Tested: Which CPU Does Google Colab Use in 2025?

Google Colab in 2025 is mostly using Intel Xeon and some AMD EPYC CPUs, depending on your session. I tested it myself, and this is what I found. If you’re using the free version, you’ll usually land on an older Xeon. But on Colab Pro or Pro+, I noticed newer and faster CPUs pop up more often.

Still, Google doesn’t always tell you exactly what you’re getting, so I had to dig around using code to see what was going on. If you’re just doing basic Python stuff or even light ML tasks, it’s decent. But yeah, for heavier jobs, you’ll feel the limits.

I’ll break down what I saw, how it felt speed-wise, and whether the Pro plan actually gives you something better. So, let’s dive into what Google’s giving us in 2025 when it comes to CPU power.

What I Found Out About Google Colab’s CPU in 2025

When I checked the CPU on my Colab sessions, I mostly saw Intel Xeon chips, usually around 2.2GHz. Sometimes, I’d get AMD EPYC too. Google’s clearly mixing it up based on what’s free on their side, which makes sense.

But no matter the brand, it’s always server-grade stuff, not your usual desktop CPUs. You can run a quick code snippet in Colab to see the CPU model and speed. That’s how I figured out they aren’t always the same. Also, Colab doesn’t guarantee which one you’ll get, so it’s a bit of a grab bag.

But in general, they’re decent, not crazy fast, but not too slow either. If you’re doing code stuff that doesn’t need GPU, this CPU will get the job done fine. Just don’t expect desktop-gaming-PC levels of speed, that’s all I’m saying.

When I checked the CPU on my Colab sessions, I mostly saw Intel Xeon chips, usually around 2.2GHz. Sometimes, I’d get AMD EPYC too. Google’s clearly mixing it up based on what’s free on their side, which makes sense.

But no matter the brand, it’s always server-grade stuff, not your usual desktop CPUs. For a more detailed breakdown of Colab’s hardware specs, including CPU models and configurations, you can refer to this comprehensive guide by Saturn Cloud.

Does the CPU Change Between Free and Pro? Here’s What I Noticed

Yep, the CPU does change a bit when you go from free to Pro or Pro+. When I tested the free version, I usually got older Xeon processors with lower base clock speeds. But when I upgraded to Colab Pro, I noticed better and newer Xeon or even EPYC chips, and sometimes they ran just a little faster.

Nothing crazy, but enough to see some speed-ups in longer notebooks. What really helped was the sessions lasting longer and having higher priority. That meant fewer crashes when I left something running. So, while the CPU upgrade isn’t mind-blowing, it’s there.

If you’re doing heavy stuff or just tired of sessions dropping, Pro actually feels worth it. But if you’re just casually running small scripts or practicing code, the free one still holds up pretty well for most things.

Is It Fast Enough? My Real Experience Running Stuff on Colab

I’ve run a bunch of different stuff on Colab, from simple data cleaning to basic machine learning models. And yeah, the CPU is fast enough for most of that. When I was training small ML models without using the GPU, it handled things okay.

If I tried big models on just CPU, though, it felt kind of slow, took a while, and I’d get a little impatient. But for quick testing, data exploration, or even scraping stuff, it’s solid. Especially when paired with a GPU or TPU, Colab just works.

Honestly, it surprised me how much you can do on it without needing a super expensive laptop. So no, it’s not the fastest thing in the world, but for being free (or super cheap with Pro), it’s fast enough for most of what I need it for.

Colab handled basic stuff like Python scripts and small ML models just fine. But if you’re like me and you care a lot about how fast things run, not just in the cloud but also on your own PC, you’ll probably want to check out which CPU and mobo combo actually runs cool and fast. That setup made a big difference in how smooth things felt when I wasn’t using Colab

FAQs

What kind of CPU does Google Colab use in 2025?

Mostly Intel Xeon and AMD EPYC chips. It depends on the session and whether you’re using the free or paid plan.

Is the CPU faster on Colab Pro?

Yeah, a bit faster. I got better CPUs and more stable sessions on Pro compared to the free version.

Can I see the exact CPU in Colab?

Yes! Just run a small code snippet like !lscpu or !cat /proc/cpuinfo to see what chip you’re on.

Is Colab’s CPU good for machine learning?

For light ML stuff, it’s okay. But if you’re doing big models, you’ll want the GPU or TPU for better speed.

Conclusion

After testing it myself, I can say Google Colab’s CPU in 2025 is good enough for most of the stuff I run, coding, small ML models, and everyday tasks. You won’t get super speed, but it’s not bad either. If you’re on a budget or just learning, it’s honestly a pretty sweet deal for the price (or even free).