Data centers in China are dumping rare 48GB Nvidia RTX 4090D GPUs for nearly $6,000, but the exact reason remains a mystery

• Chinese AI centers are dismantling 4090D GPUs and selling them off
• Reselling idle GPUs yields faster profits than waiting on rental returns
• Some say it’s overcapacity, others claim preparation for newer tech

Some Chinese AI data centers are dismantling and reselling China-specific Nvidia RTX 4090D GPUs, reports have claimed.

A report from DigiTimes Asia says these 48GB cards, designed to circumvent U.S. export restrictions on the flagship AD102 gaming GPU, and initially deployed as part of China’s AI infrastructure push, are now being pulled from racks, refurbished, and sold on the open market.

Data center operators are reportedly finding that this offers a faster and more profitable return than waiting three to five years to recover their investment through GPU rental.

An alternative theory

Each RTX 4090D sells for between CNY20,000 and CNY40,000 (around US$2,735 to US$5,470), and even if lightly ...