Summary

  • The Nintendo Switch 2's hardware will see major upgrades compared to its predecessor.
  • The upcoming console features a new Nvidia T239 chip, built specifically for Nintendo.
  • It includes twice as many processor cores, four times more memory bandwidth, and six times the CUDA cores found on the Switch.

The final hardware specifications for the Nintendo Switch 2 have been revealed, confirming impressive upgrades to the processing power, graphics capabilities, and memory compared to the original Switch. The new Nintendo Switch 2 is set to hit the stores on June 5, with limited-quantity pre-orders already released.

The original Nintendo Switch was built around a mobile-focused Nvidia Tegra X1 processor, a chip that was arguably already dated when the console launched in 2017. While the system has been a massive success based on convenience and first-party offerings, even outselling its competition at the time, it struggled to run modern third-party games without severe visual compromises. The new hardware is aiming to catch up to Sony's and Microsoft's performance supremacy, and demand for the new console is evident, as proven by the pre-orders of Nintendo Switch 2 selling out in minutes.

Switch 2
Nintendo Switch 2 May Have One Ace Up Its Sleeve

The Nintendo Switch 2 is right around the corner, and as it nears release, Nintendo could leverage its power in a community it has often avoided.

1

According to a report by Digital Foundry, the final Switch 2 hardware has now been revealed. The upcoming console features a new Nvidia T239 chip, built specifically for Nintendo. The CPU comes with eight powerful ARM Cortex A78C processor cores and supports 64-bit architecture. The system reserves two of these cores for itself, while the rest are available solely for games, and the updated GPU is also much more powerful and supports Nvidia's all-important AI and graphics technologies.

Switch 2 Brings Remarkable Performance Upgrades

Compared to the current Nintendo Switch, with Nvidia's now-obsolete Tegra X1 chip, the differences are immense. It includes twice as many processor cores, up to four times more memory bandwidth, and six times the CUDA cores, which are responsible for much of the system's graphical performance. The Switch 2 includes 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM, compared to the 4GB in the original Switch. The RAM is split between system and games, similarly to the CPU, with 9GB available for games and 3GB reserved for the OS. Not only does this leave much more room for game textures, but ensures a smoother experience overall.

Switch 2: Nvidia T239

Switch 1: Nvidia Tegra X1

CPU Architecture

8x ARM Cortex A78C

4x ARM Cortex A57

CPU Clocks

998MHz (docked), 1101MHz (mobile), Max 1.7GHz

1020 MHz (docked/mobile), Max 1.785GHz

CPU System Reservation

2 cores (6 available to developers)

1 core (3 available to developers)

GPU Architecture

Ampere

Maxwell

CUDA Cores

1536

256

GPU Clocks

1007MHz (docked), 561MHz (mobile), Max 1.4GHz

768MHz (docked), up to 460MHz (mobile), Max 921MHz

Memory/Interface

128-bit/LPDDR5

64-bit/LPDDR4

Memory Bandwidth

102GB/s (docked), 68GB/s (mobile)

25.6GB/s (docked), 21.3GB/s (mobile)

Memory System Reservation

3GB (9GB available for games)

0.8GB (3.2GB available for games)

While the confirmed specs are great news for those who can't wait to get their hands on a Switch 2, one of the most crucial pieces of information is the confirmation of comprehensive support for DLSS, or Deep Learning Super-Sampling. According to the report, various levels of DLSS are available, bringing better performance and upscaling quality to Nintendo fans. Cyberpunk 2077 is confirmed to utilize the tech, and one can expect Nintendo offerings to follow suit.

The combination of much more powerful components and support for revolutionary AI and ray tracing technology will undoubtedly shrink the gap between Nintendo Switch and its competitors. It will also make the third-party experience align much closer to the ones found on Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5.

Image
Nintendo Switch 2 Tag Page Cover Art
Display card main info widget
Brand
Nintendo
Operating System
Proprietary
Storage
256GB internal / MicroSD
Resolution
1080p (handheld) / 4K (docked)
App Store
Nintendo eShop
Wi-Fi
Yes
Display card main info widget end

Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info