RTX 4090 D with 48 GB and RTX 4080 Super with 32 GB: Modified GPUs appear in China

X user bdsqlsz recently discovered that his cloud computing provider has both an Nvidia Geforce RTX 4090 D with 48 GB of RAM and a Geforce RTX 4080 Super with 32 GB of RAM. In both cases, this represents a doubling of the usual video memory. The user rented computing power from Chinese provider AutoDL for AI tasks, for which large video memory can be particularly useful.

In his tweets, bdsqlsz did not share any performance data or images of the graphics cards. Only a few screenshots of log files show the names of the models with the corresponding memory sizes. It is likely that only the VRAM of both cards was increased, while the graphics processor remained untouched. In order to increase the memory, a modified circuit board is used, which enables twice the number of memory chips. It is not possible to simply install larger memory modules, as the 2 GB GDDR6X chips installed already represent the largest volume currently available for this format. The modules were presumably installed on both sides of the PCB, as Nvidia already does in its workstation models. This is probably the first time that such a modification has been made to an Ada Lovlace card.

The RTX 4090 D is a slightly slimmed-down model of the RTX 4090 for the Chinese market in order to sell the graphics accelerator there in accordance with US trade restrictions. To this end, the shader units have been limited from 16,384 to 14,592. In addition, the Chinese model has no OC function. Nevertheless, illegal imports and modifications have repeatedly succeeded in circumventing the import embargoes. The modified RTX 4090 D is said to be available in China for $2,500.