The Switch 2’s full spec sheet is finally here, and with it, a breakdown of the CPU and GPU. With a custom NVIDIA chip packing 1,536 CUDA cores, 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and a CPU that tops out at 1.7GHz, Nintendo’s next console is going to be a powerful little handheld.
The Nintendo Switch 2 still remained a mystery in at least one way until this week, with the full specs of the console having not been confirmed. Of course, for some, the full specs don’t really matter. As long as they know it’ll deliver better performance, cool new features, and fun games to play. Having said that, those who are more excited by all things tech, even down to the components, will be happy to know that it’s now possible to take a peek inside Nintendo’s new console and see what makes it run. In essence, at least.
Nintendo has officially released its list of technical specs for the Nintendo Switch 2. However, there are some details that are pretty non-descriptive, specifically the CPU and GPU. This shouldn’t be too surprising as Nintendo hasn’t really shared the exact specs details of its hardware for a while. Thankfully, you won’t have to settle for just this information. Those who are curious about what powers the new console can now know exactly what type of components Nintendo is using.
Nintendo Switch 2 specs reveal detailed information about the CPU and GPU
If you look at Nintendo’s official specs list for the upcoming console, you’ll find a nice set of information that tells you mostly everything. Save for the really technical details, like what makes up the console’s CPU and GPU. Nintendo merely says that it’s a custom processor made by NVIDIA. That doesn’t really say much, though.
This is where Digital Foundry comes in. Digital Foundry dug a little deeper and has a more complete rundown of the CPU and GPU. Right down to the memory bandwidth and the number of CUDA cores. Starting with the CPU, the CPU architecture is 8x ARM Cortex A78C. It has a CPU clock speed of 998MHz when docked, 1,101MHz when mobile, and a max clock speed of 1.7GHz. The CPU also has 2 cores for system reservation, although developers have 6 cores at their disposal.
When it comes to the GPU, the Switch 2’s GPU is built on NVIDIA’s Ampere architecture and has 1,536 CUDA cores. That’s an astoundingly large amount compared to the Switch 1, which had 256 CUDA cores to work with. As for the GPU clock speed, it runs at 1,007MHz when docked, and 561MHz when mobile. It also has a max clock speed of 1.4GHz. The Switch 2 is running with 128-bit LPDDR5 memory with a memory bandwidth of 102GB/s when docked and 68GB/s when mobile. Lastly, it has a memory system reservation of 3GB while 9GB is available for games. Making for a total of 12GB.
Additionally, Digital Foundry says that the Switch 2 will support multiple NVIDIA DLSS options for games. This includes DLAA, 1x, 2x, and 3x. That being said, there’s no explanation of what those options are like. All in all, it sounds like Nintendo’s new system is going to be a powerful little handheld.
