NVIDIA RTX A6000 GPU vs. NVIDIA A100 GPU: Comparison and Main Differences
- server-parts.eu server-parts.eu
- Nov 4, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 10
The NVIDIA RTX A6000 and NVIDIA A100 are both Ampere-based GPUs built for heavy workloads but aimed at different environments.
NVIDIA RTX A6000 & A100 GPUs: Save Up To 80%
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The NVIDIA RTX A6000 targets workstation users who need strong graphics and visualization power. The NVIDIA A100 is designed for data centers running AI, HPC, and deep learning tasks.
NVIDIA RTX A6000 GPU vs. A100: Quick Comparison
Feature | NVIDIA RTX A6000 | NVIDIA A100 (40GB PCIe) | NVIDIA A100 (80GB PCIe) | NVIDIA A100 (80GB SXM4) |
Architecture | Ampere GA102 | Ampere GA100 | Ampere GA100 | Ampere GA100 |
CUDA Cores | 10,752 | 6,912 | 6,912 | 6,912 |
Tensor Cores | 336 | 432 | 432 | 432 |
RT Cores | 84 | — | — | — |
Memory | 48 GB GDDR6 ECC | 40 GB HBM2e | 80 GB HBM2e | 80 GB HBM2e |
NVLink | Yes (2-way bridge) | No | No | Yes (multi-GPU NVSwitch) |
Power | 300W | 250W | 300W | 400W |
Cooling | Active (fan) | Passive | Passive | SXM4 module |
Form Factor | PCIe | PCIe | PCIe | SXM4 |
ECC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
MIG Support | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
FP64 Performance | 1/64 rate | 9.7 TFLOPS | 9.7 TFLOPS | 9.7 TFLOPS |
FP32 Performance | ~39.7 TFLOPS | ~19.5 TFLOPS | ~19.5 TFLOPS | ~19.5 TFLOPS |
NVIDIA RTX A6000 GPU vs. A100: Architecture and Purpose
Both GPUs use NVIDIA’s Ampere architecture but differ at the silicon level.
NVIDIA RTX A6000 (GA102) is a graphics-focused chip for creative and engineering workloads.
NVIDIA A100 (GA100) is a compute chip built for AI, data centers, and scientific workloads.
The NVIDIA RTX A6000 performs best with 3D rendering, visualization, and workstation-based AI inference. The NVIDIA A100 dominates where large datasets and distributed compute power are needed.
NVIDIA RTX A6000 GPU vs. A100: Compute Power and Precision
Performance differences become clear in compute workloads:
NVIDIA RXT A6000: strong in FP32 graphics and single-precision tasks.
NVIDIA A100: built for mixed-precision AI with high Tensor throughput.
The NVIDIA A100 supports FP64 at full rate, crucial for HPC and simulations. The NVIDIA RTX A6000’s FP64 runs at only 1/64 of FP32 speed, so it is not suitable for double-precision scientific computing.
NVIDIA RTX A6000 GPU vs. A100: Memory and Bandwidth
NVIDIA RXT A6000: 48 GB GDDR6 ECC memory at 768 GB/s bandwidth.
NVIDIA A100: 40 or 80 GB HBM2e memory with up to 2,039 GB/s bandwidth.
The NVIDIA A100’s HBM2e memory is faster and designed for continuous data flow in large AI or HPC jobs. The NVIDIA RTX A6000’s GDDR6 memory is optimized for high-speed visualization and rendering.
NVIDIA RTX A6000 GPU vs. A100: NVLink and Multi-GPU Scaling
The NVIDIA RTX A6000 allows a two-way NVLink bridge between cards. This improves memory sharing for visualization but is limited to small-scale setups.
The NVIDIA A100 SXM4 connects through NVSwitch, enabling multiple GPUs to share memory efficiently in HPC clusters or AI training nodes.
NVIDIA RTX A6000 GPU vs. A100: Reliability and Virtualization
The NVIDIA A100 is validated for 24/7 data center workloads, supporting MIG (Multi-Instance GPU) technology. MIG allows one GPU to be split into up to seven isolated GPU instances. This is ideal for shared environments and cloud deployments.
The NVIDIA RTX A6000 also supports NVIDIA’s vGPU software for workstation virtualization but without MIG.
NVIDIA RTX A6000 GPU vs. A100: Power and Cooling
NVIDIA RTX A6000: actively cooled, ready for tower or rack-mounted workstations.
NVIDIA A100 PCIe: passively cooled, needs strong server airflow.
NVIDIA A100 SXM4: mounted on HGX boards with direct connection to NVSwitch fabric.
These differences define where each card can operate.
NVIDIA RTX A6000 GPU vs. A100: Software and Compatibility
Compute Capability: NVIDIA A100 = 8.0, NVIDIA RTX A6000 = 8.6.
Frameworks: both support CUDA, cuDNN, TensorRT, and PyTorch/TensorFlow, but NVIDIA A100 benefits more from multi-GPU scaling with NCCL and NVLink.
NVIDIA RTX A6000 GPU vs. A100 Price
Approximate current pricing:
NVIDIA RTX A6000: €3,000–€5,000
NVIDIA A100 40GB PCIe: €8,000–€10,000
NVIDIA A100 80GB PCIe: €10,000–€12,000
NVIDIA A100 80GB SXM4: €16,000–€18,000
Choosing Between NVIDIA RTX A6000 and A100
Focus | Choose RTX A6000 | Choose A100 |
Rendering / Visualization | ✔️ | |
3D Design / CAD | ✔️ | |
AI Inference (Workstation) | ✔️ | |
AI Training / Deep Learning | ✔️ | |
HPC / Scientific Compute | ✔️ | |
Multi-GPU Cluster | Limited | ✔️ (SXM4) |
Virtualized Data Center | ✔️ (MIG) |
NVIDIA RTX A6000 & A100 GPUs: Save Up To 80%
✔️ 5-Year Warranty – No Risk: Pay Only After Testing