The Nvidia RTX 4090 stands as the most powerful and top-performing graphics card in its lineup. However, due to sanctions imposed by the Biden-led US government, it became part of the banned GPUs in China and several other nations. To address this, Nvidia has introduced the exclusive RTX 4090 D in China. Here’s a breakdown of the differences in this new GPU, including a specification comparison with the earlier banned model.
NVIDIA Introduces GeForce RTX 4090 D Specifically for China
To bring you up to speed, the US imposed sanctions on several countries, primarily targeting the advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Following the ban of Nvidia’s premier graphics card in China, reports surfaced about the introduction of an ‘RTX 4090 D‘ specifically tailored for the country.
Despite the ban, thousands of RTX 4090s made their way to numerous factories in China for disassembly and repurposing into new GPUs equipped with fresh coolers.
“The GeForce RTX 4090 D has been meticulously designed to adhere to U.S. government export regulations. Throughout the product development, we engaged extensively with the U.S. government.” – NVIDIA’s spokesperson informed Reuters.
On Nvidia’s official Chinese website, the new RTX 4090 D model has replaced its predecessor. This development has garnered considerable enthusiasm among gamers in China. With the RTX 4090 D now available, gamers can still acquire a high-end Nvidia GPU, albeit with slightly reduced performance.
The RTX 4090 D, according to an Nvidia spokesperson’s statement to Reuters, showcases a marginal 5% reduction in performance for gaming and content creation, a relatively modest difference. Additionally, the RTX 4090 D retains the 3rd Gen RT Cores & 4th Gen Tensor Cores and is constructed on the Ada Lovelace architecture.
Comparing the RTX 4090 D to the 4090, notable adjustments include a 10.9% reduction in CUDA core count and a 5.8% decrease in peak GPU power. These alterations represent minor adjustments to an exceptionally high-performance graphics card.
Is the ‘RTX 4090 D’ on Par in Performance?
Effectively, for gaming purposes, the RTX 4090 D remains highly capable despite the marginal 5% performance variance. However, a notable drawback is the absence of GPU overclocking support. Typically, high-end cards are unlocked for tweaking, but the RTX 4090 D is reportedly hardware-locked, rendering it incapable of any form of overclocking.
Nvidia has also provided performance contrasts against the RTX 3090 Ti. In scenarios utilizing DLSS frame generation, the RTX 4090 D showcases up to 3.5 times faster performance in Alan Wake 2 (4K, with Ray-Tracing enabled). This new model by Nvidia represents their attempt to introduce a top-tier graphics card that operates just below the threshold of US sanctions. It strikes a balance by not being overly powerful enough to violate sanctions while also lacking manual overclocking capabilities.
Nvidia RTX 4090 D: Pricing & Availability
The RTX 4090 D is priced at CNY 12,999, equivalent to $1830, upon its launch in China. Despite the inclusion of several countries in the US sanctions, Nvidia might extend the GPU’s launch to those regions as well. This pricing aligns closely with the initial launch price of the RTX 4090 in China.
@I_Leak_VN, a leaker on X (formerly Twitter), shared insights suggesting that the RTX 4090 D is anticipated to launch in Vietnam during 2024, based on exclusive sources.
What are your impressions of the RTX 4090 D? Do you consider the slight specification reduction acceptable? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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