for $7 you get: 2 cores 2GB RAM
for 10$ you get: 3 cores 4GB RAM
They don't have SSD, but SSD doesn't do everything, I prefer more ram.
EDIT: If some of you don't know OVH, it's because its new in America, but its not some cheap company, it's a European company that is very successful there. And just recently created a datacenter in North America. (I used to live in France, and have known them for some years).
_04/17/2014 - VMPLAN - DATACENTER - OS - AUTHOR_
```
CPU model: AMD Opteron(tm) Processor 4284
Number of cores: 2
CPU frequency: 3000.000 MHz
Total amount of RAM: 2048 MB
Total amount of swap: 128 MB
System uptime: 14 days, 13:31,
I/O speed: 75.4 MB/s
Bzip 25MB: 7.44s
Download 100MB file: 13.0MB/s
``` ```
CPU model: Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E5-2680 v2 @ 2.80GHz
Number of cores: 2
CPU frequency: 2800.050 MHz
Total amount of RAM: 1993 MB
Total amount of swap: 511 MB
System uptime: 0 min,
I/O speed: 811 MB/s
Bzip 25MB: 4.93s
Download 100MB file: 19.1MB/s
``` _04/17/2014 - VMPLAN - DATACENTER - OS - AUTHOR_
```
CPU model: AMD Opteron(tm) Processor 4386
Number of cores: 4
CPU frequency: 3100.000 MHz
Total amount of RAM: 3943 MB
Total amount of swap: 1998 MB
System uptime: 10 days, 2:25,
I/O speed: 169 MB/s
Bzip 25MB: 5.34s
Download 100MB file: 15.8MB/s
```BuyVM 128MB ram, 15GB disk, 15USD/year
CPU model: Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU L5520 @ 2.27GHz
Number of cores: 1
CPU frequency: 2266.746 MHz
Total amount of RAM: 128 MB
Total amount of swap: 128 MB
System uptime: 39 days, 22:35,
I/O speed: 89.9 MB/s
Bzip 25MB: 12.89s
Download 100MB file: 50.0MB/s
CPU model: Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU X3470 @ 2.93GHz
Number of cores: 1
CPU frequency: 2933.228 MHz
Total amount of RAM: 128 MB
Total amount of swap: 128 MB
System uptime: 48 days, 6:07,
I/O speed: 129 MB/s
Bzip 25MB: 6.40s
Download 100MB file: 1.14MB/s
So a single OpenVZ VPS is actually running on resources which are shared with another VPS box. Mostly the burstable resource is the RAM which is borrowed from another VPS box when its not in use and your VPS box needs it.
On the other hand, KVM is hardware virtualization. The main OS simulates hardware for another OS to run on top of it. It fairly distributes all the resources. It does not have burst resources but it guarantees the dedicated resources. Essentially this means the plan which you see its 100% with you and is never shared with anyone. This also means on load you will not get extra ( burstable ) RAM out of it.
Guaranteed streamline performance is observed in KVM but value per dollar and efficient use of the complete hardware is observed in OpenVZ.
tl;dr :
OpenVZ is OS virtualization. Resources are variable and are shared with other(few) users on the same server as and when required. Dedicated resources are guaranteed but they could be shared with others and your box can borrow when others are idle.
KVM is hardware virtualization. All the resources are dedicated to you and only you. None is shared nor you get the shared bonus if required to your server. Dedicated resources are guaranteed.