B200 vs L40

The L40 is generally better for large language model training due to its higher throughput and 48 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 L40 is available from $0.99/hr. The B200 starts from $5.29/hr. Prices vary by provider, region, and contract length. Reserved commitments can reduce hourly costs significantly compared to on-demand pricing.

The B200 has more VRAM at 192 GB, compared to 48 GB on the L40. 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 L40 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 B200, paying the premium may be justified by faster job completion and lower total cost.

The B200 is currently available across 4 cloud providers on Shadeform's network, compared to 2 for the L40. 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 B200 or L40. Shadeform supports on-demand clusters of up to 64 GPUs of the same type with no commitment required.