MSI's most premium GPU variant, the LIGHTNING series, has been spotted in China, coming in with lower VRAM than the original model, but the looks remain consistent.
MSI's LIGHTNING Z GeForce RTX 5090D V2 Features Lower VRAM Than Original Model, Yet Packaging Is the Absolute Best
The MSI LIGHTNING variant, originally introduced with the GeForce RTX 5090, has been the talk of the town among 'premium GPUs'. Not only that, but this variant also features one of the highest-rated BIOS versions, at 2500W. With MSI's original showcase, there were no details on whether we could see a version specific to Chinese markets; however, according to footage shared by the Bilibili user Hardware Patrick Star (via @hongxing2020), the MSI LIGHTNING RTX 5090D V2 has been spotted, featuring cut-down 24 GB GDDR7 memory, along with specifications consistent with the cut-down variant.
Interestingly, the images shared show that the RTX 5090D V2 unit is the 909th of 1300 units MSI planned to release to the retail market. It appears that the manufacturer intends to include the original RTX 5090 and the China-specific version under the 1300 unit mark, but the latter features downgraded memory specifications, likely making it a much more viable option to sell than the original RTX 5090.
The user hasn't shared the pricing for the RTX 5090D V2 variant, but it is likely to be consistent with, or lower than, the standard model's retail price, since the 'D' models are in high demand in China, not just among gamers but also for AI workloads. In our exclusive review of the RTX 5090 LIGHTNING Z, we witnessed an awesome unboxing experience and a unit that is probably one of the most elegant out there. With the RTX 5090D V2, there appears to be no slack in the packaging.
About the author: Muhammad Zuhair is a hardware and technology reporter for Wccftech, specializing in the semiconductor industry and the complex interplay between technology, manufacturing, and geopolitics. His coverage focuses on the corporate strategies and technological roadmaps of industry giants like TSMC, NVIDIA, Samsung, and Intel. Zuhair's expertise lies in deconstructing complex topics such as fabrication nodes (e.g., 2nm process), the economic impact of policies like the CHIPS Act, and the strategic development of AI infrastructure from NVIDIA, AMD and Intel.
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