RTX Pro 6000 vs A40
Explore a head to head comparison of specifications, performance, and pricing.
RTX Pro 6000
The NVIDIA RTX Pro 6000 delivers high-performance computing capabilities for AI, machine learning, and data science applications.
A40
The NVIDIA A40 delivers high-performance computing capabilities for AI, machine learning, and data science applications.
RTX Pro 6000 vs A40: Which Should You Choose?
The RTX Pro 6000 offers 96 GB of VRAM — 2× the 48 GB on the A40 — making it better suited for large model workloads that require holding more parameters in GPU memory. On FP16 throughput, the RTX Pro 6000 delivers 126 TFLOPS versus 37.42 TFLOPS on the A40 — 3× faster for mixed-precision training and inference. Memory bandwidth favors the A40 at 0.70 TB/s compared to 0.00 TB/s on the RTX Pro 6000, which directly impacts inference latency for memory-bandwidth-bound models. Architecturally, the RTX Pro 6000 is built on Blackwell while the A40 uses Ampere, reflecting different generational capabilities and optimizations. On Shadeform, the A40 starts from $1.10/hr versus $1.25/hr for the RTX Pro 6000 — 14% more expensive — reflecting the performance premium. The RTX Pro 6000 is available across 7 cloud providers on Shadeform compared to 2 for the A40, giving more options for region and pricing flexibility.
RTX Pro 6000 — 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 RTX Pro 6000 when:
- ✓You need 96 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
A40 — 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 A40 when:
- ✓48 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 RTX Pro 6000 & A40 compare
Compare detailed hardware specifications and average pricing for the RTX Pro 6000 and A40.
Compare Hardware Specifications
| RTX Pro 6000 | A40 | |
|---|---|---|
| GPU Type | RTX Pro 6000 | A40 |
| VRAM per GPU | 96 GB | 48 GB |
| Manufacturer | NVIDIA | NVIDIA |
| Architecture | Blackwell | Ampere |
| Interconnect | PCIe Gen5 | PCIe Gen4 |
| Memory Bandwidth | 1.59 TB/s | 696 GB/s |
| FP16 TFLOPS | 126.0 TFLOPS (1:1) | 37.42 TFLOPS (1:1) |
| CUDA Cores | 24064 | 10752 |
| Tensor Cores | 752 (5th Gen) | 336 (3rd Gen) |
| RT Cores | 188 (4th Gen) | 84 (2nd Gen) |
| Base Clock | 1860 MHz | 1125 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 2600 MHz | 1740 MHz |
| TDP | 400W | 300W |
| Process Node | TSMC 4N | TSMC 8nm |
| Data Formats | FP4, FP6, FP8, INT8, BF16, FP16, TF32, FP32 | INT8, BF16, FP16, TF32, FP32 |
Compare Average On-Demand Pricing
| RTX Pro 6000 | A40 | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GPU | $1.70 /hr | $1.48 /hr |
| 2 GPUs | $3.30 /hr | $2.20 /hr |
| 4 GPUs | $6.60 /hr | $5.92 /hr |
| 8 GPUs | $14.11 /hr | $8.80 /hr |
Frequently Asked Questions: RTX Pro 6000 vs A40
The main differences are VRAM (96 GB vs 48 GB), FP16 throughput (126 vs 37.42 TFLOPS), architecture (Blackwell vs Ampere). The RTX Pro 6000 uses the Blackwell architecture while the A40 is based on Ampere, giving each GPU different generational capabilities.
The RTX Pro 6000 is generally better for large language model training due to its higher throughput and 96 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 A40 is available from $1.10/hr. The RTX Pro 6000 starts from $1.25/hr. Prices vary by provider, region, and contract length. Reserved commitments can reduce hourly costs significantly compared to on-demand pricing.
The RTX Pro 6000 has more VRAM at 96 GB, compared to 48 GB on the A40. 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 RTX Pro 6000 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 A40, paying the premium may be justified by faster job completion and lower total cost.
The RTX Pro 6000 is currently available across 7 cloud providers on Shadeform's network, compared to 2 for the A40. 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 RTX Pro 6000 or A40. Shadeform supports on-demand clusters of up to 64 GPUs of the same type with no commitment required.
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