Azure Virtual Machines - Inquiry Regarding Windows

Question

Hello, I am planning to use the Windows environment in Azure Virtual Machines. The primary purpose is to utilize the Recall feature of Windows 11. I have a few questions regarding this:

1. Hardware Support for B2pts v2 I would like to confirm whether B2pts v2 supports the Recall feature of Windows 11. Additionally, I would like to know if it is possible to separately select the amount of RAM and secondary storage (disk) capacity on B2pts v2.
2. Confirmation of B2pts v2 VM Series I noticed that B2pts v2 is not specifically listed on the "Windows Virtual Machine Pricing" page of Azure. I am curious to know which VM series has specifications similar to those of B2pts v2.
3. Availability of B2pts v2 with Azure Free Account I understand that Azure Virtual Machine B2pts v2 can be used for free with an "Azure Free Account." In this case, am I correct in understanding that the machine can be used for a total of 750 hours within 12 months? (Is this based on a total of 750 hours, not 750 hours per month?)
4. Cost Checking for Exceeding 750 Hours If I continue to use the Azure VM for 12 hours daily and exceed 750 hours, where can I check the monthly charges for the exceeded hours, and how much would I be billed if I use it for 12 hours per day?
5. Pricing Policy for Student Free Accounts I would like to confirm if I can use B2pts v2 for free with a student free account, and if the usage exceeding the free limit will be charged on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Answer 1

Hello @SexyGuy

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Q&A platform.

Let me try to answer your questions one by one. Regarding your first question, B2pts v2 is a virtual machine series that supports Windows 11. However, whether or not it supports the Recall feature of Windows 11 depends on the hardware configuration of the virtual machine. Specifically, the Recall feature requires a compatible CPU with Intel 8th generation (Coffee Lake) or newer, and a compatible graphics card with DirectX 12 or later support. You can check the hardware specifications of B2pts v2 to see if it meets these requirements.

As for your second question, B2pts v2 is part of the B-series virtual machine family in Azure. The B-series is designed for workloads that do not require a constant CPU performance level, but rather burstable CPU performance. If you are looking for a virtual machine series with similar specifications to B2pts v2, you may want to consider the Dv2-series or the Ds-series. These series offer similar CPU and memory configurations, but with different disk configurations.

Moving on to your third question, you are correct that Azure Free Account allows you to use B2pts v2 virtual machines for free for up to 750 hours within 12 months. This is based on a total of 750 hours, not 750 hours per month. If you exceed the 750-hour limit, you will be charged for the additional usage based on the pay-as-you-go rates. You can check the estimated monthly charges for your virtual machines in the Azure portal. Simply go to the "Cost Management + Billing" section and select "Cost Analysis" to view your estimated charges.

Finally, for your last question, I'm afraid I don't have a clear answer. The availability of B2pts v2 for free with a student free account may depend on the specific terms and conditions of the account. I recommend checking with your educational institution or Azure support for more information on this.

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