- A
Select a memory-optimized VM family.
Correct. Memory-optimized families are intended for workloads where RAM is more important than raw CPU throughput.
- B
Choose a size with at least 8 vCPUs and 64 GiB of RAM.
Correct. The VM must meet both the CPU and memory requirements before any other tuning matters.
- C
Choose a burstable B-series size to lower cost.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Burstable SKUs are for light or variable workloads and usually have poor memory-to-CPU balance for analytics.
- D
Pick a compute-optimized F-series size because CPU use is only moderate.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Compute-optimized sizes favor CPU-bound work, not memory-heavy analytics engines.
- E
Select the smallest VM size that supports managed disks.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Disk compatibility does not address the stated CPU and memory needs of the workload.
Selecting Memory-Optimized VM Sizes
This AZ-104 practice question tests your understanding of deploy and manage azure compute. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. A key principle to apply: azure VM families are optimized for different 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 server will run an analytics engine that needs 8 vCPUs and 64 GiB of RAM. Average CPU use is expected to stay moderate, but the workload is memory heavy and should not use a burstable SKU. Which two deployment choices best align with the requirement? Select two.
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
Select a memory-optimized VM family.
Option A is correct because the workload is memory heavy, and memory-optimized VM families (e.g., E-series) are designed with a higher memory-to-vCPU ratio to handle such workloads efficiently. Option B is correct because the requirement explicitly states 8 vCPUs and 64 GiB of RAM, so selecting a size that meets these exact specifications is necessary, regardless of family, as long as it is not burstable.
Key principle: Azure VM families are optimized for different workloads.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Select a memory-optimized VM family.
Why this is correct
Correct. Memory-optimized families are intended for workloads where RAM is more important than raw CPU throughput.
Related concept
Azure VM families are optimized for different workloads.
- ✓
Choose a size with at least 8 vCPUs and 64 GiB of RAM.
- ✗
Choose a burstable B-series size to lower cost.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Burstable SKUs are for light or variable workloads and usually have poor memory-to-CPU balance for analytics.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question specified a workload with low average CPU usage and occasional spikes, and cost reduction was a priority without mentioning 'no burstable SKU', then a B-series size would be correct.
- ✗
Pick a compute-optimized F-series size because CPU use is only moderate.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Compute-optimized sizes favor CPU-bound work, not memory-heavy analytics engines.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question described a CPU-intensive workload (e.g., batch processing, high-frequency trading) with moderate memory needs and no burstable requirement, then a compute-optimized F-series would be the correct choice.
- ✗
Select the smallest VM size that supports managed disks.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Disk compatibility does not address the stated CPU and memory needs of the workload.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question asked for the most cost-effective VM size that supports managed disks for a lightweight application with no specific vCPU or memory requirements, selecting the smallest such size would be correct.
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.
✓Select a memory-optimized VM family.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
Correct. Memory-optimized families are intended for workloads where RAM is more important than raw CPU throughput.
✗Choose a burstable B-series size to lower cost.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The question explicitly states 'should not use a burstable SKU', so choosing a B-series size violates that requirement. B-series VMs are burstable and not suitable for sustained memory-heavy workloads.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question specified a workload with low average CPU usage and occasional spikes, and cost reduction was a priority without mentioning 'no burstable SKU', then a B-series size would be correct.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think B-series is cost-effective for moderate CPU usage, overlooking the explicit 'no burstable' constraint and the memory-heavy nature of the workload.
✗Pick a compute-optimized F-series size because CPU use is only moderate.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The workload is memory-heavy, requiring a memory-optimized VM family. Compute-optimized F-series is designed for CPU-intensive tasks, not memory-intensive ones, and does not prioritize memory performance.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question described a CPU-intensive workload (e.g., batch processing, high-frequency trading) with moderate memory needs and no burstable requirement, then a compute-optimized F-series would be the correct choice.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may mistakenly think that 'moderate CPU use' implies a compute-optimized VM is appropriate, overlooking the explicit memory-heavy requirement that demands a memory-optimized family.
✗Select the smallest VM size that supports managed disks.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The requirement specifies at least 8 vCPUs and 64 GiB of RAM, and the smallest VM size supporting managed disks may not meet these minimums, especially for memory-heavy workloads.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question asked for the most cost-effective VM size that supports managed disks for a lightweight application with no specific vCPU or memory requirements, selecting the smallest such size would be correct.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think that any VM supporting managed disks is sufficient, overlooking the explicit resource requirements (8 vCPUs, 64 GiB RAM) and the memory-heavy nature of the workload.
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?”
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may assume a moderate CPU workload automatically calls for a compute-optimized SKU (F-series), ignoring the memory-heavy requirement that necessitates a memory-optimized family.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Memory-optimized VM families like the E-series use Intel Xeon processors and provide up to 12 GiB of RAM per vCPU, ideal for in-memory analytics or large database workloads. Under the hood, Azure allocates dedicated memory pages and NUMA nodes to ensure low latency for memory-intensive processes, which burstable B-series cannot guarantee due to CPU credit throttling. In a real-world scenario, an analytics engine like SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) would fail to load large datasets into memory if the VM lacks sufficient RAM, even if vCPU count is adequate.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Azure VM families are optimized for different workloads.
- Memory-optimized VMs (e.g., E-series, M-series) have high memory-to-CPU ratios.
- Burstable B-series VMs are for light, variable workloads and are not suitable for sustained, memory-heavy tasks.
- Compute-optimized VMs (e.g., F-series) prioritize CPU performance over memory.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Azure VM families are optimized for different workloads.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review azure VM families are optimized for different workloads., then practise related AZ-104 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-104 question test?
Deploy and Manage Azure Compute — This question tests Deploy and Manage Azure Compute — Azure VM families are optimized for different workloads..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Select a memory-optimized VM family. — Option A is correct because the workload is memory heavy, and memory-optimized VM families (e.g., E-series) are designed with a higher memory-to-vCPU ratio to handle such workloads efficiently. Option B is correct because the requirement explicitly states 8 vCPUs and 64 GiB of RAM, so selecting a size that meets these exact specifications is necessary, regardless of family, as long as it is not burstable.
What should I do if I get this AZ-104 question wrong?
Review azure VM families are optimized for different workloads., then practise related AZ-104 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Azure VM families are optimized for different workloads.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
3 more ways this is tested on AZ-104
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 server will run an in-memory analytics application that needs 8 vCPUs and 64 GiB of RAM. The administrator wants a VM family that is a good fit for memory-heavy workloads. Which VM family should be chosen?
easy- ✓ A.Memory-optimized VM family
- B.Burstable VM family
- C.Compute-optimized VM family
- D.Storage-optimized VM family
Why A: Memory-optimized VM families (e.g., Azure E-series) are designed for workloads that require a high memory-to-vCPU ratio, such as in-memory analytics applications. The requirement of 64 GiB of RAM for 8 vCPUs (8:1 ratio) aligns with the memory-optimized profile, which offers up to 8 GiB per vCPU or more, ensuring the application's data fits entirely in RAM for low-latency processing.
Variation 2. 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?
medium- A.B-series, because burstable credits handle temporary spikes economically
- B.D-series, because it balances general-purpose CPU and memory
- ✓ C.E-series, because it provides memory-optimized sizing for data-intensive workloads
- D.F-series, because it is optimized for high CPU throughput
Why C: 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.
Variation 3. A reporting server will run an in-memory analytics workload that needs 8 vCPUs and 64 GiB RAM. CPU usage is expected to stay moderate, but the application benefits most from memory capacity. Which VM family should the administrator choose as the starting point?
medium- A.B-series
- B.D-series
- C.F-series
- ✓ D.E-series
Why D: The E-series (memory-optimized) VM family is designed for in-memory analytics workloads that require high memory-to-CPU ratios. With 8 vCPUs and 64 GiB RAM, the workload demands 8 GiB per vCPU, which aligns with E-series specifications (typically 8–16 GiB per vCPU). D-series offers a balanced ratio (4 GiB per vCPU) and would not provide sufficient memory capacity for this workload.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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