Latency significantly impacts the performance of cloud GPUs compared to local GPUs, particularly in applications requiring real-time processing. Cloud GPUs typically have higher latency due to the network dependency, which can affect tasks like machine learning model training and inference, as well as real-time applications such as video rendering or simulations[2][9]. This latency arises from the time it takes for data to travel between the user's location and the cloud data center[1][9].
In contrast, local GPUs offer lower latency since they operate directly on the user's premises without relying on network connections. This makes them ideal for applications that demand real-time performance, such as autonomous vehicle simulations or high-frequency trading[7][8]. Local GPUs provide consistent and low-latency performance, which is crucial for meeting tight deadlines and throughput demands in specialized workloads[7].
Despite the latency disadvantage, cloud GPUs offer advantages like scalability, flexibility, and lower upfront costs. They allow users to access powerful GPU resources without the need for hardware maintenance or upgrades, making them suitable for applications where these benefits outweigh the latency concerns[2][9]. However, for applications that require ultra-low latency, local GPUs remain the preferred choice.
Citations:[1] https://blog.tyronesystems.com/latency-and-bandwidth-considerations-in-cloud-storage-performance/
[2] https://www.e2enetworks.com/blog/comparison-between-cloud-based-and-on-premises-gpus
[3] https://www.gamebench.net/index.html%3Fp=3710.html
[4] https://arxiv.org/html/2502.06295v1
[5] https://www.hyperstack.cloud/blog/case-study/how-gpus-impact-cloud-computing
[6] https://www.digitalocean.com/resources/articles/cloud-gpu
[7] https://acecloud.ai/resources/blog/cloud-gpus-vs-on-premises-gpus/
[8] https://massedcompute.com/faq-answers/?question=What+are+the+differences+between+using+a+cloud+GPU+and+a+local+GPU+for+large+language+models%3F
[9] https://www.reddit.com/r/deeplearning/comments/1be57bx/what_is_your_experience_with_using_cloud_gpus/