Nintendo Switch 2 Clock Speed Leaks Indicate 8nm Chip; Reveal Trailer Lacks Clear Evidence of DLSS or Ampere Features

Nintendo Switch 2: Analyzing Leaked Clock Speeds

Recent leaks regarding the Nintendo Switch 2 have ignited discussions among tech enthusiasts, particularly regarding its clock speeds. A new analysis indicates that these specifications suggest the device is likely powered by an advanced 8nm chip.

Expert Insights from Digital Foundry

In a recent podcast episode, the technology experts at Digital Foundry examined the leaked clock speeds, determining they indeed match expectations for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. However, some aspects warrant closer scrutiny.

For instance, the reported GPU clock speed appears somewhat low in relation to the cooling capabilities of the system. Furthermore, the clock speeds of the CPU—comprising eight Cortex A78 cores—are surprisingly higher in portable mode than when docked. This anomaly raises intriguing questions, hinting that the system may disable certain cores to conserve battery life in portable mode, or employ varying frequency modes depending on the operational state.

Memory Bandwidth and Resolution Concerns

While the perspective on clock speeds is promising, concerns about memory bandwidth arise, particularly if the Nintendo Switch 2 is indeed set to feature a 1080p display, as rumored. Unfortunately, the reveal trailer did not clarify whether the new system will offer an improved resolution compared to its predecessor.

The Role of NVIDIA’s Ampere Architecture

Another area not adequately addressed in the reveal trailer is how the Nintendo Switch 2 intends to leverage the capabilities of the T239’s Ampere architecture. The brief footage from Mario Kart was not showcased at a high resolution and exhibited aliasing issues typical of many Nintendo titles. Importantly, there was also no evidence presented of advanced features such as NVIDIA DLSS—Deep Learning Super Sampling—being utilized.

As Digital Foundry pointed out, while the Nintendo Switch 2 could theoretically implement the new Transformer Model of DLSS, its practicality is uncertain. The Transformer Model introduces more computational demands than the existing Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) model and was not originally designed for a mobile platform that now seems several generations behind.

Moreover, a recent patent describes a more lightweight version of DLSS for the Nintendo Switch 2, suggesting that it may not support the full capabilities of the desktop Transformer model due to inherent computational limitations.

Looking Ahead: Launch Timeline

The anticipation builds as the Nintendo Switch 2 is set to launch worldwide later this year. Additional details are expected to be revealed in a dedicated Nintendo Direct presentation scheduled for early April.

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