Posted On: Oct 9, 2020

Amazon Aurora with PostgreSQL compatibility now supports T3 and R5 class database instances. Using T3 database instances with Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL is a cost-effective option for smaller workloads such as test, dev, and QA, while still giving you the option to use larger R5 class instances for production deployments. 

T3 database instances provide a baseline level of CPU performance, with the ability to burst CPU usage at any time for as long as required. They offer a balance of compute, memory, and network resources and are ideal for database workloads with moderate CPU usage that experience temporary spikes in use. When a workload is operating below the baseline threshold, your T3 instance accumulates CPU credits. Each earned CPU credit provides the instance with the opportunity to burst with the performance of a full CPU core for one minute when needed. Amazon Aurora T3 database instances are configured for Unlimited Mode, which means they can burst beyond the baseline over a 24-hour window for an additional charge. 

R5 database instances are based on the Amazon EC2 Nitro System, a combination of dedicated hardware and a lightweight hypervisor that delivers practically all the compute and memory resources of the host hardware to your database instance. With a 1:8 vCPU to memory ratio, R5 database instances are well suited for running memory-intensive database workloads such as transaction processing, data warehousing and analytics. Depending on your workload, you may be able to achieve up to a 70% performance boost as compared to R4 database instances. 

You can easily create a new Aurora PostgreSQL T3 and R5 database instance, or modify your existing Aurora database instance to scale to these instances, in the Amazon RDS Management Console. Please refer to the Amazon Aurora User Guide for more details, and to find out which Aurora versions are supported. For pricing and regional availability, see Amazon Aurora Pricing

Amazon Aurora combines the performance and availability of high-end commercial databases with the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of open source databases. It provides up to three times better performance than the typical PostgreSQL database, together with increased scalability, durability, and security. To learn more about Amazon Aurora with PostgreSQL compatibility, please visit our product page.