Cisco UCSC-GPU-A16-D | A16 Quad-GPU Graphics Card, 64GB GDDR6, VDI Optimized

Q: What is the primary use case for the NVIDIA A16 GPU?
A: The A16 is purpose-built for high-density virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) deployments and graphics-rich virtual workstation environments. It excels at consolidating multiple virtual desktops or virtual workstations on a single server, enabling remote workers to run graphics-intensive applications including CAD, video editing, and knowledge worker productivity tools with hardware-accelerated performance.

Q: How does the quad-GPU design benefit VDI deployments?
A: The unique quad-GPU board design with four independent 16GB GPUs enables flexible resource allocation across different user profiles. Administrators can provision mixed workload types on a single card, such as combining multiple lightweight virtual PCs with fewer resource-intensive virtual workstations. This flexibility maximizes server utilization and reduces hardware footprint while supporting diverse user requirements.

Q: What vGPU software is required to use the A16?
A: The A16 requires NVIDIA vGPU software licensing to function in virtualized environments. NVIDIA Virtual PC (vPC) is used for standard virtual desktop deployments, while NVIDIA RTX Virtual Workstation (vWS) enables professional graphics workloads requiring larger framebuffers and advanced features. NVIDIA Virtual Applications (vApps) is also supported for application streaming scenarios.

Q: Is the A16 compatible with Cisco UCS C-Series rack servers?
A: Yes, the UCSC-GPU-A16-D is specifically designed for Cisco UCS C-Series rack servers including the C240 M7 and similar platforms. The card requires a PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, adequate server cooling for 250W passive thermal dissipation, and appropriate PCIe riser configurations. Verify compatibility with your specific UCS server model and confirm available PCIe slot dimensions accommodate the double-wide, 3-slot form factor.

Q: What type of cooling does the A16 require?
A: The A16 uses passive cooling with no onboard fans, requiring adequate server chassis airflow to dissipate the 250W thermal load. It must be installed in servers with proper front-to-back airflow design and sufficient fan capacity. The passive design minimizes noise and mechanical failure points, making it ideal for data center rack deployments with controlled thermal environments.