NVIDIA A100 PCIe 40 GB vs NVIDIA RTX A4500 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clear pattern across the two shared benchmark tests. In Geekbench OpenCL, the NVIDIA A100 PCIe 40 GB scores 178,627 against the RTX A4500's 141,837, a delta of 25.9% in favor of the A100. This is a substantial margin, indicating that the A100's compute-oriented design delivers significantly higher raw throughput in this OpenCL workload. The gap narrows somewhat in Geekbench Vulkan, where the A100 records 146,380 versus the RTX A4500's 129,980, a 12.6% advantage. While the Vulkan result is still a clear win for the A100, the smaller delta suggests the RTX A4500's architecture handles graphics-oriented APIs relatively better than its OpenCL showing would imply.

The A100 wins both head-to-head tests, giving it a 2-0 record. The RTX A4500 has no wins in the shared benchmark suite. However, the RTX A4500 does have an additional recorded benchmark that the A100 lacks: a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3,196. This test is absent from the A100's benchmark list, which is consistent with the A100's lack of display outputs and server-oriented positioning. The RTX A4500's inclusion of this DX12 result provides some evidence of its graphics capability, though no direct comparison is possible for that workload.

Looking at the average benchmark scores, the picture becomes more nuanced. The A100 has an average benchmark score of 162,504 across its two tests, placing it in the 97th percentile of all GPUs in the database. The RTX A4500's average of 91,671 includes its DX12 result, which pulls the average down considerably; its percentile ranking is 93rd. This discrepancy highlights how the inclusion of different test types affects aggregate metrics. The A100's nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Radeon Pro W6800X at 160,671 (1.1% behind), the AMD Radeon PRO W7800 at 164,894 (1.4% ahead), the NVIDIA RTX A5500 at 165,217 (1.6% ahead), and the NVIDIA RTX 4500 Ada Generation at 166,094 (2.2% ahead). For the RTX A4500, the nearest rivals are the RTX A4500 Mobile at 91,134 (0.6% behind), the AMD Radeon Instinct MI60 at 92,466 (0.9% ahead), the NVIDIA Quadro GP100 at 87,445 (4.8% behind), and the AMD Radeon PRO W7600 at 87,108 (5.2% behind).

Where Each One Wins

The A100's wins are in compute-heavy API benchmarks. Its OpenCL advantage of 25.9% over the RTX A4500 is the largest recorded delta between the two. This suggests workloads that rely heavily on general-purpose compute, such as scientific simulation, data processing, or machine learning inference tasks expressed through OpenCL, would favor the A100 decisively. The Vulkan win of 12.6% further reinforces this, though the smaller margin indicates the RTX A4500 is comparatively more competitive in graphics-oriented execution paths.

The RTX A4500's only recorded win is the presence of the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 benchmark itself, where it scores 3,196. Since the A100 has no corresponding result, the data does not permit a direct comparison in DX12. The RTX A4500 also supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4 according to its API list, whereas the A100's API fields are null in the database. This indicates the RTX A4500 is designed for interactive graphics and workstation visualization, where API support and display outputs matter. The A100 has no display outputs, while the RTX A4500 provides 4x DisplayPort 1.4a.

The data implies a use-case split: the A100 targets compute-centric environments where raw throughput in OpenCL and Vulkan is paramount, while the RTX A4500 targets graphics workstations requiring display connectivity and modern graphics API support. The RTX A4500's lower power draw of 200 W versus the A100's 250 W also suggests it is built for more modest deployment scenarios, though both use dual-slot designs.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs share the Ampere architecture name but diverge significantly in their implementation. The A100 uses the GA100 chip built on a 7 nm TSMC process, containing 54,200 million transistors on a 826 mm² die. The transistor density is 65.6M per mm². The RTX A4500 uses the GA102 chip on an 8 nm Samsung process, with 28,300 million transistors on a 628 mm² die, yielding a density of 45.1M per mm². The A100's smaller process node and larger die allow it to pack nearly twice the transistor count.

Memory architecture differs fundamentally. The A100 uses 40 GB of HBM2e with a 5120-bit bus and 1.56 TB/s bandwidth. The RTX A4500 uses 20 GB of GDDR6 with a 320-bit bus and 640.0 GB/s bandwidth. The A100's memory bandwidth is more than double, which is critical for data-intensive workloads. The A100's memory clock is listed as 1215 MHz with 2.4 Gbps effective, while the RTX A4500 runs at 2000 MHz with 16 Gbps effective.

Compute resources are distributed differently. The A100 has 6,912 shading units, 432 TMUs, 160 ROPs, and 432 tensor cores, but no RT cores are listed. The RTX A4500 has 7,168 shading units, 224 TMUs, 96 ROPs, 56 RT cores, and 224 tensor cores. The A100 has more TMUs, ROPs, and tensor cores, while the RTX A4500 has more shading units and adds dedicated ray tracing hardware. The A100's FP32 throughput is 19.49 TFLOPS, while the RTX A4500 reaches 23.65 TFLOPS. The FP16 figures show a stark contrast: the A100 delivers 77.97 TFLOPS at a 4:1 ratio, whereas the RTX A4500 provides 23.65 TFLOPS at 1:1.

Pixel and texture rates also differ. The A100 achieves 225.6 GPixel/s and 609.1 GTexel/s, while the RTX A4500 reaches 158.4 GPixel/s and 369.6 GTexel/s. The A100's higher rates reflect its larger ROP and TMU counts.

Specification Differences

The clock speeds differ notably. The A100 has a base clock of 765 MHz and a boost of 1410 MHz. The RTX A4500 runs at 1050 MHz base and 1650 MHz boost. Despite the lower clock speeds, the A100's wider memory bus and higher bandwidth compensate in compute workloads.

Memory specifications diverge sharply: 40 GB HBM2e versus 20 GB GDDR6, 5120-bit versus 320-bit bus, and 1.56 TB/s versus 640.0 GB/s bandwidth. The A100's memory clock is 1215 MHz (2.4 Gbps effective), while the RTX A4500's is 2000 MHz (16 Gbps effective).

Power requirements differ: the A100 has a TDP of 250 W with an 8-pin EPS power connector and a suggested PSU of 600 W. The RTX A4500 has a TDP of 200 W, uses a single 8-pin connector, and suggests a 550 W PSU. Both are dual-slot cards with a length of 267 mm (10.5 inches). The A100's height is 111 mm (4.4 inches), while the RTX A4500 is 112 mm (4.4 inches).

Display connectivity is a major differentiator. The A100 has no display outputs, while the RTX A4500 provides 4x DisplayPort 1.4a. The A100's API support fields are null, whereas the RTX A4500 lists DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

The production status for both is end-of-life. The A100 was released on 2020-06-21, with a predecessor of Tesla Turing and successor of Server Ada. The RTX A4500 was released on 2021-11-22, with a predecessor of Quadro Turing and successor of Workstation Ada. The A100's generation is noted as "Server Ampere (Axx)", while the RTX A4500's is "Workstation Ampere (Ax000)".

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA A100 PCIe 40 GB has an average benchmark score of 162,504, compared to the RTX A4500's 91,671. The A100 also ranks in the 97th percentile of all GPUs, while the RTX A4500 ranks in the 93rd.

Q: How large is the A100's lead in OpenCL?

A: In Geekbench OpenCL, the A100 scores 178,627 versus the RTX A4500's 141,837, a delta of 25.9% in favor of the A100.

Q: Does the RTX A4500 have any benchmark where it outperforms the A100?

A: The shared benchmark suite shows no wins for the RTX A4500. However, the RTX A4500 has a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3,196, a test for which the A100 has no recorded result.

Q: What memory configurations do these GPUs use?

A: The A100 uses 40 GB of HBM2e with a 5120-bit bus and 1.56 TB/s bandwidth. The RTX A4500 uses 20 GB of GDDR6 with a 320-bit bus and 640.0 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Do both cards support the same graphics APIs?

A: No. The RTX A4500 lists DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The A100's API fields are null in the database, and it has no display outputs.

Q: How do the tensor core counts compare?

A: The A100 has 432 tensor cores, while the RTX A4500 has 224 tensor cores. The A100 also has no RT cores listed, whereas the RTX A4500 includes 56 RT cores.

The Verdict

The data describes two GPUs with distinct purposes despite sharing the Ampere architecture. The NVIDIA A100 PCIe 40 GB is the clear compute leader in the shared benchmarks, winning both tests with deltas of 25.9% in OpenCL and 12.6% in Vulkan. Its larger memory capacity, vastly higher bandwidth, and greater tensor core count position it for data-center-scale compute workloads. The absence of display outputs and null API fields reinforce its server orientation.

The NVIDIA RTX A4500, by contrast, is a workstation card. It offers display outputs, modern graphics API support, and a dedicated DX12 benchmark result. Its higher shading unit count and FP32 throughput suggest it handles graphics and general compute tasks reasonably well, but it falls behind the A100 in the compute-oriented tests recorded in the database.

The percentile rankings tell a similar story: the A100 sits at the 97th percentile versus the RTX A4500's 93rd. The A100's nearest rivals include higher-scoring cards like the RTX 4500 Ada Generation at 166,094, while the RTX A4500's closest competitors include the AMD Radeon Instinct MI60 at 92,466.

For users prioritizing maximum compute throughput in OpenCL and Vulkan, the A100 is the data-backed choice. For those needing display outputs and graphics API compatibility, the RTX A4500 is the only option between the two. The 250 W versus 200 W power draw difference further separates them, with the RTX A4500 requiring less power and a smaller suggested PSU. Both cards are end-of-life, but their recorded performance profiles remain relevant for understanding their respective positions.