AI enthusiast Qinglong Sheng has spotted two intriguing graphics cards in China: the GeForce RTX 4090D 48GB and the GeForce RTX 4080 Super 32GB. The mysterious SKUs are apparently improved versions of the GeForce RTX 4090D and GeForce RTX 4080 Super, which compete with the best graphics cards out there.
The GeForce RTX 4090D 48GB and GeForce RTX 4080 Super 32GB are available for rent on AutoDL, a Chinese cloud computing provider that rents out servers for AI work. The prices are incredible: you can rent a GeForce RTX 4080 Super 32GB for $0.03 per hour. However, the service is currently limited to China, as you need a Chinese phone number to sign up.
As the model names already suggest, the GeForce RTX 4090D 48GB and GeForce RTX 4080 Super 32GB come with twice the memory of the regular versions. More VRAM is advantageous when handling AI workloads. However, the core specifications of the graphics cards should remain unchanged, although the additional memory may slightly increase the TDP.
We've seen plenty of mods in the past where users have cleverly upgraded Nvidia's GeForce gaming graphics cards to add more memory, such as the GeForce RTX 3070 16GB. That said, this may be the first time we've seen the same level of work done on Nvidia's latest GeForce RTX 40-series (Ada Lovelace) graphics cards. The procedure seems simple, as it involves removing the graphics card's existing GDDR6X memory modules and soldering in new, higher-capacity modules. However, it does require some skill to execute.
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GeForce RTX 4090D 48GB (Image credit: Seiryuu Seija/X) GeForce RTX 4080 Super 32GB (Image credit: Seiryuu Seija/X) GeForce RTX 4080 Super 32GB (Image credit: Seiryuu Seija/X)
The regular GeForce RTX 4090D comes with 24GB of GDDR6X memory distributed across twelve 2GB GDDR6X memory modules, while the GeForce RTX 4080 comes with 16GB of GDDR6X consisting of eight chips of similar capacity. To double the memory, the vendor would have to replace the 2GB GDDR6X memory module with a 4GB one. The problem is that 4GB GDDR6X/GDDR6 memory modules don't exist.
As such, the GeForce RTX 4090D 48GB and GeForce RTX 4080 Super 32GB will likely utilize a custom PCB, allowing the vendor to place GDDR6X memory modules on both sides of the PCB — an approach similar to that employed by Nvidia on the chipmaker's more premium Titan and RTX professional graphics cards.
How AutoDL obtained the GeForce RTX 4090D 48GB and GeForce RTX 4080 Super 32GB and who did the modding remain a mystery, but Blue Dragon Saint has learned that both graphics cards have been in circulation in China since the end of June. The GeForce RTX 4090D 48GB is reportedly selling for around $2,500, which is $685 more than the regular GeForce RTX 4090D's MSRP of 12,999 yuan ($1,815).
The GeForce RTX 4090D 48GB and GeForce RTX 4080 Super 32GB might not be the only graphics cards in AutoDL's arsenal, as there's said to be an A100 upgraded to 96GB HBM2e instead of the usual A100 PCIe 80GB variant that Nvidia sells, but that's a story for another time.
