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GPU guide

How to read an accelerator specification when your interest is AI rather than graphics.

Memory capacity

Decides which models fit. As a rough guide, roughly two gigabytes per billion parameters at 16-bit precision, before overheads.

Memory bandwidth

Usually determines how quickly a language model produces text.

Form factor

Server modules are passively cooled and rely on chassis airflow. They will not work in an ordinary desktop.

Power

Add every accelerator together, then check the power supply, the circuit and the room.

Precision support

Lower-precision formats increase throughput and reduce memory use, at some accuracy cost.

Interconnect

Matters as soon as a workload spans more than one accelerator.