Nvidia has taken a strategic step in response to US technology export restrictions to China, introducing the B30, a new AI accelerator specifically for the Chinese market. Built on the Blackwell architecture, this new model lags behind the previous H20 accelerator in terms of performance but stands out with its lower cost and higher efficiency. The company has received billions of dollars in orders just after the B30 was unveiled, demonstrating the scale of demand for AI infrastructure in China.

Nvidia’s AI accelerator attracts interest in China

The Nvidia B30 is reported to offer 25 percent lower performance compared to the H20 model, but is also 30 percent more energy efficient. It is also claimed to offer a 40 percent cost advantage in system installations. These features make the B30 an attractive option for AI projects, particularly those targeting small and medium-sized businesses.

The new accelerator utilizes more affordable GDDR7 memory instead of high-end HBM memory. This has reduced production costs and made the product more accessible. It was reported that a rack-mounted setup with eight B30 cards achieved a total bandwidth of 1.2 TB/s.

Nvidia reportedly presented its B30 solution to leading Chinese technology companies in early June, attracting significant interest immediately after the presentation. The strong interest shown by Chinese companies in this product demonstrates Nvidia’s continued strengthening of its position in this market.

According to reports, only one Chinese company has placed a $1 billion order for the B30. While the company’s name was not disclosed, it is noteworthy that this level of demand occurred before mass production even began.

Behind the B30’s rapid adoption in the Chinese market is Nvidia’s product development approach, which complies with US embargoes. The restrictions on the Blackwell architecture and the use of GDDR7 instead of HBM allow the product to be legally exported. However, whether this situation will change in the long term depends on whether the US government imposes new restrictions on China.

Barring any new regulations, the Nvidia B30 is currently projected to become one of the best-selling accelerators in China. This development demonstrates Nvidia’s continued influence not only through high performance but also through strategic alignment and solutions tailored to market needs.