GPU Buyer’s Guide

Choosing the right GPU for a server or workstation can be confusing. With options ranging from older NVIDIA Tesla accelerators to newer NVIDIA A-Series and L-Series GPUs, the best choice depends on much more than just GPU memory or price.

Whether you're building a system for artificial intelligence, machine learning, virtualization, VDI, rendering, media transcoding, high-performance computing (HPC), or professional applications, this guide can help you compare your options and determine which GPU is best suited for your workload.

Compare Server GPUs

Use our GPU comparison guide below to research popular NVIDIA data-center GPUs, including:

  • NVIDIA Tesla P4, P40 and P100
  • NVIDIA Tesla V100
  • NVIDIA T4
  • NVIDIA A2, A10, A16, A30, A40 and A100
  • NVIDIA L4, L40 and L40S

Compare important specifications such as GPU architecture, VRAM, memory type, power requirements, form factor, and recommended workloads.

You can also filter the comparison by application to quickly find GPUs designed for:

  • AI & Machine Learning
  • AI Inference
  • Virtualization & VDI
  • Rendering & Visualization
  • Media Transcoding
  • High-Performance Computing

Not Sure Which GPU You Need?

You don't need to know the exact GPU model before contacting us.

Tell us what software you're running and what you're trying to accomplish, and we can help you determine which GPU and system configuration makes sense for your application and budget.

We can also help determine whether a GPU is appropriate for the Dell PowerEdge server or Dell Precision workstation you're considering.

Looking for a Specific GPU?

Most GPUs are available by special order.

If you don't see the GPU you need listed with one of our servers or workstations, contact us for current pricing and availability. We can source a wide range of NVIDIA and AMD GPUs and help configure the system with the appropriate supporting hardware.

Please note: Special-order GPUs may require additional processing and build time. Lead times vary depending on GPU and component availability.

If you're working with a specific deployment deadline, please contact us before ordering.

Ready to Build Your GPU System?

Whether you need an affordable GPU for a homelab, an efficient accelerator for inference or transcoding, a professional GPU for virtualization and rendering, or a high-performance accelerator for AI and machine learning, we're here to help.

Use the GPU comparison guide below to explore your options, or contact us for help building a custom GPU server or workstation.

GPU Architecture VRAM Memory Memory Bandwidth Power Form Factor Best For Tier
NVIDIA Tesla P4 Pascal 8GB GDDR5 192 GB/s 75W Low-profile / Single-slot Transcoding, basic inference, efficient compute Entry
NVIDIA Tesla P40 Pascal 24GB GDDR5 346 GB/s 250W Full-height / Double-slot Budget AI, inference, homelab compute Entry
NVIDIA Tesla P100 Pascal 12GB / 16GB HBM2 Up to 732 GB/s Up to 250W Full-height HPC, machine learning, scientific compute Entry / Mid
NVIDIA Tesla V100 Volta 16GB / 32GB HBM2 Up to 900 GB/s Up to 300W Full-height AI training, machine learning, HPC Mid
NVIDIA T4 Turing 16GB GDDR6 320 GB/s 70W Low-profile / Single-slot AI inference, transcoding, VDI, efficient compute Mid
NVIDIA A2 Ampere 16GB GDDR6 200 GB/s 40–60W Low-profile / Single-slot Low-power AI inference and edge compute Mid
NVIDIA A10 Ampere 24GB GDDR6 600 GB/s 150W Single-slot AI, VDI, rendering, mixed workloads Mid / High
NVIDIA A16 Ampere 64GB Total GDDR6 Up to 800 GB/s Aggregate 250W Full-height / Dual-slot VDI, virtual workstations, multi-user graphics Specialized
NVIDIA A30 Ampere 24GB HBM2 933 GB/s 165W Dual-slot AI training, machine learning, HPC High
NVIDIA A40 Ampere 48GB GDDR6 696 GB/s 300W Dual-slot AI, rendering, visualization, professional graphics High
NVIDIA A100 PCIe Ampere 40GB / 80GB HBM2e Up to 2,039 GB/s 250–300W Dual-slot AI training, deep learning, large-scale HPC Very High
NVIDIA L4 Ada Lovelace 24GB GDDR6 300 GB/s 72W Low-profile / Single-slot AI inference, GenAI, video and media workloads High
NVIDIA L40 Ada Lovelace 48GB GDDR6 864 GB/s 300W Dual-slot Generative AI, visualization, rendering, inference Very High
NVIDIA L40S Ada Lovelace 48GB GDDR6 864 GB/s 350W Dual-slot GenAI, AI training/inference, rendering Very High

Specifications may vary by GPU version and form factor. Memory bandwidth figures reflect common published data-center configurations. Always verify the exact GPU model and system requirements before deployment.

Don't See the GPU You Need?

Most GPUs are available by special order. If you're looking for a specific NVIDIA or AMD GPU, contact us for current pricing and availability.

Special-order GPUs and required configuration hardware may add additional processing and build time to your server or workstation order. Lead times vary depending on component availability.

Choose a GPU by Workload

The best GPU isn't necessarily the GPU with the highest specifications. Your software, workload, VRAM requirements, power limitations and budget should determine which card makes the most sense.

AI Inference

Efficient inference workloads can often use significantly less power than full AI training environments.

Consider: T4, A2, A10, L4

AI & Machine Learning

Training and larger models typically benefit from additional VRAM, memory bandwidth and newer Tensor Core hardware.

Consider: V100, A30, A40, A100, L40S

Virtualization & VDI

GPU-accelerated virtual desktops and multi-user environments require cards designed for efficient shared workloads.

Consider: T4, A10, A16

Rendering & Visualization

Rendering, professional visualization and remote graphics workloads benefit from GPUs designed for both compute and graphics.

Consider: A10, A40, L40, L40S

Media Transcoding

Video encoding and transcoding often benefit from efficient, lower-power GPUs rather than large compute accelerators.

Consider: P4, T4, L4

High-Performance Computing

Scientific computing, simulation and parallel workloads often benefit from high-bandwidth memory and strong compute performance.

Consider: P100, V100, A30, A100

GPU Generations Explained

Pascal

P4 • P40 • P100

Older enterprise accelerators that can offer excellent value for budget GPU compute, labs and specialized workloads.

Volta

V100

Introduced Tensor Cores and remains useful for machine learning, AI training and high-performance computing.

Turing

T4

Particularly efficient for inference, transcoding, VDI and workloads where power efficiency matters.

Ampere

A2 • A10 • A16 • A30 • A40 • A100

Broad enterprise family covering everything from efficient inference to advanced AI training and HPC.

Ada Lovelace

L4 • L40 • L40S

Newer GPUs designed for AI, generative AI, inference, media, visualization and professional workloads.

How Much VRAM Do You Need?

8GB Basic acceleration, transcoding and lighter workloads
16GB Inference, development, VDI and moderate compute
24GB AI, ML, rendering and larger models
32GB More demanding AI and compute workloads
40–48GB Advanced AI, visualization and larger datasets
80GB+ Large AI models and high-end HPC workloads

VRAM alone does not determine GPU performance. GPU architecture, memory bandwidth, compute capabilities, software support and the specific workload all affect real-world performance.

Will This GPU Work in My Server?

GPU compatibility involves more than having an available PCIe slot. Depending on the server, workstation and GPU, your configuration may require:

  • Specific PCIe risers
  • GPU enablement kits
  • GPU power cables
  • Higher-wattage power supplies
  • High-performance cooling fans
  • GPU air shrouds
  • Specific CPU configurations
  • Compatible chassis configurations

If you already know which GPU you want, tell us the GPU model and server or workstation you're considering. We can help determine whether the configuration is appropriate before you order.