A100 SXM4 80GB vs RTX 3070 Ti

AmperevsAmpereUpdated 35 days ago

The NVIDIA A100 SXM4 80GB emerges as the superior choice for most AI and machine learning workloads due to its 80 GB VRAM, 2039 GB/s bandwidth, and 312 TFLOPS FP16 performance, enabling large-scale training unattainable on the RTX 3070 Ti. Despite higher costs averaging $1.33/hr, its capabilities justify selection over the budget RTX 3070 Ti at $0.08/hr average.

A100 SXM4 80GB from $0.73/hr

Specifications Compared

SpecA100RTX-3070
TDP400W220W
VRAM40-80 GB8 GB
CUDA Cores6,9125,888
Memory TypeHBM2eGDDR6
ArchitectureAmpereAmpere
Form FactorsSXM4, PCIePCIe
InterconnectNVLink, PCIe 4.0, InfiniBand
Tensor Cores432184
FP16 Performance312 TFLOPS20.3 TFLOPS
FP32 Performance19.5 TFLOPS20.3 TFLOPS
FP64 Performance9.7 TFLOPS
INT8 Performance624 TOPS
Memory Bandwidth2,039 GB/s448 GB/s

Performance Analysis

Memory capacity creates the starkest divide: the A100 SXM4 80GB's 80 GB HBM2e supports massive models and large batch sizes, whereas the RTX 3070 Ti's 8 GB GDDR6 limits it to smaller datasets. Bandwidth reinforces this: 2039 GB/s on the A100 enables rapid data throughput for training, compared to 448 GB/s on the RTX 3070 Ti, which constrains batch sizes in memory-intensive tasks.

FP16 performance favors the A100 at 312 TFLOPS for accelerated training and inference in mixed-precision workflows, while its FP32 at 19.5 TFLOPS suits general compute. The RTX 3070 Ti matches FP16 and FP32 at 20.3 TFLOPS, providing balanced but lower throughput ideal for inference on modest models. Higher TDP on the A100 (400W) sustains peak loads longer than the RTX 3070 Ti's 220W.

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
LeaderGPU
LeaderGPU
8×NVIDIA A100 PCIe 80GB
80GB VRAM
$0.90/GPU/hr
$7.20/hr total (8×)
Available
Vast.ai
Vast.ai
2×NVIDIA A100 SXM4 80GB
80GB VRAM
$1.00/GPU/hr
$2.00/hr total (2×)
Available
Denvr
Denvr
4×NVIDIA A100 PCIe 80GB
80GB VRAM
$1.15/GPU/hr
$4.60/hr total (4×)
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 80GB

Select the NVIDIA A100 SXM4 80GB for large-scale AI training where 80 GB VRAM and 2039 GB/s bandwidth handle billion-parameter models with large batches. Its 312 TFLOPS FP16 performance excels in deep learning frameworks requiring high throughput, such as LLM pretraining. Datacenter interconnects like NVLink make it preferable for multi-GPU clusters.

When to Choose the RTX 3070 Ti

Opt for the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti in budget-conscious scenarios like gaming, lightweight inference, or fine-tuning small models fitting within 8 GB VRAM. At $0.06/hr from cloud pricing, it offers 20.3 TFLOPS FP16/FP32 for cost-effective prototyping. Lower 220W TDP suits single-user desktops or short jobs.

Use Cases

LLM Training
A100 SXM4 80GB

The A100 SXM4 80GB's 80 GB VRAM and 312 TFLOPS FP16 support billion-parameter models with large batches. The RTX 3070 Ti's 8 GB limits scale.

LLM Inference
A100 SXM4 80GB

High 2039 GB/s bandwidth on A100 handles high-throughput serving. RTX 3070 Ti suffices for small models but bottlenecks at 448 GB/s.

Fine-tuning
Either

RTX 3070 Ti manages small datasets at 20.3 TFLOPS FP16 for $0.06/hr. A100 excels for larger ones with 80 GB VRAM.

Stable Diffusion
RTX 3070 Ti

RTX 3070 Ti's 8 GB VRAM fits image generation at low cost. A100 overkill for consumer creative tasks.

Scientific Computing
A100 SXM4 80GB

A100's 19.5 TFLOPS FP32 and NVLink suit simulations. RTX 3070 Ti adequate for modest HPC at 220W TDP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the VRAM difference between A100 SXM4 80GB and RTX 3070 Ti?

The A100 SXM4 80GB provides 80 GB HBM2e VRAM, while the RTX 3070 Ti has 8 GB GDDR6. This gap affects handling of large AI models.

How do FP16 performances compare?

A100 SXM4 80GB achieves 312 TFLOPS in FP16, versus 20.3 TFLOPS on RTX 3070 Ti. A100 accelerates mixed-precision training significantly.

What are the cloud rental prices?

A100 SXM4 80GB rents from $0.45/hr averaging $1.33/hr across 29 offers. RTX 3070 Ti starts at $0.06/hr averaging $0.08/hr across 2 offers.

Which has higher memory bandwidth?

A100 SXM4 80GB offers 2039 GB/s, compared to 448 GB/s on RTX 3070 Ti. Higher bandwidth supports larger batch sizes.

What are the TDPs?

A100 SXM4 80GB consumes 400W TDP, while RTX 3070 Ti uses 220W. A100 sustains intensive workloads longer.

Can RTX 3070 Ti replace A100 for training?

No, due to 8 GB VRAM versus 80 GB and 20.3 TFLOPS FP16 versus 312 TFLOPS. RTX 3070 Ti suits only small-scale tasks.

Which is cheaper to rent, the A100 or the RTX 3070?

Cloud rental prices for both the A100 and RTX 3070 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 3070?

The A100 has 40 to 80 GB of HBM2e memory. The RTX 3070 has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory.

Can I find A100 and RTX 3070 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 3070?

The A100 uses the Ampere architecture (2020) while the RTX 3070 uses Ampere (2020). The A100 delivers 15.4x the FP16 throughput and 4.6x the memory bandwidth of the RTX 3070.

A100 SXM4 80GB vs RTX 3070 Ti: 80GB vs 8GB | GPUPerHour