NVIDIA L40 48GB graphics card: a universal solution for AI and graphics

NVIDIA L40 48GB is a modern accelerator based on the Ada Lovelace architecture, designed for companies that need to combine neural networks and professional graphics in a single card. Unlike the highly specialised solutions of the A100 or H100 series, the L40 offers a balance between AI computing performance and visualisation capabilities, making it in demand in data centres, cloud services and workstations.

NVIDIA L40 48GB Technical Specifications

• Architecture: Ada Lovelace
• CUDA cores: 18,176
• Tensor Cores (4th generation): 568
• RT Cores (3rd generation): 142
• Memory: 48GB GDDR6 ECC
• Bandwidth: 864 GB/s
• Interface: PCIe Gen 5.0
• Power consumption: 300–350 W
• Video outputs: 4× DisplayPort 1.4a
• NVENC / NVDEC: 3× / 3× (with AV1 support)
• Cooling system: passive, installation in a server with airflow

How does the NVIDIA L40 differ from other cards?

Compared to the L40S.
The L40 model is more versatile. It is designed not only for generative AI, but also for visualisation, CAD, VFX, and modelling. NVIDIA L40S 48GB is almost twice as powerful in tensor operations (FP8 up to 1466 TFLOPS versus 724 TFLOPS for the L40), so it is suitable for those who work exclusively with LLM and generative networks. But if you need both graphics and AI, the L40 is the best choice.

Compared to the RTX 6000 Ada.
Both cards have 48GB of memory and similar specifications, but the RTX 6000 Ada is designed for workstations with active cooling and graphics tasks, while the L40 is a server option optimised for data centres and virtualisation.

Compared to the A100/H100.
The A100 and H100 are pure data centre accelerators with HBM memory, NVLink and MIG support. They are more expensive and more powerful, but are almost unsuitable for visualisation. The L40 is cheaper and more practical for companies with mixed tasks: a little AI, a little graphics.

Where is the NVIDIA L40 48GB used?

• AI and machine learning. Suitable for inference and training of medium-scale models, including recommendation systems and chatbots.
  Generative AI. Creation of images, videos, text, and 3D content based on Stable Diffusion models, MidJourney-like solutions, and LLM.
• Visualisation and design. Accelerate 3D graphics, CAD, BIM, animation, and complex rendering.
• Video processing. AV1 support makes the L40 an excellent choice for streaming, post-production, and media services.
• Virtualisation. Compatibility with NVIDIA AI Enterprise and RTX Virtual Workstation allows GPU resources to be shared among different users.

Why should you buy the NVIDIA L40 48GB?

• Versatility. One card solves the tasks of both data centres and visualisation workstations.
• Cost optimisation. The L40 is cheaper than the H100 or A100, but still provides high performance for most enterprise scenarios.
• Reliability. The server form factor, ECC memory, and vGPU support make the card stable for round-the-clock operation.
• Modern architecture. Ada Lovelace offers increased performance and energy efficiency compared to the Ampere series (A6000/A100).

The NVIDIA L40 48GB graphics card is the choice for companies that need flexibility and balance. If you are looking for an accelerator for a data centre or workstation where it is important to combine AI and visualisation tasks, this model is the optimal purchase.