Hardware Nintendo Switch Technical Specifications Discussion

[Yil]

@AtlasFontaine Tegra x2 already came out, Xavier is 2018.

It most definitely will be using pascal, rumours are that Nintendo and nvidia are selling this thing at a considerable loss just to get a large amount of market share and become the top dogs in the mobile business. I'm sure nvidia will be putting everything they could possibly put into the switch just to make sure it's the most powerful portable in 2017. And while dev kits are rumoured to use X1's this is probably because the X2 has yet have a formal release but I'm sure that the final products will have a custom x2

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I don't think it will use a vanilla Parker chip.

Do you think it's possible to use pc components in this? By the way I am still a bit confused about scalability amd said about Navi but my bet is extreme clock changing. If I remembered correctly to one of amd's claim power is proportional to cubic clock. That may also mean a refresh underway and Microsoft doing similar things.

 

[AtlasFontaine]

@AtlasFontaine Tegra x2 already came out, Xavier is 2018.

Do you think it's possible to use pc components in this? By the way I am still a bit confused about scalability amd said about Navi but my bet is extreme clock changing. If I remembered correctly to one of amd's claim power is proportional to cubic clock. That may also mean a refresh underway and Microsoft doing similar things.

Can you be more specific in the "Pc componets" part? I think it'll depend in how custom the SoC will be.

 

[Yil]

Can you be more specific in the "Pc componets" part? I think it'll depend in how custom the SoC will be.

A terribly under clocked pc level gpu that can reach full power when plugged into the dock. A gtx 1060, even only at 600MHz, can surpass the tegra x2, and according to amd's formula, assuming typical clock for pascal is 1.5GHz, is only 7.68w, and that is underestimating typical clock. Though this would require somewhat best of the line tech to not waste too much power at a very low voltage. This also means attempt at overclocking can fry your unit quick.

 

[Futurdreamz]

Again, we don't know for sure the Switch uses a current Tegra. For all we know Nintendo gave Nvidia the architecture plans for the Wii U's GPU to use as a reference. Nvidia has been working on making more power-efficient chips. The 1060 and 1070 for laptops are almost the exact same models as the desktop versions. The Switch could be using a tweaked GTX 1050 for all we know.

 

[Yil]

Again, we don't know for sure the Switch uses a current Tegra. For all we know Nintendo gave Nvidia the architecture plans for the Wii U's GPU to use as a reference. Nvidia has been working on making more power-efficient chips. The 1060 and 1070 for laptops are almost the exact same models as the desktop versions. The Switch could be using a tweaked GTX 1050 for all we know.

The real question is:
a) Can arm and its tech handle egpu without losing processing power due to limited communication, and if the price is worth it.
or
b) How much can Nvidia push with dynamic power scaling. AMD is making Navi to do just this, and intel had quite some accomplishment. In 2019, zen+ apu (quad core) are expect to run between 10w to a overclocked desktop, using nearly identical chips as opposed to Intel's dual vs quad core line, and with the correct setup even allow lower rated chips to tap into the power of their desktop counter part.

 

[anhminh]

Does anyone think they will be something special about the dock for controller when we switch console mode?

I doubt that dock need to be that big just to hold two side of the controller together. But then again it could be empty piece of plastic design to make you feel comfortable when holding the controller.

I personal think it would have some kind of touchpad like PS4 controller that would work like touch screen in when docked because otherwise touch screen function on gamepad would be disable when docked and it would be unthinkable that the gamepad wouldn't have touch screen either.

 

[Thirty3Three]

ELI5, given these supposed specs, how would it stack up against the Xbox one, wii u and ps4?

 

[Yil]

ELI5, given these supposed specs, how would it stack up against the Xbox one, wii u and ps4?

Wii u is completely out of the question.
My theory: Xbox Scorpio > PS4 Neo >= Docked switch > PS4 > Switch > Xbox One > Wii U > PSV > 3ds
Typical tegra: PS4 > Xbox One > Docked switch >= Switch > Wii U > PSV > 3ds

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Does anyone think they will be something special about the dock for controller when we switch console mode?

I doubt that dock need to be that big just to hold two side of the controller together. But then again it could be empty piece of plastic design to make you feel comfortable when holding the controller.

I personal think it would have some kind of touchpad like PS4 controller that would work like touch screen in when docked because otherwise touch screen function on gamepad would be disable when docked and it would be unthinkable that the gamepad wouldn't have touch screen either.

Probably not the controller. The wireless connectivity should be in the tablet as connectivity in mobile actually surpass pc these days.
NX will most likely use touch screen for navigation and typical touch centered mobile games, but nothing more.

 

[TotalInsanity4]

Does anyone think they will be something special about the dock for controller when we switch console mode?

I doubt that dock need to be that big just to hold two side of the controller together. But then again it could be empty piece of plastic design to make you feel comfortable when holding the controller.

I personal think it would have some kind of touchpad like PS4 controller that would work like touch screen in when docked because otherwise touch screen function on gamepad would be disable when docked and it would be unthinkable that the gamepad wouldn't have touch screen either.

That's... actually not a bad theory

 

[Futurdreamz]

The dock has usb ports on the side, so there's that. It may also act as a cooling assist while letting the Switch run in a higher-power mode with no regard for battery life.

In fact I think it has to act as a cooling assist, as most tablets rely on the front and back acting as a heat sink.

 

[TheDarkGreninja]

Im sure this thing will be capable of using thunderbolt so it can handle sli in the future. If thats what youre saying.

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Ok, so im setting up a poll to see what chip people think this console will use.

 

[TheDarkGreninja]

Does anyone think they will be something special about the dock for controller when we switch console mode?

I doubt that dock need to be that big just to hold two side of the controller together. But then again it could be empty piece of plastic design to make you feel comfortable when holding the controller.

I personal think it would have some kind of touchpad like PS4 controller that would work like touch screen in when docked because otherwise touch screen function on gamepad would be disable when docked and it would be unthinkable that the gamepad wouldn't have touch screen either.

Might have an egpu

 

[Yil]

Im sure this thing will be capable of using thunderbolt so it can handle sli in the future. If thats what youre saying.

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Ok, so im setting up a poll to see what chip people think this console will use.

First SLI requires the exact same chip, so even a gtx 1070 and a gtx 1080 won't do. Second thunderbolt is a tech specifically developed by Intel and have huge licensing fee(that even business tablets cannot coop with), though pcie 4.0 has a new x4 (open source?) cable, as fast as current x8. But ARM and Nvidia should have similar stuff, so egpu is still possible.

 

[TheDarkGreninja]

First SLI requires the exact same chip, so even a gtx 1070 and a gtx 1080 won't do. Second thunderbolt is a tech specifically developed by Intel and have huge licensing fee(that even business tablets cannot coop with), though pcie 4.0 has a new x4 (open source?) cable, as fast as current x8. But ARM and Nvidia should have similar stuff, so egpu is still possible.

Nvidia has already licensed thunderbolt. SLI requirements arent an issue as the dock could easuly have exactly the same GPU.

 

[TotalInsanity4]

Nintendo has stated there is no extra horsepower in the dock, it's most likely has a very powerful GPU in the tablet that is heavily underclocked when not docked

 

[TheDarkGreninja]

Nintendo has stated there is no extra horsepower in the dock, it's most likely has a very powerful GPU in the tablet that is heavily underclocked when not docked

They had stated its main function was to charge and work as a pass through, they never confirmed anything.

 

[TotalInsanity4]

They had stated its main function was to charge and work as a pass through, they never confirmed anything.

Ok, I misinterpreted what they said

 

[Tigran]

A lot of people have been either by mistake, or purposefully mis-interpenetrating what Nintendo and others have said.

 

[TheDarkGreninja]

A lot of people have been either by mistake, or purposefully mis-interpenetrating what Nintendo and others have said.

indeed people really need to look at the quotes rather than just take someones word.

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Ok, I misinterpreted what they said

Also its ok people make mistakes.

 

[anhminh]

Might have an egpu

Why would they put a GPU in controller?