Summary
The final hardware specifications for theNintendo Switch 2have been revealed, confirming impressive upgrades to the processing power, graphics capabilities, and memory compared to the original Switch. The newNintendo Switch 2is set to hit the stores on June 5, with limited-quantity pre-orders already released.
The originalNintendo Switchwas 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 thepre-orders of Nintendo Switch 2 selling out in minutes.
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.
998MHz (docked), 1101MHz (mobile), Max 1.7GHz
1020 MHz (docked/mobile), Max 1.785GHz
2 cores (6 available to developers)
1 core (3 available to developers)
1536
256
1007MHz (docked), 561MHz (mobile), Max 1.4GHz
768MHz (docked), up to 460MHz (mobile), Max 921MHz
128-bit/LPDDR5
64-bit/LPDDR4
102GB/s (docked), 68GB/s (mobile)
25.6GB/s (docked), 21.3GB/s (mobile)
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 2077is 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 undoubtedlyshrink 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.
