L40S vs RTX 5070

Ada LovelacevsBlackwellUpdated 36 days ago

The L40S emerges as the superior choice for most AI and machine learning use cases due to its 362 TFLOPS FP16, 48 GB VRAM, and 864 GB/s bandwidth, enabling efficient large-scale training and inference unavailable on the RTX 5070's 40.6 TFLOPS and 12 GB limits. Despite higher average pricing of $1.10 per hour versus $0.17, the performance delta justifies it for production workloads.

L40S from $0.55/hr

Specifications Compared

SpecL40SRTX-5070
TDP350W250W
VRAM48 GB12 GB
CUDA Cores18,1766,144
Memory TypeGDDR6XGDDR7
ArchitectureAda LovelaceBlackwell
Form FactorsPCIePCIe
InterconnectPCIe 4.0
Tensor Cores568192
FP8 Performance724 TFLOPS
FP16 Performance362 TFLOPS40.6 TFLOPS
FP32 Performance91 TFLOPS40.6 TFLOPS
FP64 Performance1.4 TFLOPS
INT8 Performance724 TOPS650 TOPS
Memory Bandwidth864 GB/s448 GB/s

Performance Analysis

The L40S outperforms the RTX 5070 dramatically in compute-intensive scenarios due to its superior FP16 rating of 362 TFLOPS versus 40.6 TFLOPS, enabling faster model training where half-precision arithmetic dominates. Its FP32 performance of 91 TFLOPS also exceeds the RTX 5070's 40.6 TFLOPS, benefiting single-precision tasks like scientific simulations. This FP16 to FP32 delta on the L40S, nearly 4 times higher in FP16, accelerates deep learning pipelines by handling larger datasets without precision loss.

Memory bandwidth plays a critical role: the L40S's 864 GB/s supports massive batch sizes in training, reducing iteration times for large language models, while the RTX 5070's 448 GB/s limits it to smaller batches prone to bottlenecks. The L40S's 48 GB VRAM capacity allows loading full models like 70B-parameter LLMs, whereas 12 GB on the RTX 5070 necessitates quantization or offloading, increasing latency. Higher TDP of 350W on the L40S reflects its datacenter design for sustained loads, compared to the RTX 5070's efficient 250W for intermittent use.

FP8 capability on the L40S at 724 TFLOPS further enhances inference speed for quantized models, unavailable or inferior on the consumer RTX 5070.

Live Cloud Pricing

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

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 L40S

Select the L40S for workloads demanding high VRAM and throughput, such as training large language models requiring 48 GB to fit parameters without sharding. Its 362 TFLOPS FP16 performance suits enterprise-scale inference at 864 GB/s bandwidth, enabling batch sizes that the RTX 5070's 12 GB and 448 GB/s cannot match. Datacenter users benefit from PCIe 4.0 interconnect for multi-GPU setups across 18 cloud offers starting at $0.40 per hour.

When to Choose the RTX 5070

Opt for the RTX 5070 in cost-sensitive, lighter tasks like prototyping small models or gaming-enhanced visualization, where 12 GB GDDR7 suffices at $0.08 per hour average $0.17 per hour. Its Blackwell architecture provides 40.6 TFLOPS FP16/FP32 balance for fine-tuning under 7B parameters, with 250W TDP ideal for edge deployments. Fewer offers at 4 reflect its consumer focus but lower entry barrier.

Use Cases

LLM Training
L40S

The L40S's 48 GB VRAM and 362 TFLOPS FP16 handle large models without sharding, unlike the RTX 5070's 12 GB limit. Its 864 GB/s bandwidth supports high batch sizes for faster convergence.

LLM Inference
L40S

724 TFLOPS FP8 on the L40S accelerates quantized serving for high throughput. RTX 5070's 40.6 TFLOPS FP16 struggles with memory-intensive queries.

Fine-tuning
Either

RTX 5070 suffices for small models under 12 GB at low cost of $0.08 per hour. L40S excels for larger ones needing 48 GB and 91 TFLOPS FP32.

Stable Diffusion
RTX 5070

RTX 5070's Blackwell architecture and 448 GB/s bandwidth optimize image generation at 250W TDP. Lower pricing averages $0.17 per hour fit iterative creative tasks.

Scientific Computing
L40S

L40S's 91 TFLOPS FP32 outperforms RTX 5070's 40.6 TFLOPS for simulations. 48 GB VRAM manages complex datasets effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which GPU has more VRAM: L40S or RTX 5070?

The L40S provides 48 GB GDDR6X VRAM, four times the RTX 5070's 12 GB GDDR7. This enables the L40S to load larger models directly. RTX 5070 requires techniques like quantization for big workloads.

How do their prices compare in the cloud?

L40S starts from $0.40 per hour averaging $1.10 across 18 offers. RTX 5070 is cheaper at $0.08 per hour average $0.17 over 4 offers. Choose based on performance needs versus budget.

What is the FP16 performance difference?

L40S achieves 362 TFLOPS FP16, nearly 9 times the RTX 5070's 40.6 TFLOPS. This gap favors L40S for AI training speed. RTX 5070 suits lighter inference.

Which has higher memory bandwidth?

L40S offers 864 GB/s, almost double the RTX 5070's 448 GB/s. Higher bandwidth on L40S reduces bottlenecks in large batch processing. RTX 5070 performs adequately for smaller datasets.

Are both GPUs suitable for multi-GPU setups?

Both use PCIe form factors, but L40S specifies PCIe 4.0 interconnect for datacenter scaling. RTX 5070 lacks detailed interconnect specs, limiting enterprise use. L40S better for clusters.

Which is more power-efficient?

RTX 5070 draws 250W TDP versus L40S's 350W, offering better efficiency for consumer tasks. L40S justifies higher power with 362 TFLOPS FP16 output. Efficiency depends on workload density.

Which is cheaper to rent, the L40S or the RTX 5070?

Cloud rental prices for both the L40S and RTX 5070 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 L40S have compared to the RTX 5070?

The L40S has 48 GB of GDDR6X memory. The RTX 5070 has 12 GB of GDDR7 memory.

Can I find L40S and RTX 5070 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 L40S and the RTX 5070?

The L40S uses the Ada Lovelace architecture (2023) while the RTX 5070 uses Blackwell (2025). The L40S delivers 8.9x the FP16 throughput and 1.9x the memory bandwidth of the RTX 5070.