Chinese labs turn “discontinued” GeForce RTX 5090 cards into AI accelerators

Hundreds of Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 graphics cards have reportedly surfaced at Chinese modification facilities rather than being sold to gamers. Footage shared by HKEPC shows large quantities of cards from multiple vendors being dismantled, with their GPU dies and memory chips removed for use in custom AI accelerators.

The RTX 5090 has been the subject of discontinuation rumors, although Nvidia has recently denied them. Even so, the report suggests that some cards are being redirected toward AI server production, where the GPU’s 32 GB of GDDR7 memory and computing capabilities make it valuable.

The conversion process involves dismantling the original graphics cards and removing their GB202 GPU dies and memory chips. Technicians then install these components on custom PCBs designed for AI accelerators. The resulting cards use dual-slot blower-style coolers, making them better suited to densely packed AI servers, where space and airflow are important considerations.

The footage reportedly includes cards from several manufacturers, including premium models such as the Asus ROG Astral RTX 5090 and Nvidia Founders Edition cards. According to the report, this practice is not new, with similar conversions of Blackwell-based RTX 50-series cards having been observed in China previously.

The RTX 5090 remains subject to US export restrictions affecting China, but reports indicate that substantial quantities of the GPU continue to reach the region. The report also raises the possibility that Nvidia is aware of these resales, which could be more profitable for sellers than supplying cards to gamers. However, the available information does not establish Nvidia’s knowledge of or involvement in the reported conversions.