A100 SXM4 80GB vs RTX 3080 Ti

AmperevsAmpereUpdated 35 days ago

The A100 SXM4 80GB wins for most AI and ML use cases on gpuperhour.com due to 312 TFLOPS FP16 and 80 GB VRAM, enabling 10x faster training than the RTX 3080 Ti's 29.8 TFLOPS. Despite $1.33 per hour average versus $0.14 per hour, performance justifies it for production workloads over consumer alternatives.

A100 SXM4 80GB from $0.73/hr

Specifications Compared

SpecA100RTX-3080
TDP400W320W
VRAM40-80 GB10-12 GB
CUDA Cores6,9128,704
Memory TypeHBM2eGDDR6X
ArchitectureAmpereAmpere
Form FactorsSXM4, PCIePCIe
InterconnectNVLink, PCIe 4.0, InfiniBand
Tensor Cores432272
FP16 Performance312 TFLOPS29.8 TFLOPS
FP32 Performance19.5 TFLOPS29.8 TFLOPS
FP64 Performance9.7 TFLOPS
INT8 Performance624 TOPS
Memory Bandwidth2,039 GB/s760 GB/s

Performance Analysis

The A100 SXM4 80GB excels in FP16 performance at 312 TFLOPS, enabling faster AI model training and inference compared to the RTX 3080 Ti's 29.8 TFLOPS. This FP16 to FP32 ratio of 16:1 on the A100 SXM4 80GB versus 1:1 on the RTX 3080 Ti indicates optimization for half-precision deep learning, where training speeds increase significantly for large neural networks. Inference benefits from tensor core acceleration, reducing latency in production deployments.

Memory bandwidth defines batch size capabilities: 2039 GB/s on the A100 SXM4 80GB supports massive datasets and larger batches without swapping, while 760 GB/s on the RTX 3080 Ti limits scale for memory-intensive tasks. In real-world terms, the A100 SXM4 80GB handles enterprise-scale training 10 times faster in FP16-bound workloads. The RTX 3080 Ti suits graphics or balanced FP32 tasks like rendering, where its 29.8 TFLOPS FP32 matches FP16.

Live Cloud Pricing

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

A100 SXM4 80GB

ProviderGPU ModelVRAMHost SpecsRegionPriceStatusAction
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
2×NVIDIA A100 SXM4 80GB
80GB VRAM
$1.00/GPU/hr
$2.00/hr total (2×)
Available
Vast.ai
Vast.ai
NVIDIA A100 SXM4 80GB
80GB VRAM
$1.07/GPU/hr
Available
Denvr
Denvr
4×NVIDIA A100 PCIe 80GB
80GB VRAM
$1.15/GPU/hr
$4.60/hr total (4×)

Compare real-time pricing across 25+ providers

When to Choose the A100 SXM4 80GB

The A100 SXM4 80GB suits large-scale AI training and inference with models exceeding 12 GB VRAM. Its 80 GB HBM2e and 2039 GB/s bandwidth enable batch sizes impossible on the RTX 3080 Ti, ideal for LLMs or scientific simulations. Cloud renters prioritize it at $0.45 per hour minimum for professional HPC via NVLink and InfiniBand interconnects.

When to Choose the RTX 3080 Ti

The RTX 3080 Ti fits budget-conscious users for prototyping or gaming-adjacent tasks. At $0.08 per hour average $0.14 per hour, it delivers 29.8 TFLOPS FP32 for Stable Diffusion or fine-tuning small models within 12 GB GDDR6X limits. It provides value for solo developers avoiding the A100 SXM4 80GB's 400W TDP and higher costs.

Use Cases

LLM Training
A100 SXM4 80GB

The A100 SXM4 80GB's 312 TFLOPS FP16 and 80 GB VRAM handle massive LLMs with large batches. RTX 3080 Ti's 12 GB limits scale.

LLM Inference
A100 SXM4 80GB

80 GB VRAM on A100 SXM4 80GB supports high-concurrency inference. RTX 3080 Ti suffices for small batches but bottlenecks at 760 GB/s.

Fine-tuning
Either

RTX 3080 Ti works for models under 12 GB at low cost. A100 SXM4 80GB accelerates larger fine-tunes with 2039 GB/s bandwidth.

Stable Diffusion
RTX 3080 Ti

RTX 3080 Ti generates images efficiently within 12 GB GDDR6X at $0.08 per hour. A100 SXM4 80GB overkill for consumer diffusion.

Scientific Computing
A100 SXM4 80GB

A100 SXM4 80GB's 312 TFLOPS FP16 and NVLink excel in simulations. RTX 3080 Ti lacks interconnects for distributed computing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is A100 SXM4 80GB faster than RTX 3080 Ti for AI training?

Yes, A100 SXM4 80GB delivers 312 TFLOPS FP16 versus 29.8 TFLOPS on RTX 3080 Ti, yielding 10x speedup in training. Its 80 GB VRAM supports larger models unavailable on 12 GB GDDR6X.

What is the price difference between A100 SXM4 80GB and RTX 3080 Ti?

A100 SXM4 80GB rents from $0.45 per hour average $1.33 per hour across 29 offers. RTX 3080 Ti starts at $0.08 per hour average $0.14 per hour across 4 offers.

Can RTX 3080 Ti handle LLM inference?

RTX 3080 Ti manages small LLMs within 12 GB VRAM at 29.8 TFLOPS FP16. Larger models require A100 SXM4 80GB's 80 GB and 2039 GB/s bandwidth.

How does memory bandwidth compare?

A100 SXM4 80GB offers 2039 GB/s HBM2e for big batches. RTX 3080 Ti provides 760 GB/s GDDR6X, sufficient for consumer tasks.

Which has higher TDP?

A100 SXM4 80GB consumes 400W for datacenter performance. RTX 3080 Ti uses 320W, better for compact cloud instances.

Are both Ampere GPUs?

Yes, both use Ampere architecture from 2020. A100 SXM4 80GB targets AI with SXM4 form factor, RTX 3080 Ti gaming via PCIe.

Which is cheaper to rent, the A100 or the RTX 3080?

Cloud rental prices for both the A100 and RTX 3080 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 3080?

The A100 has 40 to 80 GB of HBM2e memory. The RTX 3080 has 10 to 12 GB of GDDR6X memory.

Can I find A100 and RTX 3080 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 3080?

The A100 uses the Ampere architecture (2020) while the RTX 3080 uses Ampere (2020). The A100 delivers 10.5x the FP16 throughput and 2.7x the memory bandwidth of the RTX 3080.

A100 SXM4 80GB vs RTX 3080 Ti: 80GB vs 12GB | GPUPerHour