As enterprise demand for computing power grows, processor efficiency has become a critical factor in cloud performance and cost control. Traditional CPU benchmarks often focus on artificial peak performance, which might not accurately represent how systems handle real-world, production-scale workloads. To address this gap, this study evaluates processor performance in practical scenarios such as large-scale online transaction processing (OLTP) databases, real-time analytics, and AI-driven decision engines.
This report compares Microsoft® SQL Server® workloads running in Microsoft Azure® across multiple virtual machine (VM) types and processor generations. The study tested Azure E-series VMs powered by 5th Gen and 3rd Gen Intel® Xeon® Scalable processors against E-series VMs powered by 3rd and 4th Generation AMD EPYC™ processors. Additional testing was conducted on FX-series FX48mds v2 and FX4mds v2 VMs, comparing performance between 5th Gen Intel Xeon processors and 2nd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors.
The findings show that Azure Eds v6 VMs with 5th Gen Intel Xeon processors deliver measurable gains in compute and AI performance, stronger power efficiency, and integrated security enhancements. These advantages make them a compelling choice for organizations seeking scalable, cost-effective infrastructure that is well-suited for future workloads. By delivering more performance per vCPU and higher workload consolidation, organizations can significantly reduce costs and more effectively maximize the long-term total cost of ownership (TCO) benefits of Intel Xeon processors.
TL;DR
Intel Xeon processors on Microsoft Azure deliver strong performance and cost-efficiency for SQL Server workloads. In testing by Prowess Consulting, Azure DV5-series VMs with Intel Xeon Platinum 8370C processors outperformed older D-series VMs by up to 1.45x in throughput and reduced cost per transaction by up to 31%. These results show that upgrading to newer Intel processor–powered Azure instances can improve workload efficiency and lower operational costs for financial services and enterprise IT teams.
Evidence: See Figures 1–3 and Appendix B in the source.
FAQ
Q: How much performance improvement can I expect by upgrading to newer Intel Xeon processor–powered VMs on Azure?
A: Azure DV5-series VMs with Intel Xeon Platinum 8370C processors delivered up to 1.45x higher throughput compared to older D-series VMs.
Evidence: Figure 1.
Q: What is the cost benefit of using newer Intel Xeon processor–based VMs for SQL Server?
A: The newer DV5-series VMs reduced cost per transaction by up to 31% compared to older D-series VMs.
Evidence: Figure 2.
Q: Are these results relevant for financial services workloads?
A: Yes. The tested workloads simulate transactional database operations common in financial services, making the findings directly applicable.
Evidence: “Workload Overview” section.
Q: What VM configurations were tested?
A: The study compared Azure DV5-series VMs (powered by Intel Xeon Platinum 8370C processors) with DV3-series VMs (powered by Intel Xeon Platinum 8171M processors), using 8 vCPUs and 32 GiB memory.
Evidence: Table 1.
Q: Is the testing methodology reliable?
A: Prowess Consulting used the HammerDB TPROC-C benchmark with consistent configurations across VMs, ensuring fair comparisons.
Evidence: Appendix A.
Q: Does this apply to other SQL Server workloads?
A: While the benchmark focused on transactional workloads, the performance and cost trends may extend to other SQL Server use cases.
Evidence: “Conclusion” section.
Explore more research from Prowess Consulting: https://prowessconsulting.com/labs/