Gcore Portugal Sines Intel Xeon (Icelake) Pay-As-You-Go Cloud Virtual Instance Test and Review
This evaluation was conducted to assess the performance of Gcore’s Pay-As-You-Go cloud virtual instance hosted in Sines, Portugal. Aimed at developers, sysadmins, and small-scale enterprise users considering cost-effective cloud deployment in Europe, the test focused on key infrastructure capabilities—CPU, memory, storage I/O, network throughput, and streaming/media accessibility. The instance tested uses the “Standard” flavor, costing €0.0417 per hour, and is provisioned with 2 vCPU cores, 4 GB RAM, a 20 GB SSD, and a 1 Gbps port with unlimited traffic.
About Gcore
Hey there! If you’re looking for a reliable, scalable, and high-performance cloud solution, I’d like to introduce you to Gcore Cloud Virtual Machines (VMs). As someone who has explored various cloud platforms, I can tell you that Gcore’s VMs stand out for their flexibility, global reach, and user-friendly setup, making them a fantastic choice for businesses, developers, and hobbyists alike.
Gcore Cloud Virtual Machines are essentially virtualized computers hosted on Gcore’s robust infrastructure, allowing you to run applications, host websites, or manage workloads without the hassle of physical hardware. What’s great about Gcore is how it caters to diverse needs, whether you’re a startup spinning up a web server or an enterprise tackling AI-driven projects. Their VMs come in various flavors—Basic, Standard, CPU-Optimized, Memory-Optimized, and High-Frequency—each tailored for specific workloads.
One thing I love about Gcore is its global network. With over 30 regions, including core locations like Luxembourg, Manassas, and Singapore, you can deploy VMs close to your audience for ultra-low latency. This is a game-changer for apps that require fast response times, such as e-commerce platforms or gaming servers. Plus, their infrastructure is backed by Tier IV data centers, ensuring 99.95% uptime and rock-solid reliability. I’ve seen how their free DDoS protection and cloud firewall keep your apps secure without extra costs, which is a huge win for budget-conscious projects.
Setting up a VM is a breeze with Gcore’s intuitive control panel, APIs, or tools like Terraform. You pick a region, choose your OS (Linux or Windows), configure resources like vCPUs, memory, and storage, and you’re live in minutes. Their pay-as-you-go pricing means you only pay for what you use, and free egress traffic keeps costs predictable. For those needing extra security, Gcore offers VMs with Intel SGX to protect sensitive data, ideal for finance or healthcare apps.
Pricing
Official Website: https://Gcore.com
Coupon
The merchant did not provide
Basic Information
Processor : Intel Xeon Processor (Icelake)
CPU Numbers : 2
CPU Frequency : 2194.842 MHz
CPU Cache : L1: 128.00 KB / L2: 8.00 MB / L3: 32.00 MB
AES-NI : ✔ Enabled
VM-x/AMD-V : ✘ Disabled
RAM : 824.98 MiB / 3.83 GiB
Swap : [ no swap partition or swap file detected ]
Disk Space : 4.63 GiB / 49.05 GiB
Boot Disk : /dev/sda1
Uptime : 0 days, 0 hour 19 min
Loads : 0.44, 0.40, 0.27
OS Release : Debian GNU/Linux 11 (bullseye) (x86_64)
Arch : x86_64 (64 Bit)
Kernel Version : 5.10.0-33-amd64
TCP Acceleration : bbr
VM Type : KVM
NAT Type : Full Cone
IPV4 ASN : AS59437 Northern Data AG
IPV4 Location : Santo André / Setúbal / PT
CPU Benchmark
---------------------------CPU-Sysbench-Test----------------------------
-> CPU test in progress (Fast Mode, 1-Pass @ 5sec)
1 Thread(s) Test: 2893 Scores
2 Thread(s) Test: 5757 Scores
Geekbench 6 Benchmark Test:
---------------------------------
Test | Value
|
Single Core | 1629
Multi Core | 2941
Full Test | https://browser.geekbench.com/v6/cpu/12276254
YABS completed in 6 min 59 sec
RAM Read/Write Tests
----------------------------Memory-Test---------------------------------
-> Memory Test (Fast Mode, 1-Pass @ 5sec)
Single Read Test: 25043.00 MB/s
Single Write Test: 20181.28 MB/s
Running memory speed test with the following options:
block size: 1KiB
total size: 102400MiB
operation: read
scope: global
Initializing worker threads...
Threads started!
Total operations: 69079635 (6906778.58 per second)
67460.58 MiB transferred (6744.90 MiB/sec)
General statistics:
total time: 10.0000s
total number of events: 69079635
Latency (ms):
min: 0.00
avg: 0.00
max: 0.81
95th percentile: 0.00
sum: 3145.05
Threads fairness:
events (avg/stddev): 69079635.0000/0.00
execution time (avg/stddev): 3.1451/0.00
Running memory speed test with the following options:
block size: 1KiB
total size: 102400MiB
operation: write
scope: global
Initializing worker threads...
Threads started!
Total operations: 59303372 (5929339.65 per second)
57913.45 MiB transferred (5790.37 MiB/sec)
General statistics:
total time: 10.0000s
total number of events: 59303372
Latency (ms):
min: 0.00
avg: 0.00
max: 2.49
95th percentile: 0.00
sum: 4115.60
Threads fairness:
events (avg/stddev): 59303372.0000/0.00
execution time (avg/stddev): 4.1156/0.00
Disk Read/Write Tests
------------------------Disk-dd-Read/Write-Test-------------------------
-> Disk test in progress (4K Block/1M Block, Direct Mode)
Block Size Write Test Read Test
100MB-4K Block 7.3 MB/s (1779 IOPS, 14.39s) 12.4 MB/s (3034 IOPS, 8.44s)
1GB-1M Block 142 MB/s (135 IOPS, 7.38s) 291 MB/s (277 IOPS, 3.60s)
-----------------------Disk-fio-Read/Write-Test-------------------------
Block Size | 4k (IOPS) | 64k (IOPS)
------ | --- ---- | ---- ----
Read | 6.02 MB/s (1.5k) | 96.16 MB/s (1.5k)
Write | 6.01 MB/s (1.5k) | 96.66 MB/s (1.5k)
Total | 12.03 MB/s (3.0k) | 192.83 MB/s (3.0k)
| |
Block Size | 512k (IOPS) | 1m (IOPS)
------ | --- ---- | ---- ----
Read | 252.33 MB/s (492) | 250.71 MB/s (244)
Write | 265.73 MB/s (519) | 267.41 MB/s (261)
Total | 518.07 MB/s (1.0k) | 518.13 MB/s (505)
Iperf3 Network Tests
iperf3 Network Speed Tests (IPv4):
---------------------------------
Provider | Location (Link) | Send Speed | Recv Speed | Ping
Clouvider | London, UK (10G) | 1.46 Gbits/sec | 1.40 Gbits/sec | 41.5 ms
Eranium | Amsterdam, NL (100G) | 1.47 Gbits/sec | 1.41 Gbits/sec | 46.7 ms
Uztelecom | Tashkent, UZ (10G) | 1.11 Gbits/sec | 1.29 Gbits/sec | 140 ms
Leaseweb | Singapore, SG (10G) | 792 Mbits/sec | 968 Mbits/sec | --
Clouvider | Los Angeles, CA, US (10G) | 824 Mbits/sec | 999 Mbits/sec | 182 ms
Leaseweb | NYC, NY, US (10G) | 1.36 Gbits/sec | 1.05 Gbits/sec | 109 ms
Edgoo | Sao Paulo, BR (1G) | 618 Mbits/sec | 765 Mbits/sec | 221 ms UnixBench Tests
Benchmark Run: Thu Jun 05 2025 05:27:55 - 05:55:56
2 CPUs in system; running 1 parallel copy of tests
Dhrystone 2 using register variables 48716801.6 lps (10.0 s, 7 samples)
Double-Precision Whetstone 6601.1 MWIPS (9.9 s, 7 samples)
Execl Throughput 5251.4 lps (30.0 s, 2 samples)
File Copy 1024 bufsize 2000 maxblocks 685013.0 KBps (30.0 s, 2 samples)
File Copy 256 bufsize 500 maxblocks 178042.0 KBps (30.0 s, 2 samples)
File Copy 4096 bufsize 8000 maxblocks 2321552.9 KBps (30.0 s, 2 samples)
Pipe Throughput 943432.5 lps (10.0 s, 7 samples)
Pipe-based Context Switching 94098.9 lps (10.0 s, 7 samples)
Process Creation 11108.8 lps (30.0 s, 2 samples)
Shell Scripts (1 concurrent) 14553.4 lpm (60.0 s, 2 samples)
Shell Scripts (8 concurrent) 2645.0 lpm (60.0 s, 2 samples)
System Call Overhead 524667.8 lps (10.0 s, 7 samples)
System Benchmarks Index Values BASELINE RESULT INDEX
Dhrystone 2 using register variables 116700.0 48716801.6 4174.5
Double-Precision Whetstone 55.0 6601.1 1200.2
Execl Throughput 43.0 5251.4 1221.3
File Copy 1024 bufsize 2000 maxblocks 3960.0 685013.0 1729.8
File Copy 256 bufsize 500 maxblocks 1655.0 178042.0 1075.8
File Copy 4096 bufsize 8000 maxblocks 5800.0 2321552.9 4002.7
Pipe Throughput 12440.0 943432.5 758.4
Pipe-based Context Switching 4000.0 94098.9 235.2
Process Creation 126.0 11108.8 881.7
Shell Scripts (1 concurrent) 42.4 14553.4 3432.4
Shell Scripts (8 concurrent) 6.0 2645.0 4408.3
System Call Overhead 15000.0 524667.8 349.8
========
System Benchmarks Index Score 1353.9
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Benchmark Run: Thu Jun 05 2025 05:55:56 - 06:23:59
2 CPUs in system; running 2 parallel copies of tests
Dhrystone 2 using register variables 95077141.7 lps (10.0 s, 7 samples)
Double-Precision Whetstone 13202.1 MWIPS (9.9 s, 7 samples)
Execl Throughput 9589.4 lps (30.0 s, 2 samples)
File Copy 1024 bufsize 2000 maxblocks 1158317.9 KBps (30.0 s, 2 samples)
File Copy 256 bufsize 500 maxblocks 306626.5 KBps (30.0 s, 2 samples)
File Copy 4096 bufsize 8000 maxblocks 4008220.0 KBps (30.0 s, 2 samples)
Pipe Throughput 1879996.3 lps (10.0 s, 7 samples)
Pipe-based Context Switching 391520.4 lps (10.0 s, 7 samples)
Process Creation 24192.3 lps (30.0 s, 2 samples)
Shell Scripts (1 concurrent) 20063.0 lpm (60.0 s, 2 samples)
Shell Scripts (8 concurrent) 2768.8 lpm (60.0 s, 2 samples)
System Call Overhead 990487.5 lps (10.0 s, 7 samples)
System Benchmarks Index Values BASELINE RESULT INDEX
Dhrystone 2 using register variables 116700.0 95077141.7 8147.1
Double-Precision Whetstone 55.0 13202.1 2400.4
Execl Throughput 43.0 9589.4 2230.1
File Copy 1024 bufsize 2000 maxblocks 3960.0 1158317.9 2925.0
File Copy 256 bufsize 500 maxblocks 1655.0 306626.5 1852.7
File Copy 4096 bufsize 8000 maxblocks 5800.0 4008220.0 6910.7
Pipe Throughput 12440.0 1879996.3 1511.3
Pipe-based Context Switching 4000.0 391520.4 978.8
Process Creation 126.0 24192.3 1920.0
Shell Scripts (1 concurrent) 42.4 20063.0 4731.8
Shell Scripts (8 concurrent) 6.0 2768.8 4614.7
System Call Overhead 15000.0 990487.5 660.3
========
System Benchmarks Index Score 2524.1
======= Script description and score comparison completed! =======
Streaming Unlock Tests
============[ Multination ]============
Dazn: Failed (Error: )
Disney+: No (IP Banned By Disney+ 1)
Netflix: Originals Only
YouTube Premium: Yes (Region: PT)
Amazon Prime Video: Yes (Region: DE)
TVBAnywhere+: Yes
Spotify Registration: No
OneTrust Region: PT [Setúbal]
iQyi Oversea Region: DE
Bing Region: PT
Apple Region: DE
YouTube CDN: Frankfurt
Netflix Preferred CDN: Failed (CDN IP Not Found)
ChatGPT: Yes
Google Gemini: No
Claude: No
Wikipedia Editability: Yes
Google Play Store: Portugal
Google Search CAPTCHA Free: Yes
Steam Currency: EUR
---Forum---
Reddit: No
---Game---
SD Gundam G Generation Eternal: No
=======================================
IP Quality Detection
Data for reference only, does not represent 100% accurate, if and the actual situation is not consistent with the manual query multiple database comparison
The following is the number of each database, the output will come with the corresponding number of the database source
ipinfo databases [0] | scamalytics databases [1] | virustotal databases [2] | abuseipdb databases [3] | ip2location databases [4]
ip-api databases [5] | ipwhois databases [6] | ipregistry databases [7] | ipdata databases [8] | db-ip databases [9]
ipapiis databases [A] | ipapicom databases [B] | bigdatacloud databases [C] | cheervision databases [D] | ipqualityscore databases [E]
IPV4:
Security Score:
Reputation: 0 [2]
TrustScore: 76 [8]
VpnScore: 10 [8]
ProxyScore: 58 [8]
CommunityVoteHarmless: 0 [2]
CommunityVoteMalicious: 0 [2]
ThreatScore: 3 [8]
FraudScore: 0 [1 E]
AbuseScore: 0 [3]
ASNAbuseScore: 0.0001 (Very Low) [A]
CompannyAbuseScore: 0 (Very Low) [A]
ThreatLevel: low [9]
Blacklist_Records_Statistics(how many blacklisted websites have records):
HarmlessnessRecords: 0 [2] MaliciousRecords: 0 [2] SuspiciousRecords: 0 [2] NoRecords: 94 [2]
Security Info:
UsageType: DataCenter/WebHosting/Transit [3] hosting [0 7 A] corporate [9] unknown [C]
CompanyType: business [A] hosting [0 7]
IsCloudProvider: Yes [7 D]
IsDatacenter: No [5 6 8 C] Yes [0 1 A]
IsMobile: Yes [E] No [5 A C]
IsProxy: No [0 1 4 5 6 7 8 9 A C D E]
IsVpn: No [0 1 6 7 A C D E]
IsTor: No [0 1 3 6 7 8 A C D E]
IsTorExit: No [1 7 D]
IsCrawler: No [9 A E]
IsAnonymous: No [1 6 7 8 D]
IsAttacker: No [7 8 D]
IsAbuser: No [7 8 A C D E]
IsThreat: No [7 8 C D]
IsRelay: No [0 7 8 C D]
IsBogon: No [7 8 A C D]
IsBot: No [E]
DNS-BlackList: 315(Total_Check) 0(Clean) 4(Blacklisted) 18(Other)
Google search feasibility: NO
Email Port Detection
Platform SMTP SMTPS POP3 POP3S IMAP IMAPS
LocalPort ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
QQ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✘ ✔ ✘
163 ✘ ✔ ✔ ✘ ✔ ✘
Sohu ✘ ✘ ✔ ✘ ✘ ✘
Yandex ✘ ✔ ✔ ✘ ✔ ✘
Gmail ✘ ✔ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘
Outlook ✘ ✘ ✔ ✘ ✔ ✘
Office365 ✘ ✘ ✔ ✘ ✔ ✘
Yahoo ✘ ✔ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘
MailCOM ✘ ✔ ✔ ✘ ✔ ✘
MailRU ✘ ✔ ✘ ✘ ✔ ✘
AOL ✘ ✔ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘
GMX ✘ ✔ ✔ ✘ ✔ ✘
Sina ✘ ✘ ✔ ✘ ✔ ✘
Apple ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘
FastMail ✘ ✔ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘
ProtonMail✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘
MXRoute ✘ ✘ ✔ ✘ ✔ ✘
Namecrane ✘ ✔ ✔ ✘ ✔ ✘
XYAMail ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘
ZohoMail ✘ ✔ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘
Inbox_eu ✘ ✔ ✔ ✘ ✘ ✘
Free_fr ✘ ✔ ✔ ✘ ✔ ✘ Looking Glass
None
Global Latency Tests
Query: ping 93.119.168.79, interval: 5s, dense mode: no
Probing 93.119.168.79 – RIPE NCC /24 AS59437 NORTHERNDATA – Portugal, Setúbal, Sines Municipality [hosting]
CloudFlare Internet Tests
PageSpeed Insights
Admin Control Panel
Conclusion
The server, backed by an Intel Xeon Icelake processor, demonstrated respectable CPU performance with Geekbench 6 scores of 1629 (single-core) and 2941 (multi-core). Memory throughput stood out, peaking at 25 GB/s for reads and 20 GB/s for writes, indicating efficient internal data movement. Disk benchmarks were mixed—while large block sequential I/O hit over 500 MB/s, 4K random read/write hovered around 6–12 MB/s, reflecting typical SSD limitations under small block loads. Network tests showed near-gigabit speeds to major EU and US nodes, with average latency well within acceptable ranges. However, streaming unlock capabilities were limited—Netflix was restricted to originals, and Disney+ outright blocked access.
Analysis & Insights
The CPU and memory results suggest that the instance is well-suited for lightweight compute tasks, microservices, or staging environments. The strong memory bandwidth and low-latency access are ideal for in-memory operations or caching layers. Disk I/O, while adequate for most web workloads, may become a bottleneck for write-intensive applications, much like a sports car navigating rush hour traffic. The network performance was a pleasant surprise, with consistent throughput across continents, though routing to Asia and South America showed some expected degradation. It’s worth noting that IP quality, while clean from a reputation standpoint, was flagged as data center traffic by several databases, potentially limiting access to content and services that scrutinize origin IPs.
Conclusion & Recommendation
Gcore’s Sines cloud instance delivers commendable value for its price, especially in terms of compute, memory, and bandwidth. It’s a practical choice for development pipelines, lightweight production deployments, or as a cost-effective edge node in Southern Europe. That said, users should temper expectations regarding media unlocking and IP-sensitive applications. For businesses requiring high IOPS workloads or full streaming compatibility, supplementary tools like CDN offload or private VPN IPs might be necessary. Overall, this VPS strikes a balanced compromise between affordability and technical competence—an option worth considering for pragmatic, budget-conscious IT operations.
Official Website: https://Gcore.com
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