A100 SXM4 40GB vs RTX 2070

AmperevsTuringUpdated 35 days ago

The NVIDIA A100 SXM4 40GB emerges as the clear winner for most AI and machine learning use cases due to its 40 GB HBM2e VRAM, 2039 GB/s bandwidth, and 312 TFLOPS FP16 performance, enabling large-scale training and inference infeasible on the RTX 2070's 8 GB and 7.5 TFLOPS limits.

A100 SXM4 40GB from $0.73/hr

Specifications Compared

SpecA100RTX-2070
TDP400W175W
VRAM40-80 GB8 GB
CUDA Cores6,9122,304
Memory TypeHBM2eGDDR6
ArchitectureAmpereTuring
Form FactorsSXM4, PCIePCIe
InterconnectNVLink, PCIe 4.0, InfiniBandNVLink
Tensor Cores432288
FP16 Performance312 TFLOPS7.5 TFLOPS
FP32 Performance19.5 TFLOPS7.5 TFLOPS
FP64 Performance9.7 TFLOPS
INT8 Performance624 TOPS
Memory Bandwidth2,039 GB/s448 GB/s

Performance Analysis

Compute throughput defines the core performance disparity: the A100 delivers 312 TFLOPS in FP16 for accelerated tensor operations in deep learning, compared to the RTX 2070's 7.5 TFLOPS. This FP16 advantage enables the A100 to train models over 40 times faster in mixed-precision workflows common in AI. FP32 performance follows suit at 19.5 TFLOPS for the A100 versus 7.5 TFLOPS for the RTX 2070, benefiting simulation and rendering tasks.

Memory bandwidth impacts real-world usage profoundly: the A100's 2039 GB/s supports larger batch sizes in training, reducing overhead for models exceeding 8 GB VRAM limits of the RTX 2070. The RTX 2070's 448 GB/s constrains it to smaller datasets, leading to out-of-memory errors in large language model inference. Power draw reflects efficiency: 400W TDP for the A100 suits datacenter cooling, while 175W for the RTX 2070 fits consumer setups. Interconnects further differentiate: A100's NVLink, PCIe 4.0, and InfiniBand enable multi-GPU scaling, absent in the RTX 2070's PCIe-only form.

These specs translate to training times: A100 processes FP16 workloads rapidly for production pipelines, whereas RTX 2070 suits prototyping with frequent memory swaps.

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×)

Compare real-time pricing across 25+ providers

When to Choose the A100 SXM4 40GB

Opt for the NVIDIA A100 SXM4 40GB in scenarios demanding high VRAM and throughput, such as training large neural networks requiring 40 GB HBM2e. Its 312 TFLOPS FP16 performance excels in distributed AI training via NVLink and InfiniBand. Cloud users benefit from scalable deployments despite $1.00 to $2.63 per hour pricing.

When to Choose the RTX 2070

Select the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 for cost-sensitive, low-intensity tasks like gaming or basic inference on models under 8 GB GDDR6 VRAM. At $0.02 to $0.04 per hour, it provides value for hobbyist experimentation with 7.5 TFLOPS FP16. Its 175W TDP and PCIe form factor suit single-user desktops without datacenter infrastructure.

Use Cases

LLM Training
A100 SXM4 40GB

The A100's 40 GB HBM2e VRAM and 312 TFLOPS FP16 handle massive parameter counts and large batches essential for LLM training. The RTX 2070's 8 GB GDDR6 causes frequent out-of-memory issues.

LLM Inference
A100 SXM4 40GB

A100 supports high-throughput inference with 2039 GB/s bandwidth for production-scale queries on large models. RTX 2070 limits concurrency due to 448 GB/s and 8 GB VRAM.

Fine-tuning
A100 SXM4 40GB

Fine-tuning benefits from A100's 19.5 TFLOPS FP32 and ample memory for dataset processing. RTX 2070 suffices only for tiny models under 8 GB.

Stable Diffusion
Either

RTX 2070 runs Stable Diffusion adequately at 7.5 TFLOPS FP16 for personal use. A100 accelerates batch generation with superior bandwidth but at higher cost.

Scientific Computing
A100 SXM4 40GB

A100's 312 TFLOPS FP16 and NVLink scaling excel in simulations and HPC. RTX 2070's lower specs restrict complex computations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the VRAM difference between A100 SXM4 40GB and RTX 2070?

The A100 SXM4 40GB has 40 GB HBM2e VRAM, enabling large models. The RTX 2070 provides 8 GB GDDR6, suitable for smaller workloads. This fivefold capacity gap affects batch sizes in training.

How do FP16 performances compare?

A100 achieves 312 TFLOPS in FP16 for rapid AI acceleration. RTX 2070 delivers 7.5 TFLOPS, over 41 times less. This impacts deep learning training speed significantly.

What are the cloud pricing differences?

A100 SXM4 40GB starts at $1.00 per hour, averaging $2.63 across five offers. RTX 2070 begins at $0.02 per hour, averaging $0.04 across two offers. Budget tasks favor the RTX 2070.

Which has higher memory bandwidth?

A100 offers 2039 GB/s bandwidth for fast data transfer. RTX 2070 provides 448 GB/s, about 4.5 times lower. Higher bandwidth on A100 supports larger batches.

What are the TDP ratings?

A100 consumes 400W TDP for datacenter use. RTX 2070 uses 175W, ideal for consumer power supplies. This affects cooling and electricity costs.

Can RTX 2070 scale like A100?

A100 supports NVLink, PCIe 4.0, and InfiniBand for multi-GPU clusters. RTX 2070 relies on PCIe without NVLink. Scaling favors A100 in distributed computing.

Which is cheaper to rent, the A100 or the RTX 2070?

Cloud rental prices for both the A100 and RTX 2070 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 RTX 2070?

The A100 has 40 to 80 GB of HBM2e memory. The RTX 2070 has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory.

Can I find A100 and RTX 2070 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 RTX 2070?

The A100 uses the Ampere architecture (2020) while the RTX 2070 uses Turing (2018). The A100 delivers 41.6x the FP16 throughput and 4.6x the memory bandwidth of the RTX 2070.

A100 SXM4 40GB vs RTX 2070: 41.6x FP16 Gap, 80GB vs 8GB | GPUPerHour