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US export concerns no bar, Nvidia developing new, advanced AI chip for China
The logo of Nvidia Corporation is seen during the annual Computex computer exhibition in Taipei, Taiwan May 30, 2017. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu/File Photo
Nvidia is working on a new artificial intelligence chip for China that will be more powerful than its current H20 model, as the company seeks to maintain its foothold in a key market despite tightening US restrictions.
The new processor, tentatively named the B30A, is based on Nvidia's latest Blackwell architecture and will feature a single-die design. According to two people briefed on the plans, it is expected to deliver roughly half the raw computing power of the company's flagship B300 accelerator card, which uses a more advanced dual-die configuration.
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Reuters reported that while the chip's specifications are not finalised, Nvidia hopes to provide Chinese clients with testing samples as early as next month.
The B30A would come with high-bandwidth memory and Nvidia's NVLink technology for faster data transfer between processors, features also included in the H20, which is built on the company's older Hopper architecture.
Nvidia said in a statement: 'We evaluate a variety of products for our roadmap, so that we can be prepared to compete to the extent that governments allow. Everything we offer is with the full approval of the applicable authorities and designed solely for beneficial commercial use.'
Political flashpoint
The US has restricted the sale of advanced AI chips to China since 2023, citing national security concerns. Washington fears such technology could be used to advance Beijing's military and surveillance capabilities. China accounted for 13 per cent of Nvidia's revenue last year, making access to the market a key concern for the company as well as for US regulators.
Earlier this year, the Biden administration had blocked sales of the H20, only to grant approval again in July. Donald Trump, who has since taken office, has suggested he may allow Nvidia to sell scaled-down versions of its most advanced chips to Chinese customers. He described the H20 as 'obsolete' and indicated that any new model might have '30 per cent to 50 per cent off' its computing power.
Nvidia argues that keeping Chinese firms tied to its products is vital, warning that otherwise they could fully switch to domestic alternatives, particularly those from Huawei.
While Huawei has made significant advances in chip design, analysts say it still trails Nvidia in crucial areas such as software ecosystem support and memory bandwidth.
Reuters reported that Nvidia also faces growing challenges in China, where state media has recently raised concerns about security risks linked to its chips, and authorities have warned tech companies against buying the H20.
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Separate China-specific chip
In addition to the B30A, Nvidia is preparing to deliver another China-specific product based on the Blackwell architecture. Known as the RTX6000D, the chip is designed primarily for AI inference tasks and is expected to be sold at a lower price than the H20.
By using conventional GDDR memory and limiting its memory bandwidth to just below US export thresholds, Nvidia aims to ensure compliance with restrictions. Small batches of the RTX6000D are due to reach Chinese clients in September.
With inputs from agencies
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