Cisco UCSC-GPU-A100 | NVIDIA A100 40GB GPU Accelerator, PCIe 4.0, Passive 250W

Q: What is Multi-Instance GPU (MIG) and how does it benefit deployment?
A: MIG technology allows the A100 to be partitioned into up to 7 isolated GPU instances, each with dedicated memory and compute resources. This enables cloud service providers and enterprises to improve GPU server utilization by running multiple workloads simultaneously with secure isolation, maximizing resource efficiency and ROI.

Q: Which Cisco UCS servers are compatible with the UCSC-GPU-A100?
A: The UCSC-GPU-A100 is compatible with Cisco UCS C240 M5 and C480 M5 series rack servers using specific PCIe risers. The dual-slot GPU requires x16 PCIe support and can be installed in designated riser slots. Each C240 M5 server can support up to three A100 GPUs depending on configuration. Note that all Cisco GPU cards require a unique SBIOS ID and must be procured from Cisco.

Q: What workloads are best suited for the A100 40GB?
A: The A100 40GB excels at AI training and inference, deep learning model development, high-performance computing simulations, data analytics, scientific computing, and computational finance. The 40GB memory capacity handles large neural networks, genomics analysis, molecular dynamics, and multi-workload virtualization via MIG for diverse enterprise and research applications.

Q: How does the passive cooling design affect server requirements?
A: The passive heatsink design requires adequate airflow from the server chassis to dissipate the 250W TDP. Ensure the Cisco UCS server has sufficient cooling infrastructure and proper riser configuration. The dual-slot form factor occupies two PCIe slot spaces, so plan GPU placement carefully to avoid blocking adjacent slots.

Q: What are the key differences between A100 40GB and 80GB models?
A: The 40GB model (UCSC-GPU-A100) uses HBM2 memory with 1,555 GB/s bandwidth and 250W TDP, while the 80GB model uses HBM2e with 1,935 GB/s bandwidth and 300W TDP. The 40GB version supports up to 7 MIG instances at 5GB each, whereas the 80GB supports 7 MIG instances at 10GB each. Choose based on memory capacity requirements and power budget constraints.