[News] NVIDIA Ditches Hopper, Reportedly Turns to Blackwell for China-Specific AI Chip

According to Commercial Times, NVIDIA is reportedly shifting to develop a new custom AI chip for the Chinese market based on its latest Blackwell architecture, replacing the H20. The move is expected to boost demand for TSMC’s 4nm process, the report highlights.

As Reuters notes, CEO Jensen Huang stated that no further Hopper-based variants will be released, as the architecture can no longer be modified.

Speculation Surrounding NVIDIA’s Blackwell Chip for China

As noted by Commercial Times, the new chip is primarily designed for AI GPU cluster training and will incorporate NVLink interconnect technology. Sources cited in the report indicate that the custom AI GPU based on the Blackwell architecture for China may offer slightly lower bandwidth and performance compared to the B200, but still delivers sufficient computing power to support large-scale AI models.

Commercial Times also notes that, while the chip supports the CUDA platform like the RTX 5090, it is positioned as a more advanced solution, with market estimates suggesting a price up to four times higher than the RTX 5090.

Additionally, as highlighted by Wccftech, NVIDIA’s Blackwell chip for the Chinese market will reportedly use GDDR7 memory instead of HBM—an approach that may be part of the company’s broader strategy to comply with performance restrictions.

NVIDIA’s China Commitment Amid Export Challenges

NVIDIA has been reaffirming its commitment to the Chinese market. According to Economic Daily News, citing Financial Times, the company reportedly plans to set up a new R&D center in Shanghai to bolster its position in the market.

China generated $17 billion for the U.S. chip giant in the fiscal year ending January 26, accounting for 13% of its total revenue, according to Reuters.

The Information revealed that NVIDIA has notified key Chinese customers—including Alibaba, ByteDance and Tencent—that it is redesigning its AI chips to comply with U.S. export rules. The company reportedly told clients that samples of the new chip could be ready as early as June.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration has introduced a new wave of AI chip restrictions aimed at China. Recently, according to CNBC, the U.S. Commerce Department issued a warning against the use of American AI chips in Chinese models and highlighted concerns over “diversion tactics” and the need to secure supply chains to prevent smuggling.

Read more

• [News] NVIDIA Said to Build Shanghai R&D Hub Amid U.S. Export Curbs, But Core Design Could Stay Abroad
  
• [News] NVIDIA Reportedly Prepares Toned-down Version for H20, Set for July Release

(Photo credit: NVIDIA)