https://jamesm.blog/tags/cost-optimization/ Recent content in Cost-Optimization on jamesm.blog https://jamesm.blog/papermod-cover.png https://jamesm.blog/papermod-cover.png Hugo en Sun, 05 Apr 2026 23:16:25 +0100 https://jamesm.blog/ai/gpu-servers-vs-api-credits/ Sun, 05 Apr 2026 23:16:25 +0100 https://jamesm.blog/ai/gpu-servers-vs-api-credits/ <h1 id="-gpu-servers-vs-ai-api-credits-the-real-cost-breakdown-2026">🧠 GPU Servers vs AI API Credits: The Real Cost Breakdown (2026)</h1> <p>If you’re building anything with LLMs right now, you’ll hit this question sooner than you expect:</p> <blockquote> <p><strong>Should I rent a GPU and run models myself, or just pay for API credits?</strong></p> </blockquote> <p>At first glance, APIs feel expensive. GPUs feel powerful. But the real answer is more nuanced—and getting it wrong can cost you <em>a lot</em>.</p> <p>Let’s break it down properly.</p>