Amazon extends EC2 cloud with Nvidia Grid GPU instances for 3D graphics

Amazon customers can now access instances optimised for graphics workloads

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has added new G2 instances to its Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) service equipped with Nvidia Grid GPU capabilities to accelerate server-side graphics workloads that call for massively parallel processing power.

Available now, the new G2 virtual machine instances are initially supported in select AWS regions including the US and the EU, with other AWS regions to be added over the coming months.

The new instances are designed for applications that require 3D graphics capabilities, according to Amazon. With 1,536 parallel processing cores, the Nvidia Grid GPU backing each instance makes them suitable for video creation services, 3D visualisations and streaming graphics-intensive applications, the firm said.

Amazon launched its first cluster GPU instances two years ago, but today's update allows customers to accelerate workloads beyond the high performance computing (HPC) workloads that the first generation was intended to optimise, according to Amazon EC2 vice president Matt Garman.

"By enabling the use of DirectX and OpenGL, G2 instances allow developers to cost-effectively build scalable, fast 3D applications on Amazon EC2 and deliver high-performance 3D graphics using the cloud," he said.

Nvidia claimed that the new instances will greatly benefit software as a service (SaaS) providers, who will be able to build cloud-based offerings with extreme graphics performance for design, visualisation, media creation, games and more.

Internet connected devices such as PCs, Macs, tablets, smart TVs and smartphones can now tap the tremendous power of GPUs to better meet the needs of scientists, researchers, designers, engineers and gamers, the firm said.

Each g2.2xlarge instance provides 15GB memory, 26 EC2 Compute Units, One Nvidia Grid GPU and 60GB of local instance storage. G2 instances are available under On-Demand, Reserved and Spot purchasing options, Amazon said.