Upbeat Nintendo Switch 2 specs leak teases huge changes to the CPU and GPU that will make the Tegra T239 obsolete

RedGamingTech has jumped on board the Nintendo Switch 2 leak train, which has been picking up speed lately. While discussing already reported details about the long-awaited hybrid console, such as DLSS support, the YouTuber also provided some new information that he appears to have received via a combination of “I’ve been told” and “one of my other sources.” So, a pinch of salt is needed here, especially given how impressive the Switch 2 specs leak was in terms of what the CPU and GPU could consist of, but in host Paul Eccleston’s defence, he described the potential specs as “low confidence”. It is also reported that some developers are under non-disclosure agreements with Nintendo, suggesting that things are already starting to happen in the subsequent Switch space.

Eccleston reasonably argues that there could have been several hardware revisions during the Switch 2’s development process, so it’s fair to report that at some point a Tegra T239 “Drake” processor may have been involved in the mix. Although this chip will still be a significant upgrade over the OG Switch’s Tegra The Nintendo Switch 2 release date falls in the second half of 2024 which will leave a six-year gap between the console and the SoC architecture. The OG Switch was released in 2017 while Nvidia unveiled the X1 processor in 2015 – an acceptable gap of two years (about 22 months).

the video He claims that Nvidia may have suggested an updated SoC configuration to Nintendo, which if true would leave rumors of matching Switch 2 game performance on PS5 and Xbox Series S more believable. The Switch 2’s CPU component can rely on MediaTek with 2x Cortex-A4, 2x Cortex-A720, and 4x Cortex-A520 for a very fast and efficient chip that will leave any T239 SKU in the dust.

The Drake chip is believed to have ARM Cortex-A78AE cores, but it’s ARM Claims The newer Cortex-A720 cores can deliver 10% more performance than the Cortex-A78 – and this doesn’t even take into account the power of the Cortex-A4 core that drives the so-called portion of the CPU. As for the Cortex-A4, it uses a much more efficient architecture than the A78 (ARMv9.2 vs ARMv8.2) and the maximum on-the-fly instructions rise from 160 for the older model to 2×384 for the newer series. This potential CPU component is a significant upgrade to the previously rumored successor to the Nintendo Switch.

If that’s not enough, the GPU component of the Nintendo Switch 2 is expected to have 12 to 16 multiprocessor (SM) cores but with the Ada Lovelace microarchitecture. So, while a chip like the Nvidia Jetson AGX Orin 32GB has a similar amount of SMs (14), it must be based on the older Ampere architecture. Once again, the T239 Drake looks outdated here thanks to its Ampere familiarity, as the console’s mysterious Switch 2 processor will provide more power, greater efficiency, DLSS 3 frame generation, and a fourth-generation Tensor core, if it’s based on the Ada Lovelace microarchitecture.

Last but not least, there’s talk of 12 to 16GB of RAM for backward compatibility with the Nintendo Switch 2 and Tegra X1. It’s a surprising combination that RedGamingTech has presented here, which can be viewed as either reckless optimism or a level of skepticism that lowers expectations but maintains hopes.

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My interest in technology began after I got an Atari 800XL home computer in the mid-1980s. I especially enjoy writing about technological advances, compelling rumors, and interesting leaks related to technology. I have a degree in International Relations and Strategic Studies and consider my family, reading, writing and traveling to be the main passions in my life. I’ve been with Notebookcheck since 2012.