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Current US export restrictions have it that the isn't allowed to be sold to Chinese customers, as this would be giving a competitor too much powerful tech. That's why Nvidia makes and sells a cut-back version of the GPU to China—first the RTX 5090D and then the RTX 5090D V2, the latter having . But there's been talk (and specifically images) of MSI graphics cards ending up in China, so MSI has just clarified that "MSI has never officially sold or distributed the GeForce RTX 5090 in China."
For instance, earlier in the year a Financial Times investigation suggested during strict export controls, and there have regarding exports of "tens of millions of dollars’ worth of sensitive microchips used in artificial intelligence (AI) applications" over the last three years.
And despite we shouldn't tell "tall tales that large, heavy, and sensitive electronics are somehow smuggled in ‘baby bumps’ or ‘alongside live lobsters," it does seem that restricted Nvidia chips have been ending up in China.
The latest on this front, which is likely what MSI is referring to, is a seemingly pictured in China. It's likely this that MSI is denying involvement in, in addition to reaffirming its compliance with international regulations:
"We strictly comply with international regulations and Nvidia's regional authorization framework. The GeForce RTX 5090 is available only in the Americas, Europe, and select Asia-Pacific markets. In China, MSI offers only the GeForce RTX 5090 D and GeForce RTX 5090 D V2—versions designed to meet local regulatory requirements. Any RTX 5090 units appearing in China can therefore be clearly identified as non-official supply.
"Our global serial-number tracking shows that these products mainly originate from overseas retail markets, imported by unauthorized distributors or resellers through parallel channels. [[link]] They are outside MSI’s official supply chain, unverified in source and handling, and not covered by our quality-control or warranty policies."
RTX 5090 cards aren't the only Nvidia chips to face restrictions, of course, as AI server accelerators have been restricted, too. Earlier in the year, . Then, after the US government assured the company that licenses would be granted.
But since then, China has been resistant to getting the chips, and because of this. It's not only the US that doesn't want powerful Nvidia chips in China's hands—China , [[link]] either, and has apparently .
Given all this, it's not surprising that MSI would want to explicitly distance itself from any possible restricted GPUs ending up in China. Those are diplomatic waters companies could do without splashing around in. And although I can't [[link]] claim any knowledge at all, it's also reason to believe no big GPU retailer would risk attempting to sell such GPUs to China through any kind of back door right now.
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