THE CRUNCH
A leaked video posted by HKEPC on X appears to show a Chinese factory dismantling large numbers of brand-new consumer RTX 5090 cards for conversion into AI server GPUs. The footage, also picked up by Tom's Hardware, shows workers removing the cards' three-fan coolers and heatsinks, with what looks like hundreds or possibly thousands of GPUs going through the process, including Nvidia's own Founders Edition.
According to HKEPC, the GPU and memory chips are desoldered and transplanted onto a separate PCB, then fitted with a dual-slot blower-style cooler that suits the tight, multi-card layout of AI server racks. The converted cards are then run through stability and benchmark tests on large open test benches before being repacked for delivery.
The scale matters because consumer RTX 5090 stock is already scarce in the US and many other countries, despite Nvidia saying production continues. PC Gamer notes it has stopped tracking the card's price because the only US listings come from third-party sellers at vastly inflated prices, around $8,000 or more against a $1,999 launch price.
Reports of this kind of grey-market conversion are not new. In September 2026, photos shared by HKEPC showed pallets of boxed retail RTX 5090s being unpacked at AI server assembly sites, and retail pricing had reportedly climbed past $5,000 on some listings, more than double the launch price. The card is not officially sold in China, yet the facility shown is reportedly full of them.