Nvidia Developing B30 AI Chip for China with Multi-GPU Scaling Capabilities Amid Export Controls

Following the U.S. government's export ban on its H20 AI chips to China, Nvidia is reportedly developing a new alternative known as B30, according to The Information. This chip is designed to comply with export controls while still providing advanced capabilities. The B30 is part of a broader family of Blackwell-based accelerators, previously referred to by various names such as RTX Pro 6000D and B40, which suggests multiple variants may be in development. The new B30 solution is expected to support multi-GPU scaling, a critical feature for high-performance computing tasks. Despite the name changes, the underlying technology appears consistent, using GDDR7 memory and the GB20X silicon that powers consumer-grade RTX 50 GPUs. However, it's worth noting that Nvidia has removed NVLink support from its consumer GPU dies in recent generations, leading to speculation about whether the B30 will incorporate this feature. At Computex, Nvidia unveiled its RTX Pro Blackwell servers, which can house up to eight RTX Pro 6000 GPUs connected via ConnectX-8 SuperNICs equipped with PCIe 6.0 switches for efficient GPU-to-GPU communication. A similar setup is likely to be utilized in the B30, which might involve modifying existing GB202 chips, like those found in the RTX 5090, to enable NVLink support. When questioned about the H20 ban, Nvidia's CEO, Jensen Huang, clearly stated that the company would not develop additional alternatives based on the Hopper architecture. Instead, Nvidia will focus on the Blackwell architecture for chips destined for the Chinese market. The U.S. government's restrictions primarily target the H20's high memory bandwidth and interconnect bandwidth, considering these features too powerful for unrestricted export due to their potential use in building supercomputers for military purposes. Nvidia has faced ongoing challenges with U.S. export regulations, particularly regarding its high-performance AI accelerators. These regulations have also affected other tech giants, such as AMD, which recently announced potential losses of up to $800 million due to the ban on its MI308 chips. Jensen Huang has criticized these policies, calling them a "failure" that could erode the U.S.'s competitive edge. He argues that restricting access to advanced technologies could force Chinese companies like Huawei to accelerate their own innovation efforts. This could result in hardware that not only competes with Nvidia but potentially sets new global standards. The implications of these export controls extend beyond immediate financial impacts. They reflect a broader geopolitical struggle over technological dominance and highlight the delicate balance between national security concerns and international competition. As the tech industry navigates these complex issues, the development of the B30 and similar solutions underscores the adaptability and resilience of companies like Nvidia in the face of regulatory constraints.