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NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 vs NVIDIA L40: When to choose which

Compare GPU cloud services with on-premise solutions for AI and ML workloads. Learn about infrastructure options, pricing models, and key considerations for choosing the right approach.

GPU cloud services typically offer high-performance computing capabilities with specialized infrastructure for AI and machine learning workloads. Users can expect access to clusters of GPUs connected through high-bandwidth networks, allowing for distributed processing and faster model training. These services generally include pre-configured environments optimized for common AI frameworks, reducing setup time and complexity.The infrastructure usually scales based on demand, from single GPU instances to multi-GPU clusters, with features like low-latency networking and high-speed interconnects. Security measures, compliance certifications, and technical support are standard offerings. Pricing models tend to be usage-based, with costs varying depending on GPU type, usage duration, and resource allocation.

About the NVIDIA GB200 NVL72

NVIDIA GB200 NVL72: Powering Advanced AI and HPC Workloads

The NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 represents cutting-edge technology in large-scale AI infrastructure, integrating 36 Grace CPUs and 72 Blackwell GPUs in a liquid-cooled rack-scale design. This powerhouse system delivers up to 1,440 PFLOPs of FP4 Tensor Core performance and offers a massive 13.5 TB of HBM3e memory, enabling 30x faster real-time inference for large language models compared to previous generations.

The system's advanced architecture makes it especially well-suited for handling trillion-parameter LLM inference in real-time scenarios while maintaining energy efficiency despite its substantial computational capabilities.

This system primarily appeals to large-scale AI research organizations, cloud service providers, and enterprise customers with massive AI infrastructure needs. Organizations working on cutting-edge AI applications like real-time trillion-parameter language models, massive-scale AI training operations, and high-performance computing workloads requiring both substantial memory and computational power would benefit most from the GB200 NVL72.

The liquid-cooled rack-scale design makes it appropriate for installation in advanced data centers where users need to run the most demanding AI workloads while balancing performance with operational efficiency.

About the NVIDIA L40

NVIDIA L40: Balancing AI Inference and Graphics Performance

The NVIDIA L40 is a versatile GPU designed to excel at inference workloads for generative AI, vision models, and virtual environments. With 48GB of GDDR6 memory and impressive performance capabilities of approximately 362 TFLOPs (FP16 with sparsity), the L40 strikes an effective balance between power efficiency and computational strength.

It's optimized for both AI and graphics workloads, making it particularly valuable for organizations that need to run sophisticated inference tasks without the extreme power requirements of higher-end GPUs like the H100 or A100.

Professional users in creative industries, enterprises deploying AI-powered applications, and developers working with generative AI would find the L40 particularly appealing. Its dual capability in handling both AI inference and graphics rendering makes it ideal for teams building visual AI applications, running inference for large language models, or creating immersive virtual environments.

While the L40 is less suitable for full-scale training of massive AI models due to its relatively lower memory bandwidth compared to HBM-equipped alternatives, it offers an excellent solution for organizations deploying pre-trained models in production environments where power efficiency and balanced performance are priorities.

Comparison table

NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 vs NVIDIA L40 Comparison

The NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 is designed for massive-scale AI operations requiring extreme compute power and memory, making it ideal for trillion-parameter LLM inference and large-scale AI training. In contrast, the NVIDIA L40 is better suited for smaller inference workloads, generative AI applications, and vision models where power efficiency and cost effectiveness are priorities.

Feature GB200 NVL72 L40
Retail Price $60,000-$70,000 $11,000
Memory 13.5 TB HBM3e 48 GB GDDR6
Performance 1,440 PFLOPs 362 TFLOPs
Best Use Trillion-parameter LLMs AI inference
Architecture 72 GPUs + 36 CPUs Single GPU
Form Factor Rack-scale Standard card
Power Profile Very high Moderate
Target Deployment Enterprise datacenters Workstations/Servers

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