Nintendo Switch 2 : 1 or 2 GPU?

[Noctosphere]

I wished to start this debate about wether this new switch has one or two GPU.
This "beast" is supposed to run games in 4k. But let's be honnest, do you really think that a GPU that can run games in 4k well enough for gamers can fit in this little pad? Because I don't.
However, if they put a second GPU inside the dock, so that when you place your switch in dock mode, it uses this extra power, then it could actually become possible.
So what do you think? One or two gpu?

 

[Blythe93]

However, if they put a second GPU inside the dock, so that when you place your switch in dock mode, it uses this extra power, then it could actually become possible.

That would be nice if possible, but I wonder how much would a spare dock cost in that case?

This "beast" is supposed to run games in 4k

I'd love to get at the very least smooth 60fps 1080p experience.

 

[Paccc]

This is not how GPU's work and we already know from the specs:
"The iGPU of the nVidia T239 is based on the "Ampere" graphics architecture, with 12 streaming multiprocessors worth 1,536 CUDA cores"

What is new is that they have DLSS to upscale the resolution which might make 4k possible.

 

[Naster]

Why not 3?

 

[Noctosphere]

That would be nice if possible, but I wonder how much would a spare dock cost in that case?


I'd love to get at the very least smooth 60fps 1080p experience.

Hell yea, if it can run any games, 1080p/60fps, until the end of its lifespan, I would already be happy with that. But since it's supposed to be running 4k, I wonder what will be its benchmark in 4k.

This is not how GPU's work and we already know from the specs:
"The iGPU of the nVidia T239 is based on the "Ampere" graphics architecture, with 12 streaming multiprocessors worth 1,536 CUDA cores"

What is new is that they have DLSS to upscale the resolution which might make 4k possible.

That's from the leaks. What I was asking is if the dock has a gpu or not. Because, since it is supposed to run in 4k, having a gpu capable of running 4k inside the pad would be useless. Unless the pad itself is in 4k resolution, it would be better to have a powerful GPU to run 1080p smoothly in the pad, and another GPU that could at least do the upscale inside the dock.
Otherwise, I don't believe that a gpu that can run 4k (even with dlss) can fit in the tiny/slim pad

 

[notsu]

However, if they put a second GPU inside the dock, so that when you place your switch in dock mode, it uses this extra power, then it could actually become possible.

TBH, I don't see the cheapskates at Nintendo ever doing this. Are there any leaks pointing towards it?

 

[1vanchom]

having an external GPU in the dock that is more powerful than the one from the console? Nintendo needs to sell their consoles at a really low price, and dedicated GPUs are never cheap, I doubt they will go that way tbh.

 

[ihaveahax]

A second GPU in the dock is extraordinarily unlikely for a few reasons:

• Obvious issue is cost. The dock will cost a lot more to manufacture now.
• Development complexity. Now games have to be programmed to use two GPUs at once, when a lot of them are likely only built to use one at a time.
• Since it's in the dock, this extra GPU could suddenly disappear any second when the user decides to undock the console. Now games would also have to cope with a sudden loss of hardware that is typically always available.

It's much better to just increase the power of the one GPU, which is what the current Switch already does.

 

[gnmmarechal]

"4k" games will just be running with upscaling tech. At its core, this system isn't gonna be fundamentally different from the original Switch.

 

[Jayro]

There's no GPU in the dock, just an upscaler. Likely 1080p with DLSS applied from the console out to the dock to be upscaled to 4K.

 

[YoureALoser]

This is not how GPU's work and we already know from the specs:
"The iGPU of the nVidia T239 is based on the "Ampere" graphics architecture, with 12 streaming multiprocessors worth 1,536 CUDA cores"

What is new is that they have DLSS to upscale the resolution which might make 4k possible.

Switch 2 will not support DLSS. Nintendo will modify FSR & give it a different name just like Sony did.

 

[DiscostewSM]

Switch 2 will not support DLSS. Nintendo will modify FSR & give it a different name just like Sony did.

Yeah, that's not happening. Nintendo did not go and use Ampere that includes the dedicated tensor cores just to throw out DLSS and use FSR that must use the GPU shaders. I know people will go "because Nintendo", but seriously, use your heads for a moment.

 

[ciaomao]

a picture of the dock was shown in which you can see the maximum voltage/current flowing from the power supply and how much comes out of the dock. the difference will never allow a powerful GPU.

 

[Purple_Shyguy]

Is there ANY hint or indication what kinda clock speeds are possible for S2?

Post automatically merged: Jan 20, 2025

Yeah, that's not happening. Nintendo did not go and use Ampere that includes the dedicated tensor cores just to throw out DLSS and use FSR that must use the GPU shaders. I know people will go "because Nintendo", but seriously, use your heads for a moment.

Nintendo actually patented their own form of DLSS a year or so back

 

[xbmcuser]

There are (apparently) 2 SKUs for the Switch2:
My guess

1) at $400 -1080p
2) at $499 - 4K

i think option 2 will be 4K TV dock. with extra processing power higher frame rte, better textures etc. a switch with 5g sim so you can stream to it with the extra dock power from home. eg PS Remote play

 

[Noctosphere]

There are (apparently) 2 SKUs for the Switch2:
My guess

1) at $400 -1080p
2) at $499 - 4K

i think option 2 will be 4K TV dock. with extra processing power higher frame rte, better textures etc. a switch with 5g sim so you can stream to it with the extra dock power from home. eg PS Remote play

Sim card never worked well for portable consoles. AFAIK, PS Vita used to have one, but not much people really used this feature. Be aware that in a lot of countries, 5G/LTE is still very expansive. For exemple, in Canada, we can get around 50-200GB per month for around 60-100$/month. But if we are going to use a SIM card for the Switch 2, then you'd have to double that price (1 sim card for your cellphone and another for your console). It becomes way too expansive for the end user, because you would need enough GB for the whole month. Countries that offer a lot of GB for cheap are not that numerous, so I don't see a SIM card port for the Switch 2 happening

 

[gnmmarechal]

Sim card never worked well for portable consoles. AFAIK, PS Vita used to have one, but not much people really used this feature. Be aware that in a lot of countries, 5G/LTE is still very expansive. For exemple, in Canada, we can get around 50-200GB per month for around 60-100$/month. But if we are going to use a SIM card for the Switch 2, then you'd have to double that price (1 sim card for your cellphone and another for your console). It becomes way too expansive for the end user, because you would need enough GB for the whole month. Countries that offer a lot of GB for cheap are not that numerous, so I don't see a SIM card port for the Switch 2 happening

It's worth considering that the 3G on the Vita wasn't actually all that useful (and not really fast).

 

[Noctosphere]

It's worth considering that the 3G on the Vita wasn't actually all that useful (and not really fast).

Yea, but considering that even today, too many countries still have poor LTE/5G coverage (in terms of price and bandwidth). The playerbase who would be ready to pay for an extra cellphone subscription is way too small for them to even consider adding sim card support.
The average player who would be ready to do all that would have to be rich, in a country with exceptionally good LTE/5G coverage and who would use this feature a lot (if you play at home 80% of the time, this features would be totally worthless). Players who fall in this category are far from being significant enough for Nintendo to consider adding this feature.

 

[CMDreamer]

It's worth considering that the 3G on the Vita wasn't actually all that useful (and not really fast).

Not just useless but completely worthless, as it was tied to a single provider thanks to Suckny.

[...] a switch with 5g sim so you can stream to it with the extra dock power from home. eg PS Remote play

Not happening, Nintendo is not a copy-cat like Suckny.

Also, remember the console is portable already, so no need for "streaming from home", at least not for gaming, and the ammount of users playing online out of their homes is very limited globally, most online gamers do it on a local network and not using 4G/5G networks which are still very expensive for the average user.

Nintendo consoles don't tend to be multimedia consoles as their main goal, but gaming consoles as they should be.

 

[gnmmarechal]

Yea, but considering that even today, too many countries still have poor LTE/5G coverage (in terms of price and bandwidth). The playerbase who would be ready to pay for an extra cellphone subscription is way too small for them to even consider adding sim card support.
The average player who would be ready to do all that would have to be rich, in a country with exceptionally good LTE/5G coverage and who would use this feature a lot (if you play at home 80% of the time, this features would be totally worthless). Players who fall in this category are far from being significant enough for Nintendo to consider adding this feature.

Aaaand if you *really* needed it, you could always use your phone as a hotspot..