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In a Nintendo video published June 3, 2025, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang called the custom processor in Nintendo Switch 2 “unlike anything we’ve built before.” The practical point is that the chip combines Nvidia graphics features such as DLSS and ray tracing with the low-power design of a portable console. It does not mean Switch 2 performs like a desktop gaming PC, or that every game runs natively at 4K.
What Jensen Huang said about the Switch 2 processor
Huang’s comments appeared in Nintendo’s Creator’s Voice video about the console. He described Switch 2 as a new chapter in the idea behind the original system: capable gaming in a device that can also be carried around. He credited the late Nintendo president Satoru Iwata with that vision and said Nvidia had devoted more than 500 engineer-years to the original Switch project. Watch Huang’s Nintendo video.
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Nintendo Switch 2 System | $499.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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Nintendo Switch with Neon Blue and Neon Red Joy-Con - Handheld Gaming Console | $330.49 | Buy on Amazon |
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Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle with Bonus HDMI Cable & Screen Cleaning Cloth | $619.00 | Buy on Amazon |
For Switch 2, Huang emphasized the challenge of bringing performance, visual quality and AI-assisted graphics together within portable-console power constraints. Nvidia says the Switch 2 effort involved 1,000 engineer-years across the chip, system, APIs and tools. Those figures and the description of the processor as unprecedented are Nvidia’s account of its work, not independent measures of game performance. Nvidia’s overview of Switch 2 technology.
What processor is inside Nintendo Switch 2?
Nintendo’s public specification identifies the CPU and GPU as a custom processor made by NVIDIA. Specialist technical reporting identifies it as the T239, reportedly codenamed “Drake,” with an Ampere-derived Nvidia GPU. Nintendo’s consumer-facing specification does not publish the full chip designation or all of the component-level figures, so those details should be understood as technical reporting rather than Nintendo’s own complete specification. Nintendo’s official specifications; TechPowerUp’s technical analysis.
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- The next evolution of Nintendo Switch
- One system, three play modes: TV, Tabletop, and Handheld
- Larger, vivid, 7.9” LCD touch screen with support for HDR and up to 120 fps
- Dock that supports 4K when connected to a compatible TV*
- GameChat** lets you voice chat, share your game screen, and connect via video chat as you play
| Detail | What is reported or confirmed |
|---|---|
| Processor maker | Nintendo confirms a custom processor made by NVIDIA. |
| Chip designation and GPU architecture | T239 and an Ampere-derived GPU, as reported by technical coverage. |
| CPU | Eight ARM Cortex-A78C cores, according to technical analysis. |
| GPU | Approximately 1,536 CUDA cores, according to specialist reporting; Nvidia confirms dedicated RT and Tensor cores. |
| Memory | 12GB LPDDR5X across two 6GB modules, according to technical reporting; Nintendo lists 256GB UFS internal storage. |
Ampere is an Nvidia GPU architecture, not a performance rating. Switch 2’s processor is a console system-on-chip designed to integrate CPU, GPU and other system functions under the power and thermal limits of a hybrid console. It should not be equated with a discrete desktop graphics card just because both may share architectural features or support ray tracing.
What DLSS, ray tracing and 4K output mean for games
DLSS can reconstruct a higher-resolution image
Nvidia’s Tensor cores provide hardware for AI workloads, including DLSS. In supported games, DLSS can use a lower internal rendering resolution to produce an image intended for a higher-resolution display output. That can reduce the rendering burden compared with drawing every pixel at the final output resolution, leaving developers room to balance image quality and performance.
DLSS is a tool for developers, not an automatic improvement applied to every game. Its image quality and performance effect depend on how a particular title implements it and on the settings and frame-rate target chosen by its developer. A 4K output signal therefore does not establish that a game renders internally at native 4K.
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- 6.2” LCD screen
- Three play modes: TV, tabletop, and handheld
- Local co-op, online, and local wireless multiplayer
- Detachable Joy-Con controllers
- Nintendo Switch is the home of Mario & friends
Ray tracing adds lighting options, with a performance cost
Dedicated RT cores accelerate ray-tracing calculations used for effects such as more realistic reflections and lighting. Support gives developers another graphics option; it does not mean every game will use ray tracing, or use it extensively. More demanding effects can consume performance, so studios may apply them selectively.
Output limits are not promises about every game
Nintendo specifies TV output up to 3840×2160 at 60 frames per second, with support for up to 120 frames per second at selected lower resolutions. The built-in display is a 7.9-inch, 1920×1080 LCD with HDR10 and variable refresh rate support up to 120Hz. These are system display and output capabilities, not guarantees that each game reaches those resolutions or frame rates. Nintendo’s Switch 2 specifications.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How much faster is Switch 2 than the original?
Nvidia says Switch 2 offers up to 10 times the graphics performance of the original Switch. That is the chip maker’s headline comparison, not a result that applies uniformly to every game. Performance depends on the title, resolution, visual settings, frame-rate target and use of features such as DLSS or ray tracing. Nvidia’s claim is described in its technical overview.
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- 【Ultimate Nintendo Switch 2 Bundle – Ready to Play】Includes the complete Nintendo Switch 2 console and a full-game download of Mario Kart World, so you can start racing right out of the box. Perfect for gamers of all ages and playstyles.
- 【Next-Gen Hybrid Gaming with Stunning Visuals】Experience a vivid 7.9‑inch 1080p LCD touchscreen with HDR support, and enjoy 4K TV output at up to 60 fps when docked — for immersive gameplay at home or on the go.
- 【Versatile 3 Play Modes】Seamlessly switch between Handheld, Tabletop, and TV modes — all featuring intuitive controls and smooth performance, wherever you choose to play.
- 【Enhanced Social Gaming with GameChat & Multiplayer】Connect with friends locally, enjoy online multiplayer with up to 24 players, and use voice chat via GameChat (internet connection and Nintendo Switch Online membership required after trial period).
- 【Powerful Storage & Joy‑Con 2 Controllers】Includes 256 GB internal storage (expandable with microSD), magnetic Joy‑Con 2 controllers, docking station, HDMI cable, AC adapter, grip, and straps — everything you need for the ultimate gaming setup.
- A graphically demanding game might spend additional GPU capacity on sharper output or more visual effects rather than a higher frame rate.
- A game limited by CPU work will not necessarily gain in proportion to the GPU improvement.
- Existing Switch games need appropriate updates to take advantage of Switch 2-specific features; an unpatched game should not be assumed to receive DLSS or other enhancements.
Nintendo confirms a substantial CPU and GPU upgrade, but the visible difference is ultimately title-specific. A fixed console platform gives developers one hardware configuration to target, while individual studios decide how to allocate its resources.
Why Nvidia’s role goes beyond supplying a chip
The partnership builds on Nvidia’s work for the original Switch. Huang said that system had sold more than 150 million units in his remarks, underscoring the scale of the relationship. Nvidia’s contribution to Switch 2 encompasses graphics architecture, AI hardware, APIs, development tools and system integration—not just the silicon. VentureBeat’s report on Huang’s comments.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThat combination matters because Nintendo needs a processor tailored to a hybrid console, rather than a standard high-power PC part. The architecture supplies options for modern graphics techniques; the console’s power and thermal limits, developer choices and game workloads determine how those options translate into play.
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