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Leadership wants to buy another 2,000 GPUs. You think it is the wrong call. What do you do?

Evaluate a proposed 2,000-GPU purchase using compatible capacity, dated demand and complete alternatives. Make any gap left by reclaim visible.

Updated Sep 2026 · Learn how AI infrastructure works through explanations, worked examples and diagrams, then practise applying it to interview questions.

Evaluate a proposed 2,000-GPU purchase using compatible capacity, dated demand and complete alternatives. Make any gap left by reclaim visible.

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The concepts behind this question

Use these concept explanations to review the ideas behind this question.

Foundational

🧭 Ownership & Judgment

Talking About Cost and Capacity with LeadershipA capacity discussion should connect technical measurements to cost, delivery dates and risk. Present the assumptions, feasible options and a recommendation, and distinguish committed capacity from actual consumption under the relevant contract.

Foundational

🧭 Ownership & Judgment

Escalation That WorksEscalation helps a responsible owner make a decision that cannot be resolved at the current level. State the decision needed, the options and their costs, your recommendation, and what happens if the deadline passes.

Advanced

🧭 Ownership & Judgment🔒 Premium

Working with ResearchersWorking with researchers means understanding the experiment’s goal while accounting for shared capacity and reliability. Explain constraints in terms of the research outcome, offer workable alternatives, and agree who owns the decision.

Advanced

🧮 Napkin Math & Capacity🔒 Premium

TCO: Buy vs RentBuying and renting GPU capacity have different cost and availability risks. Compare them over a stated lifetime and demand pattern, including idle time and operating costs.

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FEDITOR'S NOTE

Look for verified reclaim, correct capacity arithmetic, real total-cost inputs and a recommendation tied to feasible delivery.

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