NVIDIA A100 SXM4 40 GB vs NVIDIA GB10 Comparison

The NVIDIA A100 SXM4 40 GB and the NVIDIA GB10 represent two distinct generations of NVIDIA server hardware, with the A100 built on the Ampere architecture and the GB10 on Blackwell 2.0. Benchmark data from Geekbench shows the A100 leading in both available tests, yet the GB10 counters with a newer process node, higher clock speeds, and significantly more memory. This comparison examines where each GPU excels, what the architectural shifts imply, and which workloads each is suited for based strictly on the provided metrics.

Where Each One Wins

The A100 SXM4 40 GB wins every benchmark recorded in the head-to-head comparison. In Geekbench OpenCL, it scores 201096 against the GB10’s 120137, a delta of 67.4%. In Geekbench Vulkan, the A100 scores 173198 versus 114648, a 51.1% advantage. These are decisive wins, placing the A100 in the 98th percentile of all GPUs, while the GB10 sits in the 95th percentile. The A100’s average benchmark score of 187147 further underscores its lead over the GB10’s 117393.

However, the GB10 wins in areas not covered by those two benchmarks. Its FP32 compute of 29.71 TFLOPS exceeds the A100’s 19.49 TFLOPS, suggesting a raw shader throughput advantage. The GB10 also offers 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory, triple the A100’s 40 GB HBM2e, which points to a capacity-focused design. The GB10’s texture rate of 928.5 GTexel/s is also higher than the A100’s 609.1 GTexel/s, indicating strength in texture-heavy workloads.

The data implies a split: the A100 wins synthetic compute tests, while the GB10 appears built for memory capacity and higher clock-driven throughput. The GB10’s base clock of 1665 MHz and boost of 2418 MHz dwarf the A100’s 1095 MHz and 1410 MHz, respectively, which explains its FP32 lead despite fewer shading units (6144 vs 6912).

Architecture Differences

The A100 uses the GA100 chip on TSMC’s 7 nm process, with a die size of 826 mm² and 54,200 million transistors. The GB10 uses the GB20B chip on a 5 nm process, with a smaller die of 382 mm² and an unknown transistor count. The process shrink from 7 nm to 5 nm allows the GB10 to achieve higher clocks while consuming less power—140 W TDP versus the A100’s 400 W.

Memory architecture diverges sharply. The A100 employs HBM2e with a 5120-bit bus, delivering 1.56 TB/s bandwidth. The GB10 uses LPDDR5X with a 256-bit bus, yielding 273.2 GB/s. The A100’s bandwidth is over five times greater, but the GB10’s 128 GB capacity is three times larger. Clock speeds also differ in memory: the A100 runs at 1215 MHz (2.4 Gbps effective), while the GB10 runs at 1067 MHz (8.5 Gbps effective).

The A100 has 6912 shading units, 432 TMUs, and 160 ROPs, with 432 tensor cores but no RT cores. The GB10 has 6144 shading units, 384 TMUs, and only 48 ROPs, but includes 48 RT cores and 384 tensor cores. The A100’s pixel rate of 225.6 GPixel/s far exceeds the GB10’s 116.1 GPixel/s, yet the GB10’s texture rate of 928.5 GTexel/s is higher. The A100 supports FP16 at 77.97 TFLOPS (4:1), while the GB10 does FP16 at 29.71 TFLOPS (1:1), meaning the A100’s tensor-heavy FP16 work is more than double.

The A100 is an SXM module with no display outputs and no power connectors, requiring an 800 W suggested PSU. The GB10 is an IGP with a 150 mm by 51 mm by 150 mm form factor, one HDMI output, no power connectors, and a 300 W suggested PSU. The A100 uses PCIe 4.0 x16, while the GB10 uses PCIe 5.0 x16.

The Verdict

For raw benchmark performance, the A100 SXM4 40 GB is the clear choice. Its OpenCL and Vulkan scores are 67.4% and 51.1% higher, respectively, placing it in the 98th percentile versus the GB10’s 95th. The A100 also holds a 1.3% lead over the RTX 5000 Ada Generation, a 1.9% lead over the A100 SXM4 80 GB, and a 2.8% lead over the RTX PRO 5000 Blackwell, while trailing the Tesla V100S by 3.7%. The GB10, by contrast, is 0.3% ahead of the RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation, 1.3% behind the Radeon PRO W7700, 2.6% ahead of the Tesla V100 SXM2, and 3% ahead of the RTX A5500 Mobile.

The GB10 wins on capacity and efficiency. Its 128 GB of memory is a massive advantage for datasets that exceed 40 GB, and its 140 W TDP makes it far more power-efficient than the A100’s 400 W. The GB10’s higher FP32 and texture rates suggest it handles shader-heavy tasks better, but its 48 ROPs limit pixel throughput.

The data suggests the A100 is for compute-dominance, while the GB10 is for memory-hungry or power-constrained environments. The A100’s end-of-life status and the GB10’s active production status also matter—one is a legacy part, the other is current.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA A100 SXM4 40 GB has an average benchmark score of 187147, while the NVIDIA GB10 scores 117393.

Q: How much more memory does the GB10 offer?

A: The GB10 has 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory, compared to the A100’s 40 GB of HBM2e, which is 88 GB more.

Q: What is the FP32 performance difference?

A: The GB10 delivers 29.71 TFLOPS of FP32, which is higher than the A100’s 19.49 TFLOPS.

Q: Which GPU has a higher memory bandwidth?

A: The A100 has a bandwidth of 1.56 TB/s, far exceeding the GB10’s 273.2 GB/s.

Q: What is the TDP for each GPU?

A: The A100 has a TDP of 400 W, while the GB10 has a TDP of 140 W.

Q: Are there any display outputs on the A100?

A: No, the A100 has no display outputs, whereas the GB10 includes one HDMI output.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Geekbench OpenCL test shows the A100 at 201096 versus the GB10 at 120137, a 67.4% delta. This is the largest gap between the two, reflecting the A100’s dominant compute throughput in this API. The A100’s score is 1.3% above the RTX 5000 Ada Generation’s 184664 and 1.9% above the A100 80 GB’s 183725, while the GB10’s 120137 is only 0.3% above the RTX 4000 SFF Ada’s 117088.

In Geekbench Vulkan, the A100 scores 173198 against the GB10’s 114648, a 51.1% delta. The A100’s lead narrows compared to OpenCL, but remains substantial. The GB10’s Vulkan score of 114648 is 1.3% below the Radeon PRO W7700’s 118976, while the A100’s 173198 is 2.8% below the RTX PRO 5000 Blackwell’s 182109.

The A100 wins both head-to-head tests, securing 2 wins to the GB10’s 0. However, the GB10’s FP32 and texture rates suggest that tests focused on those metrics would likely favor it. The A100’s FP16 of 77.97 TFLOPS versus the GB10’s 29.71 TFLOPS indicates a clear win for the A100 in mixed-precision work, but the GB10’s 1:1 FP16 ratio means no penalty for using FP16, unlike the A100’s 4:1 ratio.

Specification Differences

The A100 uses the GA100 chip with a 7 nm process, while the GB10 uses the GB20B chip with a 5 nm process. The A100’s die is 826 mm², the GB10’s is 382 mm². Transistor counts are 54,200 million for the A100, unknown for the GB10.

Base clocks are 1095 MHz for the A100 and 1665 MHz for the GB10. Boost clocks are 1410 MHz for the A100 and 2418 MHz for the GB10. Memory clocks are 1215 MHz (2.4 Gbps effective) for the A100 and 1067 MHz (8.5 Gbps effective) for the GB10.

Memory size is 40 GB HBM2e for the A100, 128 GB LPDDR5X for the GB10. Bus width is 5120 bit for the A100, 256 bit for the GB10. Bandwidth is 1.56 TB/s for the A100, 273.2 GB/s for the GB10.

Shading units are 6912 for the A100, 6144 for the GB10. TMUs are 432 for the A100, 384 for the GB10. ROPs are 160 for the A100, 48 for the GB10. The A100 has no RT cores, the GB10 has 48. Tensor cores are 432 for the A100, 384 for the GB10.

Pixel rate is 225.6 GPixel/s for the A100, 116.1 GPixel/s for the GB10. Texture rate is 609.1 GTexel/s for the A100, 928.5 GTexel/s for the GB10. FP32 is 19.49 TFLOPS for the A100, 29.71 TFLOPS for the GB10. FP16 is 77.97 TFLOPS (4:1) for the A100, 29.71 TFLOPS (1:1) for the GB10.

TDP is 400 W for the A100, 140 W for the GB10. Slot width is SXM Module for the A100, IGP for the GB10. Bus interface is PCIe 4.0 x16 for the A100, PCIe 5.0 x16 for the GB10. Display outputs are none for the A100, 1x HDMI for the GB10. Dimensions are not listed for the A100; the GB10 is 150 mm by 51 mm by 150 mm. Production status is end-of-life for the A100, active for the GB10. Release dates are 2020-05-13 for the A100 and 2025-10-14 for the GB10. The GB10 has a launch MSRP of 3,999 USD; the A100 has none listed.