Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang claims that the Switch 2 boasts the most sophisticated graphics ever in a portable device, but I'm compelled to correct him by saying that's not entirely accurate.
Yo, folks! Today's the big day for Switch 2 fans, and if you're among them, I hope you're as excited as a cat on a hot tin roof! While my heart's set on my beefy rig, I can't help but get a little nostalgic as I track my Switch 2 delivery like a dog with a bone. So, while I wait, let's debunk a little nonsense Jensen Huang spouted off about the Switch 2's graphics.
According to the official tech specs, the Switch 2's packed with a "custom processor made by Nvidia." Now, during a victory lap video for Nintendo Creator's Voice Special Edition, Huang claimed thatSwitch 2's custom Nvidia processor offers "the most advanced graphics ever in a mobile device." Hang on a second there, Jensen! Let's not forget about gaming laptops, which are also pretty darn mobile, don't ya think?
Don't get me wrong; the Switch 2's performance is nothing to snuff at. Enthusiasts over at Geekerwan tore one apart, and their findings suggest the powerhouse might just offer graphics comparable to the Steam Deck's GPU. Nvidia's also boasted that the Switch 2 chip took "1,000 engineer-years of effort across every element," featuring an Nvidia GPU with dedicated RT Cores and Tensor Cores for mind-blowing visuals and AI-driven enhancements.
Impressive as those specs are, I'm not so sure it's a fair comparison to say the Switch 2 leaves all other mobile devices in the dust. I mean, c'mon, have you seen what Nvidia's own RTX 5090 mobile processor can do? Dave took a deep dive into it back in March, and let me tell ya, RTX 50-series laptops are coming in hot!
Now, don't get me wrong – I'm not hating on Huang or anything. But when I needle him with an "um, actually," I'm just reminding folks to approach a company CEO's claims with a grain of salt. So, while the Switch 2 might be a gaming powerhouse, let's not throw around hyperboles like they're candy!
Wanna Stay in the Know? Stick around for the biggest gaming news, reviews, and hardware deals, handpicked by the PC Gamer team. And if you're in the market for a travel buddy, check out our reviews of the best handheld gaming PCs, including our verdict on Valve's Steam Deck. Happy gaming, folks!
-Jess Kinghorn
Enrichment Data:The GPU in the Switch 2 shares similarities with RTX 50-series laptops, but it has fewer CUDA cores and lower clock speeds, resulting in lower performance compared to the RTX 50-series. However, the Switch 2 is optimized for a handheld console, focusing on power efficiency and portability.
- GPU Architecture and Cores:
- Similar Ampere GPU architecture with 1,536 CUDA cores (Switch 2)
- More CUDA cores and potentially higher clock speeds in RTX 50-series laptops
- Clock Speeds:
- Lower clock speeds in Switch 2 (561 MHz in handheld mode, 1,007 MHz in docked mode, with a maximum of 1.4 GHz)
- Higher clock speeds in RTX 50-series laptops, although these vary by model and system configuration
- Performance:
- Switch 2: 3.072 TFLOPs in docked mode and 1.71 TFLOPs in handheld mode
- RTX 50-series laptops: Performance depends on the specific model and system configuration
- Reserved GPU Resources:
- Some GPU resources are reserved forthe system, meaning developers don't have access to the full GPU capabilities for games
- Developer Optimization:
- Performance will depend on how well developers optimize games for the Switch 2's hardware, which might not be as powerful as a full-fledged RTX 50-series laptop GPU.
- Despite the Switch 2's GPU sharing similarities with RTX 50-series laptops, it falls short in terms of CUDA cores and clock speeds, leading to a performance that doesn't quite match up.
- The Switch 2's GPU has fewer CUDA cores and lower clock speeds compared to RTX 50-series laptops, which can impact game performance in handheld mode and docked mode.
- In the battle of performance, RTX 50-series laptops, despite their variations in model and system configuration, tend to outperform the Switch 2 due to their higher clock speeds and potentially more CUDA cores.
- The Switch 2, optimized for power efficiency and portability, might struggle to compete with the raw power of RTX 50-series laptops when it comes to delivering the best gaming experience, especially when games aren't optimized for its hardware.
