NVIDIA RTX A5000-12Q

The NVIDIA RTX A5000-12Q is a workstation-oriented Ampere GPU built on the GA102 chip, fabricated by Samsung on an 8 nm process. It holds the 50th percentile in the database's all-GPU rankings, though its average benchmark score is recorded as zero. This card pairs 12 GB of GDDR6 memory with 8,192 shading units, delivering 27.77 TFLOPS of FP32 compute. Released on April 11, 2021, it is now end-of-life, succeeding the Quadro Turing line and preceding the Workstation Ada generation. The card uses a PCIe 4.0 x16 interface, and its die size is 628 mm² with 28,300 million transistors.

How It Compares

The FACT PACK lists no nearest rivals for this SKU, so direct deltaPct comparisons against specific competitor cards are unavailable. This is a notable gap in the database, as it prevents a precise positioning against contemporaries. The card's percentile versus all GPUs is 50, placing it exactly at the median of the database's ranking. This suggests a mid-pack position, but the lack of an average benchmark score means the percentile is not supported by a specific performance figure. In the absence of rival data, the analysis relies on raw specifications: the 8,192 shading units and 27.77 TFLOPS FP32 place it in a capable workstation tier. Its predecessor is Quadro Turing and its successor is Workstation Ada, indicating a generational step forward in the Ampere lineup. The GA102 die measures 628 mm² and contains 28,300 million transistors, yielding a transistor density of 45.1 million per mm². This large die contributes to the card's compute capabilities, though the 50th percentile suggests it is not the fastest in the database. The 8 nm process node from Samsung is a key factor in the die's power and thermal characteristics.

Ray Tracing and Feature Set

The RTX A5000-12Q integrates 64 RT cores and 256 Tensor cores, enabling hardware-accelerated ray tracing and tensor-based operations. The API support is comprehensive, including DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The FP16 compute rate matches FP32 at 27.77 TFLOPS (1:1), which is significant for workloads that leverage mixed precision. The 256 TMUs and 96 ROPs contribute to a pixel rate of 162.7 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 433.9 GTexel/s. These figures indicate a card that can handle complex rendering tasks, though the specific ray tracing performance is not quantified in the database. The 1:1 FP16 ratio is particularly useful for AI inference and training tasks that rely on tensor cores. The presence of 64 RT cores suggests a capable ray tracing implementation, but without benchmark scores, the actual throughput remains unverified. The DirectX 12 Ultimate support ensures compatibility with modern rendering features.

Who Should Consider It

The 12 GB VRAM capacity and 768.0 GB/s memory bandwidth make this card suitable for high-resolution workstation applications. The 384-bit bus width supports large data sets and high-resolution textures. With 4x DisplayPort 1.4a outputs, it can drive multiple monitors simultaneously, making it ideal for multi-display setups. The 27.77 TFLOPS FP32 compute is adequate for compute-intensive tasks such as simulation or rendering. However, the 50th percentile ranking suggests it is not a top-tier performer in the overall database. Users targeting 4K or multi-display setups will find the memory subsystem adequate, but those needing maximum performance may look to higher-ranked cards. The 12 GB memory is a consideration for very large scenes, as some workloads may exceed this capacity. The card's end-of-life status means it is no longer in active production, so availability may be limited. For users with existing Quadro Turing systems, this card represents a generational upgrade, though the specific performance gains are not documented.

FAQ

Q: What architecture is the RTX A5000-12Q based on?

A: It uses the Ampere architecture with the GA102 chip, fabricated on Samsung's 8 nm process with 28,300 million transistors on a 628 mm² die.

Q: How much memory does it have and what type?

A: It has 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 384-bit bus, providing 768.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The memory clock is 2000 MHz with 16 Gbps effective speed.

Q: What power supply is recommended?

A: A 550 W PSU is suggested, with a TDP of 230 W and a single 8-pin power connector.

Q: What display outputs are available?

A: It has 4x DisplayPort 1.4a outputs.

Q: What is the production status?

A: It is end-of-life, released on April 11, 2021.

Q: How many RT and Tensor cores does it have?

A: It has 64 RT cores and 256 Tensor cores.

Power and Cooling

The card has a TDP of 230 W, which is moderate for a workstation GPU. The suggested PSU is 550 W, and it requires a single 8-pin power connector. It is a dual-slot card, measuring 267 mm (10.5 inches) in length and 112 mm (4.4 inches) in height. These dimensions require adequate case clearance, particularly for smaller form-factor builds. The 8 nm process node from Samsung contributes to the power characteristics, though specific thermal performance is not detailed. The dual-slot design allows for a larger heatsink, but the exact cooling solution is not specified. The 230 W TDP is within the range of many workstation cards, and the 550 W PSU recommendation provides a reasonable margin for the rest of the system.

Memory Subsystem

The memory subsystem is a key strength of this card. It features 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 384-bit bus, yielding 768.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The memory clock is 2000 MHz, with an effective speed of 16 Gbps. For high-resolution workloads, the 768 GB/s bandwidth enables efficient data transfer for large textures and complex geometry. The 12 GB capacity is sufficient for many professional applications, but it may be limiting for extremely large datasets. The 384-bit bus width is wider than typical consumer cards, supporting higher throughput. This memory configuration is well-suited for 4K rendering and multi-display setups, where the bandwidth can keep up with the demands of multiple high-resolution outputs. The 768 GB/s figure is a significant advantage for tasks that rely on memory bandwidth, such as video editing or scientific visualization.

Benchmark Performance

The database records no benchmark scores for the RTX A5000-12Q, and the average benchmark score is zero. The percentile versus all GPUs is 50, which places it at the median of the database's ranking. Without nearest rival deltaPct values, direct performance comparisons are impossible. Instead, the raw metrics provide context: FP32 compute is 27.77 TFLOPS, pixel rate is 162.7 GPixel/s, and texture rate is 433.9 GTexel/s. These figures indicate a balanced workstation performer, but the lack of benchmark data means the percentile cannot be cross-referenced with actual scores. The card's position in the 50th percentile suggests it is neither a top-tier nor a low-end part, but rather a mid-range option in the database's ranking. The 27.77 TFLOPS figure is a strong indicator of compute capability, but without benchmark scores, it remains a theoretical maximum. The pixel and texture rates further underscore the card's rendering capabilities, though they are not directly comparable to other GPUs without benchmark data.