Boots in minutes
A full KVM virtual machine with the GPU passed through: your kernel, root, systemd.
Template · Desktops & VMs
Run an Ubuntu desktop GPU VM, in minutes
The Ubuntu VM with a GNOME desktop over VNC/RDP — a full graphical workstation. The Ubuntu VM with a GNOME desktop over VNC/RDP: a full graphical workstation with hardware GPU passthrough. Install anything — proprietary renderers, CAD, research tools with dongles on reserved machines — and work as if the card were under your desk. From $0.131/hr on an interruptible RTX 4090.
Template is free
You pay the GPU price only: Ubuntu Desktop VM on a RTX 4090 is $0.262/hr on-demand, $0.131/hr interruptible, billed per second.
Volumes for state
Models, datasets and outputs live on a $0.08/GB/mo volume; the instance stays disposable.
Private by default
Dedicated GPU, encrypted disk, crypto payments, no KYC, no stored IPs — SSH behind your own credentials.
Best GPUs for Ubuntu Desktop VM
Three price points that run this template well — Good, Better, Best. Every model in the catalogue works; these are the value picks.
| Tier | GPU | VRAM | On-demand | Interruptible | Why this card | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | RTX 4090 | 24 GB | $0.262 | $0.131 | Consumer speed for interactive creative work. | Deploy |
| Better | RTX 6000Ada | 48 GB | $0.513 | $0.256 | 48 GB ECC and studio drivers for CAD and rendering. | Deploy |
| Best | RTX PRO 6000 WS | 96 GB | $1.097 | $0.548 | 96 GB for production scenes and huge datasets. | Deploy |
Need more VRAM? The full catalogue lists all 76 models with live availability; the VRAM guide sizes models to cards.
Deploy Ubuntu Desktop VM from the console, CLI or API
Pick the template in the console deploy bar, or script it:
- Console — filter by GPU, choose Ubuntu Desktop VM in the template picker, set disk and env, deploy.
- CLI — pip install powergpu, then the command on the right. CLI reference.
- API — POST /v1/instances with "template": "ubuntu-desktop-vm". REST reference.
- Own image — any OCI reference works too; we inject the NVIDIA runtime. Template docs.
$ powergpu launch --gpu rtx-4090 --template ubuntu-desktop-vm \
--disk 100 --volume models:/workspace/models
✓ instance i-7a41c0e2 running (2m38s)
# Ubuntu Desktop VM · RTX 4090 · $0.262/hr · per second
# https://i-7a41c0e2.powergpu.io:8000 (TLS)
$ powergpu stop i-7a41c0e2 # billing ends this secondWhat is inside the Ubuntu Desktop VM template
| Image | powergpu/kvm:ubuntu-desktop |
|---|---|
| CUDA | inherits host driver (any 12.x / 13.x) |
| Access | SSH shell · full virtual machine (KVM) |
| Category | Desktops & VMs |
| Storage | Instance NVMe disk (sized at deploy) + optional network volumes |
| Billing | GPU price only, per second — no template fee, no setup fee |
Other desktops & vms templates
Linux Desktop on a cloud GPU — A full GPU Linux desktop over the browser — XFCE, VNC/RDP, run GUI apps.
Pinokio on a cloud GPU — The Pinokio 1-click app browser on a desktop — install AI apps with a click.
Ubuntu 22.04 VM on a cloud GPU — A full KVM virtual machine — your own kernel, root, systemd, any stack.- All 37 templates
Ubuntu Desktop VM on a cloud GPU: FAQ
Environment variables, ports and custom images are covered in the template docs.
How much does it cost to run Ubuntu Desktop VM on a cloud GPU?
Only the GPU price — the template is free. From $0.131/hr on an interruptible RTX 4090, $0.262/hr on-demand on a RTX 4090. Billing is per second, so an hour of tinkering costs an hour, not a day. Storage is $0.08/GB/month.
How long does Ubuntu Desktop VM take to start?
Two to four minutes: this template is a full virtual machine that boots its own kernel. Restarting a stopped instance is faster, and your disk is exactly as you left it.
Can I keep my models and outputs between sessions?
Yes — attach a volume at deploy. Everything on the volume survives instance destruction and mounts on the next instance in the region in seconds, at $0.08/GB/month. The instance disk itself survives stop/start but not destroy.
Can I run Windows instead?
Containers are Linux-only, but VMs can boot a Windows image you licence yourself (BYOL) via the custom qcow2 import.