The wait is over—Nintendo has officially unveiled the full specs of the SoC powering the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2, and thanks to insights from Digital Foundry, we now have confirmation on key hardware details, including the number of CUDA cores in the Tegra T239. While we still await the console’s launch this June, these revelations give us a clearer picture of what to expect in terms of performance and graphical capabilities. Of course, actual game optimization will ultimately determine how well it runs in practice.
Nintendo Switch 2: A New Era of Handheld Gaming
The Nintendo Switch 2 marks a significant leap forward in power and design compared to its predecessor. However, unlike the original system which had no real competition, this new device enters a crowded market already filled with capable handhelds like the Steam Deck and the Asus ROG Ally X. These systems are capable of running modern AAA titles at high settings while on the go, setting a high bar for what players expect from portable gaming hardware.
While the Switch 2 will naturally appeal to fans of Nintendo-exclusive titles like Mario Kart World, those considering it for multi-platform games may want to weigh their options carefully—especially given the $449 price tag. Let’s dive into what’s under the hood and explore whether the Nintendo Switch 2 can deliver on its promise of enhanced visuals, including potential 4K support.
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Nvidia’s Custom Chip – The Heart of the Nintendo Switch 2
At the core of the Nintendo Switch 2 lies a custom Nvidia processor that brings support for DLSS and ray tracing—features previously unheard of in a Nintendo console. According to Digital Foundry, the chip in question is the Nvidia Tegra T239, an APU featuring an 8-core ARM CPU and an Ampere GPU with 1,536 CUDA cores. For context, the Ampere architecture powers desktop GPUs like the RTX 3080, though obviously in a much more compact and power-efficient form here.
Back in 2023, rumors suggested the Switch 2 would use the Tegra T239, and now that’s been confirmed. This SoC features 8 ARM A78C CPU cores paired with a 1,536-core Ampere GPU. That equates to roughly 12 Streaming Multiprocessors (SMs), which is significantly fewer than even entry-level Ampere GPUs like the mobile RTX 3050. However, each SM likely includes four Tensor Cores and one RT core, giving the system a total of 48 Tensor Cores and 12 RT cores.
In comparison, the Steam Deck uses a custom AMD APU with 8 RDNA 2 GPU cores, which is less powerful on paper. However, it benefits from a lower-resolution display and higher power draw. Looking ahead, future AMD Z2 processors—including the Z2 Extreme with 16 RDNA 3.5 GPU cores—will offer a massive boost in performance, although they’ll likely come at a premium cost.
Nintendo Switch 2 Direct April 2025 Game Lineup
Mario Kart World – Nintendo EPD
Super Mario Party Jamboree - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV – Nintendo Cube
Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour – Nintendo
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition – Nintendo EPD
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition – Nintendo EPD
Kirby and the Forgotten Land - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World – HAL Laboratory
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition – Retro- Pokemon Legends: Z-A Nintendo Switch 2 Edition – Game Freak
Drag X Drive – Nintendo
Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition – FromSoftware
Can It Handle 4K?
With such a modest GPU configuration, native 4K gaming is unlikely to be feasible. However, the inclusion of Tensor Cores means DLSS will play a crucial role in upscaling visuals when docked. Even so, with only 48 Tensor Cores, performance gains from DLSS won’t be as dramatic as on desktop GPUs. Most games will likely target 1080p resolution, either natively or via upscaling. For example, Donkey Kong Bananza reportedly renders natively at 1080p, while Cyberpunk 2077 relies heavily on upscaling, sometimes starting as low as 540p.
Ray tracing is technically possible thanks to the 12 RT cores, but don’t expect anything close to PC-grade implementations. Ray tracing is a resource-heavy feature, and the Switch 2’s limited power budget—estimated at around 10W for the entire system—means developers will need to be extremely cautious with its use.
Clock Speeds and Memory Bandwidth
When docked, the Nintendo Switch 2 GPU clocks in at 1,007MHz, slightly below the mobile RTX 3050. In handheld mode, it drops to 561MHz
