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Google TPU v3 32GB vs Google TPU v5e 16GB

The TPU v5e delivers 60% more BF16 throughput than the TPU v3 (197 vs 123 TFLOPS dense). The TPU v3 counters with 16 GB more memory (32 GB vs 16 GB).

TPU v3: TPU, 2018 TPU v5e: TPU, 2023
BF16 dense lead
+60%
TPU v5e: 197 vs 123 TFLOPS
Memory
32 vs 16 GB
16 GB more for the TPU v3
Bandwidth
900 GB/s vs 800 GB/s
TPU v3 moves data faster
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Google TPU v3 32GB vs Google TPU v5e 16GB

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Google TPU v3 32GB

Full specs →

What is the Google TPU v3?

The TPU v3 is a TPU from Google on the TPU architecture, an accelerator built for AI training and inference. TPU v3 full specifications →

Can I rent the TPU v3 in the cloud?

Flopper is not tracking any live rental listings for the TPU v3 yet. The provider directory lists the clouds that rent comparable accelerators on demand. GPU cloud providers →

How does the TPU v3 compare with other accelerators?

This page sets the TPU v3 against the TPU v5e. The TPU v3 is the older generation of the two. Both are Google parts. The compare tool builds the same comparison for any two parts in the catalogue. All GPU comparisons →

Where do the TPU v3 figures come from?

Every TPU v3 figure on this page traces to Google's own datasheet or specification table. How Flopper verifies specifications →

Google TPU v5e 16GB

Leads on BF16 Full specs →

What is the Google TPU v5e?

The TPU v5e is a TPU from Google on the TPU architecture, an accelerator built for AI training and inference. TPU v5e full specifications →

Can I rent the TPU v5e in the cloud?

Flopper is not tracking any live rental listings for the TPU v5e yet. The provider directory lists the clouds that rent comparable accelerators on demand. GPU cloud providers →

How does the TPU v5e compare with other accelerators?

This page sets the TPU v5e against the TPU v3. The TPU v5e is the newer generation of the two. Both are Google parts. The compare tool builds the same comparison for any two parts in the catalogue. All GPU comparisons →

Where do the TPU v5e figures come from?

Every TPU v5e figure on this page traces to Google's own datasheet or specification table. How Flopper verifies specifications →

Specifications

TPU v3
TPU v5e
Architecture
TPUTPU
Launch Year
20182023
Form Factor
——
Memory
32 GB16 GB
Memory Bandwidth
900 GB/s800 GB/s
TDP
——
Process Node
——

Performance (TFLOPS)

TPU v3
TPU v5e
No verified data available No verified data available
No verified data available No verified data available
No verified data available No verified data available
123 TFLOPS 197 TFLOPS
No verified data available No verified data available
No verified data available No verified data available
FP6
No verified data available No verified data available
No verified data available No verified data available
No verified data available393 TOPS

Figures are dense. Where a vendor publishes a figure it sits under the dense one and never decides a winner. Hover any precision for its definition, or read the GPU glossary.

FLOPS by Precision

What actually differs

The TPU v5e is the newer part: TPU (2023) against the TPU v3's TPU (2018).

The TPU v3 carries 16 GB more memory (32 GB against 16 GB), so larger models fit on one GPU before you shard. Bandwidth is 900 GB/s against 800 GB/s, which sets the ceiling on decode speed.

Weight the FP8 and FP16 rows for LLM work and the FP64 row for HPC.

New to the terms? The glossary explains BF16, INT8, Sparsity and TFLOPS.

Frequently asked questions

Is the TPU v3 faster than the TPU v5e?

At BF16 precision the TPU v5e reaches 197 TFLOPS dense against 123 TFLOPS for the TPU v3. The performance table on this page lists every published precision for both GPUs.

Which should you choose, the TPU v3 or the TPU v5e?

Choose the TPU v5e for training and high-throughput inference: it has 60% more BF16 throughput than the TPU v3. Choose the TPU v3 when the model has to fit on one GPU: it carries 16 GB more memory.

Which has more memory, the TPU v3 or the TPU v5e?

The TPU v3 carries 32 GB of memory versus 16 GB for the TPU v5e. Memory bandwidth is 900 GB/s for the TPU v3 and 800 GB/s for the TPU v5e.

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