c4a-standard-1 by Google Cloud Platform

A dedicated single-core virtual machine offering a balanced memory-to-CPU ratio for lightweight, predictable, and cost-efficient entry-level workloads.

Google Cloud Platform c4a-standard-1 is an entry-level, general-purpose virtual machine instance configured with 1 dedicated vCPU and 4.0 GB of system memory. Utilizing the x86_64 CPU architecture, this instance delivers a balanced 1:4 vCPU-to-RAM ratio designed for consistent, predictable performance without the resource sharing of burstable configurations. The instance does not feature local storage or integrated GPU hardware, requiring network-attached storage for data persistence. This resource profile makes the c4a-standard-1 highly cost-efficient for running lightweight, single-threaded applications, development environments, and small-scale web servers. It serves as a stable foundation for microservices and basic background tasks that require dedicated compute resources without the overhead of larger multi-core configurations.