NVIDIA A100 SXM4 40 GB vs NVIDIA RTX 5000 Ada Generation Comparison

The NVIDIA A100 SXM4 40 GB and NVIDIA RTX 5000 Ada Generation occupy adjacent positions in the benchmark database, with average scores of 187147 and 184664 respectively. That 1.3% gap places the A100 slightly ahead overall, but the two GPUs split their head-to-head tests decisively, revealing distinct performance personalities. The A100 is a server-focused Ampere part with HBM2e memory, while the RTX 5000 Ada is a workstation-focused Ada Lovelace part with GDDR6 memory. The data shows each card winning one benchmark by a substantial margin, making the choice between them dependent on workload rather than raw aggregate performance.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The two GPUs competed in only two benchmark tests, and each took one victory. In Geekbench OpenCL, the A100 SXM4 40 GB scored 201096 against the RTX 5000 Ada’s 175286, a delta of 14.7% in favor of the A100. This is the largest single-test gap between the pair, and it aligns with the A100’s higher average score of 187147 versus the RTX 5000 Ada’s 184664. The A100’s OpenCL advantage is substantial — nearly fifteen percentage points — and it anchors the server card’s lead in the aggregate.

The RTX 5000 Ada flipped the script in Geekbench Vulkan, scoring 194041 against the A100’s 173198. That 10.7% margin in the other direction is almost as large as the A100’s OpenCL win, and it demonstrates that the workstation card is not merely competitive but dominant in this particular API. The Vulkan result is notable because the RTX 5000 Ada’s average score is dragged down by its weaker OpenCL showing, yet its Vulkan performance exceeds the A100’s by a wide mark.

Looking at the nearest rivals for context, the A100 SXM4 40 GB sits 1.3% above the RTX 5000 Ada, 1.9% above the A100 SXM4 80 GB, and 2.8% above the RTX PRO 5000 Blackwell. The only GPU ahead of it in the rivals list is the Tesla V100S PCIe 32 GB, which leads by 3.7%. For the RTX 5000 Ada, its nearest rival is the A100 SXM4 80 GB, which trails by 0.5%, followed by the A100 SXM4 40 GB at -1.3% and the RTX PRO 5000 Blackwell at 1.4%. The RTX 5000 Ada also sits 3.7% ahead of the GeForce RTX 4090 D. These deltas show both cards clustering within a few percentage points of each other, but the head-to-head deltas of 14.7% and 10.7% reveal that the two tests measure very different strengths.

Where Each One Wins

The A100 SXM4 40 GB wins in OpenCL workloads, and the data suggests this is where its architecture excels. Its 19.49 TFLOPS FP32 throughput and 1.56 TB/s memory bandwidth from HBM2e provide a foundation that apparently favors OpenCL’s compute-heavy patterns. The A100 also holds a 98th percentile ranking among all GPUs, matching the RTX 5000 Ada’s percentile, so both are elite performers overall. For users running OpenCL-based compute tasks, scientific simulations, or data-center workloads that rely on that API, the A100’s 14.7% head-to-head margin is a decisive factor.

The RTX 5000 Ada Generation wins in Vulkan, where its 194041 score outpaces the A100 by 10.7%. The Ada Lovelace architecture, with 12800 shading units and 100 ray tracing cores, appears better suited to Vulkan’s graphics-oriented pipeline. The RTX 5000 Ada’s boost clock of 2550 MHz is nearly double the A100’s 1410 MHz, which likely contributes to its Vulkan advantage. This card targets workstation graphics, and the Vulkan result supports that positioning. For rendering, visualization, or any Vulkan-based application, the RTX 5000 Ada is the clear pick from the benchmark data.

The split is clean: A100 for OpenCL compute, RTX 5000 Ada for Vulkan graphics. Neither card dominates both tests, and the aggregate 1.3% difference is small enough that workload type should dictate the choice. The A100’s wins count stands at one, and the RTX 5000 Ada’s wins count also stands at one, so the head-to-head tie reflects the divergent strengths.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different architectural generations and target different market segments. The A100 SXM4 40 GB is built on the GA100 chip using the Ampere architecture, fabricated on TSMC’s 7 nm process. It packs 54,200 million transistors into a 826 mm² die, achieving a transistor density of 65.6M per mm². The RTX 5000 Ada Generation uses the AD102 chip with Ada Lovelace architecture, fabricated on TSMC’s 5 nm process. It contains 76,300 million transistors on a smaller 609 mm² die, yielding a density of 125.3M per mm² — nearly double the A100’s density due to the more advanced process node.

Memory is a major differentiator. The A100 uses 40 GB of HBM2e with a 5120-bit memory bus and delivers 1.56 TB/s bandwidth. The RTX 5000 Ada uses 32 GB of GDDR6 with a 256-bit bus and delivers 576.0 GB/s bandwidth. The A100’s memory bandwidth is 2.7 times higher, which is typical for HBM versus GDDR and explains its compute throughput advantage in memory-bound workloads. The RTX 5000 Ada compensates with a smaller but faster-clocked memory: 2250 MHz memory clock versus the A100’s 1215 MHz, resulting in 18 Gbps effective versus 2.4 Gbps effective.

Compute resources differ significantly. The A100 has 6912 shading units, 432 TMUs, and 160 ROPs, with 432 tensor cores and no dedicated ray tracing cores listed. The RTX 5000 Ada has 12800 shading units, 400 TMUs, and 176 ROPs, with 400 tensor cores and 100 ray tracing cores. The RTX 5000 Ada has 86% more shading units, but the A100’s FP32 throughput of 19.49 TFLOPS is far lower than the RTX 5000 Ada’s 65.28 TFLOPS. However, FP16 tells a different story: the A100 achieves 77.97 TFLOPS with a 4:1 ratio, while the RTX 5000 Ada achieves 65.28 TFLOPS with a 1:1 ratio. The A100’s FP16 advantage of 19.4% suggests better efficiency in mixed-precision compute.

Power and physical specs diverge as well. The A100 is an SXM module with a 400 W TDP and no power connectors, requiring an 800 W suggested PSU. The RTX 5000 Ada is a dual-slot card with a 250 W TDP, a single 16-pin connector, and a 600 W suggested PSU. The A100 has no display outputs, while the RTX 5000 Ada has 4x DisplayPort 1.4a. The RTX 5000 Ada also supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, while the A100 lists no API support in the data. The RTX 5000 Ada measures 267 mm in length and 112 mm in height, while the A100’s dimensions are not listed.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split based on workload. For OpenCL-heavy compute tasks, the A100 SXM4 40 GB is the stronger choice, with a 14.7% head-to-head win and higher aggregate average score of 187147. Its HBM2e memory bandwidth of 1.56 TB/s and FP16 throughput of 77.97 TFLOPS make it suited for server-side acceleration, and its 98th percentile ranking confirms top-tier status. The A100 is end-of-life, but its performance remains competitive.

For Vulkan-based graphics workloads, the RTX 5000 Ada Generation wins decisively, with a 10.7% margin in that test. Its 65.28 TFLOPS FP32, 12800 shading units, and 100 ray tracing cores deliver superior graphics performance, and its active production status and display outputs make it a practical workstation card. The RTX 5000 Ada’s 32 GB GDDR6 memory is smaller but adequate for many visualization tasks, and its lower 250 W TDP offers efficiency.

Users who prioritize compute density and memory bandwidth should select the A100. Users who prioritize graphics rendering and Vulkan performance should select the RTX 5000 Ada. The 1.3% aggregate difference is negligible compared to the 14.7% and 10.7% swings in individual tests, so matching the card to the dominant API in your workflow is the correct strategy. The A100 SXM4 80 GB sits between them in the rivals list at 183725, but the 40 GB variant is the one measured here.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA A100 SXM4 40 GB has an average benchmark score of 187147, compared to the NVIDIA RTX 5000 Ada Generation’s 184664, a 1.3% difference.

Q: What is the largest performance gap in the head-to-head tests?

A: The A100 SXM4 40 GB leads the RTX 5000 Ada by 14.7% in Geekbench OpenCL, scoring 201096 versus 175286.

Q: Does the RTX 5000 Ada win any benchmark against the A100?

A: Yes, the RTX 5000 Ada wins Geekbench Vulkan with a score of 194041, beating the A100’s 173198 by 10.7%.

Q: How do their memory bandwidths compare?

A: The A100 SXM4 40 GB offers 1.56 TB/s bandwidth from HBM2e, while the RTX 5000 Ada provides 576.0 GB/s from GDDR6.

Q: Which card has more shading units?

A: The RTX 5000 Ada Generation has 12800 shading units, while the A100 SXM4 40 GB has 6912 shading units.

Q: What are their process nodes?

A: The A100 SXM4 40 GB uses TSMC’s 7 nm process, while the RTX 5000 Ada Generation uses TSMC’s 5 nm process.

Specification Differences

| Specification | NVIDIA A100 SXM4 40 GB | NVIDIA RTX 5000 Ada Generation |

|---|---|---|

| Chip | GA100 | AD102 |

| Architecture | Ampere | Ada Lovelace |

| Process Node | 7 nm | 5 nm |

| Transistors | 54,200 million | 76,300 million |

| Die Size | 826 mm² | 609 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 65.6M / mm² | 125.3M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 1095 MHz | 1155 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 1410 MHz | 2550 MHz |

| Memory Clock | 1215 MHz / 2.4 Gbps effective | 2250 MHz / 18 Gbps effective |

| Memory Size | 40 GB | 32 GB |

| Memory Type | HBM2e | GDDR6 |

| Memory Bus Width | 5120 bit | 256 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 1.56 TB/s | 576.0 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 6912 | 12800 |

| TMUs | 432 | 400 |

| ROPs | 160 | 176 |

| RT Cores | None listed | 100 |

| Tensor Cores | 432 | 400 |

| Pixel Rate | 225.6 GPixel/s | 448.8 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 609.1 GTexel/s | 1,020.0 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 19.49 TFLOPS | 65.28 TFLOPS |

| FP16 | 77.97 TFLOPS (4:1) | 65.28 TFLOPS (1:1) |

| TDP | 400 W | 250 W |

| Slot Width | SXM Module | Dual-slot |

| Power Connectors | None | 1x 16-pin |

| Suggested PSU | 800 W | 600 W |

| Display Outputs | No outputs | 4x DisplayPort 1.4a |

| DirectX | Not listed | 12 Ultimate (12_2) |

| OpenGL | Not listed | 4.6 |

| Vulkan | Not listed | 1.4 |

| Length | Not listed | 267 mm / 10.5 inches |

| Height | Not listed | 112 mm / 4.4 inches |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | 2020-05-13 | 2023-08-08 |

| Predecessor | Tesla Turing | Workstation Ampere |

| Successor | Server Ada | Blackwell PRO W |