Nvidia Prepares New AI Chip for China Amid U.S.-China Chip War

Nvidia Prepares New AI Chip for China Amid U.S.-China Chip War

Chip giant Nvidia is quietly preparing a brand-new AI processor for the Chinese market, even more powerful than its current H20 model, according to industry insiders. The new chip, based on Nvidia’s latest Blackwell architecture, could mark a big step in the ongoing US-China chip war.

The New B30A – A Strategic Move

Sources reveal the upcoming chip, temporarily called B30A, will feature a single-die design, packing high-bandwidth memory and Nvidia’s NVLink technology. While this may only deliver about half the raw computing power of Nvidia’s flagship B300 dual-die accelerator, it significantly outpaces the H20 – a model Nvidia developed under U.S. restrictions.

Insiders say sample units may reach Chinese clients by next month if regulatory approval goes through. However, final specs are still being fine-tuned.

The Political Balancing Act

The new design comes as President Donald Trump signaled last week that U.S. chipmakers might be allowed to sell “scaled-down” versions of advanced AI chips to China. Still, the green light from Washington remains uncertain, given worries that advanced AI tech could strengthen China’s position in global AI leadership.

Trump even hinted that current models like the H20 are already “obsolete”, suggesting U.S. companies may offer trimmed versions of next-gen chips in China—possibly at 30% to 50% reduced computing power.

Why This Matters

China contributed nearly 13% of Nvidia’s revenue last fiscal year, making the market too big to ignore. At the same time, Beijing is doubling down on homegrown alternatives like Huawei chips, raising pressure on Nvidia to hold its ground.

Despite concerns from U.S. lawmakers, Nvidia argues that keeping Chinese clients—who rely heavily on its software ecosystem—is critical. If Nvidia loses relevance, rivals like Huawei could step in permanently.

More Than One New Chip for China

Apart from the B30A, Nvidia is also preparing a budget-friendly RTX6000D chip for China. This version, also based on Blackwell architecture, is designed mainly for AI inference tasks. Unlike the B30A, the RTX6000D will use conventional GDDR memory and intentionally stay below U.S. export control thresholds. First shipments of the RTX6000D are expected to reach Chinese firms in September.

The Bigger Picture

The launch of these chips highlights how AI supremacy has become the hottest battleground in U.S.-China tech tensions. Nvidia is stuck between regulators in Washington and demand in Beijing, trying to innovate while staying within legal limits.

For now, one thing is clear: Nvidia isn’t slowing down its push to keep hold of the world’s second-largest tech market, even if it means reinventing its chips to fit geopolitical rules.

Nvidia AI chip, Blackwell architecture, China chipmarket
U.S.-China tech war, AI dominance, semiconductor battle

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