Despite the introduction of the alternative 4090 D model by NVIDIA, the original RTX 4090 graphics card continues to be highly coveted in China. While the 4090 D variant offers comparable performance, the demand for the flagship Lovelace GPU remains strong in the black market.
According to recent reports, an increasing number of Asian countries, including Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea, and Vietnam, are witnessing a surge in sales of the RTX 4090. The reason behind this rise is the resale of these graphics cards to the Chinese market. To meet this demand, retailers have started incorporating the GPUs into prebuilt PCs instead of selling them as standalone products. However, even this strategy has not deterred some consumers.
Apparently, individuals in China are purchasing these entire PC systems solely to extract the RTX 4090 graphics card and sell it separately. This approach proves to be profitable for these buyers, as exemplified by a recent case. A buyer reportedly ordered 20 prebuilt PCs with the NVIDIA RTX 4090 from a Taipei retailer, each costing around 32,000 RMB or $4450. Despite the initial investment, the buyer managed to make a profit by selling the flagship GPU individually.
The continued high demand for the RTX 4090 in China has widespread implications for the pricing of Lovelace flagship graphics cards worldwide. For instance, on websites like Newegg in the US, the RTX 4090 is currently priced no less than $2000. This pricing trend is expected to persist as NVIDIA’s attempts to promote the 4090 D variant in China face hurdles.
However, there is some positive news for graphics card prices outside of China. With the release of NVIDIA’s RTX Super refreshes in January, the prices of certain models have dropped. The price reduction of the existing RTX 4070, for example, following the debut of the 4070 Super at its manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $599, has resulted in the RX 7800 XT reaching new lows of around $480 or $490. This is welcome news for consumers searching for affordable mid-range GPU options.
FAQs:
1. What is the current demand for the original RTX 4090 graphics card in China?
– Despite the introduction of the alternative 4090 D model, the original RTX 4090 graphics card remains highly coveted in China.
2. Which Asian countries are witnessing a surge in sales of the RTX 4090?
– Asian countries such as Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea, and Vietnam are experiencing a surge in sales of the RTX 4090.
3. Why is the demand for the RTX 4090 increasing in these countries?
– The demand is driven by the resale of these graphics cards to the Chinese market.
4. How are retailers meeting the demand for RTX 4090 in China?
– Retailers have started incorporating the RTX 4090 GPUs into prebuilt PCs instead of selling them as standalone products.
5. Are consumers in China buying entire PC systems to extract and sell the RTX 4090?
– Yes, some individuals in China are purchasing these entire PC systems solely to extract the RTX 4090 graphics card and sell it separately.
6. How does the high demand for the RTX 4090 in China impact the pricing of Lovelace flagship graphics cards worldwide?
– The continued high demand for the RTX 4090 in China has implications for the pricing of Lovelace flagship graphics cards worldwide, leading to increased prices outside of China.
Key Terms/Jargon:
– RTX 4090: The original flagship graphics card by NVIDIA.
– Lovelace GPU: Refers to the graphics processing unit architecture used in the RTX 4090.
– Prebuilt PCs: Fully assembled and ready-to-use computer systems.
– Retailers: Businesses or individuals who sell products to customers.
Related Links:
– Newegg: Popular online marketplace for computer hardware and electronics.