Nvidia is launching a graphics card specifically for China to comply with US export controls. In a product page On the Chinese version of Nvidia's website, the chipmaker introduces the RTX 4090D: a GPU that's less powerful than the flagship RTX 4090 it sells elsewhere.
The RTX 4090D has fewer CUDA cores than its RTX 4090 counterpart, peaking at 14,592 versus 16,384. It also has slightly lower power consumption, 425W instead of 450W. Although most other specifications remain the same between the two versions of the chips, the RTX 4090D is still around “5% slower in games and creation,” Nvidia spokesperson Benjamin Berraondo said in a statement emailed to The edge.
“The GeForce RTX 4090 D has been designed to fully comply with US government export controls,” Berraondo said, adding that the company “engaged extensively with the US government.” when developing the chip.
The RTX 4090D will be available in China starting in January for ¥12,999 (~$1,836 USD). Its launch may help calm the growing demand for powerful graphics cards in China, which has reportedly led to some factories in the country to dismantle and reuse the banned RTX 4090 for ai.
Update December 29 at 1:13 pm ET: Added a statement from Nvidia.
