AI Summary • 12 Data Sources Verified 2026 Executive Brief: The AI Factory Era
**Bottom Line:** The 2026 infrastructure paradigm has shifted from passive storage to **AI Factories**.
Key Data Points
- 2026 Capex (Big 5): $600B+ projected spend
- AI Intensity: 45-57% capex/revenue
- Density Standard: 100kW+ per rack
H100 Lease Rates in Texas (2025)
High-level view of current H100 lease pricing across the Texas market, covering contract structure, residual value expectations, and how providers structure margin. Typical monthly payments break down into hardware recovery (60-65%), financing costs (15-18%), and managed service/support margin (15-22%). We refresh benchmarks weekly using active deal data so you can anchor negotiations to credible ranges. Need to pressure-test financials? Run sensitivity scenarios with the [LCOC / IRR calculator](/tools/lcoc-irr-dscr) to translate rates into DSCR-ready cash flows. For methodology and coverage, see the <a href="/indices/glri">GPU Lease Rate Index (GLRI)</a>.
Current Benchmark
$7,400-$9,600
per GPU/month
Market Analysis: H100 Pricing Signals in Texas
Pricing spreads for H100 leases in Texas hinge on contract length, service layer, and power fundamentals. Hyperscale cloud offers command 20-30% premiums for elasticity, while specialist lessors price 24-36 month terms 10-15% below cloud. Expect ±5% variance versus the national benchmark depending on the metro power stack and availability guarantees. Watching curtailment risk is essential—if you operate in ERCOT or plan to expand there, bookmark the [ERCOT Curtailment Playbook](/playbooks/ercot-curtailment-playbook-2025) for mitigation tactics that directly inform lease negotiations. For methodology and coverage, see the <a href="/indices/glri">GPU Lease Rate Index (GLRI)</a>.
Pricing Bands & Negotiation Guardrails
Use pricing percentiles to frame negotiations. P25 tiers represent providers with longer lead times (8-12 weeks) and limited managed services—ideal for cost-sensitive GPU farms with flexible ramp schedules. Median deals include 4-6 week delivery, business-hours support, and standard warranties. P75 pricing buys faster delivery (often <3 weeks), 24/7 response, and optional burst capacity. Structure matters: 12-month contracts price 15-18% above 36-month terms to offset residual risk. Lock in escalation caps and termination language up front, then map the total cost of ownership in the [LCOC / IRR calculator](/tools/lcoc-irr-dscr) so the finance team can defend final numbers. For methodology and coverage, see the <a href="/indices/glri">GPU Lease Rate Index (GLRI)</a>.
Lease vs Buy: ROI Implications
Lease-versus-buy modeling should weigh cash preservation, refresh cadence, and residual outcomes. A H100 purchase still lands between $26K and $36K per unit, while leasing shifts the spend to predictable opex. At median rates, breakeven is 28-32 months—shorter if you capitalize tax incentives or monetize demand response. Feed your scenarios into the [GPU Residual Value Estimator](/tools/gpu-residual-value-estimator) to benchmark exit values, then combine residual curves with financing assumptions inside the [LCOC / IRR calculator](/tools/lcoc-irr-dscr) to test IRR sensitivity. For methodology and coverage, see the <a href="/indices/glri">GPU Lease Rate Index (GLRI)</a>.
Deployment Walkthrough: 2,000-GPU AI Training Cluster
Picture a 2,000 H100 rollout in Texas supporting foundation model training. A 24-month lease at median rates ($8,600/GPU/month) drives $17.2M in monthly GPU opex. Layer in power (2,000 GPUs × 700W × $0.10/kWh × 730 hours ≈ $1.0M), facility & cooling ($450-650K), network fabric ($225-325K), and operations staff ($180-260K) to land at total monthly run-rate of $18.9-19.5M. Compare that to a purchase path requiring $72-80M in hardware plus $12-18M for racks, networking, and integration. To stress-test these numbers against facility pricing, reference the relevant AI colocation page and plug the values into the [LCOC / IRR calculator](/tools/lcoc-irr-dscr).
Upfront Capex (Buy)
$72-80M
hardware + install
Regional Factors: Texas
Local power markets, permitting culture, and competitive dynamics shape h100 lease rates texas 2025 outcomes in Texas. Pair this snapshot with targeted deep dives—the [ERCOT Curtailment Playbook](/playbooks/ercot-curtailment-playbook-2025) for Texas-heavy roadmaps or the [PJM Interconnection Guide](/playbooks/pjm-interconnection-queue-guide-2025) when building east of the Mississippi.
Implementation Guide: Stand Up GPU Capacity
Implementing H100 lease rates Texas 2025 requires careful planning across technical, financial, and operational dimensions. Start with requirements analysis: define GPU count, performance requirements, and deployment timeline. Next, evaluate procurement options (lease vs buy vs GPU-as-a-Service), comparing total cost of ownership over your planning horizon. Issue RFPs to 3-5 qualified providers, requesting detailed pricing, delivery timelines, and service level agreements. For lease arrangements, negotiate key terms including monthly rates, contract length (target 24-36 months for optimal pricing), early termination penalties, and residual value assumptions. Secure datacenter infrastructure in parallel—GPU delivery and facility readiness must align to avoid costly delays. Once contracts are signed, plan deployment logistics: shipping coordination, installation windows, network configuration, and testing protocols. Post-deployment, implement monitoring for GPU utilization, power efficiency, and thermal performance to ensure systems meet financial and technical expectations. Build vendor relationships through regular communication and consideration of future expansion plans.
H100 Leasing FAQ
**What factors determine GPU lease rates?** Lease rates reflect three components: hardware cost recovery (60-70% of payment), financing costs (15-20%), and provider margin/support (10-25%). Rates vary by GPU model, contract length, region, and service level. **Is leasing or buying better?** Leasing makes financial sense for deployments under 24-28 months or where capital preservation is critical. Purchase makes sense for committed multi-year deployments exceeding breakeven period. Consider residual value risk in your calculation. **How long are typical GPU lease contracts?** Most contracts run 12-36 months. Longer terms (24-36 months) secure 15-20% better pricing than 12-month agreements due to reduced residual risk for providers. **What utilization rates should I expect?** Plan for 75-85% utilization accounting for planned maintenance, unexpected failures, and workload variability. Higher utilization assumptions risk overcommitting capacity. **Can I terminate leases early?** Most contracts include early termination clauses requiring 3-6 months notice plus penalties ranging from 20-40% of remaining contract value, structured to compensate provider for residual value risk.