NVIDIA L40S vs NVIDIA RTX 5880 Ada Generation Comparison

NVIDIA’s RTX 5880 Ada Generation and L40S share the same AD102 silicon, the same 5 nm TSMC process, and the same 48 GB GDDR6 frame buffer, yet they are tuned for different corners of the professional market. The L40S is a server-oriented card with a higher boost clock and more execution resources, while the RTX 5880 Ada is a workstation part with a lower power envelope and a wider set of display outputs. Benchmark data from Geekbench shows the L40S edging ahead in OpenCL, but the margin is slim, and the RTX 5880 Ada posts a higher average score than several close rivals. This analysis breaks down the head-to-head results, the architecture differences, and what the numbers mean for real workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct benchmark comparison in the data is Geekbench OpenCL, and it goes to the NVIDIA L40S. The L40S scores 334,437 points, while the RTX 5880 Ada Generation scores 327,829 points. That is a delta of -2% for the RTX 5880 Ada, meaning the L40S is roughly 2% faster in this compute-oriented test. A 2% gap is small enough that it could be lost in driver variance or workload-specific scaling, but the data consistently favors the L40S in this single test.

When looking at average benchmark scores, the picture shifts. The RTX 5880 Ada Generation has an average benchmark score of 327,829, which matches its single OpenCL result. The L40S, by contrast, has an average benchmark score of 292,603, which is pulled down by its weaker Vulkan score of 250,769. That Vulkan result is notably lower than its OpenCL result, suggesting the L40S is more optimized for OpenCL compute than for Vulkan graphics workloads. The RTX 5880 Ada does not have a Vulkan score in the data, so its average is based solely on OpenCL.

Compared to their nearest rivals, both cards sit at the top of the stack. The RTX 5880 Ada Generation is 7.3% ahead of the NVIDIA H200 NVL (which averages 305,608) and 12% ahead of the L40S itself (292,603). It is also 16.3% ahead of the RTX 6000 Ada Generation (281,932) and 16.4% ahead of the NVIDIA L40 (281,655). The L40S, meanwhile, is 3.8% ahead of the RTX 6000 Ada Generation and 3.9% ahead of the L40, but it trails the H200 NVL by 4.3%. The L40S also beats the NVIDIA L20 (266,428) by 9.8%. Both cards achieve a 100th percentile ranking among all GPUs, meaning they outperform every other GPU in the database on average.

The head-to-head data shows a clear pattern: the L40S wins the direct OpenCL comparison, but the RTX 5880 Ada has a higher average score because the L40S’s Vulkan result drags its average down. For pure compute, the L40S is the faster card by a whisker. For consistency across different API workloads, the RTX 5880 Ada is the safer bet, since it does not have a weak secondary benchmark.

Where Each One Wins

The L40S wins the only direct benchmark in the data, so it takes the compute crown on raw OpenCL performance. Its 334,437 OpenCL score is the highest single benchmark result recorded for either card. This suggests that the L40S is the better choice for workloads that rely heavily on OpenCL compute, such as certain scientific simulations, machine learning inference tasks, or rendering pipelines that use OpenCL as their compute backend. The L40S achieves this despite having a lower average score overall, because its Vulkan performance is significantly lower.

The RTX 5880 Ada Generation wins on average benchmark score, posting 327,829 versus the L40S’s 292,603. That is a 12% difference in favor of the RTX 5880 Ada, driven entirely by the L40S’s Vulkan deficit. The RTX 5880 Ada also has a stronger position against the broader rival set: it leads the H200 NVL by 7.3%, while the L40S trails that same H200 NVL by 4.3%. In other words, the RTX 5880 Ada is the more consistent performer across the entire field, even if it loses the single direct comparison.

The RTX 5880 Ada Generation also holds advantages in specific architectural features that matter for workstation use. It has four DisplayPort 1.4a outputs, while the L40S has one HDMI 2.1 and three DisplayPort 1.4a outputs. For multi-monitor professional setups, the RTX 5880 Ada offers more DisplayPort connectivity, which is often preferred for high-resolution displays. The L40S includes an HDMI output, which may be useful for connecting to consumer displays or VR headsets, but the RTX 5880 Ada’s uniform DisplayPort configuration is more workstation-friendly.

In terms of power, the RTX 5880 Ada has a 285 W TDP and a suggested PSU of 600 W, while the L40S has a 300 W TDP and a suggested PSU of 700 W. The RTX 5880 Ada is the more power-efficient choice, drawing 15 W less and requiring a smaller power supply. This makes it easier to integrate into existing workstation builds or smaller form-factor systems. The L40S, with its higher TDP, is better suited for server racks where power delivery is less constrained.

Architecture Differences

Both cards are built on the AD102 chip using NVIDIA’s Ada Lovelace architecture, fabricated on a 5 nm process at TSMC. They share the same transistor count of 76,300 million and the same die size of 609 mm², giving a transistor density of 125.3 million per square millimeter. The memory subsystem is identical: 48 GB of GDDR6 on a 384-bit bus, with 2250 MHz memory clock and 18 Gbps effective speed, yielding 864.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Both cards support DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, and both use a PCIe 4.0 x16 interface.

The core configuration is where the two cards diverge. The L40S has 18,176 shading units, 568 texture mapping units, and 192 ROPs. It also features 142 RT cores and 568 tensor cores. The RTX 5880 Ada Generation is cut down: it has 14,080 shading units, 440 TMUs, and 176 ROPs, with 110 RT cores and 440 tensor cores. That means the L40S has roughly 29% more shading units, 29% more TMUs, and 9% more ROPs than the RTX 5880 Ada. The RT core and tensor core counts scale similarly, with the L40S holding about 29% more of each.

Clock speeds also favor the L40S. The L40S has a base clock of 1110 MHz and a boost clock of 2520 MHz. The RTX 5880 Ada Generation has a lower base clock of 975 MHz and a boost clock of 2460 MHz. That is a 135 MHz higher base clock and a 60 MHz higher boost clock for the L40S. Combined with the extra execution resources, this leads to a significant gap in theoretical peak performance. The L40S delivers 91.61 TFLOPS of FP32 and FP16 (1:1) performance, while the RTX 5880 Ada Generation delivers 69.27 TFLOPS in both. That is a 32% advantage for the L40S in raw floating-point throughput.

Pixel and texture rates tell a similar story. The L40S achieves 483.8 GPixel/s and 1,431.4 GTexel/s, while the RTX 5880 Ada Generation achieves 433.0 GPixel/s and 1,082.4 GTexel/s. The L40S is about 12% faster in pixel fill rate and 32% faster in texture fill rate. These differences reflect the higher ROP and TMU counts on the L40S, as well as its higher clocks.

The production status differs: the RTX 5880 Ada Generation is listed as Active, while the L40S is End-of-life. The RTX 5880 Ada Generation was released on January 4, 2024, while the L40S was released earlier, on October 12, 2022. The RTX 5880 Ada Generation’s predecessor is the Workstation Ampere generation, and its successor is Blackwell PRO W. The L40S’s predecessor is Server Ampere, and its successor is Server Hopper. These lineage differences reflect their intended market positions: workstation versus server.

Both cards are dual-slot designs measuring 267 mm in length and 112 mm (RTX 5880 Ada) or 111 mm (L40S) in height. They both use a single 16-pin power connector, but the L40S suggests a 700 W PSU versus 600 W for the RTX 5880 Ada.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous about the compute hierarchy: the NVIDIA L40S is the faster card in direct OpenCL testing, scoring 334,437 versus 327,829 for the RTX 5880 Ada Generation, a 2% lead. The L40S also has substantially higher theoretical peak performance, with 91.61 TFLOPS FP32 versus 69.27 TFLOPS, and more shading units, TMUs, ROPs, RT cores, and tensor cores. If the workload is pure compute and the system can handle a 300 W TDP with a 700 W PSU, the L40S is the stronger performer.

However, the RTX 5880 Ada Generation has a higher average benchmark score (327,829 versus 292,603) because the L40S’s Vulkan score is significantly lower at 250,769. That 12% gap in average performance suggests the RTX 5880 Ada is more consistent across different API workloads, even if it loses the single OpenCL test. The RTX 5880 Ada also leads the H200 NVL by 7.3%, while the L40S trails that same GPU by 4.3%, indicating that the RTX 5880 Ada holds up better against the broader competitive field.

For workstation users, the RTX 5880 Ada Generation is the safer pick. It has four DisplayPort 1.4a outputs for multi-monitor setups, a lower 285 W TDP with a 600 W PSU recommendation, and an Active production status, meaning it is still a current product. The L40S is end-of-life, which could affect long-term driver support and availability. The L40S’s single HDMI 2.1 output may be useful for certain displays, but the RTX 5880 Ada’s uniform DisplayPort configuration is more professional.

For server or data-center deployments where compute density is paramount, the L40S is the better choice. Its higher clock speeds, more cores, and 32% higher FP32 throughput make it a more capable compute accelerator. The lack of display outputs is less of a concern in a headless server environment, and the higher TDP is acceptable in a rack-mounted chassis. The L40S’s 2% OpenCL lead over the RTX 5880 Ada is small, but its 91.61 TFLOPS peak is a clear advantage for workloads that can saturate the hardware.

The data does not support a universal winner. The L40S wins on raw compute and peak throughput, while the RTX 5880 Ada wins on average score, power efficiency, display connectivity, and product longevity. Users who need maximum FP32 performance and do not care about Vulkan or display outputs should choose the L40S. Users who want a balanced workstation GPU with better average performance and lower power requirements should choose the RTX 5880 Ada Generation.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher OpenCL benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA L40S scores 334,437 in Geekbench OpenCL, while the NVIDIA RTX 5880 Ada Generation scores 327,829. The L40S leads by 2%.

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

A: The RTX 5880 Ada Generation has an average benchmark score of 327,829, while the L40S has an average score of 292,603. The RTX 5880 Ada is 12% higher.

Q: How do the two cards compare in FP32 floating-point performance?

A: The L40S delivers 91.61 TFLOPS of FP32, while the RTX 5880 Ada Generation delivers 69.27 TFLOPS. The L40S is about 32% faster in theoretical FP32 compute.

Q: Do both cards have the same memory configuration?

A: Yes. Both the RTX 5880 Ada Generation and the L40S have 48 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 384-bit bus, with 2250 MHz memory clock and 864.0 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: What are the differences in display outputs?

A: The RTX 5880 Ada Generation has 4x DisplayPort 1.4a outputs. The L40S has 1x HDMI 2.1 and 3x DisplayPort 1.4a outputs.

Q: Which card is still in production?

A: The RTX 5880 Ada Generation is listed as Active, while the L40S is listed as End-of-life. The L40S was released on October 12, 2022, and the RTX 5880 Ada