China’s RTX 4090 Ban Spurs Black Market: GPUs Resold at Premium for AI Use

Following the US government’s imposition of export controls on high-end technology, China’s access to NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 4090 GPU—a powerhouse for gaming and AI—has been cut off. Despite the restrictions, the demand within the Chinese market has not waned, particularly among AI enthusiasts and professionals. These consumers prefer the 4090 for its robust performance at a lower price point compared to NVIDIA’s more specialized products such as the H100 and A100 chips. The embargo has unintentionally given rise to a lucrative black market, wherein Chinese resellers have started to capitalize on the shortfall.

Chinese vendors have devised an ingenious workaround by acquiring complete PC builds featuring the coveted RTX 4090 from regions like Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, and Vietnam, where sales remain unaffected by the ban. They then proceed to extract the GPUs from these units, reselling them individually on the mainland at a significant markup. This activity has not gone unnoticed by retailers, who have tried to stifle such practices by bundling the RTX 4090 exclusively within pre-built systems.

Price Surge Amidst Persistent Demand

Efforts to stem the resale of high-end graphics cards like the RTX 4090 have fallen short, with a recorded instance of a Chinese buyer procuring 20 computers, each with an RTX 4090, from a Taiwanese retailer. These GPUs are then sold individually at a profit despite their marked-up prices. Their utility in China’s AI development space drives persistent demand, making the inflated cost a lesser barrier for buyers.

To address legal constraints in the Chinese market and maintain its clientele, NVIDIA introduced the RTX 4090D, a slightly less powerful version of its flagship GPU. This move highlights the strategic lengths that manufacturers and consumers are willing to go through under the shadow of trade restrictions. While it’s still uncertain if the RTX 4090D will fully meet the demands of the AI industry in China, the scenario underscores an intricate dance between supply and demand in a restricted economic landscape.

Explore more

Revolutionizing SaaS with Customer Experience Automation

Imagine a SaaS company struggling to keep up with a flood of customer inquiries, losing valuable clients due to delayed responses, and grappling with the challenge of personalizing interactions at scale. This scenario is all too common in today’s fast-paced digital landscape, where customer expectations for speed and tailored service are higher than ever, pushing businesses to adopt innovative solutions.

Trend Analysis: AI Personalization in Healthcare

Imagine a world where every patient interaction feels as though the healthcare system knows them personally—down to their favorite sports team or specific health needs—transforming a routine call into a moment of genuine connection that resonates deeply. This is no longer a distant dream but a reality shaped by artificial intelligence (AI) personalization in healthcare. As patient expectations soar for

Trend Analysis: Digital Banking Global Expansion

Imagine a world where accessing financial services is as simple as a tap on a smartphone, regardless of where someone lives or their economic background—digital banking is making this vision a reality at an unprecedented pace, disrupting traditional financial systems by prioritizing accessibility, efficiency, and innovation. This transformative force is reshaping how millions manage their money. In today’s tech-driven landscape,

Trend Analysis: AI-Driven Data Intelligence Solutions

In an era where data floods every corner of business operations, the ability to transform raw, chaotic information into actionable intelligence stands as a defining competitive edge for enterprises across industries. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a revolutionary force, not merely processing data but redefining how businesses strategize, innovate, and respond to market shifts in real time. This analysis

What’s New and Timeless in B2B Marketing Strategies?

Imagine a world where every business decision hinges on a single click, yet the underlying reasons for that click have remained unchanged for decades, reflecting the enduring nature of human behavior in commerce. In B2B marketing, the landscape appears to evolve at breakneck speed with digital tools and data-driven tactics, but are these shifts as revolutionary as they seem? This