Nintendo Switch 2 : 1 or 2 GPU?

[Deleted member 731084]

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.

This is 2.5cm x 2.5cm. The problem is always cooling.

 

[Ondrashek06]

The Switch 2 isn't meant to compete with the Steam Deck... why in the hell would it have two GPUs?

 

[The Real Jdbye]

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.

There is no way games would use 2 GPUs (SLI works poorly and Nvidia no longer supports it, Nvidia makes the SoC for the Switch 2 so if there is no support from Nvidia, it simply can't happen) but that isn't what this thread is about, SLI is not necessary nor desirable.

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?

I wish, but no. That will never be a feature included with the base hardware, simply due to cost.

In an ideal world a "Pro" dock would be an optional upgrade, like adding an eGPU to your laptop.
This is not going to happen on the Switch 2 though because the support simply isn't there.
You need PCIe (over Thunderbolt or some proprietary connector) or USB 4 for eGPU to be a possibility.
Thunderbolt has to be licensed from Intel and requires a special chip. There are barely any Ryzen based PCs with Thunderbolt and it's even less likely that Nintendo would include it on the Switch.
We know there's no proprietary dock connector.
USB 4 is still new, the Switch 2 has been in development for longer than USB 4 has been around.
The Switch 3 or Switch 2 Pro could have this feature. By then USB 4 is mature. It's highly unlikely they had the time to include it in the Switch 2.
But let's be real, it probably will never be a thing because that's what everybody wants, that would require Nintendo to actually give us decent hardware for once and Nintendo never does what the consumers want.