The Apology and the Commotion
An electronics store in Tokyo has issued a formal apology following a chaotic incident involving hundreds of Chinese buyers who descended upon its Akihabara outlet to purchase the latest Nvidia gaming chips. The event, which gained significant attention on Japanese social media, highlighted the ripple effects of the US-China tech war on the gaming community and resellers. The store, operated by PC Koubou, initially planned to sell the highly sought-after GeForce RTX 50 series graphics cards through a lottery system. However, the overwhelming turnout of approximately 400 buyers led to widespread disruption, including obstructed sidewalks, trespassing on nearby properties, and a general breakdown of order. As a result, the store was forced to cancel the sale and later apologized for the inconvenience caused to customers, neighbors, and other stakeholders.
The Role of the US-China Tech War
The chaos in Akihabara was a direct consequence of the ongoing US-China tech war, which has imposed strict export restrictions on advanced computer chips to China. These restrictions, aimed at limiting China’s access to technologies that could enhance artificial intelligence (AI) and weapons development, have created a disparity in the availability of high-performance gaming hardware. While the latest Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 chips are available in markets like Japan and the US, they are not sold in China. Instead, Chinese consumers are offered a modified version, the RTX 5090D, which has a slower AI component, making it less powerful for gaming and other intensive tasks. This discrepancy has fueled a surge in demand for the unrestricted versions of the chips outside China, particularly among diehard gamers and resellers.
The Chaos in Akihabara
The situation in Akihabara spiraled out of control as hundreds of buyers, mostly Chinese-speaking individuals, flocked to PC Koubou’s store last week. The store had planned to sell a limited stock of the GeForce RTX 50 series, including 10 RTX 5090 chips and 47 RTX 5080 chips, through a lottery system. However, the number of participants far exceeded expectations, leading to chaotic scenes. Videos shared on social media showed crowds spilling onto the streets, ignoring staff requests to maintain order, and even trespassing on a nearby kindergarten. The commotion prompted the store to cancel the sale and switch to an online lottery system to prevent further disruption.
China’s Limited Access to Advanced Chips
The US export restrictions on advanced chips have created a significant challenge for Chinese gamers and tech enthusiasts. The latest Nvidia chips, which promise faster processing speeds and superior image rendering, are highly sought after by gamers worldwide. However, their availability in China is limited due to the modified RTX 5090D version, which lags behind its international counterpart in performance. While the RTX 5090 sold outside China can handle 3,352 trillion operations per second (TOPS), the RTX 5090D offered in China operates at just 2,375 TOPS, a 29% reduction in power. This disparity has driven Chinese buyers to seek the unrestricted versions from other markets, often at inflated prices.
The Significance of the Chips for Gamers
For gamers, the difference between the restricted and unrestricted chips is substantial. The GeForce RTX 5090 series offers unmatched visuals and a smoother gaming experience, making it a must-have for serious gamers. The US restrictions on exporting these chips to China have inadvertently created a black market, where resellers and individuals are willing to pay premium prices to acquire the unrestricted versions. This demand has also been fueled by the inability of Chinese gamers to access the full potential of Nvidia’s latest technology, as the modified RTX 5090D falls short in meeting the needs of high-performance gaming.
The Reselling Market and Its Implications
The high demand for Nvidia’s unrestricted chips has given rise to a thriving reselling market, with individuals and resellers capitalizing on the price difference between markets. In Japan, the RTX 5090 is priced at approximately $2,600, while in China, the modified RTX 5090D sells for around $2,270. However, resellers are advertising the unrestricted chips on platforms like Taobao for as much as $5,700, exploiting the desperation of Chinese gamers. Social media platforms are filled with posts from individuals seeking tips on purchasing these chips overseas or offering them for sale at inflated prices. This trend underscores the broader implications of the US-China tech war, which has created a complex web of supply and demand, driven by both necessity and profit.
