NVIDIA A40

NVIDIA A40: The Ultimate Data Center GPU for Visual Computing

As modern data centers evolve, the demand for advanced computing technologies such as real-time ray tracing, AI, high-performance computing, simulation, and virtual reality is growing across industries. The shift to remote work has only accelerated this trend, driving the need for powerful, scalable solutions capable of handling enterprise-wide workloads. The NVIDIA A40 GPU, built on the cutting-edge NVIDIA Ampere architecture, is designed to meet these challenges head-on. It combines next-generation RT Cores, Tensor Cores, and CUDA Cores with 48 GB of ECC GDDR6 memory, delivering breakthrough performance for rendering, graphics, compute, and AI workloads. Whether used for remote-accessible virtual workstations or as dedicated rendering nodes, the A40 empowers professionals with unmatched capabilities directly from the data center.

Key Specifications

CUDA Cores: 10,752

RT Cores (2nd Gen): 84

Tensor Cores (3rd Gen): 336

GPU Memory: 48 GB GDDR6 with ECC

Memory Interface: 384-bit

Memory Bandwidth: 696 GB/s

NVLink: 2-Way, 112.5 GB/s (Bidirectional)

System Interface: PCIe 4.0 x16

Display Outputs: 3x DisplayPort 1.4 (disabled by default)

Thermal Design: Passive Cooling

vGPU Support: vPC, RTX vWS, vCS (no MIG)

Max Power Consumption: 300 W

Rendering Power

The NVIDIA A40 delivers exceptional rendering capabilities, revolutionizing how professionals approach graphics-intensive tasks. At the heart of this power are the second-generation RT Cores, designed to deliver up to twice the throughput of the previous generation. These cores allow for real-time ray tracing alongside shading, a critical feature for industries where photorealistic visualizations are essential such as architecture, automotive design, media production, and simulation.

With 48 GB of high-speed GDDR6 ECC memory, the A40 enables the processing of massive scenes and detailed environments without bottlenecks. For even greater workloads, two A40 GPUs can be connected using NVLink, effectively doubling the memory to 96 GB. This scalability makes the A40 a perfect solution for rendering highly complex visuals, such as full-length animated films, interactive VR experiences, or real-time simulation environments.

Moreover, the inclusion of hardware-accelerated motion BVH significantly improves motion blur performance—up to 7 times faster than the previous generation—resulting in smoother animations and more accurate physical simulations. Whether used in render farms or remote-access workstations, the A40 sets a new standard in GPU-accelerated rendering, offering speed, stability, and uncompromised visual fidelity for the most demanding workflows.

Virtual Workstations

The NVIDIA A40 redefines virtual workstations by enabling unparalleled remote performance for professionals in design, engineering, content creation, and AI development. With 48 GB of GPU memory, it can run even the most memory-intensive applications seamlessly. When paired with NVIDIA’s Virtual GPU (vGPU) software especially RTX Virtual Workstation (vWS) users gain access to powerful desktop-class workstations hosted in the data center, accessible from anywhere in the world. This flexibility is essential in modern workflows where global collaboration, hybrid work environments, and real-time project updates are becoming the norm. Leveraging third-generation Tensor Cores and CUDA Cores built on the NVIDIA Ampere architecture, the A40 accelerates workloads such as deep learning model training, data science analysis, 3D CAD applications, and complex simulations. In addition, enterprise-grade virtualization allows multiple users to share the power of a single GPU without compromising performance, thanks to customizable vGPU profiles. This enables IT administrators to allocate resources based on each user’s workload needs—from simple productivity tasks to high-end visualization projects. Whether it’s a global design firm or a distributed VFX studio, the NVIDIA A40 ensures robust, scalable, and secure performance for professional virtual workstations that feel just like local desktop machines.

Scalable Visualization

NVIDIA A40 excels in scalable visualization, making it a go-to solution for industries requiring synchronized multi-display environments or immersive visual storytelling. When DisplayPort outputs are enabled, the A40 powers complex display setups with precision and reliability. With support for NVIDIA Mosaic and Quadro Sync II technologies, the A40 enables perfect video synchronization across multiple screens, creating a unified, high-resolution experience. This feature is especially valuable for immersive applications such as CAVEs (Cave Automatic Virtual Environments), planetariums, command and control centers, and simulation-based training. By offering pixel-perfect synchronization, the A40 ensures that no visual artifacts or frame mismatches disrupt the user’s experience, even when scaling across large, curved, or uniquely shaped displays. Moreover, the A40 can drive stereoscopic 3D content, interactive VR displays, and real-time simulations without performance degradation. Thanks to its vast GPU memory and robust architecture, it supports ultra-high-definition rendering and complex visual overlays, crucial for both analytical and creative tasks. Combined with advanced NVIDIA display software, the A40 delivers scalable, flexible, and ultra-reliable visualization, enabling professionals to present data, designs, and experiences with the highest levels of clarity and immersion.

Collaboration via Omniverse

The NVIDIA A40 is a vital tool for enabling real-time, cloud-based collaboration through NVIDIA Omniverse, particularly for Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) teams. With RTX Virtual Workstation (vWS) software, users can manipulate complex 3D models, simulate lighting and materials, and interact with assets in real-time even from remote locations. This creates an unprecedented level of creative synergy between globally distributed teams. Using the power of the A40’s Ampere architecture, teams can experience real-time ray tracing, physically accurate simulations, and immersive VR collaboration all within the Omniverse platform. The GPU’s advanced Tensor Cores and CUDA Cores facilitate AI-assisted design suggestions, procedural modeling, and accelerated data sharing across applications like Revit, Rhino, and 3ds Max. Omniverse not only enables collaboration but also streamlines revision cycles, reduces design errors, and cuts down production time. Architects can iterate on designs, visualize lighting changes, and present their work to clients in lifelike virtual walkthroughs. The A40 ensures these experiences are not only possible but fluid, scalable, and visually stunning. It turns virtual collaboration into a real-time creative advantage, redefining how distributed design teams work together and bring their visions to life.

AR/VR at the Edge

The NVIDIA A40 is purpose-built to meet the demands of next-generation augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) experiences, especially when deployed at the edge. As AR/VR becomes increasingly essential in industries like healthcare, manufacturing, education, and design, the need for low-latency, high-performance virtual environments has grown significantly. The A40 addresses this with unmatched GPU acceleration and virtualization capabilities. Edge deployment of the A40 allows organizations to host multiple virtual workstations on a single server, enabling remote development and testing of immersive applications without relying on cloud latency. Its high memory bandwidth, large GPU memory, and advanced cores make it ideal for rendering complex 3D environments and supporting real-time interaction. Additionally, NVIDIA’s software ecosystem featuring RTX Virtual Workstation (vWS), CloudXR SDK, and a robust suite of developer tools enables AR/VR developers to build, test, and deliver wireless extended reality (XR) content with precision. CloudXR, in particular, allows streaming of immersive experiences directly from the data center to 5G-enabled devices, headsets, or edge clients. From simulation-based training to collaborative product design and virtual tours, the A40 empowers creators and engineers to push the boundaries of AR/VR innovation with edge-optimized performance and enterprise-grade stability.

Simulation and CAE

The NVIDIA A40 dramatically enhances simulation and computer-aided engineering (CAE) workflows by providing robust GPU acceleration for compute-heavy applications. Engineers and analysts rely on simulations to model stress, fluid dynamics, thermal performance, and more. These tasks demand immense processing power and memory bandwidth capabilities where the A40 excels. With its 48 GB of ECC memory and advanced CUDA and Tensor Cores, the A40 enables high-fidelity simulations to be run faster and with greater accuracy. The inclusion of RTX Virtual Workstation (vWS) software allows engineers to work from anywhere on virtual desktops that offer the same performance as a high-end physical workstation. This remote capability ensures continuity for global engineering teams and supports agile project timelines. The second-generation RT Cores and third-generation Tensor Cores also aid in rendering simulation results with photorealistic accuracy or applying AI models to optimize simulations, detect anomalies, or automate results analysis. Engineers can design by day and simulate overnight on the same platform, saving both time and infrastructure costs. By integrating real-time simulation, visualization, and AI-powered analysis into one ecosystem, the A40 empowers CAE professionals to iterate more rapidly, reduce physical prototyping, and bring better-engineered products to market faster.

Broadcast and Media

For live broadcast and media production, the NVIDIA A40 sets a new standard in visual quality, rendering speed, and AI-driven creativity. Modern broadcast environments demand more than traditional camera setups they now include real-time 3D environments, photorealistic virtual sets, and AI-enhanced effects. The A40’s combination of ray tracing, virtualization, and AI capabilities makes it a core engine for this transformation. Its real-time ray tracing, powered by second-generation RT Cores, allows broadcasters to deliver cinema-quality graphics, dynamic lighting, and detailed textures in live or pre-rendered environments. The 48 GB memory ensures smooth operation even for the most complex scenes, such as full-stage green screen compositions or virtual studio backdrops. AI is a game changer in media workflows. With 336 third-gen Tensor Cores, the A40 accelerates tasks like automated video tagging, real-time language translation, and intelligent scene enhancements. These tools help content creators reach broader audiences with more engaging, personalized content. Additionally, virtualization support allows production teams to access rendering power from any location, improving collaboration and efficiency. Whether it’s a global news network or a streaming content studio, the A40 empowers real-time creativity, seamless integration with broadcast tools, and professional-grade output.

Unmatched Performance

The NVIDIA A40 delivers a level of performance that redefines what’s possible for professional visual computing. Built on the Ampere architecture, the A40 features 10,752 CUDA Cores, 84 second-generation RT Cores, and 336 third-generation Tensor Cores, enabling it to power through a wide array of demanding workloads. From real-time ray tracing to complex AI model training and massive data simulations, the A40 handles it all with ease.

Its 48 GB of high-speed ECC GDDR6 memory and 696 GB/s of memory bandwidth ensure that even the most memory-intensive applications like ultra-high-resolution rendering or AI inference pipelines run seamlessly. The card also supports NVLink, allowing two A40 GPUs to be bridged together for a combined 96 GB of GPU memory and dramatically increased performance for multi-GPU workloads.

This GPU accelerates industry-leading applications used in architecture, manufacturing, scientific research, visual effects, and game development. It also enhances productivity and responsiveness with optimized professional drivers that ensure maximum application compatibility and stability. Features like hardware-accelerated Motion BVH boost motion blur rendering up to 7x compared to the previous generation, while DLSS and AI denoising enhance image quality and interactivity.

Simply put, the NVIDIA A40 delivers breakthrough speed, massive scalability, and AI-powered performance tailored to meet the growing demands of modern professionals.

Data Center-Grade Reliability

Engineered for 24/7 uptime, the NVIDIA A40 is a mission-critical GPU designed to meet the rigorous demands of enterprise data centers. It is built with power-efficient hardware and thermally optimized passive cooling, ensuring consistent performance even under high workloads. Its components are carefully selected for reliability, endurance, and longevity in multi-user, always-on environments.

The A40 supports secure and measured boot through a built-in hardware root of trust, enabled by the integrated CEC 1712 security chip. This ensures firmware integrity and protects the GPU from tampering or unauthorized modifications. It also meets NEBS Level 3 compliance an industry standard for reliability in harsh environments such as telecom facilities.

Enterprise compatibility is further reinforced through support for OpenGL, DirectX, Vulkan, and CUDA, ensuring seamless integration with a wide range of applications. It is extensively tested and certified by over 100 Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) to guarantee consistent performance across mission-critical software.

Whether it’s rendering, simulation, visualization, or AI deployment, the A40 delivers enterprise-class stability. Combined with RTX Virtual Workstation (vWS) support, it mirrors the capabilities of physical workstations in a virtual environment providing professionals the same performance, but with the flexibility of working from anywhere, securely and reliably.

Supported vGPU Software

The NVIDIA A40 offers full support for NVIDIA’s comprehensive suite of Virtual GPU (vGPU) software, unlocking flexible, scalable solutions for virtualized computing environments. This support allows IT administrators to allocate GPU resources dynamically based on user needs ranging from lightweight office tasks to high-end rendering, deep learning, and real-time collaboration.

Available vGPU solutions include:

• NVIDIA GRID – Optimized for standard enterprise desktops and productivity tools.
• NVIDIA Virtual PC (vPC) – Enables Windows-based virtual desktops with full GPU acceleration for multimedia and office applications.
• NVIDIA Virtual Applications (vApps) – Ideal for application streaming and remote use of specific GPU-accelerated apps.
• NVIDIA RTX Virtual Workstation (vWS) – Designed for professionals needing full workstation power remotely, supporting 3D design, simulation, and content creation.
• NVIDIA Virtual Compute Server (vCS) – Tailored for compute-intensive applications such as AI, data science, and HPC workloads without the need for graphics output.

With configurable vGPU profiles ranging from 1 GB to 48 GB, the A40 can serve multiple users per GPU or dedicate full power to a single user as needed. This enables optimized resource utilization, improved cost efficiency, and robust performance across hybrid or cloud environments.