Confirmed NVIDIA's T239 Chip is the Nintendo Switch 2's Central Nervous System
After months of rumors, it appears the rumors were true: Nintendo's new console, the Switch 2, appears to be powered by NVIDIA technology, with that "magic" in its parent company's favor. The biggest smoking gun just appeared, giving us a potential look at the central processing unit of the magic.
The Reveal: A Picture is Worth a Thousand Specs
The confirmation going viral on the net is thanks to a joint blog post by a hardware hobbyist named @KurnalSalts. The photo is claimed to be the main processor of the Switch 2 with the writing that it's "T239." That tiny imprint is a strong point in favor of the fact that the device is indeed featuring NVIDIA's Tegra T239 custom-designed processor, something that's been rumored in tech for quite some time now regarding the new console.
What the T239 Could Have Inside
Although the image itself doesn't reveal all the technical secrets, it fits perfectly within previous leaks and breakdowns of the T239 chip. What are the ingredients likely to be inside this processor?
- CPU: It's said to be an ARM-based architecture, perhaps with a mix of core types, such as a high-performance Cortex-X1, multiple Cortex-A78 performance cores, and power-efficient Cortex-A55 cores.
- GPU: Graphics will have a hybrid approach drawing inspiration from NVIDIA's Ampere and Ada Lovelace architectures. It is rumored to be around 1536 CUDA cores, or 12 Streaming Multiprocessors (SMs).
- Performance: Expected clock speeds can vary, probably going up when the console is docked compared to handheld mode.
- Memory: The chip should be paired with quick LPDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus. Recent teardowns seem to affirm SK Hynix memory modules, and some reports suggest a total of 12GB of RAM.
Interestingly, NVIDIA itself has previously hinted that the Switch 2 would feature a custom processor with dedicated RT (Ray Tracing) Cores and Tensor Cores for possibly just jaw-dropping graphics and AI-enhanced features like DLSS upscaling.
Beyond the Chip: Other Hardware Spotted
The same recent teardowns that allegedly revealed the T239 chip have also given us a glimpse of other components inside the Switch 2. Along with the SK Hynix memory already mentioned, an SK Hynix 256GB UFS 3.1 flash storage module has been reported to be visible. There's even speculation of a MediaTek chip handling the Wi-Fi.
The Manufacturing Mystery Lingers
Even with the chip seeming near as good as definite, one massive question mark remains: where exactly is it being made, and on what process? The debate continues over whether or not NVIDIA is using Samsung's tried 8nm manufacturing node (something some reliable analysts lean towards) or a more sophisticated 5nm EUV process (something some online rumormongers speculated). The exact foundry details could have a gigantic impact on the efficiency and performance of the chip.
Context: The Switch 2 is Coming Soon
This hardware confirmation arrives as Nintendo prepares the Switch 2's release. The console, announced in January with more information published last month, brings improved features including an increased screen, improved controllers, improved speakers, and the ability to output 4K resolution through a TV output. Priced at $449.99, it releases on the 5th of June at North American retail outlets, opening pre-ordering today at all major retailers.
Sighting the 'T239' surface is a significant development, solidifying the foundation for the long-time speculations on NVIDIA's continued partnership with Nintendo and providing us with a clearer picture of the technology behind the next-generation of handheld gaming.
