# Performance Scalability

Vagon Computer is not locked to a single hardware configuration. You can change the performance tier between sessions to match the workload in front of you, and your files, installed applications, and settings stay exactly where you left them.

## Why Scaling Matters

Most real workflows are not heavy all the time. A typical day might mix:

* Email, browsing, and light productivity.
* Application installs and large downloads.
* Heavy GPU rendering or video exports.
* Long compute-bound simulations.

Paying for a top-tier machine during the lighter parts is wasted cost. Paying for a light-tier machine during a render is wasted time. Performance scalability lets you match the tier to the task on a session-by-session basis.

## How Scaling Works

Each Vagon Computer keeps its disk, files, and installed software in place across sessions. The performance tier only defines the CPU, GPU, and RAM that get attached when you start the session.

* Start the computer on a lighter tier for setup, installs, or admin work.
* Stop the session and switch to a Graphics Accelerated tier for rendering, 3D, or VFX.
* Drop back down to a lighter tier afterwards to run reviews, exports, or routine work.

Nothing has to be reinstalled or reconfigured between changes. The machine you boot into is the same one, with different horsepower.

## Picking the Right Tier for the Job

Vagon groups its hardware into three categories so you can match the tier to the workload:

* **Graphics Accelerated.** GPU-driven tiers (such as Galaxy) for rendering, real-time 3D, VFX, and other GPU-bound work.
* **Compute Accelerated.** High-frequency CPU tiers for compute-heavy applications, simulations, and parallel processing.
* **General Purpose.** Lighter tiers (such as Planet) for everyday productivity, setup, and browser-based work.

A common pattern is to keep most sessions on a lighter tier and only scale up when the workload genuinely needs the extra hardware.

{% hint style="info" %}
Pricing changes with the tier you select. Scaling down between heavy sessions is one of the easiest ways to keep monthly usage costs predictable.
{% endhint %}

## No Long-Term Commitment

There is no contract tying your computer to a specific tier. You can change tiers as often as you like, even multiple times per day, as long as the session is stopped before each change. This makes it practical to:

* Try a heavier tier for a single project and step back down afterwards.
* Use the same Vagon Computer for both client work and personal projects.
* Adjust to seasonal workload spikes without provisioning new hardware.

## Next Steps

{% content-ref url="/pages/5eC8iMR1VM0vuyIqNBEN" %}
[Performance Options & Specs](/computer/features/performance-options-and-specs.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="/pages/BFi4Fi2Y15LM3l9Mzdga" %}
[Computer Plans](/computer/plans-and-billing/computer-plans.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="/pages/s3fNasLVpbt4Y0idwk2H" %}
[Expandable Disk Storage](/computer/features/expandable-disk-storage.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}


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