Chinese Firm Lists Modified RTX 5090 with 96GB VRAM
A Chinese manufacturer is selling a modified Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card with 96GB of memory on Alibaba for $3,888.
A Chinese manufacturer is listing a heavily modified Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card with 96GB of memory for sale on Alibaba. Shenzhen Suqiao Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. Is offering the card for $3,888, which it claims is 35% less than the price of a standard RTX 5090 in the United States.
The listing, which has surfaced amid an AI hardware boom in China, represents an attempt to repurpose gaming graphics cards for memory-intensive AI workloads. Tom's Hardware notes that Chinese factories have previously produced modified cards like the RTX 5080 32GB and the RTX 4090 48GB. While rumors of cards like an RTX 5090 with 128GB have circulated, the outlet states that a 96GB version is more plausible from a technical standpoint, given the existence of Nvidia's professional-grade RTX Pro 6000 Blackwell card with the same memory capacity.
The Source and Its Claims
The seller, Suqiao, is described as an established OEM/ODM with over a decade of experience in making graphics cards, motherboards, and servers. This background lends some credence to the listing, though Tom's Hardware cautions that the product page contains questionable specifications. The listing mentions GDDR6X memory running at 14 Gbps, details which conflict with known hardware capabilities.
Technical analysis in the report highlights a significant red flag. The professional RTX Pro 6000 Blackwell uses 32 GDDR7 memory chips, each with a 3GB (24Gb) capacity, to achieve its 96GB. For a consumer RTX 5090 to reach 96GB using older GDDR6X memory-which Micron only produced in 2GB (16Gb) chips-would be impossible, even in a clamshell configuration that doubles capacity. Also, GDDR6X typically operates at speeds between 19 and 24 Gbps, not the listed 14 Gbps.
Technical Feasibility and Precedent
A 96GB memory configuration is technically possible on the GB202 silicon that powers both the RTX 5090 and the RTX Pro 6000. The report explains that a custom PCB using a clamshell memory layout could theoretically double the VRAM. The vendor could either source GB202 chips individually or extract them from standard RTX 5090 cards to mount on this new board.
However, such a modification requires hacked firmware to function. Tom's Hardware points to the earlier RTX 4090 48GB mod, which relied on modified Nvidia firmware. "Rumors on the street suggest that a leaked firmware for the GeForce RTX 5090 has been available for a few months," the report states, offering a potential explanation for how these modified cards could operate.
Market Context and Pricing
The reported $3,888 price from Suqiao is notably lower than other listings for a purported RTX 5090 96GB, which have been seen closer to $5,900. For comparison, custom RTX 5090 models in the U.S. Are said to start at around $6,000. Nvidia's official RTX Pro 6000 Blackwell workstation card carries a price tag of approximately $16,000.
The table below summarizes the key specifications and prices mentioned in the Tom's Hardware report.
| Product | Memory Capacity | Listed Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modified RTX 5090 (Suqiao) | 96GB | $3,888 | Listed on Alibaba; specs claim GDDR6X at 14 Gbps |
| Modified RTX 5090 (Other merchants) | 96GB | ~$5,900 | Higher price point on same platform |
| Custom RTX 5090 (U.S. Market) | 32GB (standard) | From $6,000 | Starting price for standard models |
| Nvidia RTX Pro 6000 Blackwell | 96GB | ~$16,000 | Official professional workstation card |
If real, even a $6,000 modified RTX 5090 with 96GB would present a significant cost saving for AI workloads compared to Nvidia's professional offering. The report finishes by noting that while the listing's authenticity is dubious, the technical pursuit of high-VRAM consumer cards by Chinese manufacturers is a continuing trend driven by AI demand.
