GPU MODELS / ALTERNATIVES TO A100 SXM
Alternatives to the A100 SXM
The original 40 GB A100 SXM: same tensor throughput as the 80 GB part, roughly 1.6 TB/s of HBM2 bandwidth, half the memory. For training jobs that fit, it is usually the cheapest way onto NVLink-equipped Ampere nodes; for 70B-class work the 80 GB variant is the one you want.
People usually compare the A100 SXM against A100 80GB SXM. Prices below are live on-demand published rates from the panel.
LOADING LIVE DATA...
| Alternative | Memory | Bandwidth | Cheapest live rate | Head to head |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A100 80GB SXM | 80 GB HBM2e | 2.0 TB/s | - | A100 SXM vs A100 80GB SXM |
WHEN EACH ALTERNATIVE WINS
A100 80GB SXM
Same silicon, double the memory and 25% more bandwidth. If your job fits in 40 GB, the cheaper 40 GB card is the same speed; if it does not, no amount of savings helps.
A100 SXM ALTERNATIVES - FAQ
What is the best alternative to the A100 SXM?
It depends on the workload. A100 80GB SXM: The A100 80GB was the standard large-model training chip of 2021-2023 and still anchors an enormous installed base. Live rates for each are in the table above.
Why look for A100 SXM alternatives?
70B-class fine-tuning or inference - 40 GB forces model parallelism for what the 80 GB part does on one card.
How much does the A100 SXM cost compared to its alternatives?
Each alternative's current cheapest published rate is listed in the table above; figures recompute hourly from provider-published prices.