NVIDIA’s Tegra239 SoC Confirmed for Nintendo Switch 2; First Chip Images Emerge

Nintendo’s latest console, the Switch 2, has turned heads with its first online appearance of the NVIDIA chip powering it, and it promises some impressive features.

The heart of the Switch 2 appears to be NVIDIA’s Tegra239 chip, a piece of tech buzzing with rumors and now a few confirmations. This chipset carries an ARM-based architecture, renowned for its balance of power and efficiency. We’ve already seen hints that it pushes the limits with capabilities like delivering 4K at 60 FPS when docked, a significant step up in gaming experience.

In terms of specification, there’s quite a bit to unpack. The Tegra239 houses eight Arm Cortex-A78C cores and a sophisticated hybrid GPU. This GPU blends elements of both NVIDIA’s Ada Lovelace and Ampere architectures and touts 1536 CUDA cores. Operating speeds are pegged between 1.1 GHz to 1.5 GHz, fluctuating depending on whether the console is docked. It also features a 128-bit memory interface with LPDDR5 technology, ensuring smooth performance for demanding games.

While some specs remain under wraps, one standout feature is its compatibility with DLSS upscaling technology. This enhancement is a major boost for visual performance, allowing games to run more smoothly at higher resolutions. We dive deeper into these specifications in another detailed post for those eager to know every bit.

NVIDIA’s partnership with ARM continues to bear fruit, with the Tegra239 highlighting its custom ASIC strategy’s vitality. This alliance ensures Nintendo Switch retains its edge. Yet, the buzz in the tech world isn’t just about gaming consoles. There’s a growing curiosity about when NVIDIA will branch out its chips for AI-driven PCs. Collaborating with MediaTek, NVIDIA might soon launch an ARM-centered SoC, the N1X and N1 series becoming names to watch. However, for now, we’ll have to stay tuned for further announcements.