Cost matters, but it is not a standalone deployment criterion. Provisioned throughput per PTU depends on the model and the mix of input and output tokens in a given minute, while architecture guidance places reliability and security alongside cost. The central trade-off is therefore cost versus workload fit: both the capacity delivered under expected traffic conditions and the reliability and security requirements the architecture must satisfy.
How to Make the Comparison
- Compare equivalent workloads. Each option should be assessed against the same model and input/output token mix. If those conditions differ, their throughput figures are not directly comparable without adjustment.
- Connect cost to throughput assumptions. A cost estimate is incomplete if it does not state which model and token mix underpin it. The cited sizing statement does not establish a universal throughput rate per PTU.
- Review architecture and cost together. Reliability and security should not be treated as secondary checks after selecting the lowest-cost option. The relevant question is whether the complete architecture meets the deployment’s requirements at an acceptable cost.
- Test the effect of changing traffic. A comparison that works for one model or token pattern does not automatically remain valid when the workload changes.
What Operators Must Still Confirm
Operators still need to verify the intended model, the input and output token mix—including how it changes within a minute—and the resulting option-specific throughput. They must also confirm current pricing and all cost inputs. The cited statements do not provide an exact fee or establish that one deployment option is cheaper than another.
The operator’s reliability and security requirements must be defined separately, followed by a direct assessment of whether each architecture meets them. The guidance establishes that these factors belong in the decision; it does not determine that a particular deployment satisfies every requirement.
Until those checks are complete, the available evidence supports a structured comparison rather than a universal ranking. A defensible decision requires the cost basis, throughput assumptions and architecture requirements to align with the intended workload.