A100 SXM4 80GB vs Intel Gaudi 2

AmperevsGaudiUpdated 35 days ago

The NVIDIA A100 SXM4 80GB wins for most common AI training and inference use cases due to its proven ecosystem, 25 live cloud offers at $0.67 per hour starting price, and NVLink scaling superior to Ethernet. Despite Gaudi 2's edges in 420 TFLOPS FP16/FP32 and 96 GB VRAM, A100's maturity ensures reliability across diverse workloads.

A100 SXM4 80GB from $0.73/hrIntel Gaudi 2 from $0.91/hr

Specifications Compared

SpecA100GAUDI2
TDP400W600W
VRAM40-80 GB96 GB
CUDA Cores6,912
Memory TypeHBM2eHBM2e
ArchitectureAmpereGaudi
Form FactorsSXM4, PCIeOAM
InterconnectNVLink, PCIe 4.0, InfiniBandEthernet
Tensor Cores432
FP16 Performance312 TFLOPS420 TFLOPS
FP32 Performance19.5 TFLOPS420 TFLOPS
FP64 Performance9.7 TFLOPS
INT8 Performance624 TOPS
Memory Bandwidth2,039 GB/s2,460 GB/s

Performance Analysis

Gaudi 2 surpasses A100 in key metrics: 420 TFLOPS FP16 versus 312 TFLOPS enables faster mixed-precision training, while 420 TFLOPS FP32 dwarfs A100's 19.5 TFLOPS, benefiting FP32-dominant tasks like scientific simulations. The 96 GB VRAM capacity exceeds A100's 80 GB, supporting larger models or batch sizes without swapping. Higher 2460 GB/s bandwidth versus 2039 GB/s reduces bottlenecks in data-heavy workloads, allowing bigger batches in training. A100's lower 400W TDP compared to Gaudi 2's 600W suits power-constrained environments, though Gaudi 2's Ethernet interconnect scales differently from A100's NVLink. In real-world terms, Gaudi 2 excels in balanced precision workloads, whereas A100 optimizes for FP16-heavy inference. Memory advantages on Gaudi 2 mean fewer out-of-memory errors for large language models.

Live Cloud Pricing

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

A100 SXM4 80GB

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×)

Intel Gaudi 2

ProviderGPU ModelVRAMHost SpecsRegionPriceStatusAction
LeaderGPU
LeaderGPU
8×Intel Gaudi 2
96GB VRAM
$0.91/GPU/hr
$7.29/hr total (8×)
Available
Denvr
Denvr
8×Intel Gaudi 2
96GB VRAM
$1.25/GPU/hr
$10.00/hr total (8×)

Compare real-time pricing across 25+ providers

When to Choose the A100 SXM4 80GB

Users should select the NVIDIA A100 SXM4 80GB for mature CUDA ecosystems and broad availability across 25 cloud offers starting at $0.67 per hour. Its 400W TDP fits dense deployments better than Gaudi 2's 600W, and NVLink interconnect outperforms Ethernet for multi-GPU scaling in training clusters. Inference workloads leverage 312 TFLOPS FP16 efficiently in established frameworks.

When to Choose the Intel Gaudi 2

Intel Gaudi 2 suits scenarios demanding superior raw performance, with 420 TFLOPS FP16 and FP32 plus 96 GB VRAM for large-scale training. At an average $1.08 per hour, it undercuts A100's $1.38 average, and 2460 GB/s bandwidth handles massive batches. Ethernet interconnect enables cost-effective scaling in Ethernet-based data centers.

Use Cases

LLM Training
Intel Gaudi 2

Gaudi 2's 420 TFLOPS FP16 and 96 GB VRAM support larger models and batches better than A100's 312 TFLOPS and 80 GB. Its 2460 GB/s bandwidth minimizes data stalls in extended training runs.

LLM Inference
A100 SXM4 80GB

A100's 312 TFLOPS FP16 and NVLink interconnect optimize low-latency serving in CUDA environments. Greater availability across 25 offers ensures easier deployment.

Fine-tuning
Either

Both handle fine-tuning well, with A100 at 19.5 TFLOPS FP32 for precision tasks and Gaudi 2 at 420 TFLOPS FP32 for speed. Choice depends on ecosystem preference.

Stable Diffusion
Intel Gaudi 2

Gaudi 2's 420 TFLOPS FP16 and higher 2460 GB/s bandwidth accelerate diffusion model generation faster than A100's 312 TFLOPS and 2039 GB/s.

Scientific Computing
Intel Gaudi 2

Gaudi 2's balanced 420 TFLOPS FP32 vastly outperforms A100's 19.5 TFLOPS, ideal for simulations requiring full precision.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which GPU has more VRAM?

Intel Gaudi 2 provides 96 GB HBM2e VRAM, exceeding the NVIDIA A100 SXM4 80GB's 80 GB. This allows Gaudi 2 to manage larger models without fragmentation. A100 remains sufficient for many workloads.

How do FP32 performances compare?

Gaudi 2 delivers 420 TFLOPS FP32, far ahead of A100's 19.5 TFLOPS. This gap favors Gaudi 2 in FP32-intensive tasks like scientific computing. A100 prioritizes lower-precision accelerations.

What are the cloud pricing differences?

A100 SXM4 80GB starts at $0.67 per hour with an average of $1.38 across 25 offers. Gaudi 2 starts at $0.91 per hour, averaging $1.08 across 2 offers. A100 offers more choices.

Which has higher memory bandwidth?

Gaudi 2 achieves 2460 GB/s, surpassing A100's 2039 GB/s. Higher bandwidth on Gaudi 2 supports larger batch sizes in training. Both use HBM2e memory.

What are the power consumption levels?

A100 consumes 400W TDP, lower than Gaudi 2's 600W. This makes A100 preferable in power-limited setups. Gaudi 2's higher TDP correlates with its performance gains.

How do interconnects differ?

A100 uses NVLink, PCIe 4.0, and InfiniBand for high-speed multi-GPU communication. Gaudi 2 relies on Ethernet, suitable for standard data center fabrics. NVLink provides lower latency.

Which is cheaper to rent, the A100 or the Gaudi 2?

Cloud rental prices for both the A100 and Gaudi 2 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 Gaudi 2?

The A100 has 40 to 80 GB of HBM2e memory. The Gaudi 2 has 96 GB of HBM2e memory.

Can I find A100 and Gaudi 2 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 Gaudi 2?

The A100 uses the Ampere architecture (2020) while the Gaudi 2 uses Gaudi (2022). The Gaudi 2 delivers 1.3x the FP16 throughput and 1.2x the memory bandwidth of the A100.

A100 SXM4 80GB vs Intel Gaudi 2: 80GB vs 96GB | GPUPerHour