Specifications Compared
| Spec | A100 | A40 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 400W | 300W |
| VRAM | 40-80 GB | 48 GB |
| CUDA Cores | 6,912 | 10,752 |
| Memory Type | HBM2e | GDDR6 |
| Architecture | Ampere | Ampere |
| Form Factors | SXM4, PCIe | PCIe |
| Interconnect | NVLink, PCIe 4.0, InfiniBand | NVLink |
| Tensor Cores | 432 | 336 |
| FP16 Performance | 312 TFLOPS | 37.4 TFLOPS |
| FP32 Performance | 19.5 TFLOPS | 37.4 TFLOPS |
| FP64 Performance | 9.7 TFLOPS | 0.6 TFLOPS |
| INT8 Performance | 624 TOPS | 299 TOPS |
| Memory Bandwidth | 2,039 GB/s | 696 GB/s |
Performance Analysis
The A100 PCIe 80GB outperforms the A40 significantly in FP16 performance at 312 TFLOPS compared to 37.4 TFLOPS, making it ideal for mixed-precision training where tensor core acceleration dominates. The A40 matches its FP16 with FP32 at 37.4 TFLOPS, providing balanced scalar performance, whereas the A100's FP32 stands at 19.5 TFLOPS. This FP16 to FP32 delta favors the A100 for deep learning training phases reliant on half-precision computations, but the A40 suits FP32-heavy applications like simulations. Memory bandwidth presents a stark contrast: 2039 GB/s on the A100 versus 696 GB/s on the A40, allowing larger batch sizes and faster data throughput for memory-bound workloads such as large language model training. The A100's 80 GB HBM2e VRAM supports massive datasets without swapping, while the A40's 48 GB GDDR6 limits it to smaller batches. Power consumption differs too: 400W TDP for A100 versus 300W for A40, impacting density in cloud instances.
Live Cloud Pricing
Real-time prices from 25+ providers. Updated every 60 seconds.
A100 PCIe 80GB
| Provider | GPU Model | VRAM | Host Specs | Region | Price | Status | Action | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Vast.ai | NVIDIA A100 SXM4 80GB 80GB VRAM | 80GB | 256 vCPU 63GB RAM 2826GB Storage | Slovenia | $0.73/GPU/hr | Available | ||
Vast.ai | 2×NVIDIA A100 SXM4 80GB 80GB VRAM | 80GB | 256 vCPU 126GB RAM 794GB Storage | Slovenia | $0.73/GPU/hr $1.47/hr total (2×) | Available | ||
 LeaderGPU | 8×NVIDIA A100 PCIe 80GB 80GB VRAM | 80GB | 64 vCPU 384GB RAM 2000GB Storage | Netherlands | $0.90/GPU/hr $7.20/hr total (8×) | Available | ||
Vast.ai | NVIDIA A100 SXM4 80GB 80GB VRAM | 80GB | 64 vCPU 63GB RAM 557GB Storage | Czechia | $1.00/GPU/hr | Available | ||
 Denvr | 4×NVIDIA A100 PCIe 80GB 80GB VRAM | 80GB | 64 vCPU 512GB RAM 7600GB Storage | Virginia | $1.15/GPU/hr $4.60/hr total (4×) |
A40
| Provider | GPU Model | VRAM | Host Specs | Region | Price | Status | Action | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 TensorDock | NVIDIA RTX A4000 16GB VRAM | 16GB | 0 vCPU 0GB RAM | Tallinn, Harjumaa | $0.08/GPU/hr | Available | ||
Vast.ai | 8×NVIDIA RTX A4000 16GB VRAM | 16GB | 80 vCPU 201GB RAM 1698GB Storage | United Kingdom | $0.15/GPU/hr $1.17/hr total (8×) | Available | ||
 Hyperstack | 4×NVIDIA RTX A4000 16GB VRAM | 16GB | 16 vCPU 86GB RAM 500GB Storage | Norway | $0.15/GPU/hr $0.60/hr total (4×) | Available | ||
Hyperstack | 2×NVIDIA RTX A4000 16GB VRAM | 16GB | 8 vCPU 43GB RAM 200GB Storage | Norway | $0.15/GPU/hr $0.30/hr total (2×) | Available | ||
Hyperstack | NVIDIA RTX A4000 16GB VRAM | 16GB | 4 vCPU 21GB RAM 100GB Storage | Norway | $0.15/GPU/hr | Available |
When to Choose the A100 PCIe 80GB
Select the A100 PCIe 80GB for memory-intensive AI training and inference on large models requiring over 48 GB VRAM, such as LLMs with billions of parameters. Its 2039 GB/s bandwidth and 312 TFLOPS FP16 enable efficient handling of large batch sizes without performance bottlenecks. Datacenter-scale HPC workloads benefit from its NVLink and InfiniBand support for multi-GPU scaling.
When to Choose the A40
Choose the A40 for cost-sensitive inference, fine-tuning smaller models, or visualization tasks where 48 GB GDDR6 VRAM suffices. Its balanced 37.4 TFLOPS across FP16 and FP32 excels in graphics rendering and FP32-dominant simulations at lower $0.24 per hour pricing. Reduced 300W TDP suits dense deployments with moderate memory needs.
Use Cases
The A100's 80 GB HBM2e VRAM and 312 TFLOPS FP16 handle massive datasets and mixed-precision training efficiently. The A40's 48 GB GDDR6 limits scalability for large LLMs.
High 2039 GB/s bandwidth on the A100 supports large batch inference without latency spikes. A40 works for smaller models but bottlenecks at 696 GB/s.
A100's superior FP16 performance accelerates gradient computations on models up to 80 GB. A40 suffices for lightweight fine-tuning under budget constraints.
Both handle image generation well, but A100 scales to higher resolutions via 80 GB VRAM. A40 offers cost savings at $0.24 per hour for standard workflows.
A100's 2039 GB/s bandwidth and NVLink excel in parallel simulations. A40's balanced FP32 fits lighter compute but lacks memory depth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has more VRAM: A100 PCIe 80GB or A40?▾
The A100 PCIe 80GB provides 80 GB HBM2e VRAM, exceeding the A40's 48 GB GDDR6. This difference matters for large model training. HBM2e also offers higher bandwidth at 2039 GB/s versus 696 GB/s.
Is the A100 faster than the A40 for AI training?▾
Yes, the A100 delivers 312 TFLOPS FP16 compared to the A40's 37.4 TFLOPS, accelerating mixed-precision training. Bandwidth of 2039 GB/s further boosts large-batch performance. A40 trails in memory-intensive tasks.
What are the cloud prices for A100 vs A40?▾
A100 PCIe 80GB starts at $0.89 per hour, averaging $2.08 across 28 offers. A40 begins at $0.24 per hour, averaging $1.31 across 23 offers. A40 provides better value for lighter workloads.
How do power consumptions compare?▾
The A100 has a 400W TDP, higher than the A40's 300W. This affects cooling and instance density in clouds. Lower TDP makes A40 preferable for power-sensitive setups.
Do both support NVLink?▾
Yes, both GPUs support NVLink for multi-GPU communication. A100 adds PCIe 4.0 and InfiniBand options. This enables scaling beyond single-GPU limits.
A100 FP32 vs A40 FP32 performance?▾
A40 offers 37.4 TFLOPS FP32, surpassing A100's 19.5 TFLOPS. A40 suits FP32-heavy tasks like simulations. A100 prioritizes FP16 at 312 TFLOPS for AI.
Which is cheaper to rent, the A100 or the A40?▾
Cloud rental prices for both the A100 and A40 vary by provider, configuration, and availability. This page shows live pricing from 25+ providers updated every 60 seconds. Scroll to the Live Cloud Pricing section to compare current rates.
How much VRAM does the A100 have compared to the A40?▾
The A100 has 40 to 80 GB of HBM2e memory. The A40 has 48 GB of GDDR6 memory.
Can I find A100 and A40 GPUs available to rent right now?▾
Yes. This page shows real-time availability across 25+ cloud GPU providers. The Live Cloud Pricing section displays only in-stock offers with current pricing.
What is the main difference between the A100 and the A40?▾
The A100 uses the Ampere architecture (2020) while the A40 uses Ampere (2020). The A100 delivers 8.3x the FP16 throughput and 2.9x the memory bandwidth of the A40.