NVIDIA A2 vs NVIDIA RTX A2000 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive performance gap between the NVIDIA RTX A2000 and the NVIDIA A2 in the two compute-oriented benchmarks where both cards were measured. In Geekbench OpenCL, the RTX A2000 scores 67,695 against the A2's 35,357, a 91.5% advantage. That is not a marginal win; it is nearly double the raw compute throughput. The Vulkan result is even more lopsided: 69,089 for the RTX A2000 versus 34,023 for the A2, a 103.1% delta. The RTX A2000 does not just edge ahead, it doubles the A2's output in Vulkan.

These aren't isolated outliers. The average benchmark score across all recorded tests tells the same story. The RTX A2000 sits at 46,043 average, while the A2 trails at 34,690. That places the RTX A2000 in the 85th percentile of all GPUs in the database, versus the 79th percentile for the A2. In practical terms, the RTX A2000 outperforms the majority of the GPU landscape, while the A2 sits closer to the middle of the pack.

Looking at the nearest rivals provides context for each card's standing. The RTX A2000's average score of 46,043 is within 0.2% of the NVIDIA RTX 5880 Ada Generation (45,972) and 1% above the Intel Arc A730M (45,592). It also edges out the AMD Radeon RX 5600M and Intel Arc A530M, both at approximately 46,600, by roughly 1.2%. The A2's average of 34,690 is nearly identical to the NVIDIA T1000 8 GB (34,561, a 0.4% delta), the AMD Radeon HD 7970 (34,541, 0.4%), and the NVIDIA TITAN V (34,355, 1%). It sits 1.4% above the NVIDIA RTX A1000 (34,207). So the A2 is competitive with last-generation workstation cards, while the RTX A2000 punches well above its class.

The head-to-head data records 2 wins for the RTX A2000 and 0 for the A2. There is no benchmark in the database where the A2 comes out ahead. The smallest gap is 91.5% in OpenCL, which is still a massive margin. For any workload that relies on compute shaders or general GPU acceleration, the RTX A2000 is the clear choice based on these measurements alone.

Where Each One Wins

The RTX A2000 wins every recorded benchmark, so the use-case split is straightforward. It dominates in both OpenCL and Vulkan workloads. OpenCL is commonly used in scientific computing, video encoding, and some rendering pipelines. Vulkan is increasingly relevant in professional visualization and game engine development. The RTX A2000's 7.987 TFLOPS of FP32 and FP16 performance, combined with 3328 shading units and 104 tensor cores, gives it the raw horsepower for these tasks. Its 288.0 GB/s memory bandwidth over a 192-bit bus also feeds compute-heavy kernels far better than the A2's 200.1 GB/s on a 128-bit bus.

Where could the A2 still make sense? The data shows it has a 16 GB memory capacity versus 6 GB on the RTX A2000. That is a 10 GB difference, and the A2 also has a higher base clock (1440 MHz vs 562 MHz) and boost clock (1770 MHz vs 1200 MHz). For workloads that are memory-capacity-bound, such as large inference models or datasets that must fit in VRAM, the A2's larger pool could be the deciding factor. However, the recorded benchmark scores do not include any memory-capacity-specific tests, so this is an inference from the specification differences, not a measured result.

The A2 also consumes less power at 60 W TDP versus 70 W, and it is a single-slot card with no display outputs, which suggests it is designed for headless compute servers where density and power efficiency matter more than raw speed. The RTX A2000, with four mini-DisplayPort 1.4a outputs and a dual-slot design, is built for workstation deskside use. If the workload is purely about compute throughput per watt, the A2's lower TDP is a point in its favor, but the benchmark data does not include power efficiency metrics, so that remains speculative.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The RTX A2000 wins 2 out of 2 head-to-head benchmarks, with a 91.5% lead in OpenCL and a 103.1% lead in Vulkan. Its average benchmark score of 46,043 is 32.7% higher than the A2's 34,690. Any builder prioritizing compute performance should choose the RTX A2000 without hesitation.

Who should pick the A2? The only scenario supported by the specification data is one where 16 GB of memory capacity outweighs a 2x performance deficit. If a workload requires more than 6 GB of VRAM, the RTX A2000 will run out of memory, and the A2 becomes the only viable option between these two. The A2's single-slot, no-output form factor also suits dense server installations where the RTX A2000's dual-slot width and display connectors are unnecessary.

The RTX A2000's nearest rivals include the RTX 5880 Ada Generation, which scores nearly identically (0.2% delta), suggesting the RTX A2000 delivers Ada-level average performance at a lower power envelope. The A2's closest competitor is the T1000 8 GB, with a 0.4% delta, meaning the A2 offers no meaningful performance advantage over that older card. For most users, the RTX A2000 is the correct answer. For the rare case of memory-bound inference with a 16 GB requirement, the A2 fills that niche, but the performance cost is severe.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA RTX A2000, with an average score of 46,043, versus 34,690 for the NVIDIA A2.

Q: How much faster is the RTX A2000 in Vulkan?

A: The RTX A2000 scores 69,089 in Geekbench Vulkan, which is 103.1% higher than the A2's 34,023.

Q: Does the A2 win any head-to-head benchmarks?

A: No. The recorded head-to-head data shows 2 wins for the RTX A2000 and 0 for the A2.

Q: What memory capacity does each card offer?

A: The NVIDIA A2 has 16 GB of GDDR6 memory, while the NVIDIA RTX A2000 has 6 GB of GDDR6 memory.

Q: How do these cards compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The RTX A2000's average score is within 0.2% of the RTX 5880 Ada Generation and 1% above the Intel Arc A730M. The A2's average score is within 0.4% of the NVIDIA T1000 8 GB and the AMD Radeon HD 7970.

Q: Which card has higher clock speeds?

A: The NVIDIA A2 has a base clock of 1440 MHz and a boost clock of 1770 MHz, while the NVIDIA RTX A2000 has a base clock of 562 MHz and a boost clock of 1200 MHz.

Architecture Differences

Both GPUs are built on the Ampere architecture and the 8 nm process node from Samsung, but they use different chips. The RTX A2000 uses the GA106 die, while the A2 uses the GA107 die. The GA106 packs 12,000 million transistors on a 276 mm² die, whereas the GA107 has 8,700 million transistors on a 200 mm² die. Both have a transistor density of 43.5 million per square millimeter, which is identical, reflecting the same process generation.

The RTX A2000 has significantly more execution resources. It features 3328 shading units, 104 texture mapping units, 48 raster operation units, 26 ray tracing cores, and 104 tensor cores. The A2 is cut down substantially: 1280 shading units, 40 TMUs, 32 ROPs, 10 RT cores, and 40 tensor cores. That means the RTX A2000 has 2.6x the shading units, 2.6x the TMUs, 1.5x the ROPs, 2.6x the RT cores, and 2.6x the tensor cores compared to the A2.

Memory architecture also differs. The RTX A2000 uses a 192-bit memory bus with 6 GB of GDDR6 and a bandwidth of 288.0 GB/s. The A2 uses a 128-bit bus with 16 GB of GDDR6 but a lower bandwidth of 200.1 GB/s. The effective memory speed is 12 Gbps on the RTX A2000 versus 12.5 Gbps on the A2, but the wider bus on the RTX A2000 gives it the bandwidth advantage.

The API support is identical: both support DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The production status is end-of-life for both, and both share the same predecessor (Quadro Turing) and successor (Workstation Ada). The release dates are close, with the RTX A2000 releasing on August 9, 2021, and the A2 on November 9, 2021.

Specification Differences

The two cards differ across nearly every measurable specification except for architecture, process node, foundry, transistor density, API support, TDP class, and suggested PSU. Here are the fields where they diverge:

• Chip: RTX A2000 uses GA106, A2 uses GA107.
• Transistors: RTX A2000 has 12,000 million, A2 has 8,700 million.
• Die Size: RTX A2000 is 276 mm², A2 is 200 mm².
• Base Clock: RTX A2000 at 562 MHz, A2 at 1440 MHz.
• Boost Clock: RTX A2000 at 1200 MHz, A2 at 1770 MHz.
• Memory Clock: RTX A2000 at 1500 MHz (12 Gbps effective), A2 at 1563 MHz (12.5 Gbps effective).
• Memory Size: RTX A2000 has 6 GB, A2 has 16 GB.
• Memory Bus Width: RTX A2000 at 192-bit, A2 at 128-bit.
• Memory Bandwidth: RTX A2000 at 288.0 GB/s, A2 at 200.1 GB/s.
• Shading Units: RTX A2000 at 3328, A2 at 1280.
• TMUs: RTX A2000 at 104, A2 at 40.
• ROPs: RTX A2000 at 48, A2 at 32.
• RT Cores: RTX A2000 at 26, A2 at 10.
• Tensor Cores: RTX A2000 at 104, A2 at 40.
• Pixel Rate: RTX A2000 at 57.60 GPixel/s, A2 at 56.64 GPixel/s.
• Texture Rate: RTX A2000 at 124.8 GTexel/s, A2 at 70.80 GTexel/s.
• FP32 / FP16 Performance: RTX A2000 at 7.987 TFLOPS, A2 at 4.531 TFLOPS.
• TDP: RTX A2000 at 70 W, A2 at 60 W.
• Slot Width: RTX A2000 is dual-slot, A2 is single-slot.
• Bus Interface: RTX A2000 uses PCIe 4.0 x16, A2 uses PCIe 4.0 x8.
• Display Outputs: RTX A2000 has 4x mini-DisplayPort 1.4a, A2 has no outputs.
• Dimensions: RTX A2000 is 167 mm (6.6 inches) long and 69 mm (2.7 inches) high, A2 dimensions are not recorded.
• Release Date: RTX A2000 on August 9, 2021, A2 on November 9, 2021.
• Launch MSRP: RTX A2000 at 449 USD, A2 has no recorded launch MSRP.

The RTX A2000 is the higher-performing card in every compute metric, while the A2 offers more memory capacity and a more compact single-slot, no-output design. The choice between them depends entirely on whether raw throughput or memory capacity is the binding constraint for the intended workload.