AZ-104 Deploy and Manage Azure Compute Practice Question
A reporting server VM will run an analytics engine that uses a large in-memory cache. Required minimums are 8 vCPUs and 64 GiB of RAM, and the workload benefits more from memory than from extra compute. Which Azure VM series is the best fit?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that candidates see '8 vCPUs and 64 GiB RAM' and assume a general-purpose D-series is sufficient, overlooking that the workload benefits more from memory than compute, which directly points to the memory-optimized E-series as the most cost-effective and performant choice.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
E-series, because it provides memory-optimized sizing for data-intensive workloads
The E-series (specifically Ev3, Esv3, or Ebsv5) is memory-optimized, offering the highest memory-to-vCPU ratio among Azure general-purpose families. With a requirement of 64 GiB RAM and only 8 vCPUs, the workload benefits more from memory than compute, making the E-series the best fit. D-series provides balanced ratios but not the memory density needed, while F-series and B-series are compute- or burst-oriented and lack sufficient memory per vCPU.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
B-series, because burstable credits handle temporary spikes economically
Why it's wrong here
B-series VMs rely on burstable credits to handle temporary CPU spikes, but their memory capacity is fixed and not especially large relative to CPU. A reporting analytics engine typically runs sustained, memory-intensive queries that would exhaust credits quickly and then throttle CPU, while the memory constraint remains unmet. Even with an economical credit model, B-series cannot provide the consistent high-memory environment this workload demands, making it unsuitable regardless of burst behavior.
When this WOULD be correct
A web server that experiences sporadic traffic spikes (e.g., a marketing campaign site) and can tolerate lower baseline performance, where burstable credits reduce cost while handling short bursts.
- ✗
D-series, because it balances general-purpose CPU and memory
Why it's wrong here
D-series VMs strike a general-purpose balance between CPU and memory, making them a safe default for many enterprise apps. However, an analytics engine that needs a large memory footprint relative to CPU will likely require a vCPU count that overshoots compute needs just to get enough RAM, driving up cost. Since the workload explicitly benefits from memory-optimized sizing, D-series is less efficient than E-series and may not even offer the high memory-per-vCPU ratios required.
When this WOULD be correct
A question where the workload has balanced CPU and memory requirements, such as a web server or small database that needs moderate resources without a specific memory or compute bias, and cost is a primary concern.
- ✓
E-series, because it provides memory-optimized sizing for data-intensive workloads
Why this is correct
E-series VMs are memory optimized, which makes them a strong fit when the workload needs more RAM relative to CPU. A server running an in-memory cache or analytics engine benefits from that higher memory footprint, and the family includes sizes that satisfy the stated minimums.
- ✗
F-series, because it is optimized for high CPU throughput
Why it's wrong here
F-series VMs are optimized for high CPU throughput, with a high vCPU-to-memory ratio that suits compute-bound tasks like batch processing or video encoding. An analytics engine that relies on a large in-memory working set would exhaust the limited RAM per vCPU, causing constant swapping or failure to load data. Thus, despite strong processing power, F-series fails to meet the memory-saturation requirements of the reporting workload.
When this WOULD be correct
An exam scenario where the workload is CPU-intensive, such as batch processing or high-frequency trading, with no special memory requirements, and cost is a concern.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The AZ-104 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓E-series, because it provides memory-optimized sizing for data-intensive workloadsCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
E-series VMs are memory optimized, which makes them a strong fit when the workload needs more RAM relative to CPU. A server running an in-memory cache or analytics engine benefits from that higher memory footprint, and the family includes sizes that satisfy the stated minimums.
✗B-series, because burstable credits handle temporary spikes economicallyWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The B-series is designed for workloads with low baseline CPU usage and occasional bursts, not for sustained high memory usage. The analytics engine requires consistent high memory (64 GiB) and compute (8 vCPUs), which burstable credits cannot reliably provide.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A web server that experiences sporadic traffic spikes (e.g., a marketing campaign site) and can tolerate lower baseline performance, where burstable credits reduce cost while handling short bursts.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think burstable credits offer a cost-effective way to handle the workload's memory demands, overlooking that the workload requires sustained high memory and compute, not just occasional bursts.
✗D-series, because it balances general-purpose CPU and memoryWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The D-series is a general-purpose VM that balances CPU and memory, but the workload requires memory optimization (large in-memory cache) and benefits more from memory than compute, making the memory-optimized E-series a better fit.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question where the workload has balanced CPU and memory requirements, such as a web server or small database that needs moderate resources without a specific memory or compute bias, and cost is a primary concern.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may default to the familiar D-series as a safe, general-purpose choice without recognizing that the workload's emphasis on memory over compute calls for a specialized memory-optimized series.
✗F-series, because it is optimized for high CPU throughputWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The F-series is compute-optimized for high CPU throughput, but this workload benefits more from memory than extra compute, making it unsuitable for the large in-memory cache requirement.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
An exam scenario where the workload is CPU-intensive, such as batch processing or high-frequency trading, with no special memory requirements, and cost is a concern.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse 'high performance' with memory optimization, or assume that any analytics engine needs high CPU, overlooking the specific memory-cache benefit.
Analysis generated from the official AZ-104blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
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This AZ-104 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the AZ-104 exam.