwidth allocation between EBS storage and Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) networking by up to 25%, catering specifically to workloads that require tailored bandwidth management.

Security Features: Nitro Isolation Engine

Security remains a top priority for AWS as cloud workloads grow increasingly complex. The new Nitro Isolation Engine enhances security measures within the Nitro System by ensuring robust isolation between virtual machines (VMs). This component employs formal verification techniques—mathematical methods used to prove the correctness of hardware or software—to guarantee that isolation is maintained with precision. This makes Nitro the first formally verified cloud hypervisor, setting a new standard for cloud security.

The introduction of these advanced security features aligns with AWS’s commitment to providing secure environments for sensitive workloads while maintaining high performance standards.

M9gd Instances: High-Speed Local Storage

For customers requiring low-latency local storage solutions, AWS has introduced the M9gd instances alongside their standard counterparts. These instances feature NVMe SSD storage options that deliver up to 11.4 TB of capacity with significantly higher input/output operations per second (IOPS) compared to previous models. This makes them particularly suitable for general-purpose workloads that demand both compute power and rapid data access.

The specifications for both instance families reflect their versatility:

• M9g: Ranges from one vCPU with four GiB memory to 192 vCPUs with 768 GiB memory.
• M9gd: Offers similar vCPU configurations but includes local NVMe SSD storage options ranging from 59 GB to 3 x 3800 GB depending on instance size.

Getting Started with M9g and M9gd Instances

AWS provides several resources for users looking to transition their workloads to the new Graviton-based instances. The AWS Graviton Getting Started Guide offers technical insights into building, running, and optimizing applications on these platforms. Additionally, the Graviton Savings Dashboard enables users to track cost savings associated with migrating workloads from traditional x86 architectures.

For Java applications specifically, AWS Transform automates code transformations necessary for compatibility with Graviton-based instances, simplifying migration processes significantly.

What This Means

The launch of M9g and M9gd instances powered by Graviton5 processors signifies AWS’s ongoing commitment to enhancing cloud computing capabilities through innovation in processor design. With substantial improvements in performance, energy efficiency, and security features, these new offerings cater not only to existing customers but also attract potential clients seeking advanced computing solutions tailored for modern applications like AI and data analytics. As organizations increasingly turn towards cloud infrastructure for their operational needs, AWS’s latest advancements position it favorably against competitors in an ever-growing market.

For more information, read the original report here.