US chipmaker Nvidia has unveiled a revised version of its advanced gaming chip designed to comply with US export controls targeting China. The new chip, named "GeForce RTX 4090 D," promises a "quantum leap in performance, efficiency, and artificial intelligence-driven graphics." Nvidia aims to make this chip available to Chinese customers starting in January.

According to a spokesperson from Nvidia, the GeForce RTX 4090 D has been meticulously crafted to fully comply with US government export controls, and the company engaged extensively with US authorities during the development process. This marks Nvidia's first official launch of a China-focused chip since the Biden Administration introduced export rules in October. Those rules led to the blocking of two modified artificial intelligence (AI) chips—A800 and H800—created for the Chinese market, as well as the high-end gaming chip RTX 4090.

Earlier speculations from chip industry insiders suggested that Nvidia might introduce three new AI chips for the Chinese market as early as November 16 in response to the October export rules. However, Nvidia informed its Chinese customers of a delay in the launch of one of these chips until the first quarter of the following year.

Having held over 90 per cent of China's $7 billion AI chip market, Nvidia faces increased competition from domestic firms like Huawei Technologies due to US export restrictions. US Commerce Secretary Raimondo clarified in an interview with Reuters on December 11 that Nvidia can still sell AI chips to China, but those with the highest processing power are subject to restrictions.

Compared to the banned RTX 4090, the China-focused RTX 4090 D offers slightly lower performance, being "5 per cent slower in gaming and creating," as per Nvidia. The price of the China-focused chip is set at 12,999 yuan ($1,842), making it $50 more expensive than the second most advanced chip in the product series available to Chinese customers.

(With Reuters inputs)