Case Studies

Why Choose NVIDIA A100 PCIe for Your Workloads

Written by Damanpreet Kaur Vohra | Dec 19, 2024 7:49:31 PM

When NVIDIA launched the NVIDIA A100 GPU in 2020, it set new performance standards for AI, data analytics and high-performance computing. With innovations such as next-gen Tensor Cores, high-bandwidth HBM2 memory and multi-instance GPU partitioning, the NVIDIA A100 delivers remarkable speed improvements over previous models. The NVIDIA A100 PCIe achieves up to 20x faster AI training and inference speed than previous-generation GPUs. 

Learn why the NVIDIA A100 PCIe is perfect for your workloads in our latest blog.

Challenges in AI and HPC Workloads

AI and HPC workloads often come with their own set of challenges. Among the most common issues are:

  • Memory Bottlenecks: Handling massive datasets for tasks such as natural language processing (NLP) or video analysis often overwhelms traditional GPUs. NVIDIA A100 PCIe’s 80 GB of high-bandwidth HBM2e memory ensures seamless data handling, allowing efficient training and inference of large-scale AI models like Llama 3.
  • Scalability Issues in Multi-GPU Workloads: Synchronising data between multiple GPUs can lead to latency and reduced throughput. The NVIDIA A100 PCIe also comes with another option for NVLink support (up to 600 GB/s)  providing near-instant communication between GPUs, ensuring efficient multi-node training for distributed AI.
  • Precision vs Speed in AI Models: Models often need to balance speed and accuracy, making it critical to fine-tune precision levels for specific tasks. With TF32 and mixed-precision capabilities, the NVIDIA A100 PCIe optimises calculations for high accuracy while delivering up to 20x faster performance for deep learning workloads.

Why Choose NVIDIA A100 PCIe for Your Workloads

Here’s why you should choose the NVIDIA A100 PCIe for diverse workloads:

Exceptional Performance for AI and HPC

The NVIDIA A100 PCIe GPU delivers optimal performance with features designed for different workloads including AI model training, inference, data analytics and scientific simulations. The key specifications of the NVIDIA A100 PCIe include:

  • 80 GB Memory: The NVIDIA A100 PCIe includes 80GB of high-bandwidth memory (HBM2e), providing the necessary capacity to work with the largest datasets and most complex AI models.
  • 432 Tensor Cores: With Tensor Cores, the NVIDIA A100 PCIe can perform various operations, from matrix calculations to convolution and activation functions. This makes it ideal for deep learning and AI training workloads.
  • TensorFloat-32 (TF32) and FP16 Performance: The NVIDIA A100 offers improved precision through TensorFloat-32, providing 10x faster performance compared to single-precision floating-point math (FP32). The mixed-precision approach, including FP16 and FP32, ensures a balance between performance and accuracy for AI models.

Flexible Storage Options for Diverse Workflows

At Hyperstack, we offer both Persistent NVMe Storage and Ephemeral Storage options for NVIDIA A100 GPUs so you can choose the storage solution that best fits your workload requirements.

  • Persistent NVMe Storage ensures high-speed data access and long-term retention, even across shutdowns, making it ideal for AI training, data analysis and large-scale HPC workloads.
  • Ephemeral Storage ensures you get high-performance temporary data processing during runtime, perfect for scenarios like inference or exploratory model training. 

High-Speed Networking for Distributed Workloads

Networking performance is critical in distributed AI and HPC environments. The NVIDIA A100 on Hyperstack supports standard and advanced networking configurations to cater to diverse needs.

  • Standard Networking: The NVIDIA A100 PCIe is equipped with a standard 16 Gbps Ethernet networking, ideal for small-scale AI and HPC workloads. 
  • High-Speed Networking: For larger deployments and accelerated AI training, the NVIDIA A100 PCIe with NVLink offers high-speed networking of up to 350 Gbps. This is essential for seamless communication in multi-node AI training and distributed HPC tasks. Reduced latency and high bandwidth minimise communication bottlenecks ensuring better scalability for demanding workflows. Contracted customers on Hyperstack can easily select a high-speed networking environment indicated by the⚡ icon on our WebUI.

NVLink for Multi-GPU Scalability

We also offer the NVIDIA A100 PCIe with NVLink options with up to 600 GB/s bidirectional bandwidth for seamless GPU-to-GPU communication. This ensures efficient parallel processing in multi-GPU setups, critical for large-scale AI models and high-throughput computing. NVLink eliminates data transfer bottlenecks and allows GPUs to share memory and resources effectively. For training complex models like large language models or generative adversarial networks (GANs),  NVLink ensures GPUs work in sync.

Flavour Configurations for Customised Deployments

Hyperstack offers various NVIDIA A100 PCIe flavour configurations to cater to different use cases and workloads. These configurations are designed to provide the flexibility you need to choose the right setup based on your needs. 

New Generation Flavours

In the Canada region, we offer the latest generation of NVIDIA A100 PCIe GPUs with the following VM flavours:

Older Generation Flavours

For customers in Norway, we offer the previous generation of NVIDIA A100 PCIe GPUs with these configurations:

Experience the Best of NVIDIA A100 with Hyperstack

No matter if you are developing advanced AI models, running HPC simulations or processing massive datasets, Hyperstack’s NVIDIA A100 PCIe GPU offers the power, speed and flexibility you need. With options like NVLink, high-speed networking and storage, we ensure that every aspect of your workflow is optimised for success.

Get Instant Access to the NVIDIA A100 for just $1.35 per hour!

FAQs

How do I access the NVIDIA A100 PCIe GPU on Hyperstack?

Simply sign up on Hyperstack’s platform here: https://console.hyperstack.cloud/ to access the NVIDIA A100 GPUs.   

Can I use the NVIDIA A100 PCIe for data analytics tasks?

Yes, the A100 excels in data analytics by processing large datasets and complex computations quickly and efficiently.

What storage options are available with the NVIDIA A100 PCIe on Hyperstack?

Hyperstack offers both Persistent NVMe Storage for long-term data retention and Ephemeral Storage for high-performance temporary data processing.

What networking options are available with the NVIDIA A100 PCIe on Hyperstack?

Hyperstack offers standard 16 Gbps Ethernet networking for smaller workloads and high-speed networking up to 350 Gbps for larger, distributed AI and HPC tasks in the NVIDIA A100 PCIe with NVLink option.