Nintendo's complete specifications for the Switch 2 have been confirmed: it features an Nvidia Ampere chip with 1,536 CUDA cores and 12GB of RAM

Nintendo's Switch 2 features cutting-edge performance with an Nvidia Ampere chip, 1,536 CUDA cores, and 12GB of RAM, targeting both high power and portability.

: Nintendo has unveiled the full technical specifications for the anticipated Switch 2, showcasing significant upgrades with a custom Nvidia Ampere chip, 1,536 CUDA cores, and 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM. The console's CPU features an Arm Cortex-A78C processor that runs up to a potential 1.7GHz and supports 8 cores, enhancing gaming capabilities with six available for developers. Its advanced GPU offers performance up to 3.072 teraflops when docked, incorporating ray tracing and DLSS for improved visuals. With 256GB of storage and a display supporting HDR10 at 120Hz, the Switch 2 combines power and efficiency, though some features like Game Chat may challenge its performance.

Nintendo has officially confirmed the technical specifications for its Switch 2 console, offering a comprehensive insight into the hardware improvements over its predecessor. The Switch 2 is engineered around a custom Nvidia Ampere chip, referred to as T239, a clear enhancement from the original Tegra X1. It incorporates an Arm Cortex-A78C CPU, allowing for improved processing speeds and gaming capabilities. This chip can reach a maximum frequency of 1.7GHz under optimum conditions while providing six out of eight available cores to game developers, an increase from the previous limitations.

The new graphical processor offers significant enhancements, equipped with 1,536 CUDA cores. It can achieve a performance capacity of 1.71 teraflops in portable mode, and a boosted 3.072 teraflops when docked, indicating a substantial visual performance upgrade. The inclusion of Nvidia's Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) will support dynamic graphics adjustments, improving anti-aliasing and performance scaling. Despite this, ray tracing capabilities will initially be limited due to resource constraints.

Additionally, the Switch 2 features 12GB of LPDDR5X memory, allowing for faster and smoother multitasking with demanding games. Of this, 9GB is accessible to developers, and the memory's bandwidth is adjustable: 102GB/s when docked and 68GB/s in handheld mode, facilitating an enhanced gaming experience across varying formats. This also supports faster data processing and helps maintain the system's efficiency and performance levels.

In terms of storage, the Switch 2 comes with 256GB of internal UFS storage, which is further expandable with microSD Express cards up to 2TB, assuring sufficient storage for a growing library of games. The 7.9-inch display supports a 1080p resolution, HDR10, and a variable refresh rate reaching up to 120Hz, though its dock may not support variable refresh rate, which could influence gamers expecting performance consistency on larger screens. This design aims to offer an optimal balance between graphics quality and power efficiency.

Some features, such as the new Game Chat, pose additional demands on system resources. Concerns have been raised by developers regarding the resource intensity of active voice chat during gameplay. Nintendo has addressed these by integrating an API within the SDK to simulate various system loads and latencies, although the definitive impact of these functionalities on the Switch 2's performance is still under assessment.

Sources: TechSpot, Eurogamer

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