Using high processing power in everyday tasks isn’t reserved for big companies anymore. Flexible business solutions like the GPU server rental allow almost everyone to participate in the digital disruption we are witnessing today. But which solution is the best – buying a physical GPU server or renting such a service from a provider? The answer to this question depends on many factors, some of which we attempted to highlight below.
What are the most popular GPU & GPU server brands?
Before we take a closer look at GPU rental or ownership, let’s have a quick discussion about the leading GPU hardware solutions that are available in 2023. As it’s been easy to guess, the GPUs on the market aren’t created equal. Just like with all the remaining pieces of hardware, GPUs also differ in capabilities, endurance, and price depending on the manufacturer.
One of the most popular GPUs is undoubtedly NVIDIA, manufactured by the NVIDIA Corporation from California. They have steady competition from AMD, based in the same location, as well as from EVGA, Intel, and companies specializing in the area of AI equipment, like Graphore. When it comes to individual GPUs, buyers often try to get the best value for the least money possible, as this type of hardware tends to be quite expensive.
Because of that, the prominence of some Asian companies like GIGABYTE is continuing to rise, especially among gamers and serious graphic designers. On the other hand, many companies decide to forgo the installation of the on-premises GPU server, investing a fraction of its cost in a GPU server rental instead. As GPU prices continue to rise, this solution is becoming more and more popular.
Is an on-premise GPU server worth the price?
Although the companies that lease GPU are now very easy to find, some businesses are not convinced it’s the best route for them. The answer to this question isn’t, however, that straightforward. Everything depends on the specific needs of a particular company.
For example, for a business or organization that regularly processes large amounts of data or runs computationally intensive applications, owning a GPU server could be a good investment. It gives the company full and complete control over the hardware, its customizations, and the safety and security of the data that are being processed.
However, owning a GPU server can be expensive, especially when factoring in the costs of maintenance, upgrades, and electricity. Because of that fact, small businesses or individuals that need the high processing power of the GPU units often decide to use a GPU rental instead of investing in a personal server. Renting a GPU server doesn’t require investigations into additional hardware, while its capabilities are exactly the same as in the case of on-premise servers.
When it’s better to rent than to buy?
So, who would benefit from buying a GPU server? As mentioned earlier, larger businesses and organizations that regularly process large amounts of data or run computationally intensive applications would benefit from owning a GPU server. This includes industries like finance, healthcare, technology, and scientific research. In some instances renting GPU would be impossible due to government regulations regarding processing sensitive data, and an on-premises server is the best option.
However, smaller companies and individuals who need high processing power cannot always do so. For a short-term project that requires a lot of processing power, it may be more cost-effective to use a GPU rental. This is a better solution also in case of the fluctuating workload, which is common for freelance designers, new startups, and seasonal companies. In such cases, renting a GPU server provides the flexibility to scale up or down as needed.
