News Overview
- Nvidia’s potential RTX 5090D, a rumored variant of their upcoming flagship GPU designed to comply with US export regulations, is reportedly facing roadblocks and might not be released in China.
- The card’s specifications, supposedly tailored to fall within the US restrictions’ total processing power (TPP) limits, might still exceed acceptable thresholds after accounting for board power.
- The reported blockage could force Nvidia to further adjust its strategy for the Chinese market, potentially delaying or canceling the RTX 5090D or releasing a different, more compliant, model.
🔗 Original article link: Nvidia may be blocked from selling its RTX 5090D in China
In-Depth Analysis
The article focuses on the potential cancellation or significant modification of the RTX 5090D, a GPU variant specifically designed for the Chinese market to circumvent US export restrictions. These restrictions aim to limit the sale of high-performance computing hardware to China, preventing its use in applications deemed detrimental to US national security.
The article states that Nvidia attempted to create a GPU with a reduced total processing power (TPP) compared to its standard RTX 5090. However, even with these adjustments, the RTX 5090D may still exceed the US’s acceptable limits when factoring in the board power, which is the total power consumed by the GPU and its supporting circuitry on the graphics card. This indicates that the overall system-level performance of the RTX 5090D, even with the reduced chip specifications, is too potent for current export policies.
The information seems to stem from industry sources, though the article doesn’t explicitly name them. The concern centers around the aggregate computational power, which is seemingly still too high despite Nvidia’s attempts to scale back the GPU.
Commentary
If true, this report is a significant blow to Nvidia’s strategy in China. The Chinese market represents a considerable portion of Nvidia’s revenue, and being unable to sell their top-tier GPUs would significantly impact their market share and overall profitability. This situation highlights the difficulties in navigating complex export regulations and the ever-changing landscape of international trade.
Nvidia likely has contingency plans, potentially involving further revisions to the RTX 5090D or the development of an entirely new GPU specifically for the Chinese market with even lower performance characteristics. The company might also focus on selling its existing GPU inventory while working to resolve these regulatory hurdles. This blockage could also provide AMD an opportunity to gain a competitive edge in the high-end GPU market within China. The implications are substantial and could reshape the dynamics of the GPU market globally.