Nvidia Launches New Chip Gaming That Complies With US Export Rules To China

RTX 4090 D from Nvidia for the Chinese market (photo: x @TheGalox_alt)

JAKARTA - On Thursday, December 28, the United States chipmaker, Nvidia, launched a modified version of a state-of-the-art gaming chip designed to comply with US export controls targeted at China.

The chips, which the company claims are "quantum jumps in artificial intelligence-supported performance, efficiency and graphics," will be available to customers in China from January, a Nvidia spokesperson told Reuters.

"The GeForce RTX 4090 D has been designed to fully comply with US government export controls. While developing this product, we are intensively involved with the US government," the spokesman said.

The GeForce RTX 4090 D marks the first China-focused chip officially launched by Nvidia since export rules announced by the Biden Administration in October led to two modified artificial intelligence (AI) chips by Nvidia for the Chinese market, namely A800 and H800, blocked for sale, as well as high-end gaming chips, RTX 4090.

A source of information from the chip industry, SemiAnalysis, said in early November that Nvidia, in response to October's export rules, could announce three new AI chips aimed at the Chinese market as soon as November 16.

However, Reuters reported late last month that Nvidia informed customers in China that the launch of one of the three chips was delayed until the first quarter of next year. Two other chips have not appeared on China's Nvidia website.

Nvidia has controlled more than 90% of the AI chip market share worth US$7 billion (Rp107.7 trillion) in China, and analysts say that US restrictions are likely to create opportunities for domestic companies such as Huawei Technologies to gain market share.

US Commerce Minister Raimondo, in an interview with Reuters on December 11, said that Nvidia could sell AI chips to China, not just those with the highest processing power.

Compared to the banned RTX 4090, RTX 4090 D focused on China is "5% slower in gaming and manufacturing," according to a Nvidia spokesperson.

China-focused RTX 4090 D will sell for 12,999 yuan (IDR 28.3 million), 350 yuan (IDR 769.5 thousand) more expensive than the second most advanced product series chip available to customers in China.