The American semiconductor manufacturer Nvidia released an updated version of a cutting-edge gaming chip on Thursday that complies with export laws aimed at China.
According to an Nvidia representative who talked to Reuters, Chinese consumers will be able to purchase the chip beginning in January. The business claims that it provides a “quantum leap in performance, efficiency and artificial intelligence-driven graphics”.
“The GeForce RTX 4090 D was created with complete adherence to export regulations set out by the US government. We worked closely with the U.S. government in creating this product, the spokesman stated.
After two customised artificial intelligence (AI) processors Nvidia had developed for the Chinese market were revealed as export rules by the Biden Administration in October, the GeForce RTX 4090 D is the company’s first officially released chip with a focus on China.
Early in November, the semiconductor industry journal SemiAnalysis reported that Nvidia would reveal three new AI processors targeted at the Chinese market as soon as November 16 in reaction to the October export regulations.
Reuters, however, revealed late last month that Nvidia had informed Chinese customers that the release of one of these chips would be postponed until the first quarter of the next year. Neither of the other two is currently visible on Nvidia’s Chinese website.
With over 90% of China’s $7 billion AI processor market held by Nvidia, researchers predict that the U.S. limits would open doors for local companies like Huawei Technologies (HWT.UL) to gain traction.
In a December 11 interview with Reuters, U.S. Commerce Secretary Raimondo stated that Nvidia can sell AI processors to China, but only if they are the most powerful ones.
The Nvidia representative said that the China-focused RTX 4090 D is “5% slower in gaming and creating” than the outlawed RTX 4090.