B300 vs A100
Explore a head to head comparison of specifications, performance, and pricing.
B300
The NVIDIA B300 delivers high-performance computing capabilities for AI, machine learning, and data science applications.
A100
The NVIDIA A100 is a powerful Ampere-based GPU designed for AI training, inference, and high-performance computing workloads.
B300 vs A100: Which Should You Choose?
The B300 offers 288 GB of VRAM — 7× the 40 GB on the A100 — 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 1 TFLOPS on the B300 — 78× faster for mixed-precision training and inference. Memory bandwidth favors the B300 at 0.01 TB/s compared to 0.00 TB/s on the A100, which directly impacts inference latency for memory-bandwidth-bound models. Architecturally, the B300 is built on Blackwell Ultra while the A100 uses Ampere, reflecting different generational capabilities and optimizations. On Shadeform, the A100 starts from $1.36/hr versus $7.40/hr for the B300 — 444% more expensive — reflecting the performance premium. The A100 is available across 5 cloud providers on Shadeform compared to 2 for the B300, giving more options for region and pricing flexibility.
B300 — Best Use Cases
- •Next-generation LLM pre-training at scale
- •Trillion-parameter model inference
- •Ultra-high-throughput AI workloads
- •Advanced HPC and scientific computing
Choose B300 when:
- ✓You need 288 GB+ VRAM for large models or long context windows
- ✓Maximum performance justifies the higher cost
- ✓Your workload does not require peak FP16 throughput
- ✓Your preferred provider already has availability
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:
- ✓40 GB VRAM is sufficient for your workload
- ✓Cost efficiency is your primary concern
- ✓You are training large models or running high-throughput inference
- ✓You need flexibility across multiple cloud providers or regions
See how the B300 & A100 compare
Compare detailed hardware specifications and average pricing for the B300 and A100.
Compare Hardware Specifications
| B300 | A100 | |
|---|---|---|
| GPU Type | B300 | A100 |
| VRAM per GPU | 288 GB | 40 GB |
| Manufacturer | NVIDIA | NVIDIA |
| Architecture | Blackwell Ultra | Ampere |
| Interconnect | SXM6 | PCIe Gen4 or SXM4 |
| Memory Bandwidth | 8 TB/s | 1.55 TB/s |
| FP16 TFLOPS | 1,231.8 TFLOPS (16:1) | 77.97 TFLOPS (4:1) |
| CUDA Cores | 20480 | 6912 |
| Tensor Cores | 640 (5th Gen) | 432 (3rd Gen) |
| Base Clock | 1665 MHz | 765 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 2032 MHz | 1410 MHz |
| TDP | 1000W | 250W-400W |
| Process Node | TSMC 4NP | TSMC 7nm |
| Data Formats | FP4, FP6, FP8, INT8, BF16, FP16, TF32, FP32, FP64 | INT8, BF16, FP16, TF32, FP32, FP64 |
Compare Average On-Demand Pricing
| B300 | A100 | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GPU | $7.40 /hr | $1.88 /hr |
| 2 GPUs | $14.80 /hr | $4.38 /hr |
| 4 GPUs | $29.20 /hr | $8.64 /hr |
| 8 GPUs | $64.81 /hr | $14.90 /hr |
Frequently Asked Questions: B300 vs A100
The main differences are VRAM (288 GB vs 40 GB), FP16 throughput (1 vs 77.97 TFLOPS), architecture (Blackwell Ultra vs Ampere). The B300 uses the Blackwell Ultra architecture while the A100 is based on Ampere, 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 A100 is available from $1.36/hr. The B300 starts from $7.40/hr. Prices vary by provider, region, and contract length. Reserved commitments can reduce hourly costs significantly compared to on-demand pricing.
The B300 has more VRAM at 288 GB, compared to 40 GB on the A100. 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 B300, 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 2 for the B300. 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 B300 or A100. Shadeform supports on-demand clusters of up to 64 GPUs of the same type with no commitment required.
Explore B300 & A100 Instances
Browse available instances with B300 and A100 GPUs. Filter by provider, availability, and more to find the perfect instance for your needs.
Explore more GPU comparisons
Select any two GPUs to compare their specifications and explore pricing across providers.
