A100 vs L4
Explore a head to head comparison of specifications, performance, and pricing.
A100
The NVIDIA A100 is a powerful Ampere-based GPU designed for AI training, inference, and high-performance computing workloads.
L4
The NVIDIA L4 delivers high-performance computing capabilities for AI, machine learning, and data science applications.
A100 vs L4: Which Should You Choose?
The A100 offers 40 GB of VRAM — 1.7× the 24 GB on the L4 — making it better suited for large model workloads that require holding more parameters in GPU memory. On FP16 throughput, the A100 delivers 77.97 TFLOPS versus 30.29 TFLOPS on the L4 — 3× faster for mixed-precision training and inference. Memory bandwidth favors the L4 at 0.30 TB/s compared to 0.00 TB/s on the A100, which directly impacts inference latency for memory-bandwidth-bound models. Architecturally, the A100 is built on Ampere while the L4 uses Ada Lovelace, reflecting different generational capabilities and optimizations. On Shadeform, the L4 starts from $0.95/hr versus $1.36/hr for the A100 — 43% more expensive — reflecting the performance premium. The A100 is available across 5 cloud providers on Shadeform compared to 1 for the L4, giving more options for region and pricing flexibility.
A100 — Best Use Cases
- •General-purpose deep learning training
- •Fine-tuning models up to 13B parameters
- •AI inference at moderate throughput
- •Computer vision and NLP workloads
Choose A100 when:
- ✓You need 40 GB+ VRAM for large models or long context windows
- ✓Maximum performance justifies the higher cost
- ✓You are training large models or running high-throughput inference
- ✓You need flexibility across multiple cloud providers or regions
L4 — Best Use Cases
- •LLM inference and model serving
- •Image generation and diffusion models
- •Smaller fine-tuning runs
- •Cost-efficient GPU compute
Choose L4 when:
- ✓24 GB VRAM is sufficient for your workload
- ✓Cost efficiency is your primary concern
- ✓Your workload does not require peak FP16 throughput
- ✓Your preferred provider already has availability
See how the A100 & L4 compare
Compare detailed hardware specifications and average pricing for the A100 and L4.
Compare Hardware Specifications
| A100 | L4 | |
|---|---|---|
| GPU Type | A100 | L4 |
| VRAM per GPU | 40 GB | 24 GB |
| Manufacturer | NVIDIA | NVIDIA |
| Architecture | Ampere | Ada Lovelace |
| Interconnect | PCIe Gen4 or SXM4 | PCIe Gen4 |
| Memory Bandwidth | 1.55 TB/s | 300 GB/s |
| FP16 TFLOPS | 77.97 TFLOPS (4:1) | 30.29 TFLOPS (1:1) |
| CUDA Cores | 6912 | 7424 |
| Tensor Cores | 432 (3rd Gen) | 232 (4th Gen) |
| RT Cores | N/A | 58 (3rd Gen) |
| Base Clock | 765 MHz | 795 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1410 MHz | 2040 MHz |
| TDP | 250W-400W | 72W |
| Process Node | TSMC 7nm | TSMC 4N |
| Data Formats | INT8, BF16, FP16, TF32, FP32, FP64 | FP8, INT8, BF16, FP16, TF32, FP32 |
Compare Average On-Demand Pricing
| A100 | L4 | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GPU | $1.88 /hr | $0.95 /hr |
| 2 GPUs | $4.38 /hr | $1.90 /hr |
| 4 GPUs | $8.64 /hr | $3.80 /hr |
| 8 GPUs | $14.90 /hr | $7.60 /hr |
Frequently Asked Questions: A100 vs L4
The main differences are VRAM (40 GB vs 24 GB), FP16 throughput (77.97 vs 30.29 TFLOPS), architecture (Ampere vs Ada Lovelace). The A100 uses the Ampere architecture while the L4 is based on Ada Lovelace, giving each GPU different generational capabilities.
The A100 is generally better for large language model training due to its higher throughput and 40 GB of VRAM, which allows fitting larger models or larger batch sizes in a single pass. For smaller models or fine-tuning tasks where cost matters more, both GPUs can be effective.
On Shadeform, the L4 is available from $0.95/hr. The A100 starts from $1.36/hr. Prices vary by provider, region, and contract length. Reserved commitments can reduce hourly costs significantly compared to on-demand pricing.
The A100 has more VRAM at 40 GB, compared to 24 GB on the L4. Higher VRAM allows you to run larger models without quantization, use longer context windows, and process larger batch sizes — all of which improve throughput and reduce latency for memory-bound workloads.
Based on TFLOPS per dollar, the A100 offers better raw compute value at current Shadeform on-demand rates. However, the best choice depends on your specific workload — if you need the extra VRAM or throughput of the L4, paying the premium may be justified by faster job completion and lower total cost.
The A100 is currently available across 5 cloud providers on Shadeform's network, compared to 1 for the L4. Shadeform lets you deploy either GPU across all available providers from a single platform, so you can always find available capacity without manually checking each cloud.
Mixing different GPU types in a single training cluster is generally not recommended, as it creates performance bottlenecks where faster GPUs wait for slower ones. For best results, use a homogeneous cluster of either A100 or L4. Shadeform supports on-demand clusters of up to 64 GPUs of the same type with no commitment required.
Explore A100 & L4 Instances
Browse available instances with A100 and L4 GPUs. Filter by provider, availability, and more to find the perfect instance for your needs.
