Softdrive SD1 vs. Azure NVadsA10 v5

January 28, 2025

Executive Summary

Softdrive and Azure provide a long list of virtual desktop options, offering both GPU and CPU, therefore this paper will explore one of Softdrive’s most popular options, the SD1, compared to Azure’s NVadsA10 v5. In short, Softdrive’s SD1 offers a compelling alternative to Microsoft Azure's NVadsA10 v5, delivering superior cost-efficiency, streamlined deployment, and enhanced performance for organizations seeking a powerful yet accessible cloud VDI solution. Softdrive SD1 is a cost-effective, all-inclusive alternative with a flat $150/month rate compared to Azure’s $532.90/month plus additional fees for storage and networking. When storage fees and bandwidth are accounted for Azure's true cost is $592.25 including standard storage and bandwidth and $630.40 for premium storage and bandwidth; more than 3 times the amount of Softdrive’s SD1. With a quick two-hour deployment requiring little to no technical skill, SD1 is significantly easier to set up than Azure’s complex configuration. There are minor differences in the SKUs, with NVadsA10 v5 providing more RAM (55 GB vs. 32 GB), Softdrive’s shapes can be customized as required. Softdrive also delivers superior processing power (8 cores vs. 6) and persistent storage for enhanced multitasking and workload efficiency. Integrated management tools simplify scaling, making SD1 the optimal choice for organizations seeking affordability, performance, and ease of use at one-third the cost of Azure.

Introduction

The Softdrive SD1 and Azure NVadsA10 v5 configurations represent two tailored VDI solutions designed for organizations requiring entry high-performance virtual desktops. As businesses increasingly transition to cloud-based infrastructure, the demand for powerful, cost-effective virtual desktop solutions has grown substantially. Both platforms leverage the advanced capabilities of the Nvidia A10 Tensor Core GPU to deliver robust graphics performance, but differ significantly in their approach to resource allocation, management, and pricing structures. This white paper compares these offerings, focusing on their use of the Nvidia A10 Tensor Core GPU and highlighting key differences in performance, cost, and operational efficiency, enabling organizations to make informed decisions about their VDI infrastructure investments.

Product Specifications

We chose to compare the SD1 configuration with Azure's NVadsA10 v5 because they represent similarly matched GPU capabilities and target use cases. Both providers offer a list of unique configurations; however, the SD1 and NVadsA10 v5 configurations represent the most common enterprise deployment options; making them ideal for comparison. The configurations target professional workloads requiring dedicated GPU resources, making them the standard choice for most 3D business applications.

Softdrive SD1

CPU: 8 cores
RAM: 32 GB (can be customized)
GPU: Nvidia A10 Tensor Core (4GB memory)
Storage: 150 GB persistent storage
Region: East US¹

Azure NVadsA10 v5

CPU: 6 cores
RAM: 55 GB
GPU: Nvidia A10 Tensor Core (4GB memory)
Storage: 180 GB temporary SSD
Region: East US²

Technical Comparison

Hardware Components

Both configurations utilize the Nvidia A10 Tensor Core GPU with 4 GB memory, providing robust graphics performance for VDI workloads.³ Softdrive SD1 offers superior processing power with 8 CPU cores compared to Azure's 6 cores, while Azure provides additional RAM at 55 GB versus Softdrive's 32 GB. Notably, Softdrive's 150 GB persistent storage offers greater reliability than Azure's 180 GB temporary SSD.⁴

Performance and Scalability

Softdrive SD1 delivers consistent performance with its higher core count and persistent storage, particularly beneficial for multitasking and sustained workloads. While Azure's additional RAM may benefit specific memory-intensive applications, this advantage is often underutilized in typical VDI scenarios.

Both platforms support horizontal scaling, but Softdrive's SD1 implementation requires significantly less administrative overhead. Softdrive's integrated management tools streamline deployment and scaling processes, while Azure's approach necessitates additional configuration of supporting services.

Cost Analysis

‍This Cost Analysis explores the Pricing Structure and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for Softdrive SD1 and Azure NVadsA10 v5. We've utilized the online Azure Pricing Calculator to build a standard and premium NVadsA10 v5 configuration. The Pricing Structure figures include Compute, Storage, Bandwidth and OS license costs. The Total Cost Of Ownership (TCO) include labor costs applied at setup and installation/deployment. The Pricing Structure costs are incurred monthly. The labor is a one time cost incurred at setup and added to the Pricing Structure figures to arrive at the TCO.

Pricing Structure

Softdrive SD1: $150/month flat rate includes 150 GB persistent storage and 1 TB bandwidth.⁵
- OS license not included. Softdrive’s default templates come with an unlicensed version of Windows Pro. Microsoft's recommendation is that customers bring their own licenses, which is the model Softdrive follows. The retail price for a Windows 11 Pro license is $199.99.⁶ Amortized over a three year period this equates to $5.56 monthly.

*Azure NVadsA10 v5: $0.73/hour ($532.90/month for continuous usage)*

Azure NVadsA10 v5: $532.90/month for continuous usage⁷ (capacity constraints for on/off usage) not including storage, bandwidth, and labor.
- Persistent storage is $9.60/$19.20 (Standard SSD/Premium SSD)
- Bandwidth is $49.75/$78.30 (depending on specifications).
  - Cost for Azure NVadsA10 v5 with Standard SSD storage and bandwidth is between $592.25 - $630.40 with Premium SSD storage and bandwidth; before labor costs.

*Price Structure: SD1 vs. Azure NVadsA10 v5 (Standard) vs. Azure NVadsA10 v5 (Premium)*

*Standard SSD 128 GiB storage costs $9.60 with Azure.⁸*

*Premium SSD 128 GiB storage costs $19.20 with Azure.⁹*

*1 TB of Inter Region Data Transfer Type bandwidth costs $49.75 with Azure.¹⁰*

*1 TB of Internet Egress Bandwidth Data Transfer Type costs $78.30 with Azure.¹¹*

‍Total Cost of Ownership

The Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) is calculated by adding the monthly cost for each solution including compute, OS license, storage and bandwidth with the setup and installation/deployment costs (labor). According to Glassdoor, the average salary of a Cloud Solutions Architect is $162K annually¹² which also corresponds with Talent.com’s quoted average pay of $160,983 or $77.40 per hour.¹³

*TCO: SD1 vs. Azure NVadsA10 v5 (Standard) vs. Azure NVadsA10 v5 (Premium)*

Softdrive’s 2 hour setup time at $77.40 per hour equals $154.80 in labor costs.

Deploying with Azure is a complicated, manual process involving multiple steps, including planning and creating resources, deploying the VM, installing GPU drivers, and verifying and optimizing the setup. These steps, combined with the complexity of configuring virtual networks, storage accounts, and security groups, can result in deployment times measured in days or weeks rather than hours.¹⁴ For the standard configuration example we’ve selected 6 hours setup and for the premium configuration we’ve selected 12.

*Azure NVadsA10 v5 with Standard SSD persistent storage, 1 TB Inter Region bandwidth and 6 hours labor.*

*Azure NVadsA10 v5 with Premium SSD persistent storage, 1 TB Internet Egress bandwidth and 12 hours labor.*

Operational Considerations

Deployment

Softdrive SD1 reduces deployment time to just 2 hours, and is so easy even a CEO could do it; offering a streamlined setup process accessible to non-technical users.

Azure's deployment process is significantly more complex. It includes the manual setup of applications, configuring virtual networks, security groups, storage accounts (which can take days or weeks for more advanced setups¹⁵) and domain integrations.

Azure deployments involve multiple steps, such as:
- Creating and configuring a virtual network
- Setting up network security groups
- Configuring storage accounts (e.g., managed disks).
- Deploying the VM and integrating additional services (e.g., VPNs, domain services).
Each of these steps requires manual configuration, and the time required can vary depending on the user's familiarity with Azure.

Microsoft acknowledges the complexity of Azure deployments and offers tools like Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates and Azure DevOps to simplify the process. However, these tools often require additional configuration and technical expertise. For example:

ARM Templates: While ARM templates provide a declarative way to define infrastructure, they require a deep understanding of JSON syntax and Azure resource configurations, making them challenging for non-technical users.¹⁶
Azure DevOps: Setting up Azure DevOps pipelines requires familiarity with YAML and Azure services, adding another layer of complexity.¹⁷

In contrast, Softdrive SD1's streamlined deployment process eliminates the need for manual configuration, making it accessible to users of all technical skill levels. This simplicity not only reduces deployment time but also minimizes the risk of errors and misconfigurations, ensuring a faster time-to-value for organizations.

Conclusion

While both Softdrive SD1 and Azure NVadsA10 v5 deliver capable VDI environments, Softdrive SD1 emerges as the superior choice for organizations prioritizing cost-effectiveness and operational efficiency. At one-third the cost of Azure's offering, Softdrive SD1 provides better CPU performance, persistent storage, and simplified management while eliminating hidden costs and complex configurations. For businesses seeking a balanced combination of performance, reliability, and value, Softdrive SD1 represents the optimal choice in cloud VDI solutions.