Title: US Ban on RTX 4090 Exports to China Causes Price Surge and Stock Shortages
The recent ban imposed by the US government on exporting the RTX 4090 graphics card to China has resulted in significant disruptions in the market. Not only has it caused a surge in prices and shortages in China, but it has also had repercussions closer to home in the United States.
The US Department Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) updated its list of export controls on semiconductor manufacturing items and advanced chips, including the RTX 4090, A800, and H800 models specifically designed for the Chinese market. This move, effective within 30 days of the announcement, means the RTX 4090 will no longer be exported to China.
According to reports, the ban has immediately led to a doubling or quadrupling of prices for RTX 4090 cards in China, as well as the removal of listings from many stores, including Nvidia’s Founders Edition. The impact has also been felt in the US market, with the card being out of stock on the Nvidia store and limited availability on other platforms. Prices on US retail sites have surged, with the cheapest available models ranging from $1,699 to $1,729.
The shortage and price surge of the RTX 4090 have raised concerns among consumers and industry observers. Some worry that Nvidia’s focus on its lucrative AI/datacenter products may overshadow its gaming line, potentially leading to a repeat of the supply shortages experienced during the pandemic, chip shortage, and cryptocurrency craze. However, experts believe that this scenario is unlikely to unfold as prices and availability of other graphics cards have remained stable.
Fortunately, the situation is expected to improve once the ban is implemented, as there will be little incentive for people to purchase the RTX 4090 for export to China. It is anticipated that the market will stabilize within a month, although the shortage might affect next week’s Black Friday sale.
In other news, rumors have emerged surrounding Nvidia’s plans to release several Super variants of its current RTX 4000-series cards. Speculations suggest that one of these variants, the RTX 4070 Super, will feature 16GB of VRAM and be based on the AD103 GPU. However, it is important to note that these are still unconfirmed rumors at this point.
While the ban on RTX 4090 exports to China has caused disruptions and uncertainties, the overall graphics card market is expected to regain stability in the near future. Consumers can hope for a return to normalcy as supply and prices find equilibrium.
