Nvidia Tesla M40 vs. Nvidia Tesla P4

Attribute	Nvidia Tesla M40	Nvidia Tesla P4
GPU Architecture	Maxwell	Pascal
Memory Size	12 GB GDDR5	8 GB GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	288 GB/s	192 GB/s
Tensor Cores	No	Yes
Peak Performance	7 TFLOPS	5.5 TFLOPS

Introduction

When it comes to high-performance computing, Nvidia is a name that stands out in the industry. Two of their popular GPU models, the Nvidia Tesla M40 and Nvidia Tesla P4, are often compared for their attributes and capabilities. In this article, we will delve into the key differences between these two GPUs to help you understand which one may be better suited for your specific needs.

Architecture

The Nvidia Tesla M40 is based on the Maxwell architecture, which was introduced in 2014. This architecture is known for its efficiency and performance, making it a popular choice for data centers and supercomputers. On the other hand, the Nvidia Tesla P4 is based on the Pascal architecture, which was introduced in 2016. The Pascal architecture brought significant improvements in performance and power efficiency compared to its predecessor.

Performance

When it comes to performance, the Nvidia Tesla M40 boasts 7 TFLOPS of single-precision floating-point performance and 0.21 TFLOPS of double-precision floating-point performance. This makes it a powerful GPU for deep learning and scientific computing tasks. In comparison, the Nvidia Tesla P4 offers 5.5 TFLOPS of single-precision floating-point performance and 0.17 TFLOPS of double-precision floating-point performance. While the Tesla P4 may have slightly lower performance numbers, it is still a capable GPU for a wide range of applications.

Memory

Memory is a crucial aspect of GPU performance, and both the Nvidia Tesla M40 and Nvidia Tesla P4 offer different memory configurations. The Tesla M40 comes with 12 GB of GDDR5 memory with a memory bandwidth of 288 GB/s. On the other hand, the Tesla P4 comes with 8 GB of GDDR5 memory with a memory bandwidth of 192 GB/s. While the Tesla M40 offers more memory capacity and bandwidth, the Tesla P4 is still sufficient for many workloads.

Power Efficiency

Power efficiency is another important factor to consider when choosing a GPU for your computing needs. The Nvidia Tesla M40 has a TDP (thermal design power) of 250W, which means it consumes more power compared to the Tesla P4. The Tesla P4, on the other hand, has a TDP of 75W, making it a more power-efficient option. If you are looking to minimize power consumption and heat generation, the Tesla P4 may be the better choice.

Deep Learning Capabilities

Both the Nvidia Tesla M40 and Nvidia Tesla P4 are popular choices for deep learning applications. The Tesla M40 is known for its high performance in training deep neural networks, thanks to its powerful GPU cores and memory capacity. The Tesla P4, on the other hand, is optimized for inference tasks, making it a great choice for deploying trained models in production environments. Depending on your specific deep learning needs, you may choose one GPU over the other.

Price

Price is always a consideration when purchasing hardware for your computing needs. The Nvidia Tesla M40 is typically priced higher than the Nvidia Tesla P4, due to its higher performance and memory capacity. If budget is a concern, the Tesla P4 may be a more cost-effective option without compromising too much on performance.

Conclusion

In conclusion, both the Nvidia Tesla M40 and Nvidia Tesla P4 have their own strengths and weaknesses. The Tesla M40 offers higher performance and memory capacity, making it a great choice for demanding computing tasks. On the other hand, the Tesla P4 is more power-efficient and cost-effective, making it suitable for a wide range of applications. Ultimately, the choice between these two GPUs will depend on your specific computing needs and budget constraints.