A100 SXM4 80GB vs L40S

AmperevsAda LovelaceUpdated 35 days ago

The A100 SXM4 80GB wins for most common AI training use cases due to 80 GB VRAM and 2039 GB/s bandwidth, enabling larger models and batches critical for LLMs. Despite L40S's compute edges in FP32 at 91 TFLOPS and FP8 at 724 TFLOPS, A100's memory superiority prevails in memory-bound scenarios.

A100 SXM4 80GB from $0.73/hrL40S from $0.55/hr

Specifications Compared

SpecA100L40S
TDP400W350W
VRAM40-80 GB48 GB
CUDA Cores6,91218,176
Memory TypeHBM2eGDDR6X
ArchitectureAmpereAda Lovelace
Form FactorsSXM4, PCIePCIe
InterconnectNVLink, PCIe 4.0, InfiniBandPCIe 4.0
Tensor Cores432568
FP16 Performance312 TFLOPS362 TFLOPS
FP32 Performance19.5 TFLOPS91 TFLOPS
FP64 Performance9.7 TFLOPS1.4 TFLOPS
INT8 Performance624 TOPS724 TOPS
Memory Bandwidth2,039 GB/s864 GB/s

Performance Analysis

FP16 performance favors the L40S slightly at 362 TFLOPS versus the A100's 312 TFLOPS, benefiting mixed-precision training where speed matters. However, the A100's 2039 GB/s memory bandwidth dwarfs the L40S's 864 GB/s, allowing larger batch sizes in memory-intensive tasks like large language model training. This bandwidth advantage stems from HBM2e memory, which sustains higher data throughput than GDDR6X.

FP32 capabilities highlight a clear L40S strength: 91 TFLOPS compared to 19.5 TFLOPS on A100, accelerating scientific simulations and graphics rendering. The L40S introduces FP8 at 724 TFLOPS, ideal for inference on quantized models, reducing latency in deployment scenarios. Lower TDP on L40S at 350W versus 400W on A100 translates to better power efficiency in dense cloud racks. Overall, A100 excels in bandwidth-bound workloads, while L40S prioritizes compute density and newer precision formats.

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
$1.00/GPU/hr
Available
Denvr
Denvr
8×NVIDIA A100 SXM4 80GB
80GB VRAM
$1.15/GPU/hr
$9.20/hr total (8×)

L40S

ProviderGPU ModelVRAMHost SpecsRegionPriceStatusAction
TensorDock
TensorDock
NVIDIA L40S
48GB VRAM
$0.55/GPU/hr
Available
RunPod
RunPod
NVIDIA L40S
48GB VRAM
$0.86/GPU/hr
Massed Compute
Massed Compute
NVIDIA L40S
48GB VRAM
$0.88/GPU/hr
Available
Massed Compute
Massed Compute
2×NVIDIA L40S
48GB VRAM
$0.88/GPU/hr
$1.76/hr total (2×)
Available
Massed Compute
Massed Compute
NVIDIA L40S
48GB VRAM
$0.88/GPU/hr
Available

Compare real-time pricing across 25+ providers

When to Choose the A100 SXM4 80GB

Choose the A100 SXM4 80GB for workloads demanding maximum VRAM and bandwidth, such as training massive models exceeding 48 GB. Its 80 GB HBM2e and 2039 GB/s bandwidth support larger batch sizes without overflow. NVLink and InfiniBand interconnects enable efficient multi-GPU clusters, outperforming PCIe 4.0 alone on L40S.

When to Choose the L40S

Opt for the L40S in inference-heavy or FP32-dominant tasks, leveraging 362 TFLOPS FP16, 91 TFLOPS FP32, and 724 TFLOPS FP8. Lower 350W TDP reduces operational costs compared to A100's 400W. Newer Ada Lovelace architecture provides better efficiency for Stable Diffusion or quantized LLM serving.

Use Cases

LLM Training
A100 SXM4 80GB

A100's 80 GB HBM2e VRAM and 2039 GB/s bandwidth handle massive models with large batches. L40S's 48 GB limits scalability.

LLM Inference
L40S

L40S's 724 TFLOPS FP8 and 362 TFLOPS FP16 accelerate quantized serving. Lower 350W TDP aids dense deployments.

Fine-tuning
A100 SXM4 80GB

A100's higher bandwidth at 2039 GB/s supports efficient fine-tuning of large models. 80 GB VRAM accommodates checkpoints.

Stable Diffusion
L40S

L40S's 91 TFLOPS FP32 and Ada architecture optimize image generation pipelines. Newer features enhance throughput.

Scientific Computing
L40S

L40S delivers 91 TFLOPS FP32 versus A100's 19.5 TFLOPS for simulations. Power efficiency at 350W suits long runs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which GPU has more VRAM: A100 SXM4 80GB or L40S?

The A100 SXM4 80GB provides 80 GB HBM2e VRAM, exceeding the L40S's 48 GB GDDR6X. This makes A100 better for memory-intensive tasks. Bandwidth also favors A100 at 2039 GB/s over 864 GB/s.

How do A100 and L40S compare in cloud pricing?

A100 SXM4 80GB starts at $0.45 per hour (average $1.35 per hour across 26 offers). L40S begins at $0.40 per hour (average $1.14 per hour across 22 offers). L40S offers slightly lower entry costs.

What is the FP32 performance difference between A100 and L40S?

L40S achieves 91 TFLOPS FP32, far surpassing A100's 19.5 TFLOPS. This benefits precision computing tasks. FP16 is closer, with L40S at 362 TFLOPS versus 312 TFLOPS.

Does L40S support FP8, and how does it compare?

L40S supports FP8 at 724 TFLOPS, absent on A100. This boosts low-precision inference. A100 compensates with higher memory bandwidth at 2039 GB/s.

Which has lower power consumption: A100 or L40S?

L40S has a 350W TDP, lower than A100's 400W. This improves efficiency in power-constrained environments. Pricing reflects this, with L40S averaging $1.14 per hour.

Can A100 use NVLink, unlike L40S?

A100 SXM4 supports NVLink, PCIe 4.0, and InfiniBand for multi-GPU scaling. L40S relies on PCIe 4.0 only. This gives A100 an edge in clustered training.

Which is cheaper to rent, the A100 or the L40S?

Cloud rental prices for both the A100 and L40S 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 L40S?

The A100 has 40 to 80 GB of HBM2e memory. The L40S has 48 GB of GDDR6X memory.

Can I find A100 and L40S 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 L40S?

The A100 uses the Ampere architecture (2020) while the L40S uses Ada Lovelace (2023). The L40S delivers 1.2x the FP16 throughput and 2.4x the memory bandwidth of the A100.