Billing & Purchase
DCU, compute power packs, trial, recharge, and itemized billing
DCU
What is DCU?
DCU (Data Computing Unit, "度") is the basic metering unit for compute services on Alaya NeW.
1 DCU = 312 TFLOPS × 1 hour of FP16 compute
DCU measures the workload of GPU, CPU, and storage resources. Different GPU models consume DCU at different rates — see DCU itemization.
What's the difference between Subscription and On-demand Compute Power Packs?
| Dimension | Subscription Pack | On-demand Pack |
|---|---|---|
| Form | Monthly subscription | One-time purchase, no fixed period |
| Resources | 1–999 H800A cards in any combination, 750 DCU/card/month included | Sold at the standard rate (e.g., 18 RMB/DCU) |
| Price | 7 RMB/DCU inside the pack — 60%+ off the standard rate | Standard price, no pack discount |
| Perks | Includes flagship-card queue access | None |
| Elasticity | Pack size can be scaled up or down on demand | Pay as you go |
Which one to choose
- Stable, frequent, large-scale demand → Subscription Pack is more cost-effective with better resource guarantees.
- Occasional use, trials, or short-term unpredictable demand → On-demand Pack is flexible with no commitment.
For pack management, see Compute Power Pack management.
Prices may change — refer to the website and console for the current rate.
Purchase & Recharge
Is a free trial available?
Direct trials are not currently offered. To request a trial, submit the following via the in-console chatbot for sales follow-up:
- Compute requirements (GPU model / count / duration)
- Contact info
- Company name
- Industry
- Specific scenario or use case
Sales will reach out after submission.
What's the cheapest entry-level pack?
The most cost-effective entry option is the On-demand Compute Power Pack. The smallest tier provides a corresponding amount of DCU with flexible scheduling, suitable for small-to-medium workloads with clear demand.
Refer to the console for the current entry price. See Compute Power Pack management or the in-console purchase page for the latest tiers and pricing.
Roughly how much does it cost to self-host DeepSeek for a month?
Self-hosting cost depends on model size, inference / training concurrency, storage scale, and other variables — there's no single answer.
Use the in-console compute calculator for an initial estimate, or refer to:
For a tailored proposal, request a technical specialist consultation via the Alaya NeW website's online inquiry.
How much compute do I need for AI image generation?
Estimate in three steps:
- Trial run — Start with the smallest pack and benchmark DCU consumption for your target image size and complexity.
- Calculator-based estimate — Use the in-console compute calculator with your expected image volume and resolution to project total DCU.
- Expert consultation — For long-term or team workloads, request a technical consult via the Alaya NeW website's online inquiry.
Itemized Billing
Why am I being charged when I'm not using the service?
Common causes:
- Service still running — VKS cluster not stopped, or a CCI instance not shut down.
- Storage still billing — As long as storage is not released, storage continues to bill even when the associated service is stopped.
What to check:
- Sign in to the console and open VKS cluster detail / the CCI instance list. Confirm any test or temporary instances are fully stopped or released.
- Check the storage management page and confirm unused volumes are detached and deleted.
- Open DCU itemization to inspect specific charges and the originating service.
For full billing logic and cycles, see Billing overview.
Can I deduct compute usage from my cash account balance?
No. Compute is billed against a separate compute quota and cannot be deducted from the cash account directly.
However, the cash balance can be used at any time to purchase a Compute Power Pack (On-demand or Subscription), which then provides the corresponding compute quota. Purchase entry: Compute Power Pack management.
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