NVIDIA Tesla K40 12 GB GDDR5 Passive Cooler video card accessory

Tesla K40 12 GB GDDR5 accelerator

The NVIDIA Tesla K40 is a computational accelerator with 12 GB of GDDR5 memory and 2880 CUDA cores. It delivers 1.43 Tflops double-precision and 4.29 Tflops single-precision peak performance for scientific modelling and big data analytics. The card uses a passive cooler and requires a full-length, full-height dual-slot space in the host server. It is built for GPU Boost to convert power headroom into user-controlled performance.

Passive cooling and server airflow dependency

The passive cooler has no fan, so the card relies entirely on directed server airflow for thermal management. A 384-bit memory bus runs at 3000 MHz while the core operates at 745 MHz, but sustained clocks depend on case pressure and inlet temperature. Without adequate chassis airflow the GPU will throttle, reducing the 10x CPU speed-up claimed for GPU Boost workloads. Buyers without controlled server environments cannot meet the cooling need.

Full-length dual-slot installation constraints

The full-length, full-height form factor demands a compatible server chassis with a dual-slot opening and strong front-to-back airflow. The 3-way SLI bridge with 1-slot spacing is included, but multi-GPU scaling requires matching board spacing and power distribution not guaranteed in all racks. Installers often find that cable routing or adjacent cards block the required airflow path. Workstations lacking server-grade cooling cannot accommodate this card.