# What is the difference between a dedicated vCPU and a shared vCPU?

In cloud computing, Virtual Central Processing Units (vCPUs) are a key resource Zenlayer offers customers. There are two types of vCPUs: dedicated and shared.

Dedicated vCPUs are assigned to a specific virtual machine and are not shared with any other virtual machines. This means that the vCPUs are dedicated solely to the use of that particular virtual machine. Dedicated vCPUs offer higher performance and predictability, as they are not subject to contention or interference from other virtual machines.

Shared vCPUs, on the other hand, are shared among multiple virtual machines. This means that the resources of the physical CPU are divided among several virtual machines, which can lead to contention and interference. Shared vCPUs are typically less expensive than dedicated vCPUs and are a good choice for workloads that are not CPU-intensive.

The choice between dedicated and shared vCPUs depends on the specific requirements of the workload. If the workload requires high performance and predictability, dedicated vCPUs are the better choice. If cost is a primary consideration and the workload is not CPU-intensive, shared vCPUs may be a good option.


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