Title: RTX 4090 Prices Soar as GPU Banned in China and Repurposed for AI Use
The situation surrounding RTX 4090 graphics cards has taken a worrying turn, as prices for the flagship Lovelace GPU have skyrocketed. The root of the issue appears to be linked to the ban on RTX 4090 in China and the subsequent repurposing of these GPUs for AI purposes.
Recently, the RTX 4090 was banned in China, along with other Nvidia AD102-based products and GPUs intended for heavy AI work. However, some organizations in the country have found a loophole in the ban to get around the restrictions.
Prior to the ban, a large number of RTX 4090 graphics cards were shipped to China, causing prices for the flagship GPU to increase in the US and other regions. In China, firms are dismantling these RTX 4090 models and using the AD102 chips and VRAM modules to create new AI accelerators with specialized blower-style coolers designed for data center usage.
Photographic evidence and reports from sources such as VideoCardz and Twitter show the deconstruction of these GeForce gaming graphics cards for this purpose, and the resulting AI blower-style cards are being sold for significant profits due to the scarcity of AI boards in China.
The impact of these events is also seen in the rising prices of RTX 4090 GPUs in the US and UK. In the US, the prices have surged, with the cheapest model selling for 40% above the recommended retail price. Similarly, in the UK, the prices of RTX 4090s have increased significantly.
With the current situation, it’s unlikely that the prices will normalize soon; however, other graphics cards are being offered at discounted prices for Cyber Monday. Nonetheless, those keen on acquiring an RTX 4090 might want to wait for prices to stabilize and can also consider Nvidia’s rumored launch of the RTX 4080 Super as a potentially better value option for gamers.
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