[News] China Reportedly Blocks NVIDIA RTX Pro 6000D; Samsung, SK hynix Impact Seen as Limited

According to Tom’s Hardware, citing Financial Times, China’s Cyberspace Administration (CAC) has reportedly barred major firms, including ByteDance and Alibaba, from purchasing NVIDIA’s RTX Pro 6000D.  As Chosun Biz highlights, the RTX Pro 6000D was designed specifically for the Chinese market with performance scaled down to meet U.S. export rules, using cheaper GDDR7 instead of HBM. Chosun Biz reports, citing industry sources, that the ban on the RTX Pro 6000D is expected to have only a limited impact on Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, its memory suppliers.

Chosun Biz notes that while Samsung provides most of the GDDR7 for the chip, the volumes are too small to significantly affect profitability. The report, citing an expert, notes that while there might be potential reduction in supply volumes, the long-term impact is expected to be limited. Since NVIDIA generally signs one-year supply contracts ahead of product launches, memory companies can redirect the committed volumes to other product lines, the report adds.

Notably, Chosun Biz indicates that Korean memory companies are prioritizing opportunities beyond the Chinese market. NVIDIA’s next-generation “Rubin” AI accelerator will adopt both HBM4 and GDDR7. The report notes that NVIDIA has been increasing GDDR7 orders from Samsung, while SK hynix is also positioning itself to compete in this market. Industry experts cited in the report add that demand for HBM and GDDR7 in AI chips will continue to grow regardless of U.S.–China tensions.

China Steps Up Drive for AI Chip Independence

China is rapidly reducing its reliance on NVIDIA’s low-end chips by strengthening its domestic AI chip ecosystem, as Chosun Biz indicates. According to Mydrivers,  Huawei has announced plans to launch its next-generation AI chip, the Ascend 950, equipped with in-house HBM, in 2026. In addition, EE Times China reports that Alibaba’s T-Head has introduced a PPU that reportedly surpasses NVIDIA’s A800 in key technical metrics. Reflecting these advances, Chosun Biz, citing an investment bank, notes that domestic chips are projected to expand their share of China’s AI market substantially—from 17% in 2023 to 55% by 2027.

Read more

• [News] Huawei Unveils Ascend 950 with In-House HBM in 2026, Touts SuperPoD to Rival NVIDIA
• [News] NVIDIA RTX6000D Reportedly Fails to Gain Traction in China, Stock Surplus Looms
• [News] Samsung 12H HBM3e Reportedly Clears NVIDIA Tests After 18-Month Setback, HBM4 Reaches Final Phase

(Photo credit: NVIDIA)