L4 vs RTX 4090
Explore a head to head comparison of specifications, performance, and pricing.
L4
The NVIDIA L4 delivers high-performance computing capabilities for AI, machine learning, and data science applications.
RTX 4090
The NVIDIA RTX 4090 delivers high-performance computing capabilities for AI, machine learning, and data science applications.
L4 vs RTX 4090: Which Should You Choose?
Both the L4 and RTX 4090 offer 24 GB of VRAM, putting them on equal footing for memory-bound workloads. On FP16 throughput, the RTX 4090 delivers 82.58 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 RTX 4090, which directly impacts inference latency for memory-bandwidth-bound models. On Shadeform, the RTX 4090 starts from $0.60/hr versus $0.90/hr for the L4 — 50% more expensive — reflecting the performance premium. The RTX 4090 is available across 3 cloud providers on Shadeform compared to 1 for the L4, giving more options for region and pricing flexibility.
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:
- ✓Maximum performance justifies the higher cost
- ✓Your workload does not require peak FP16 throughput
- ✓Your preferred provider already has availability
RTX 4090 — Best Use Cases
- •LLM inference and model serving
- •Image generation and diffusion models
- •Smaller fine-tuning runs
- •Cost-efficient GPU compute
Choose RTX 4090 when:
- ✓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 L4 & RTX 4090 compare
Compare detailed hardware specifications and average pricing for the L4 and RTX 4090.
Compare Hardware Specifications
| L4 | RTX 4090 | |
|---|---|---|
| GPU Type | L4 | RTX 4090 |
| VRAM per GPU | 24 GB | 24 GB |
| Manufacturer | NVIDIA | NVIDIA |
| Architecture | Ada Lovelace | Ada Lovelace |
| Interconnect | PCIe Gen4 | PCIe Gen4 |
| Memory Bandwidth | 300 GB/s | 1.008 TB/s |
| FP16 TFLOPS | 30.29 TFLOPS (1:1) | 82.58 TFLOPS (1:1) |
| CUDA Cores | 7424 | 16384 |
| Tensor Cores | 232 (4th Gen) | 512 (4th Gen) |
| RT Cores | 58 (3rd Gen) | 128 (3rd Gen) |
| Base Clock | 795 MHz | 2235 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 2040 MHz | 2520 MHz |
| TDP | 72W | 450W |
| Process Node | TSMC 4N | TSMC 4N |
| Data Formats | FP8, INT8, BF16, FP16, TF32, FP32 | FP8, INT8, BF16, FP16, TF32, FP32 |
Compare Average On-Demand Pricing
| L4 | RTX 4090 | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GPU | $0.90 /hr | $0.60 /hr |
| 2 GPUs | $1.72 /hr | $1.20 /hr |
| 4 GPUs | $3.37 /hr | $2.40 /hr |
| 8 GPUs | $6.67 /hr | $3.97 /hr |
Frequently Asked Questions: L4 vs RTX 4090
The main differences are FP16 throughput (30.29 vs 82.58 TFLOPS).
The RTX 4090 is generally better for large language model training due to its higher throughput and 24 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 RTX 4090 is available from $0.60/hr. The L4 starts from $0.90/hr. Prices vary by provider, region, and contract length. Reserved commitments can reduce hourly costs significantly compared to on-demand pricing.
Based on TFLOPS per dollar, the RTX 4090 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 RTX 4090 is currently available across 3 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 L4 or RTX 4090. Shadeform supports on-demand clusters of up to 64 GPUs of the same type with no commitment required.
Explore L4 & RTX 4090 Instances
Browse available instances with L4 and RTX 4090 GPUs. Filter by provider, availability, and more to find the perfect instance for your needs.
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