NVIDIA’s Tegra239 SoC Confirmed for Nintendo Switch 2; First Chip Image Emerges

It seems Nintendo has once again tapped into NVIDIA’s expertise for the Nintendo Switch 2. Just like the original Switch, this new iteration is powered by NVIDIA’s technology, and an image of the chip has made its rounds online.

NVIDIA’s Tegra239 chip is at the heart of the Nintendo Switch 2, boasting an ARM-based architecture that promises solid performance. When Nintendo unveiled the Switch 2, we learned about its potential, including 4K 60 FPS output when docked, but the details of its internal workings, specifically the chip, remained largely under wraps. However, it was widely believed—and now confirmed—that the device is driven by NVIDIA’s next-gen Tegra239 chip. This has been corroborated through a photo shared by @Kurnalsalts, which features the labeled “T239” chip.

The tweet itself is sparse on specifics, leaving us to rely on existing knowledge of the SoC’s specifications. Here’s what we understand: the Tegra239 is built with eight Arm Cortex-A78C cores, a hybrid GPU that combines elements of NVIDIA’s Ada Lovelace and Ampere technologies, and houses 1536 CUDA cores. CPU performance is estimated to range from 1.1 GHz to 1.5 GHz, reflecting the variation in speed when docked. The system also includes a 128-bit memory interface that utilizes LPDDR5 technology.

While the intricate details of the Tegra239 remain somewhat elusive, one significant feature is its support for DLSS upscaling technology, enhancing the overall performance of the console. For a comprehensive breakdown of the device, check out our thorough discussion elsewhere on our page. This latest chip showcases NVIDIA’s continued commitment to custom ASIC projects, and with ARM as a partner, they maintain a unique collaboration with Nintendo.

As NVIDIA continues to intrigue us with its advancements, the gaming world is left wondering when they plan to venture further into the AI PC market. Rumors about a potential joint effort with MediaTek to develop ARM-based SoCs named N1X and N1 series have been swirling since last year, but so far, there hasn’t been any substantial news on this front.