Nintendo Switch 2: Graphics Performance, CPU, and Hardware Specs

While Nintendo unveiled the Switch 2 last month, users have yet to get their hands on the device. Meanwhile, Geekerwan from China has already reverse-engineered the Nintendo Switch 2 motherboard to analyze the Nvidia SoC, GPU, CPU, hardware specs, and more. So we have compiled all the key hardware details, gaming results, and benchmarks from the Switch 2 to understand how well the handheld device performs. On that note, let’s go through the article.

Nintendo Switch 2: Hardware Specs

Nintendo Switch 2: Nvidia T239 SoC Architecture

First of all, Geekerwan in its video (link) says the Nintendo Switch 2 is powered by the Nvidia T239 SoC which was tapped out in 2021. After analyzing the Nvidia T239 chipset through Focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM), they found that it’s likely fabricated on Samsung’s 10nm/8nm hybrid node, which Nvidia calls a custom “8N” node.

In terms of die size, the Nvidia T239 chipset in Nintendo Switch 2 is around 207 mm square, which is about 2x larger than the Tegra X1 chip in the first Nintendo Switch. In fact, the SoC’s die size is comparable to RTX 3050/2050, and it’s larger than the Ryzen 7 7840H, Apple M2, and Snapdragon X Elite.

Apart from that, Geekerwan notes that the Nvidia T239 chipset in Nintendo Switch 2 can consume power up to 34.4W, which is quite high for a handheld device. However, in regular use, it may not hit those peak numbers.

Nintendo Switch 2: Graphics Performance

Now, let’s take a look at the GPU hardware. The Nvidia T239 chipset in Switch 2 likely features an Ampere-based Nvidia GPU which brings 6 TPCs (Texture Processing Cluster). As a result, you get 12 SMs (Streaming Multiprocessors) or 1,536 CUDA cores. There is no information on RT units or Tensor cores.

As for the GPU clock speed, the Nintendo Switch 2 can reach up to 561MHz in handheld mode, and 1007MHz in docked mode. Now, to “guesstimate” the graphics performance of the Nintendo Switch 2, Geekerwan downclocked the RTX 2050 laptop GPU to simulate the performance of the Switch 2. The underclocked RTX 2050 laptop GPU is pretty similar to the Switch 2 GPU.

In the 3DMark Steel Nomad Light benchmark, the simulated Switch 2 GPU scored 2,205 in the Docked mode, and 1,308 in the handheld mode. Basically, in the Docked mode, the Switch 2 GPU performs along the lines of desktop GTX 1050 Ti GPU, and in the handheld mode, it’s better than GTX 750 Ti, but slightly below the Steam Deck.

However, when you compare Switch 2 with the original Switch, you get around 7.5x better performance in handheld mode. And with DLSS, Switch 2 may offer up to 10x performance improvements, as claimed by Nvidia.

Nintendo Switch 2: Gaming Results

Geekerwan also played some games on the simulated Switch 2 GPU. In Cyberpunk 2077, the simulated GPU achieved 30 FPS in Docked mode with 720p internal rendering, DLSS set to Quality, and output at 1080p using low preset settings. And in the handheld mode with DLSS Performance mode and output at 1080p, it delivered 40FPS with 540p internal rendering.

In the Black Myth: Wukong game, the simulated Switch 2 GPU in Docked mode achieved 30FPS with 1080p output at low-preset settings and DLSS Balanced. With DLSS set to Ultra, you may get up to 40FPS. Finally, in Handheld mode, it couldn’t touch 30FPS at 720p output using DLSS Ultra Performance.

According to the simulated performance, the Switch 2 gaming experience is said to be playable and the graphics look “pretty decent and clear”, largely due to DLSS.

Nintendo Switch 2: CPU

Lastly, the Nvidia T239 chipset in Nintendo Switch 2 packs an octa-core CPU featuring 8x Arm Cortex-A78 cores. In the handheld mode, all Switch 2 CPU cores can go up to 1.1GHz, and in the Docked mode, the CPU clock speed is limited to 1.0GHz.

Geekerwan also ran the Geekbench 6 CPU test on the Nvidia Jetson Orin NX to simulate Switch 2’s CPU performance. Since both have identical CPUs, they downclocked the clock speed to exactly match Switch 2’s CPU frequency. In the Geekbench 6 test, the simulated Switch 2 CPU in Handheld mode scored 526 in single-core and 2,877 in multi-core.

The CPU performance is slightly better than the eight-year-old Snapdragon 845 processor but ranks much below the Steam Deck. However, compared to the first Nintendo Switch, you get almost 6x faster CPU performance. Geekerwan says while the CPU performance is underwhelming in the benchmark, it’s not a bottleneck and performs rather well in games.

To conclude, based on the current information, the Nvidia Switch 2 offers a substantial leap in performance when compared to the original Switch. However, it’s not as powerful as current generation handhelds or consoles, if we go by early leaks. That said, DLSS does improve the gaming performance significantly on this portable device.