Nvidia is set to introduce a budget-friendly variant of its Blackwell AI GPU for the Chinese market, slashing costs to $6,500–$8,000 while retaining key AI capabilities. This move is designed to counteract U.S. export restrictions and recapture market share in China.
Why a Cheaper Blackwell Matters
China accounted for nearly half of global AI-accelerator sales before 2022; U.S. export curbs since then pushed Nvidia’s share in China down from 95% to roughly 50%. By offering a lower-spec Blackwell with GDDR7 memory and standard packaging instead of TSMC’s premium CoWoS, Nvidia hopes to bridge that gap and keep Chinese AI developers on its platform.
Technical Specs at a Glance
- Architecture: Blackwell
- Memory: GDDR7 (vs. HBM3e on premium models)
- Packaging: Traditional BGA (no CoWoS)
- Performance Tier: Mid-range AI inference and training workloads
Market Impact and Timing
Mass production is slated for June 2025, with deliveries expected in Q3. Industry analysts predict this chip will accelerate China’s AI adoption—even amid regulatory hurdles—and may prompt rival GPU makers to follow suit.
Looking Ahead
With the new Blackwell variant, Nvidia not only mitigates export-control impacts but also strengthens its foothold in the world’s fastest-growing AI market.
Sources: Reuters (May 24, 2025)
