Azure NG-Series: Next-Generation GPU Virtual Machines
Microsoft Azure offers the NG-series, a family of next-generation GPU-accelerated virtual machines designed for cutting-edge AI, machine learning, and graphics workloads. NG-series VMs provide high GPU performance, enhanced memory, and fast networking for demanding compute tasks.
Key Features of NG-Series
1. Powered by NVIDIA GPUs
- NG-series VMs feature NVIDIA A100 Tensor Core GPUs, optimized for AI training, inference, HPC, and graphics-intensive workloads.
- Supports FP32, FP16, TensorFloat-32, and mixed-precision workloads for maximum performance.
2. High-Performance CPUs
- Equipped with Intel Xeon Scalable processors, delivering strong CPU performance alongside GPUs.
- Ensures balanced CPU-GPU performance for compute-intensive applications.
3. Massive GPU Memory
- Each A100 GPU provides 40 GB of high-bandwidth memory, supporting large-scale AI models, HPC simulations, and graphics rendering.
4. High-Speed Networking
- Supports InfiniBand and high-throughput Ethernet, enabling low-latency communication for multi-GPU clusters.
- Ideal for distributed AI training and HPC workloads.
5. Flexible Machine Sizes
- Predefined machine types allow scaling from single GPU instances to multi-GPU clusters.
- Customizable GPU, vCPU, and memory allocations to match workload demands.
6. Integration with Azure Services
- Compatible with Azure Machine Learning, Azure Storage, and AI tools.
- Supports NVIDIA CUDA, cuDNN, TensorFlow, PyTorch, and visualization frameworks for optimized workloads.
Use Cases
- AI and Machine Learning: Large-scale model training and inference.
- High-Performance Computing (HPC): Simulations, scientific research, and data modeling.
- Graphics Rendering and Visualization: GPU-accelerated rendering for media and scientific applications.
- Data Analytics: GPU-accelerated analytics and real-time processing.
Instance Types and Specifications
| Instance Type | vCPUs | Memory | GPUs | GPU Memory | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NG8 | 8 | 112 GB | 1 x A100 | 40 GB | InfiniBand / 25 Gbps |
| NG16 | 16 | 224 GB | 2 x A100 | 80 GB | InfiniBand / 50 Gbps |
| NG32 | 32 | 448 GB | 4 x A100 | 160 GB | InfiniBand / 100 Gbps |
Note: Specifications and availability vary by region. See the Azure NG-Series VMs page for current details.
Conclusion
Azure NG-series VMs provide state-of-the-art GPU performance for AI, HPC, graphics, and data-intensive workloads. With NVIDIA A100 GPUs, massive GPU memory, and high-speed networking, NG-series VMs are ideal for enterprises, researchers, and developers running next-generation GPU workloads on Azure.