Demand for repairs of Nvidia’s advanced AI chips like H100 and A100 is rising in China, despite US export restrictions.

Several firms in Shenzhen now provide repair services for these high-performance GPUs, which are reportedly smuggled into the country.

The US banned these chips in 2022 over military concerns, but some Chinese entities have reportedly acquired them, fueling a growing repair market.

One Shenzhen-based company, which previously focused on gaming GPU repairs, now services up to 500 Nvidia AI chips monthly.

Another firm, which shifted from GPU rentals to repairs this year, handles around 200 chips each month.

Repair costs range from 10,000 yuan (US$1,400) to 20,000 yuan (US$2,800), depending on the complexity of the issue.

The surge in repair demand is partly due to the extensive use of these GPUs, which may operate continuously for years.

Industry sources indicate that Nvidia GPUs typically require maintenance after two to five years of use.

Nvidia’s China-compliant H20 chip sees limited demand due to high prices and lower performance, while smuggling of newer B200 GPUs continues.