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

Rumor had it that Nintendo’s upcoming console, the Switch 2, would once again rely on NVIDIA’s expertise, similar to the original version. Speculation turned into reality as pictures of the chip made their debut online.

As expected, the Nintendo Switch 2 is powered by NVIDIA’s Tegra239 chip, which boasts an ARM-based architecture aimed at delivering solid performance. During the console’s launch, we got a glimpse of its capabilities, particularly the impressive 4K at 60 FPS when connected to its docking station. However, specifics about the chip weren’t immediately clear. Fortunately, thanks to a leak shared by @Kurnalsalts, we now know that the heart of this gaming device is indeed the Tegra239, clearly marked as “T239.”

Though the tweet didn’t delve into much detail, previous rumors help fill in some blanks. The Tegra239 reportedly comes equipped with eight Arm Cortex-A78C cores, alongside a hybrid GPU combining Ada Lovelace and Ampere technologies, and sporting 1536 CUDA cores. The CPU is expected to reach speeds between 1.1 GHz and 1.5 GHz, particularly in docked mode. Additionally, it stands out with its 128-bit memory interface featuring the advanced LPDDR5 tech.

Intriguingly, while detailed specifics about the Tegra239 remain sparse, one feature stands out: support for DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) upscaling technology, which enhances the console’s overall performance. For those interested in diving deeper, we invite you to check our comprehensive post discussing the device in detail. Through the Tegra239, NVIDIA continues to affirm its strong custom ASIC pursuits, maintaining an exclusive collaboration with Nintendo through ARM.

But on another note, many of us are left wondering when NVIDIA will reveal its projected chip for the AI PC market—a subject buzzing with anticipation since the last year. There’s talk of Team Green collaborating with MediaTek to launch an ARM-centric system on a chip, speculated to be tagged under the N1X and N1 series. Updates on this venture, however, remain elusive for now.