Nintendo Switch 2 Revealed: Final System Specs Confirm CPU and GPU Max Clock Speeds, Game RAM Availability, and Multiple NVIDIA DLSS Options

Nintendo Switch 2: Comprehensive Overview of Specifications

Today marks a significant milestone for gaming enthusiasts as the complete specifications for the Nintendo Switch 2 have been unveiled. These details shed light on the console’s capabilities while also highlighting certain limitations that developers will need to consider when creating games for this next-generation system.

CPU Specifications: Power Meets Precision

According to Digital Foundry, the Switch 2 is powered by the ARM Cortex A7BC processor. This CPU operates with the ARMv8 64-bit instruction set, featuring cryptographic extensions but omitting support for 32-bit operations within the SDK. Equipped with 64K of L1 instruction cache and an equivalent amount for L1 data cache, each of the eight cores includes a 256K L2 cache, sharing a collective 4MB L3 cache. Notably, two cores are allocated for the system’s operating functions, meaning that games will primarily utilize the remaining six cores. With a maximum clock speed reaching up to 1.7 GHz, this enhancement is a considerable upgrade compared to the original Switch’s 1100 MHz in handheld mode and 998 MHz in docked mode. However, it’s emphasized that this peak performance is theoretically achievable under specific conditions.

GPU Insights: Ampere Architecture Unleashed

The graphical capabilities of the Nintendo Switch 2 are equally impressive. Built on NVIDIA’s Ampere architecture, the system boasts a GPU with 1536 CUDA cores. Digital Foundry reports that it operates at 561 MHz when in handheld mode and 1007 MHz while docked, with a maximum frequency of 1.4 GHz. There is ambiguity around whether developers can exceed the specified clock rates, as certain GPU resources are reserved for the system itself. While the GPU’s rated performance stands at 3.072 TFLOPs, this metric has become less significant for evaluating overall performance. Additionally, the console supports ray tracing at approximately 10 gigarays per second, increasing to 20 in docked mode.

RAM and Performance Limitations

The Nintendo Switch 2 is equipped with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM; however, developers will not have exclusive access to the entire capacity. Digital Foundry notes that this RAM configuration consists of two 6 GB modules, providing bandwidths of 102GB/s for docked mode and 68GB/s for handheld mode. Importantly, 3 GB is set aside for the operating system, which is a marked increase compared to the original Switch’s RAM allocation for non-gaming functions.

Advanced Features and Developer Insights

The Switch 2’s unique features extend beyond basic specifications. The custom-built File Decompression Engine (FDE) promises faster and more power-efficient decompression. However, variable refresh rate (VRR) technology will only be applicable to the console’s built-in screen and is not supported for HDMI outputs at this time. Additionally, developers are cautioned about the potential performance implications of the Game Chat feature, as a testing tool will be provided to assess its impact preemptively.

NVIDIA DLSS Options: Enhancing Visual Fidelity

One of the exciting aspects of the Nintendo Switch 2 is its compatibility with NVIDIA DLSS technologies. Digital Foundry has confirmed support for various DLSS options, including DLAA, 1x, 2x, and 3x. While detailed specifications on these modes are pending, they are anticipated to align closely with the Quality, Balanced, and Performance options available on PC platforms.

Nintendo Switch 2 Confirmed Specs: CPU, GPU, Memory, System Reservation + More (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huxDoYXS8Ng)

Release Date: Mark Your Calendars

The Nintendo Switch 2 is set to release globally on June 5th, although certain regions, including China and parts of Central America, may experience delayed availability.

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