Updated 26 October 2026 · Published by Zoorik
An Azure VM series is a group of virtual machine (VM) sizes with similar hardware and features. Each size in a series sets its virtual CPUs (vCPUs) and memory. Standard_D4s_v5 is one size in the Dsv5 series.
Azure VM families sit one level up. Microsoft groups them into types, including:
- General purpose (such as B and D): balanced CPU and memory.
- Compute optimized (F family): more CPU for each GiB.
- Memory optimized (such as E and M): more memory for each vCPU.
- Storage optimized (L family): high disk throughput.
The Azure VM size naming convention
Read Standard_D4s_v5 left to right:
- D is the family.
- 4 is its vCPU count.
- s means it can use any Premium SSD type.
- v5 is the series version.
Other lowercase letters add features. An “a” means AMD, a “p” means Arm, and a “d” adds a local temporary disk.
No CPU letter usually means Intel x86-64, as on Dsv5. The HB series runs on AMD EPYC without one.
The memory optimized Standard_E4s_v5 has the same 4 vCPUs but 32 GiB of memory, not 16.
Why it matters for your cloud cost
- Your VM series in Azure sets the memory you get with each vCPU.
- If it doesn’t fit your workload, CPU or memory sits idle.
- Esv5 has no temp disk, which Microsoft says reduces its entry price.
- Disks are charged separately from VMs.
- Check real use before you change a node pool’s VM size.
The free assessment works out what your clusters and disks could save.
Read next: How to change an AKS node pool VM size
Sources: Microsoft Learn, “Virtual machine sizes overview” (opens in a new tab); Microsoft Learn, “Azure VM sizes naming conventions” (opens in a new tab); Microsoft Learn, “Dsv5 size series” (opens in a new tab); Microsoft Learn, “Esv5 size series” (opens in a new tab).