n4-highcpu-2vsn4a-highcpu-2
n4a-highcpu-2 is 15% cheaper than n4-highcpu-2 on demand in Iowa, saving $8.39 a month. They use different processor architectures (x86_64 and arm64), so software built for one may need rebuilding to run on the other.
| At a glance | n4-highcpu-2 | n4a-highcpu-2 |
|---|---|---|
| On-demand | $0.0765/hr | $0.065/hr15% less |
| Lowest rate | $0.0452/hrSpot, can be interrupted | $0.0234/hr48% lessSpot, can be interrupted |
| Size | 2 vCPUs, 4 GiB | 2 vCPUs, 4 GiB |
| Processor | Intel Xeon (Emerald Rapids) | Google Axion |
| Architecture | x86_64 | arm64 |
Prices in Iowa
“Off” is the discount against each type’s own on-demand price. Linux, USD per hour.
| Option | n4-highcpu-2 | n4a-highcpu-2 | n4a-highcpu-2 vs n4-highcpu-2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-demandPay by the hour | $0.0765 | $0.065 | ▼ 15% |
| SpotCan be interrupted | 41% off$0.0452 | 64% off$0.0234 | ▼ 48% |
| 1-yr committed useNo upfront | 37% off$0.0482 | 34% off$0.0429 | ▼ 11% |
| 3-yr committed useNo upfront | 55% off$0.0344 | 55% off$0.0292 | ▼ 15% |
Key differences
The biggest lead each one has.
Where n4-highcpu-2 leads
Max persistent disks128 vs 16
8× higherWhere n4a-highcpu-2 leads
On-demand price$0.065 vs $0.0765 per hour
15% cheaperSpecs
5 of 11 specs differ. Those are in bold.
| Compute2 of 3 differ | n4-highcpu-2 | n4a-highcpu-2 |
|---|---|---|
| vCPUs | 2 | 2 |
| Architecture | x86_64 | arm64 |
| Processor | Intel Xeon (Emerald Rapids) | Google Axion |
| MemoryAll 1 match | n4-highcpu-2 | n4a-highcpu-2 |
|---|---|---|
| Memory (GiB) | 4 | 4 |
| NetworkingAll 1 match | n4-highcpu-2 | n4a-highcpu-2 |
|---|---|---|
| Network | Up to 10 Gbps | Up to 10 Gbps |
| Storage1 of 2 differ | n4-highcpu-2 | n4a-highcpu-2 |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | Network disks only | Network disks only |
| Max persistent disks | 128 | 16 |
| Instance details1 of 2 differ | n4-highcpu-2 | n4a-highcpu-2 |
|---|---|---|
| Family | n4 | n4a |
| Category | General purpose | General purpose |
| Other1 of 2 differ | n4-highcpu-2 | n4a-highcpu-2 |
|---|---|---|
| Series | N4 | N4A |
| Specs source | Compute Engine API | Compute Engine API |
On-demand prices by region
Cheapest for n4-highcpu-2 first. Linux, USD per hour.
| Region | n4-highcpu-2 | n4a-highcpu-2 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| IowaUsed in summaryus-central1 | $0.0765 | $0.065 | ▼ 15% |
| Northern Virginiaus-east4 | $0.0765 | $0.065 | ▼ 15% |
| Oregonus-west1 | $0.0765 | $0.065 | ▼ 15% |
| South Carolinaus-east1 | $0.0765 | $0.065 | ▼ 15% |
| Netherlandseurope-west4 | $0.0804 | $0.0682 | ▼ 15% |
| Belgiumeurope-west1 | $0.0843 | $0.0715 | ▼ 15% |
| Londoneurope-west2 | $0.0873 | $0.074 | ▼ 15% |
| Frankfurteurope-west3 | $0.0903 | $0.0766 | ▼ 15% |
| Singaporeasia-southeast1 | $0.0944 | $0.0801 | ▼ 15% |
Keep exploring
Each type’s own page, and how it compares with others.
GCP Compute Engine Linux prices in USD. Monthly figures use 730 hours. Prices last updated 12 Nov 2026.