Following our previous review of EasyLink (official website: https://www.vmrack.net/) Global BGP VPS series (link), this time we turn our attention to its Premium optimized line, which is more focused on users from Mainland China. This series is also based on the Los Angeles data center, AMD EPYC high-performance processors, and US native IPs. Its core advantage lies in optimized network routes for Mainland China, promising lower latency and more stable connectivity.
In this review, we tested the entry-level plan of this series: 1 vCPU, 1GB RAM, 50GB SSD, 1TB monthly traffic, and 100Mbps bandwidth, priced at $5/month. Let’s take a closer look at whether this “paid upgrade” optimized route truly delivers in real-world performance.
Official website: https://www.vmrack.net/
EasyLink Los Angeles Premium VPS Plan Overview
| Plan Name | vCPUs | RAM | Storage | Bandwidth | Traffic | Price | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L3.VPS.C1G1 | 1 Core | 1GB | 50GB | 100Mbps | 1TB | $5/month Buy | Same price |
| L3.VPS.C2G2 | 2 Cores | 2GB | 80GB | 200Mbps | 2TB | $9/month Buy | Same price |
| L3.VPS.C4G4 | 4 Cores | 4GB | 100GB | 300Mbps | 3TB | $13/month Buy | Same price |
| L3.VPS.C4G8 | 4 Cores | 8GB | 150GB | 400Mbps | 4TB | $18/month Buy | Same price |
| L3.VPS.C8G8 | 8 Cores | 8GB | 200GB | 500Mbps | 5TB | $22/month Buy | Same price |
| L3.VPS.C8G16 | 8 Cores | 16GB | 256GB | 1Gbps | 10TB | $44/month Buy | Same price |
Note: The first plan is the one tested in this review. All plans are billed based on outbound traffic only and support PayPal and Stripe payments.
1. Hardware Performance Benchmark
Hardware is the foundation of performance. Let’s see how this optimized VPS performs.
1. System Information
Basic System Information: --------------------------------- Uptime : 0 days, 3 hours, 41 minutes Processor : AMD EPYC-Rome Processor CPU cores : 1 @ 2595.124 MHz AES-NI : ✔ Enabled VM-x/AMD-V : ❌ Disabled RAM : 961.6 MiB Disk : 50.0 GiB Distro : Debian GNU/Linux 12 (bookworm) VM Type : OPENSTACK NOVA
Similar to the BGP series, the Premium line also uses the powerful AMD EPYC-Rome processor, running at a stable 2.6GHz. The hardware platform remains high-end.
2. CPU and Memory Performance
Geekbench 5 Benchmark Test: --------------------------------- Test | Value Single Core | 971 Multi Core | 980 Full Test | https://browser.geekbench.com/v5/cpu/23814161 SysBench CPU Test (Fast Mode, 1-Pass @ 5sec) --------------------------------- 1-thread score: 1584 SysBench Memory Test (Fast Mode, 1-Pass @ 5sec) --------------------------------- Single-thread read: 42160.19 MB/s Single-thread write: 19225.30 MB/s
Single-core performance is excellent, with SysBench close to 1600 and Geekbench single-core at 971. For a 1-core VPS, this is more than enough for most applications such as personal blogs or small forums.
3. Disk I/O Performance
fio Disk Speed Tests (Mixed R/W 50/50) (Partition -): --------------------------------- Block Size | 4k (IOPS) | 64k (IOPS) ------ | --- | ---- Read | 102.05 MB/s (25.5k) | 1.18 GB/s (18.4k) Write | 102.32 MB/s (25.5k) | 1.18 GB/s (18.5k) Total | 204.38 MB/s (51.0k) | 2.36 GB/s (36.9k)
Disk performance is equally impressive. Sequential read/write exceeds 1GB/s, and 4K random performance is over 100MB/s. Whether for databases or large file processing, storage will not be a bottleneck.
2. Network Quality Review (Key Highlight)
This is where the Premium line differs most from the Global BGP series.
1. Global Ping Latency
Average latency to Mainland China: 162ms
- Mobile: avg 157ms (best performance, Shanghai as low as 129ms)
- Unicom: avg 161ms (excellent, Hangzhou as low as 134ms)
- Telecom: avg 168ms (highest among the three)
Average latency to global nodes: 148ms
- North America: avg 29ms, Los Angeles local node as low as 1ms
- Europe & Asia: similar performance to BGP route, stable global access
Summary: Compared to the BGP version’s 194ms average, the Premium route improves latency significantly to 162ms. Mobile and Unicom users will notice the biggest improvement, especially in East and Central China where latency is often under 150ms.
2. Routing (Outbound & Return Paths)
Outbound routing:
- Telecom: traditional AS163 backbone
- Unicom: uses AS9929 (high-quality CUII network)
- Mobile: uses CMI backbone
Return routing (key advantage):
Beijing UDP: Telecom AS46783 -> 9929 || Unicom AS46783 -> 9929 || Mobile AS46783 -> CMIN2
Shanghai UDP: Telecom AS46783 -> 9929 || Unicom AS46783 -> 9929 || Mobile AS46783 -> CMIN2
Guangzhou UDP: Telecom AS46783 -> 9929 || Unicom AS46783 -> 9929 || Mobile AS46783 -> CMIN2
Summary:
- Telecom & Unicom return traffic uses AS9929 (premium Unicom backbone), known for low congestion and high stability.
- Mobile uses CMIN2, China Mobile’s premium international network.
This routing design is the core reason behind the low latency and stable performance.
3. Speed Tests (Domestic & International)
- China mainland: Suzhou Telecom reaches 118Mbps, Shanghai Unicom about 85Mbps. Close to full 100Mbps port utilization.
- International: Tokyo and Hong Kong nodes achieve near 100Mbps upload/download.
3. IP Quality & Streaming Unlocking
1. Basic Information (MaxMind Database) IP type: Native IP 5. Streaming & AI Unlock Test Service: TikTok Disney+ Netflix YouTube Amazon Prime Spotify ChatGPT Status: Unlock Unlock Unlock Unlock Unlock Unlock Unlock Region: [FR] [US] [US] [US] [US] [US] [US]
The IP is a high-quality US native IP with low risk rating. Most streaming services including Netflix, Disney+, and ChatGPT US are fully unlocked. Only TikTok is identified as France region.
Final Conclusion
The EasyLink Premium optimized VPS can be seen as a targeted upgrade over the BGP series, focusing on improving connectivity for Mainland China users while maintaining strong hardware performance.
Advantages:
- Excellent China connectivity: AS9929 + CMIN2 premium return routes significantly reduce latency and improve stability.
- Strong hardware: AMD EPYC CPU and fast SSD ensure smooth performance.
- Native IP with strong unlocking ability: excellent for streaming and ChatGPT access.
- High cost-performance ratio: $5/month for premium routing and solid hardware is very competitive.
Disadvantages:
- Outbound route is standard: Telecom outbound still uses traditional AS163 network, which may have occasional congestion during peak hours (partially mitigated by strong return routes).
Recommended for:
- Webmasters/bloggers targeting Mainland China traffic.
- Developers and remote workers needing stable low-latency access.
- Users demanding stable high-quality international connectivity.
FAQ
Q: What is the difference between Premium VPS and Global BGP VPS?
A: The main difference is the return route optimization. Premium uses AS9929 and CMIN2 for Mainland China return traffic, significantly reducing latency and improving stability compared to standard global BGP routes.
Q: What are AS9929 and CMIN2?
A: They are premium backbone networks. AS9929 is China Unicom’s high-end network (similar to CN2 GIA for Telecom), and CMIN2 is China Mobile’s premium international backbone. Both offer lower congestion and higher priority routing.
Q: Is $5/month worth it?
A: Yes. Considering the CPU performance, SSD speed, native IP, and premium routing, the price is very competitive in the current market.
Q: Is it suitable for gaming?
A: Not ideal for most gaming scenarios due to geographic distance. It performs well for US West Coast servers but is not recommended for China-hosted or Europe-hosted game servers.
NodeQuality link: https://nodequality.com/r/oAmC2wPvhAecPI6pnayALrWkNBLy7gxy
