RTX 5090 cards are being converted into AI server cards, reports say

Leaked footage from a conversion workshop shows workers stripping RTX 5090 cards to create AI server hardware, HKEPC reports. The process involves removing the GPU packages and 32GB of GDDR7 memory from retail models, including Nvidia Founders Editions and ROG Astrals, to rebuild them onto new circuit boards. The finished products are dual-slot cards using blower-style coolers designed to fit in server chassis.

The RTX 5090 uses a GB202 GPU with 21,760 CUDA cores and 32GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, providing roughly 1.8 TB/s of bandwidth. While the full RTX 5090 is subject to US export controls, these components offer fast memory for large language model inference. The footage does not show how the standard models reached the facility or when the clips were filmed.

This comes as supply for the card remains tight. Reports say street prices for the RTX 5090 have reached $8,500. Reports indicate that an ROG Astral RTX 5090 costs around $10,000.