Hardware Ready Ready to Bench?
A video released by HKEPC shows a facility in China where hundreds of GeForce RTX 5090 graphics cards, including Founders Edition models, are being disassembled to reuse GPUs and memory on custom boards dedicated to artificial intelligence servers.
The GeForce RTX 5090, currently difficult to find in stores, may largely end up powering servers used for AI. The video, shared on X by HKEPC, shows the process of disassembling high-end cards and converting them into accelerators for specific workloads.
GeForce RTX 5090: why it matters
The footage reveals models from various manufacturers, including ASUS’s ROG Astral – one of the most expensive versions of the RTX 5090, which was sold in China for approximately $10,000 and even used as a wedding gift – along with several Founders Edition cards, the reference design boards made directly by NVIDIA.
It is not yet clear how such a high number of units of this model were obtained. The conversion process involves removing the GPU and memory modules from the original PCB to transfer them onto a specially designed printed circuit board. The result is an accelerator equipped with a dual-slot blower cooling system, better suited for installation in servers with numerous cards than the bulky three-fan coolers found on consumer versions.
The conversion of gaming GPUs for artificial intelligence is not new. Last year, reports emerged regarding the transformation of large quantities of RTX 5000 series cards into accelerators for the Chinese market. However, the current scarcity of the RTX 5090 makes the situation particularly relevant for those looking to purchase the card for gaming.
Every unit destined for these operations is a card that does not reach the consumer market. It is impossible to determine, based solely on the video, how much this phenomenon contributes to the shortage, but large-scale conversion adds another element of pressure on product availability.
What changes and what are the effects
In recent weeks, rumors also circulated about a possible cessation of RTX 5090 production, with GB202 chips prioritized for the professional RTX PRO lineup. NVIDIA has denied this account, confirming that the gaming card will continue to be distributed.
Actual availability remains an issue nonetheless. Between high prices, reports of entire lots being stolen, and units converted for professional and AI applications, the GeForce RTX 5090 continues to be difficult to find for gamers, despite confirmation of its continued presence in the market.
Source and further reading on GeForce RTX 5090: original article.
* Content created with the assistance of artificial intelligence systems.