US Export Controls Block NVIDIA's RTX 5090 GPU Sales in China

NVIDIA's latest high-end graphics processing unit, the RTX 5090, remains unavailable in China due to United States export controls implemented on advanced computing chips. These restrictions specifically target high-performance AI-capable hardware that exceeds certain thresholds in memory bandwidth, power consumption, and artificial intelligence processing capabilities, preventing their sale to Chinese markets.

This marks the second consecutive generation of NVIDIA's flagship GPUs to face such limitations in China. The company previously addressed these restrictions with the RTX 4090D, a China-specific model with intentionally reduced specifications to comply with US regulations. The modified version maintained most gaming performance while limiting AI capabilities to meet export compliance requirements.

NVIDIA initially attempted a similar approach with the current generation, launching an RTX 5090D for the Chinese market in early 2025. This version featured lower Tensor Core AI throughput compared to the global model. However, as US export restrictions tightened further, reports indicate this model was subsequently withdrawn from sale, creating additional challenges for the company's presence in the Chinese market.

According to industry sources, NVIDIA is now developing a new solution called the RTX 5090D V2. While official confirmation from the company is pending, insider reports suggest this version will incorporate additional specification reductions to ensure compliance with the stricter US export controls. This represents NVIDIA's continued efforts to maintain access to the significant Chinese consumer market while adhering to US government restrictions on technology exports.