Nvidia RTX 3080 ex-cryptomining cards are being turned into 20GB AI accelerators in China

Another case of gaming pics playing cards being repurposed as AI solutions in China has been uncovered. This time, RTX 3080s that were in all likelihood used for cryptomining are being became AI accelerators with blower-style coolers. It turned into handiest last week that we heard of whole warehouses dedicated to turning now-banned RTX 4090s into AI merchandise.

With the United States government having banned the maximum effective and quickest AI-centered and gaming (RTX 4090) playing cards from being exported to China, the usa is turning to other approach of assembly demand for AI accelerators.

Leaker I Leak VN published that they observed a number of "RTX 3080 20G AI Blower" playing cards through the Xianyu app, that's owned via the Alibaba organization. The identical playing cards are also to be had at the Alibaba Express retail website.

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– I Leak VN (@I Leak VN) November 28, 2023

Called the Jieshuo Nvidia RTX 3080 RG Turbo Gaming Graphics Card GDDR6X, the Alibaba description notes that the playing cards are used but come with a -year assure.

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– I Leak VN (@I Leak VN) November 28, 2023

Despite the "gaming card" moniker and simplest a single point out of the term AI inside the description, it's obvious what these cards are designed for. The RTX 3080 got here with 10GB of VRAM, with a 12GB variant released at the begin of ultimate 12 months, but there were rumors of canceled 20GB versions. Modders confirmed it's feasible to upgrade the card to a greater AI-pleasant 20GB by changing the 1GB chips with 2GB alternatives.

It's in all likelihood that the RTX 3080 playing cards have been used by cryptominers looking to offload their hardware following virtual currencies' price disintegrate and the Chinese government's crackdown on the industry. These ex-mining cards often come with problems stemming from immoderate use, though they might not be as awful as you watched.

The same repurposing is being carried out on AMD Radeon RX 580 cards, too, growing the 8GB of VRAM to 16GB and shifting the vital components into different forums with blower-style coolers, which can be more suitable for server racks, in order that they can be offered to AI firms.

Pallets complete of effective RTX 4090 had also been sold by way of Chinese clients and changed into AI accelerators before the gaming card changed into banned from export to the usa.

Following the USA government's up to date export regulations on made-for-China A800 and H800 GPUs - decreased variations of the A100, A100X, and H100 chips already prohibited from export to the Asian state - Nvidia created 3 new merchandise, the H20, L20, and L2, which observe the today's rules. According to a current report, the H20, the maximum effective of the trio, has had its release behind schedule through numerous months, which could push Chinese AI corporations closer to makeshift answers like repurposed gaming cards.