The Definitive Guide toAI Data Centers
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GuideGlossaryOversubscription

Oversubscription

Provisioning less network bandwidth than full non-blocking would require; 1:1 is non-blocking, 3:1 is oversubscribed.

Current numbers

2:1-3:1inference fabric oversubscription (vs 1:1 non-blocking for training); 2:1 cuts back-end cost ~31% (contested — single-source)as of 2025 · register ↗
1:1 vs 2:1–3:1scale-out oversubscription: non-blocking for training vs 2:1–3:1 for inference (2:1 cuts back-end cost ~31%, contested)as of 2025 · register ↗
1:1 vs 2:1–3:1oversubscription: non-blocking for training vs oversubscribed for inference; 2:1 cuts back-end cost ~31% (contested)as of 2025 · register ↗

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