Frenzy Over Nvidia Gaming Chips Sparks Chaos in Tokyo
Massive Demand Overwhelms Electronics Store
A Tokyo electronics store has issued a public apology after a surge of Chinese buyers created chaos in their attempt to purchase Nvidia’s latest GeForce RTX 50 graphics cards. The incident, which quickly went viral on Japanese social media, highlights the growing impact of the US-China tech war on global gamers and resellers.
Hundreds of Buyers Flood Akihabara
Last week, up to 400 people gathered at PC Koubou, a store in Akihabara—a district famous for gaming, anime, and electronics—hoping to buy the latest Nvidia graphics cards. However, due to overcrowding, obstruction of pavements, and even trespassing on private property, the store was forced to cancel the sale.
In a statement on Monday, PC Koubou formally apologized:
“We present our deepest apologies for the great commotion that has burdened and worried our customers, neighboring communities, and related parties.”
Why Are Chinese Buyers Rushing to Japan?
The rush for Nvidia’s latest GPUs is largely due to US export restrictions on advanced chips to China. While Nvidia has created a weaker, modified version for the Chinese market, Chinese gamers and resellers are eager to get the full-powered international version.
Key Differences Between Versions:
- The RTX 5090 (global) can process 3,352 trillion operations per second (TOPS).
- The RTX 5090D (China-only) is 29% weaker, performing at 2,375 TOPS.
Chaotic Scenes at PC Koubou
PC Koubou had planned a limited sale through a lottery system, offering:
- 10 units of RTX 5090
- 47 units of RTX 5080
However, the store underestimated demand, leading to crowds overflowing onto the streets. Online videos showed buyers squeezing onto a narrow pavement, spilling into the road, and even climbing fences.
One desperate buyer jumped over a fence into a nearby kindergarten, damaging a sign in the process. Staff attempts to restore order failed, and the store ultimately canceled the sale. Instead, they switched to a two-day online lottery system.
Nvidia’s History of China-Specific GPUs
This is not the first time Nvidia has adjusted its products to comply with US restrictions. In 2023, the company released the RTX 4090D for China, which was about 5% slower than the standard RTX 4090.
Sky-High Demand and Resale Prices
The demand for RTX 5090 cards is skyrocketing in China, with resellers driving prices far beyond retail:
- Official prices:
- RTX 5090 – $1,999 in the US, $2,600 in Japan
- RTX 5090D (China-only) – $2,270 in China
- Resale prices:
- On Taobao (China’s top e-commerce platform), some sellers are listing the RTX 5090 for up to $5,700.
Gamers and Resellers Seek Alternative Markets
With restrictions in place, Chinese buyers are searching for ways to acquire the high-performance GPUs from overseas. On Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu, users are actively discussing purchasing strategies:
- One user asked about the risks of buying in South Korea.
- Another, a student in Thailand, hoped to import RTX 5090s to fund his tuition.
Conclusion
The Nvidia GPU craze is a direct consequence of the US-China tech conflict, leaving Chinese gamers desperate for high-performance hardware. The chaos in Akihabara is just the latest sign of how restrictions on technology exports are reshaping global markets and driving prices to extreme levels.
