In recent months, Chinese technology firms have been repurposing Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 gaming graphics cards to serve as artificial intelligence accelerators. This shift has been reported by industry outlets such as WCCFTech, highlighting a growing workaround in response to export controls imposed by the United States.
Analysts note that roughly 50,000 RTX 4090 cards were converted within China over the previous month. The chips, once designed strictly for gaming, are now being configured to handle AI workloads as a consequence of sanctions that restrict the export of gaming and specialized graphics hardware to the region.
Reporters observed that many local firms had secured large batches of flagship RTX 4090 cards before the ban took effect and are now adapting them for their own use. The process involves disassembling the cards, removing the GPUs and GDDR6X memory, and integrating those components into custom enclosures equipped with dual-slot cooling fans to manage heat during intensive AI tasks.
After this unusual conversion, the remaining motherboard components and peripherals are sold on secondary markets, while the freshly configured AI-ready units are tested with specialized software to confirm performance and reliability.
There are rumors that Nvidia may unveil a trio of new models soon, including the RTX 4080 Super, RTX 4070 Ti Super, and RTX 4070, with a potential reveal date around January 9.
Earlier, chatter circulated about the GeForce RTX 5090, with some industry watchers suggesting its specifications were being discussed well before a formal release, signaling ongoing strategic moves in the high-end GPU space.