Quick Answer
The correct answer is Standard_E8s_v5 and Standard_M8ms, as both provide at least 8 vCPUs and 64 GiB of RAM for memory-heavy workloads. The E8s_v5 is a memory-optimized size with a balanced memory-to-core ratio, ideal for reporting applications that need consistent performance, while the M8ms offers even more memory headroom for short spikes without dropping below the requirement. On the AZ-104 exam, this tests your ability to match workload demands to the right Azure VM series, specifically distinguishing between memory-optimized (E-series) and memory-intensive (M-series) families. A common trap is choosing a general-purpose size like the D8s_v5, which meets the vCPU count but lacks the memory-to-core ratio for sustained memory-bound tasks. Remember the tip: “E for Efficient memory, M for Massive memory”—E-series fits exact minimums, M-series provides extra headroom for spikes.
This AZ-104 practice question tests your understanding of deploy and manage azure compute. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. A key principle to apply: azure VM 'E' series are optimized for memory-intensive workloads.. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A reporting application must run on an Azure VM with at least 8 vCPUs and 64 GiB of RAM. The team also wants headroom for short spikes without falling below the requirement. Which two VM sizes meet or exceed the requirement? Select two.
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "least"
Why it matters: You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
Standard_E8s_v5
Meets the requirement exactly with 8 vCPUs and 64 GiB of memory.
Standard_D8s_v5
Why wrong: Has 8 vCPUs, but it provides only 32 GiB of memory.
Standard_F8s_v2
Why wrong: Provides 8 vCPUs, but the memory amount is far below 64 GiB.
Standard_M8ms
Meets the requirement and adds substantial memory headroom for growth.
Standard_B8ms
Why wrong: Is burstable and memory-limited, so it is not a steady reporting fit.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Standard_E8s_v5
Standard_E8s_v5 is correct because it provides 8 vCPUs and 64 GiB of RAM, meeting the minimum requirement exactly. The E-series is memory-optimized, offering a high memory-to-core ratio suitable for reporting workloads, and the v5 generation includes Intel Xeon Platinum 8370C processors with support for premium storage and accelerated networking, ensuring headroom for short spikes without dropping below the requirement.
Key principle: Azure VM 'E' series are optimized for memory-intensive workloads.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Standard_E8s_v5
Why this is correct
Meets the requirement exactly with 8 vCPUs and 64 GiB of memory.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Azure VM 'E' series are optimized for memory-intensive workloads.
Standard_D8s_v5
Why it's wrong here
Has 8 vCPUs, but it provides only 32 GiB of memory.
Standard_F8s_v2
Why it's wrong here
Provides 8 vCPUs, but the memory amount is far below 64 GiB.
Standard_M8ms
Why this is correct
Meets the requirement and adds substantial memory headroom for growth.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Azure VM 'E' series are optimized for memory-intensive workloads.
Standard_B8ms
Why it's wrong here
Is burstable and memory-limited, so it is not a steady reporting fit.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often overlook the RAM requirement and select sizes like Standard_D8s_v5 or Standard_B8ms because they see '8 vCPUs' and assume the RAM is sufficient, but the D-series and B-series provide only 32 GiB of RAM, not the required 64 GiB.
Detailed technical explanation
The E-series (memory-optimized) and M-series (memory-optimized with large memory-to-core ratios) are designed for workloads like reporting databases and in-memory analytics. The M8ms offers 8 vCPUs and 218 GiB of RAM, far exceeding the requirement, but its high memory can be cost-prohibitive if not needed. Under the hood, Azure VM sizes are defined by the Azure Resource Manager with specific constraints on vCPU count, RAM, temporary storage, and network bandwidth; the v5 generation uses the Intel Xeon Platinum 8370C (Ice Lake) processor, which supports Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 for short spikes, and the M-series uses Intel Xeon Platinum 8280 (Cascade Lake) with up to 4 TB of memory per VM. Real-world scenario: a reporting application with large in-memory datasets benefits from the E-series' balanced memory-to-core ratio, while the M-series is overkill unless the dataset exceeds 64 GiB and requires additional memory for caching or concurrent queries.
Key takeaway
Azure VM 'E' series are optimized for memory-intensive workloads.
Real-world example
A media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Review azure VM 'E' series are optimized for memory-intensive workloads., then practise related AZ-104 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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FAQ
Deploy and Manage Azure Compute — This question tests Deploy and Manage Azure Compute — Azure VM 'E' series are optimized for memory-intensive workloads..
The correct answer is: Standard_E8s_v5 — Standard_E8s_v5 is correct because it provides 8 vCPUs and 64 GiB of RAM, meeting the minimum requirement exactly. The E-series is memory-optimized, offering a high memory-to-core ratio suitable for reporting workloads, and the v5 generation includes Intel Xeon Platinum 8370C processors with support for premium storage and accelerated networking, ensuring headroom for short spikes without dropping below the requirement.
Review azure VM 'E' series are optimized for memory-intensive workloads., then practise related AZ-104 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Yes — watch for: "least". You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
Azure VM 'E' series are optimized for memory-intensive workloads.
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Same concept, more angles
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A reporting application needs an Azure VM with at least 8 vCPUs and 64 GiB of RAM. The workload is memory-heavy, and the team wants a reasonable starting point. Which VM family should the administrator choose?
easyWhy C: The E-series (memory-optimized) VM family is designed for memory-intensive workloads, offering a high memory-to-CPU ratio. With a requirement of at least 8 vCPUs and 64 GiB of RAM, the E-series provides the necessary memory capacity (e.g., E8s_v3 offers 8 vCPUs and 64 GiB RAM) as a reasonable starting point for a memory-heavy reporting application.
Variation 2. A reporting application will run on a single Azure VM and needs 8 vCPUs, 64 GiB of RAM, and a temporary local disk for cache. The team wants a size that satisfies the requirement without oversizing memory or paying for an unnecessarily large specialty series. Which two VM sizes meet the requirement best? Select two.
hardWhy A: The E8as_v5 is correct because it provides 8 vCPUs and 64 GiB of RAM, matching the requirement exactly, and includes a temporary local disk (SSD) for cache. It belongs to the memory-optimized Esv5 series, which is designed for memory-intensive workloads without oversizing, and the 'as' variant includes local temporary storage.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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