Chinese factories modify RTX 5090 cards

Images shared on social media reveal Chinese factories where workers are disassembling Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 graphics cards. These cards are being taken apart to extract their high-performance components, such as the graphics chips and 32 GB of RAM, which are then used to build modified versions for AI servers.

Modified cards suit AI server needs

The RTX 5090's original cooling system, designed for gaming, is replaced with a more compact and efficient setup. The modified cards use a turbine cooling system instead of multiple fans, allowing them to fit into the tight spaces of AI servers while expelling heat more effectively.

RTX 5090’s popularity and export restrictions

The RTX 5090 is highly desirable due to its powerful performance and large memory capacity, which offer a cost-effective alternative to other professional graphics cards. However, the United States restricts the export of high-end graphics cards like the RTX 5090 to China. Nvidia has created a modified version, the RTX 5090D, to comply with these regulations, but standard models still reach China through illegal imports.

Gray market fuels shortages and high prices

This practice is not new. In July 2025, similar images showed RTX 5090 cards being modified in a Shenzhen factory. A gray market has developed where new graphics cards are purchased and transformed into components for AI clients. This has led to shortages for gamers, who now face high prices and limited availability when trying to purchase an RTX 5090.

Nvidia continues production amid restrictions

Nvidia has denied halting production of the RTX 5090, with Jeff Fisher, head of the GeForce division, stating that deliveries continue despite production pressures. In the United States, some retailers like Micro Center require buyers of PCs with RTX 5090 cards to sign agreements prohibiting export and to provide their identities.