MSI says pallets of RTX 5090 cards seen in China came from gray market imports

[midian182]

In context: MSI has put out a statement in response to an image showing hundreds of its RTX 5090 cards on pallets in China. The card is subject to US export controls on certain high-end GPUs destined for China, but MSI said the ones in the photo are parallel imports – I.e., bought and imported from another country, thereby circumventing the official distribution network.

A photo recently posted on Chinese social media appears to show several pallets somewhere in China holding dozens of MSI-branded RTX 5090 boxes.

What's caught people's attention is that the cards aren't the cut-down RTX 5090 D or RTX 5090 D V2, which Nvidia designed specifically for the Chinese market to comply with US export rules – they're the full-fat RTX 5090.

As the standard global RTX 5090 is effectively not allowed to be exported into China under current US export control rules, MSI has now responded to the image.

The company emphasizes that it has never officially sold or distributed the RTX 5090 in China, and that any units found locally are not from MSI-authorized channels.

MSI added that it offers only the GeForce RTX 5090 D and GeForce RTX 5090 D V2 in China – versions designed to meet local regulatory requirements.

The AIB partner tracked the cards' serial numbers to confirm that these RTX 5090s arrived in China through parallel channels, also known as the gray market.

Parallel imports are a common method of avoiding export restrictions and sanctions against a country. It's a practice especially popular in Russia; its Ministry of Industry and Trade allows parallel imports of certain foreign tech products even if the manufacturer doesn't allow it.

As pointed out by MSI, there are plenty of risks when it comes to purchasing products through non-official channels. They have often been tampered with and aren't eligible for the manufacturer's warranties, repair services, or technical support.

In 2022, it was reported that 40% of the CPUs Russia was importing from the Chinese gray market were defective.

MSI concluded its statement by promising to reinforce channel management and product traceability, and work with international partners to prevent unauthorized distribution.

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MSI says pallets of RTX 5090 cards seen in China came from gray market imports

 

[candle86]

Well Nvidia could fix the problem add location tracking mandatorily to all drivers and if its geolocated inside of China disable the card. They could also add the expense which I'm sure people are paying $3,000 for a video card wouldn't care about but add a GPS unit.

Basically the GPS doesn't have to be calibrated super accurately you know within 50 miles would be suitable. At the GPS unit is disabled or removed the card simply won't work tie it in that way. At the GPS module is there but it can't find the location then have it default to half of the units off.

 

[gamerk2]

Well Nvidia could fix the problem add location tracking mandatorily to all drivers and if its geolocated inside of China disable the card. They could also add the expense which I'm sure people are paying $3,000 for a video card wouldn't care about but add a GPS unit.

Basically the GPS doesn't have to be calibrated super accurately you know within 50 miles would be suitable. At the GPS unit is disabled or removed the card simply won't work tie it in that way. At the GPS module is there but it can't find the location then have it default to half of the units off.

Such a check could be disabled fairly easily. And users could just use an older driver revision.

And adding a GPS unit (as well as the backend SW) isn't cheap. And again: GPS can be fairly trivially spoofed.

 

[candle86]

Such a check could be disabled fairly easily. And users could just use an older driver revision.

And adding a GPS unit (as well as the backend SW) isn't cheap. And again: GPS can be fairly trivially spoofed.

I'm saying do it for the new cards going forward.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

I'm saying do it for the new cards going forward.

Ok.....and the rest?

Still easily disabled, or spoofed. What do you do with legit customers who live in areas with poor or no GPS reception? Did you forget all these cards are assembled in china?

Oh yeah, and who is gonna PAY to maintain those connections?

 

[p51d007]

Oh gee! Another country is getting video cards illegally. If someone, or country wants something, they will get it if enough money comes along. How do you think the illegal drug trade works.

 

[BrightlightJohn]

The Donald Trump administration is serious about HI_TECH bans and exporting of the latest GPU tech. Even as I write this, government officials will look for illegal export actors and when they find them, they will be banned too. The USA must keep up and create new regulations to prevent the exporting of the latest technology to China as well as Russia. The United States of America must win the AI race.

 

[candle86]

Ok.....and the rest?

Still easily disabled, or spoofed. What do you do with legit customers who live in areas with poor or no GPS reception? Did you forget all these cards are assembled in china?

Oh yeah, and who is gonna PAY to maintain those connections?

Well I guess then it sucks to suck doesn't it because we need to absolutely prevent China from getting your hands on anything I personally am in full favor of a complete naval blockade of China but I don't think we have the stomach for that at the moment.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

Well I guess then it sucks to suck doesn't it because we need to absolutely prevent China from getting your hands on anything I personally am in full favor of a complete naval blockade of China but I don't think we have the stomach for that at the moment.

I dont think you understand what you are reading.

Your idea wouldnt prevent China from doing anything. It would just be an expensive boondoggle that would hurt Western consumers only.