L40S vs M2 Ultra GPU
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | L40S | M2 Ultra GPU | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3DMark Time Spy | 32,060 | 22,100 | +45.1% |
| Avg FPS @ 1080p | 234 | 175 | +33.7% |
| Avg FPS @ 1440p | 148 | 125 | +18.4% |
| Avg FPS @ 4K | 84 | 68 | +23.5% |
| VRAM | 48 GB GDDR6 | 192 GB Shared | — |
| Memory bandwidth (GB/s) | 864 | 800 | +8.0% |
| TDP (W) | 350 | 100 | — |
| Stable Diffusion (it/s) | 36.6 | 9.8 | +273.5% |
| LLM inference (tokens/s) | 53 | 55 | -3.6% |
- L40S averages 148 fps at 1440p versus 125 fps — about 18% faster.
- M2 Ultra GPU draws less power (100W vs 350W).
Verdict: L40S or M2 Ultra GPU?
L40S advantages
- 1440p gaming (+16%)
- 4K gaming (+19%)
- Synthetic benchmark performance (+31%)
- Memory bandwidth (+7%)
- AI image generation (+73%)
M2 Ultra GPU advantages
- Video memory (+75%)
- Power efficiency (+71%)
Which should you choose?
- Choose the L40S if you game at 1440p.
- Choose the M2 Ultra GPU if you play the latest titles at high textures or do GPU-accelerated work.
- Choose the L40S if you game at 4K or drive a high-resolution display.
L40S vs M2 Ultra GPU: which should you choose?
L40S — NVIDIA desktop graphics card (2023, Ada Lovelace) with 48 GB of GDDR6, averaging 148 fps at 1440p.
M2 Ultra GPU — Apple integrated graphics processor (2023, Rhodes) with 192 GB of Shared, averaging 125 fps at 1440p.
L40S vs M2 Ultra GPU: L40S is faster for gaming. L40S averages 148 fps at 1440p versus 125 fps — about 18% faster. M2 Ultra GPU draws less power (100W vs 350W).
1080p, 1440p and 4K
At 1440p — the most common enthusiast resolution — the L40S averages 148 fps against 125. At 4K (84 vs 68 fps) VRAM (48GB vs 192GB) and memory bandwidth matter more.
AI and creator workloads
Beyond gaming, the L40S is quicker for AI image generation (36.6 vs 9.8 it/s in Stable Diffusion) and local LLM inference (55 vs 53 tokens/s), which increasingly matters for creators and developers.
Power and value
Board power is 350 W versus 100 W, which affects PSU headroom, case cooling and noise.
The verdict
Both are credible choices in the graphics card comparison space; the specification table above lays out every metric so you can weigh the trade-offs that matter to you. Pick the one whose strengths line up with how you will actually use it.
Frequently asked questions
Is the L40S better than the M2 Ultra GPU?
L40S takes the overall edge, though M2 Ultra GPU wins in specific areas worth weighing. L40S averages 148 fps at 1440p versus 125 fps — about 18% faster.
What is the main difference between the L40S and the M2 Ultra GPU?
L40S averages 148 fps at 1440p versus 125 fps — about 18% faster. M2 Ultra GPU draws less power (100W vs 350W).
Which should I choose?
Choose the L40S if you game at 1440p. Choose the M2 Ultra GPU if you play the latest titles at high textures or do GPU-accelerated work.
Methodology
Graphics cards are compared on 3DMark Time Spy scores, average gaming frame rates at 1080p/1440p/4K, FP32 compute throughput, VRAM capacity and type, memory bandwidth, board power (TDP) and launch MSRP — plus AI workload throughput (Stable Diffusion iterations/s and local LLM tokens/s) where measured. Vintage and server GPUs without modern benchmark results are compared on specifications only, clearly labelled. Frame rates are averages across a game suite at high settings; specific titles vary.