A100 SXM4 40GB vs Quadro RTX 5000

AmperevsTuringUpdated 35 days ago

The A100 SXM4 40GB emerges as the clear winner for most common use cases like AI training and inference, driven by its 312 TFLOPS FP16, 40 GB VRAM, and 2039 GB/s bandwidth that enable scaling large models unavailable on the Quadro RTX 5000. Despite higher $2.63 per hour average pricing, its Ampere architecture delivers over 27 times the FP16 throughput, justifying selection for compute-intensive cloud deployments.

A100 SXM4 40GB from $0.73/hrQuadro RTX 5000 from $0.82/hr

Specifications Compared

SpecA100QUADRO-RTX-5000
TDP400W230W
VRAM40-80 GB16 GB
CUDA Cores6,9123,072
Memory TypeHBM2eGDDR6
ArchitectureAmpereTuring
Form FactorsSXM4, PCIePCIe
InterconnectNVLink, PCIe 4.0, InfiniBandNVLink
Tensor Cores432384
FP16 Performance312 TFLOPS11.2 TFLOPS
FP32 Performance19.5 TFLOPS11.2 TFLOPS
FP64 Performance9.7 TFLOPS
INT8 Performance624 TOPS
Memory Bandwidth2,039 GB/s448 GB/s

Performance Analysis

The A100's FP16 performance of 312 TFLOPS vastly outpaces the Quadro RTX 5000's 11.2 TFLOPS, enabling faster deep learning training where half-precision computations dominate. Its FP32 rate of 19.5 TFLOPS also exceeds the Quadro's 11.2 TFLOPS, supporting more efficient single-precision tasks like simulations. This disparity means the A100 accelerates model training by handling larger tensor operations, reducing epochs from days to hours in typical AI pipelines.

Memory bandwidth defines practical limits: the A100's 2039 GB/s supports massive batch sizes in training, preventing out-of-memory errors for models exceeding 16 GB, which the Quadro RTX 5000's 448 GB/s and 16 GB VRAM cannot manage. For inference, higher bandwidth on the A100 sustains higher throughput for real-time serving. The A100's 400W TDP reflects its compute focus, while the Quadro's 230W suits power-constrained setups, though at reduced scale.

These specs translate to real-world gains: the A100 processes large language models with batch sizes up to 40 GB, whereas the Quadro RTX 5000 limits users to smaller datasets, slowing iteration in memory-bound workflows.

Live Cloud Pricing

Real-time prices from 25+ providers. Updated every 60 seconds.

A100 SXM4 40GB

ProviderGPU ModelVRAMHost SpecsRegionPriceStatusAction
Vast.ai
Vast.ai
NVIDIA A100 SXM4 80GB
80GB VRAM
$0.73/GPU/hr
Available
Vast.ai
Vast.ai
2×NVIDIA A100 SXM4 80GB
80GB VRAM
$0.73/GPU/hr
$1.47/hr total (2×)
Available
LeaderGPU
LeaderGPU
8×NVIDIA A100 PCIe 80GB
80GB VRAM
$0.90/GPU/hr
$7.20/hr total (8×)
Available
Vast.ai
Vast.ai
NVIDIA A100 SXM4 80GB
80GB VRAM
$1.07/GPU/hr
Available
Denvr
Denvr
8×NVIDIA A100 SXM4 80GB
80GB VRAM
$1.15/GPU/hr
$9.20/hr total (8×)

Quadro RTX 5000

ProviderGPU ModelVRAMHost SpecsRegionPriceStatusAction
Paperspace
Paperspace
NVIDIA Quadro RTX 5000
16GB VRAM
$0.82/GPU/hr
Available
Paperspace
Paperspace
2×NVIDIA Quadro RTX 5000
16GB VRAM
$0.82/GPU/hr
$1.64/hr total (2×)
Available

Compare real-time pricing across 25+ providers

When to Choose the A100 SXM4 40GB

The A100 SXM4 40GB excels in AI training and large-scale inference where 40 GB HBM2e VRAM and 2039 GB/s bandwidth handle models beyond 16 GB. Its 312 TFLOPS FP16 performance suits deep learning pipelines requiring NVLink or InfiniBand scaling across multi-GPU clusters.

Professionals running scientific computing or fine-tuning with batch sizes over 16 GB find the A100 indispensable, as its PCIe 4.0 and SXM4 form factors integrate seamlessly into cloud datacenters at $1.00 per hour starting price.

When to Choose the Quadro RTX 5000

The Quadro RTX 5000 fits cost-sensitive visualization and CAD workflows, leveraging its 16 GB GDDR6 and 448 GB/s bandwidth for rendering tasks under 230W TDP. At $0.82 per hour, it offers value for single-GPU PCIe setups without NVLink demands.

Users prioritizing power efficiency and lower pricing choose it for moderate FP32 workloads at 11.2 TFLOPS, such as professional graphics or light ML inference where 40 GB VRAM proves unnecessary.

Use Cases

LLM Training
A100 SXM4 40GB

The A100's 312 TFLOPS FP16 and 40 GB HBM2e VRAM support training large language models with massive batch sizes. The Quadro RTX 5000's 11.2 TFLOPS and 16 GB limit it to smaller scales.

LLM Inference
A100 SXM4 40GB

A100's 2039 GB/s bandwidth enables high-throughput serving of models over 16 GB. Quadro RTX 5000 suffices only for lightweight inference at lower latencies.

Fine-tuning
A100 SXM4 40GB

40 GB VRAM on A100 accommodates fine-tuning datasets exceeding Quadro RTX 5000's 16 GB capacity. Its 19.5 TFLOPS FP32 accelerates precision adjustments.

Stable Diffusion
Either

Quadro RTX 5000's 11.2 TFLOPS FP16 handles standard image generation at $0.82 per hour. A100's superior specs benefit high-resolution or batched Stable Diffusion.

Scientific Computing
A100 SXM4 40GB

A100's 2039 GB/s bandwidth and NVLink support large simulations across nodes. Quadro RTX 5000's 448 GB/s restricts complex datasets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which GPU has more VRAM: A100 SXM4 40GB or Quadro RTX 5000?

The A100 SXM4 40GB provides 40 GB of HBM2e VRAM, doubling the Quadro RTX 5000's 16 GB GDDR6. This allows the A100 to load larger models without swapping. Bandwidth also differs: 2039 GB/s versus 448 GB/s.

How do FP16 performances compare between A100 and Quadro RTX 5000?

A100 delivers 312 TFLOPS in FP16, nearly 28 times the Quadro RTX 5000's 11.2 TFLOPS. This gap accelerates AI training significantly. FP32 on A100 is 19.5 TFLOPS versus 11.2 TFLOPS.

What are the cloud pricing differences for these GPUs?

A100 SXM4 40GB starts at $1.00 per hour with $2.63 average across five offers. Quadro RTX 5000 is $0.82 per hour average across two offers. Pricing reflects performance disparity.

Is the A100 or Quadro RTX 5000 better for ML training?

A100 excels with 312 TFLOPS FP16 and 40 GB VRAM for large-scale training. Quadro RTX 5000's 11.2 TFLOPS limits it to smaller models. Memory bandwidth of 2039 GB/s on A100 supports bigger batches.

What are the TDPs of A100 SXM4 40GB and Quadro RTX 5000?

A100 requires 400W TDP for its datacenter form factors like SXM4. Quadro RTX 5000 uses 230W in PCIe slots. Higher TDP on A100 correlates with superior 312 TFLOPS FP16.

Do these GPUs support NVLink?

Both list NVLink interconnect support, but A100 adds PCIe 4.0 and InfiniBand for clusters. Quadro RTX 5000's PCIe form factor suits single-node use. A100's options enhance multi-GPU scaling.

Which is cheaper to rent, the A100 or the Quadro RTX 5000?

Cloud rental prices for both the A100 and Quadro RTX 5000 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 Quadro RTX 5000?

The A100 has 40 to 80 GB of HBM2e memory. The Quadro RTX 5000 has 16 GB of GDDR6 memory.

Can I find A100 and Quadro RTX 5000 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 Quadro RTX 5000?

The A100 uses the Ampere architecture (2020) while the Quadro RTX 5000 uses Turing (2018). The A100 delivers 27.9x the FP16 throughput and 4.6x the memory bandwidth of the Quadro RTX 5000.

A100 SXM4 40GB vs Quadro RTX 5000: 80GB vs 16GB | GPUPerHour