NVIDIA A100 SXM4 40 GB vs NVIDIA L20 Comparison

The NVIDIA L20 and NVIDIA A100 SXM4 40 GB represent two distinct generations of server acceleration, and the benchmark data separates them clearly. The L20, built on the Ada Lovelace architecture, wins both recorded head-to-head tests by a wide margin, while the A100 SXM4 40 GB, an Ampere-era part, trails in raw compute scores but offers a different memory profile. The data shows a straightforward choice: the L20 dominates in the measured workloads, whereas the A100 SXM4 40 GB is the older, end-of-life option with a higher power envelope.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the benchmark results, the NVIDIA L20 is the superior performer in the two tests recorded. It wins the Geekbench OpenCL test with a score of 274276 against the A100 SXM4 40 GB’s 201096, a delta of 36.4%. In the Vulkan test, the L20 scores 228018 versus 173198, a 31.7% advantage. These are decisive wins across both API workloads, indicating that the L20’s newer architecture delivers a consistent performance uplift over the A100 SXM4 40 GB in compute and graphics-related tasks.

The A100 SXM4 40 GB, however, is not without its own merits in the data. Its average benchmark score of 187147 places it in the 98th percentile of all GPUs, just one point below the L20’s 99th percentile. It also holds a narrower gap to its nearest rival, the NVIDIA RTX 5000 Ada Generation, with a delta of only 1.3%, suggesting that the A100 SXM4 40 GB remains competitive within its own generation. Yet, the head-to-head results are unambiguous: the L20 wins both tests, and the A100 SXM4 40 GB wins zero.

For a buyer choosing between these two, the data points squarely to the L20 if performance in OpenCL and Vulkan is the priority. The A100 SXM4 40 GB’s 40 GB of HBM2e memory and 1.56 TB/s bandwidth are notable, but the L20 counters with 48 GB of GDDR6 and 864.0 GB/s bandwidth. The L20’s higher shading unit count (11776 vs 6912) and significantly higher FP32 throughput (59.35 TFLOPS vs 19.49 TFLOPS) explain its benchmark dominance. The A100 SXM4 40 GB does offer higher FP16 performance at 77.97 TFLOPS (4:1), but this advantage does not translate into wins in the recorded tests.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU wins the Geekbench OpenCL benchmark?

A: The NVIDIA L20 wins with a score of 274276, compared to the NVIDIA A100 SXM4 40 GB’s 201096, a delta of 36.4%.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each GPU?

A: The NVIDIA L20 has an average benchmark score of 251147, while the NVIDIA A100 SXM4 40 GB has an average score of 187147.

Q: How do the memory configurations differ between the two?

A: The NVIDIA L20 has 48 GB of GDDR6 memory with a 384-bit bus and 864.0 GB/s bandwidth. The NVIDIA A100 SXM4 40 GB has 40 GB of HBM2e memory with a 5120-bit bus and 1.56 TB/s bandwidth.

Q: Are both GPUs in the same performance percentile?

A: No. The NVIDIA L20 is in the 99th percentile of all GPUs, while the NVIDIA A100 SXM4 40 GB is in the 98th percentile.

Q: What is the production status of each card?

A: The NVIDIA L20 is listed as "Active" production status, while the NVIDIA A100 SXM4 40 GB is listed as "End-of-life".

Q: Which GPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The NVIDIA L20 has a boost clock of 2520 MHz, whereas the NVIDIA A100 SXM4 40 GB has a boost clock of 1410 MHz.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs are built on fundamentally different architectures. The NVIDIA L20 uses the AD102 chip based on the Ada Lovelace architecture, fabricated on a 5 nm process at TSMC. It packs 76,300 million transistors into a 609 mm² die, resulting in a transistor density of 125.3M per mm². In contrast, the NVIDIA A100 SXM4 40 GB uses the GA100 chip based on the Ampere architecture, built on a 7 nm process, also at TSMC. It contains 54,200 million transistors on a larger 826 mm² die, yielding a lower density of 65.6M per mm².

The L20’s newer node and higher transistor density allow it to integrate more compute resources. It features 11776 shading units, 368 TMUs, 128 ROPs, 92 RT cores, and 368 tensor cores. The A100 SXM4 40 GB has 6912 shading units, 432 TMUs, 160 ROPs, and 432 tensor cores, but it has no listed RT cores. The L20’s ray tracing support is a key architectural differentiator, as the A100 SXM4 40 GB’s RT core field is null in the data.

Another architectural divergence is in FP16 compute. The L20 delivers 59.35 TFLOPS FP16 at a 1:1 ratio with FP32, while the A100 SXM4 40 GB delivers 77.97 TFLOPS FP16 at a 4:1 ratio. This suggests the A100 SXM4 40 GB is designed for workloads that heavily utilize FP16, but the L20’s 1:1 ratio offers more balanced performance across precision levels. The L20 also supports modern APIs including DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, whereas the A100 SXM4 40 GB has null values for all API fields, indicating it is not designed for graphics-oriented tasks.

Specification Differences

The specification tables show several clear differences between the two cards. The L20 has a base clock of 1440 MHz and a boost clock of 2520 MHz, while the A100 SXM4 40 GB operates at a base of 1095 MHz and a boost of 1410 MHz. Memory clocks also differ: the L20 runs at 2250 MHz with 18 Gbps effective speed, whereas the A100 SXM4 40 GB runs at 1215 MHz with 2.4 Gbps effective. The L20’s memory size is 48 GB versus the A100 SXM4 40 GB’s 40 GB, and the bus widths are 384-bit and 5120-bit, respectively.

Power consumption is another major split. The L20 has a TDP of 275 W and uses a single 16-pin power connector, with a suggested PSU of 600 W. The A100 SXM4 40 GB has a TDP of 400 W, uses no power connectors (as an SXM module), and has a suggested PSU of 800 W. The physical form factors differ as well: the L20 is a dual-slot card with dimensions of 267 mm in length and 111 mm in height, while the A100 SXM4 40 GB is an SXM module with no listed dimensions. The L20 includes 4x DisplayPort 1.4a outputs, whereas the A100 SXM4 40 GB has no display outputs.

The L20’s pixel rate is 322.6 GPixel/s and its texture rate is 927.4 GTexel/s, compared to the A100 SXM4 40 GB’s 225.6 GPixel/s and 609.1 GTexel/s. The L20’s FP32 throughput is 59.35 TFLOPS, over three times the A100 SXM4 40 GB’s 19.49 TFLOPS. Release dates also differ: the L20 was released on 2023-11-15, while the A100 SXM4 40 GB was released on 2020-05-13.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data records two tests, and the NVIDIA L20 wins both. In Geekbench OpenCL, the L20 scores 274276 against the A100 SXM4 40 GB’s 201096, a delta of 36.4%. This is the larger of the two wins, reflecting the L20’s substantial advantage in raw compute throughput. The L20’s FP32 performance of 59.35 TFLOPS, compared to the A100 SXM4 40 GB’s 19.49 TFLOPS, provides a plausible explanation for this gap, though the benchmark itself is the primary evidence.

In Geekbench Vulkan, the L20 again leads with 228018 versus 173198, a delta of 31.7%. This test also favors the L20, though by a slightly smaller margin. The L20’s support for Vulkan 1.4, while the A100 SXM4 40 GB has no Vulkan API listed, likely contributes to this result. The L20’s higher boost clock of 2520 MHz versus 1410 MHz also helps explain its consistent lead in both API workloads.

The A100 SXM4 40 GB’s nearest rival data shows it is closely matched with the NVIDIA RTX 5000 Ada Generation, with a delta of only 1.3% in that comparison. This suggests that the A100 SXM4 40 GB’s performance is not weak in absolute terms, but the L20 simply outclasses it in the head-to-head tests. The L20’s nearest rivals include the NVIDIA L40, which scores 284111, and the NVIDIA RTX 6000 Ada Generation, which scores 287237, both of which are above the L20’s average score of 251147.

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA L20 wins in every recorded benchmark category. Its victories in both Geekbench OpenCL and Vulkan make it the clear choice for workloads that rely on these APIs, such as general-purpose compute, rendering, and any graphics-adjacent tasks. The L20’s 48 GB memory capacity, while lower bandwidth than the A100 SXM4 40 GB, is larger in size, which could benefit workloads that need more VRAM for large datasets. Its dual-slot form factor and display outputs also make it more versatile for systems that require video output.

The NVIDIA A100 SXM4 40 GB has no wins in the head-to-head benchmarks, but the data does indicate areas where it holds theoretical advantages. Its 1.56 TB/s memory bandwidth is nearly double the L20’s 864.0 GB/s, which could favor memory-bandwidth-intensive tasks, though this is not reflected in the recorded tests. Its FP16 throughput of 77.97 TFLOPS (4:1) is higher than the L20’s 59.35 TFLOPS (1:1), suggesting potential superiority in mixed-precision AI workloads that heavily use FP16. The A100 SXM4 40 GB’s SXM module form factor, with no power connectors, also indicates it is designed for dense server configurations with dedicated power delivery.

However, the A100 SXM4 40 GB’s end-of-life status and 400 W TDP make it a less attractive option in the data. The L20’s active production status and lower power draw of 275 W, combined with its benchmark wins, position it as the more forward-looking choice. For users prioritizing the measured OpenCL and Vulkan performance, the L20 is the definitive winner; for those with specific memory-bandwidth or FP16 needs, the A100 SXM4 40 GB offers distinct specifications, but the benchmark evidence does not support a performance win.