NVIDIA A100 80GB VS NVIDIA V100
Comparing NVIDIA's Ampere-based A100 80GB against the Volta-based V100. This cross-generational comparison reveals significant architectural improvements.
A100 80GB
📊 Detailed Specifications Comparison
| Specification | A100 80GB | V100 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architecture & Design | |||
| Architecture | Ampere | Volta | - |
| Process Node | 7nm | 12nm | - |
| Target Market | datacenter | datacenter | - |
| Form Factor | SXM4 / PCIe | SXM2 / PCIe | - |
| Memory | |||
| VRAM Capacity | 80GB | 32GB | +150% |
| Memory Type | HBM2e | HBM2 | - |
| Memory Bandwidth | 2.0 TB/s | 900 GB/s | +127% |
| Memory Bus | 5120-bit | 4096-bit | - |
| Compute Units | |||
| CUDA Cores | 6,912 | 5,120 | +35% |
| Tensor Cores | 432 | 640 | -33% |
| Performance (TFLOPS) | |||
| FP32 (Single Precision) | 19.5 TFLOPS | 15.7 TFLOPS | +24% |
| FP16 (Half Precision) | 312 TFLOPS | 125 TFLOPS | +150% |
| TF32 (Tensor Float) | 156 TFLOPS | N/A | |
| FP64 (Double Precision) | 9.7 TFLOPS | 7.8 TFLOPS | +24% |
| Power & Connectivity | |||
| TDP (Power) | 400W | 300W | +33% |
| PCIe | PCIe 4.0 x16 | PCIe 3.0 x16 | - |
| NVLink | NVLink 3.0 (600 GB/s) | Not available | - |
🎯 Use Case Recommendations
LLM & Large Model Training
NVIDIA A100 80GB
Higher VRAM capacity and memory bandwidth are critical for training large language models. The A100 80GB offers 80GB compared to 32GB.
AI Inference
NVIDIA A100 80GB
For inference workloads, performance per watt matters most. Consider the balance between FP16/INT8 throughput and power consumption.
Budget-Conscious Choice
NVIDIA V100
Based on current cloud pricing, the V100 starts at a lower hourly rate.
NVIDIA A100 80GB is Best For:
- AI model training
- Scientific computing
- Newest FP8 precision workloads
NVIDIA V100 is Best For:
- Deep learning training
- Scientific research
- Latest generation workloads
Frequently Asked Questions
Which GPU is better for AI training: A100 80GB or V100?
For AI training, the key factors are VRAM size, memory bandwidth, and tensor core performance. The A100 80GB offers 80GB of HBM2e memory with 2.0 TB/s bandwidth, while the V100 provides 32GB of HBM2 with 900 GB/s bandwidth. For larger models, the A100 80GB's higher VRAM capacity gives it an advantage.
What is the price difference between A100 80GB and V100 in the cloud?
Cloud GPU rental prices vary by provider and region. Based on our data, A100 80GB starts at $0.40/hour while V100 starts at $0.14/hour. This represents a 186% price difference.
Can I use V100 instead of A100 80GB for my workload?
It depends on your specific requirements. If your model fits within 32GB of VRAM and you don't need the additional throughput of the A100 80GB, the V100 can be a cost-effective alternative. However, for workloads requiring maximum memory capacity or multi-GPU scaling, the A100 80GB's NVLink support (NVLink 3.0 (600 GB/s)) may be essential.
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