NVIDIA L40S VS NVIDIA A40
Choosing between **L40S** and **A40** depends on your specific AI workload requirements. Currently, you can rent these GPUs starting from **$0.26/h** and **$0.08/h** respectively across 42 providers.
📊 Detailed Specifications Comparison
| Specification | L40S | A40 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architecture & Design | |||
| Architecture | Ada Lovelace | Ampere | - |
| Process Node | 4nm | 8nm | - |
| Target Market | datacenter | datacenter | - |
| Form Factor | Dual-slot PCIe | Dual-slot PCIe | - |
| Memory & Bandwidth | |||
| VRAM Capacity | 48GB | 48GB | |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6 | - |
| Memory Bandwidth | 864 GB/s | 696 GB/s | +24% |
| Memory Bus Width | 384-bit | 384-bit | - |
| Compute Infrastructure | |||
| CUDA Cores | 18,176 | 10,752 | +69% |
| Tensor Cores (AI) | 568 | 336 | +69% |
| RT Cores (Ray Tracing) | 142 | 84 | +69% |
| AI & Compute Performance (TFLOPS) | |||
| FP32 (Single Precision) | 91.6 TFLOPS | 37.4 TFLOPS | +145% |
| FP16 (Half Precision) | 183.2 TFLOPS | N/A | |
| INT8 (Integer Precision) | 733 TOPS | N/A | |
| Power & Efficiency | |||
| TDP (Thermal Design Power) | 350W | 300W | +17% |
| PCIe Interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 | - |
🎯 Use Case Recommendations
LLM & Large Model Training
NVIDIA L40S
Higher VRAM capacity and memory bandwidth are critical for training large language models. The A40 offers 48GB compared to 48GB.
AI Inference
NVIDIA L40S
For inference workloads, performance per watt matters most. Consider the balance between FP16/INT8 throughput and power consumption.
Budget-Conscious Choice
NVIDIA A40
Based on current cloud pricing, the A40 starts at a lower hourly rate.
Technical Deep Dive: L40S vs A40
This is a generational comparison within the NVIDIA ecosystem, pitting Ada Lovelace against Ampere. From a cost perspective, the **A40** is currently about **69% cheaper** per hour, offering better value for budget-conscious projects.
NVIDIA L40S is Best For:
- AI inference
- Generative AI
- Maximum memory bandwidth
NVIDIA A40 is Best For:
- Visual computing
- AI inference
- HPC
Frequently Asked Questions
Which GPU is better for AI training: L40S or A40?
For AI training, the key factors are VRAM size, memory bandwidth, and tensor core performance. The L40S offers 48GB of GDDR6 memory with 864 GB/s bandwidth, while the A40 provides 48GB of GDDR6 with 696 GB/s bandwidth. Both GPUs have similar VRAM capacity, so performance characteristics become the deciding factor.
What is the price difference between L40S and A40 in the cloud?
Cloud GPU rental prices vary by provider and region. Based on our data, L40S starts at $0.26/hour while A40 starts at $0.08/hour. This represents a 225% price difference.
Can I use A40 instead of L40S for my workload?
It depends on your specific requirements. If your model fits within 48GB of VRAM and you don't need the additional throughput of the L40S, the A40 can be a cost-effective alternative. However, for workloads requiring maximum memory capacity or multi-GPU scaling, the L40S's architecture may be essential.
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