The Nintendo Switch, as we found out during its reveal, is going to be powered by a custom Tegra GPU by NVIDIA. For a few years the 'Tegra' range has aimed to deliver powerful portable graphics while suiting handheld / mobile formats; with the impressive work seen in older chips in the 'Shield' devices, it'll be intriguing to see what the Switch can deliver with this technology.
As it's a custom chip, Nvidia's original statement promised powerful tools and capabilities for Nintendo's home system / portable hybrid device.
The Nintendo Switch's gaming experience is also supported by fully custom software, including a revamped physics engine, new libraries, advanced game tools and libraries. NVIDIA additionally created new gaming APIs to fully harness this performance. The newest API, NVN, was built specifically to bring lightweight, fast gaming to the masses.
In a recent earnings call, Nvidia President and CEO Jen-Hsun Huang was asked about the company's growth in its gaming division. While the company's extensive business in PC GPUs is a major factor, the Switch partnership was also highlighted as a key area. In his remarks the executive explained that the partnership for Switch had been in place for nearly two years, and he talked up Nintendo's next-gen hardware.
I guess you could also say that Nintendo contributed a fair amount to that growth. And over the next – as you know, the Nintendo architecture and the company tends to stick with an architecture for a very long time. And so we've worked with them now for almost two years. Several hundred engineering years have gone into the development of this incredible game console. I really believe when everybody sees it and enjoy it, they're going be amazed by it. It's really like nothing they've ever played with before. And of course, the brand, their franchise and their game content is incredible. And so I think this is a relationship that will likely last two decades and I'm super excited about it.
Positive words with a long-term outlook, as would be expected from such a major partner. As we know the game footage in the reveal trailer wasn't necessarily fully representative of the system running, so it'll be intriguing to see some final footage soon. We're looking forward to learning more when it's showcased in early January.
With thanks to Benson for the heads up.
[source seekingalpha.com]
Comments 156
I'm just so curious... there must be something they're yet to reveal which is truly incredible. Roll on January!
Yeah, ofc they participated so they have reasons to get excited.
But let's not get all hookep up on that point. It's no use to just bash Nvidia or Nintendo.
Anyways, this raises my interest. I can't wait to get this NS in my hands to try all of that out !
Sounds promising!
Consider my levels of optimism for the Switch raised!
My body is.... Wait. Is my body ready? D: Woo woo all aboard the hype train. Where our final destination is Station NS.
"NVIDIA CEO bad mouthes 'average' Nintendo Switch"
Now, that would be a surprising situation.
I'd be amazed if they told us something about it. We still don't even know for sure if it's closer in power to X1 or X2.
And 20 years is overly optimistic, I'm not sure any console hardware will still be going in 20 years w/ the power of mobile devices. And w/ the power of mobile devices I'm not even sure handhelds will be necessary either. They need to focus on Switch selling about 500% better than Wii U before worrying about the gen after that.
In related news, NVIDIA's stock shot up almost 30% overnight
Do some store tours with the console. It's easy to say people will be amazed by it, but if you get out there and let people see it for themselves and those who don't follow Nintendo news sites, you'll probably be onto a winner there.
You showed off what it does in the trailer perfectly, now let people try it out as well.
Typical NVIDIA malarkey. Switch will be cool, but NVIDIA ALWAYS embellishes on their Tegra SoCs' performance and capabilities. Not saying they're bad chips, however expectations should be kept very low when dealing with NVIDIA mobile efforts.
Kinda curious and exciting for waiting the trailer on 12 January 2017. Please some good news from Switch...
There's a potential for these comments to be lip service based on maintaining a business arrangement, but it's refreshing to here NVIDIA, Ubi and others in the industry talking so positively about the console.
Didn't bother to read/listen to the conference call but was this praise a statement directly from the CEO in his quarterly report or did an analyst ask the question directly?
Makes a big difference.
@AVahne The X2 is pretty great, though. What we don't know is whether or not they're using an overclocked X1 or an underclocked X2. Normally the X1 is PS360 level, with the X2 Xbox One level.
Even though I'll be purchasing the Switch, maybe not on launch day, but eventually, I still have concerns about it. I hate having to buy the two consoles (own a PS4) every time each generation (always get nintendo and sony), I still would rather just buy one. Since Gamecube, I haven't really found a lot of love in the nintendo consoles...Liked Wii, but it grew tiresome for me after a few years, and the graphics haven't really held up nicely for some games...Wii U, I haven't really felt the love with most of it. Since the Wiiware shop and E-Shop, it's been kind-of weird games that only have a replay value for one day, or just an hour or so (the games that were great, got lost)...the virtual arcade was good, but the rest seemed to be rushed titles that weren't the best. Then, the Wii U retail games seemed to not be the best to me (could have been better, but not horrible...again, just my opinion and I know someone is going to bad talk me for this).
As for Switch, I have hopes that the system will do good and I see it selling much better than the Wii U, but I don't see it selling as great as the Wii or even coming close to being their highest selling system. I also worry with ports of 3rd party games coming to it...especially with most of them already being available on XBONE and PS4 and PC for quite a few months...which means the price came down for those systems, and they'd be full price for the Switch, which means...3rd parties will blame nintendo instead of themselves for the fact that their games don't sell, and we'll see another Wii U retail scene. Hopefully, and I mean hopefully, nintendo listened and paid third parties to make 'Switch Only' titles that are amazing, not just cheap little party titles (by the way, to that last statement, my wife and kids and I do like party games, but not the cheap ones...Mario Party gets the best play value for us, but not part 9 or 10 as we didn't fall in love with them).
Not being funny but he is going to say that isn't he?
So hyped! I was initially a little disappointed when we all thought the X1 chip was inside the Switch but I love hearing about this "custom" chip. Hoping its an overclocked X2 or at least something close to an X2. This puppy needs all the power it can get (while maintaining reasonable batt life) to keep those third parties close and get games like FF7 remake and the Skyrim HD we saw. Come on January! MY BODY IS INSANELY READY!
Exciting times for nintendo.!
@JLPick (cue bad talk)
@rjejr The mobile device market isn't where the most dedicated gamers are, and for a reason. There are no physical input standards, and its software is dominated by the indie scene. None of that will change anytime soon, because smart device gaming, having created a huge number of casuals, is riding on a wave of success similar to the Wii. At best, it's an effective starting point for gamers.
The idea that the mobile market has been gaining a dominating foothold on the dedicated gaming market is a myth, brought on by its impressive growth and a lack of assessing its nuances.
Believe me when I say that mobile devices will never own the industry. At least not without supplying a competent dedicated hardware configuration. Had a powerful mobile device myself, top of the line. Had fun with it for a while then put it down for a Vita and 3DS, and haven't looked back since. As the dedicated handheld market evolves, I can see this happening more often.
From the moment we met
you could say I was filled with desire.
Only one thing in common baby
but our love is pure fire!
As sure as the birds ought to sing...
I wouldn’t ask you to change one thing...
So be yourself.....!!
"I really believe when everybody sees it and enjoy it, they're going be amazed by it. It's really like nothing they've ever played with before. "
My new pick up line.
Let's just hope that this doesn't become a "ZOMG Nintendo is 4 kids!!!! No COD, no buy!" situation. Let's hope that this will make people want to buy a Nintendo product.
@CircuitWrangler3 "There are no physical input standards, and its software is dominated by the indie scene."
Problem is, kids growing up today, 2 years old, 5 years old, 8 years old, are learning to game w/o buttons, on touchscreens. Do you want to go back to a rotary phone, or a horse and carriage to get to work? Kids get hook don tocuhscrens, an dsoon they'll be hooked on Move controller sin VR. Meanwhile older gamer like u swho ge tbusy w/ life and have less time ot gam ewill be in th eminority. There will always be hardcore gamers, btu will there be enough hardcore gamers for Sony, Nintneod, Microsoft and Sega to all bemaking home ocnsoles? Well we already knwo the answer for Sega. And MS made Zune and that failed, then they made phones but those are failing. How many more Xbox will they be before PC games can be played wirelessly on the or in the TV so people don't need Xbox nay more TV? Will Sony make another handheld to replace the Vita, or do they realize handheld gaming is losing to mobile? Nintneod is trying to make 1 console to replace both home and handheldin hopes that catches on b/c they have to bases to draw from. PS4 is doing great, but it likely won't do PS2 number, maybe PS3 numbers if hey keep it around long enough.
Times change, people change, hardcore gamers get older, kids want touchscreens. And VR. If you can wear Google glasses and game w/o your haptic feedback pone screen, why buy anything else?
This I gotta see!
While this definitely seems like typical, over optimistic business talk, the Nintendo Switch has my money set on it regardless ^_^ it will be a nifty system to play fun games on!
I'm really excited by everything I hear, nVidia KNOWS their hardware and based on the shear amount of time they seem to have put into the Switch is amazing.
It seems there are always going to be a few people who will knock or try to "be real" on every bit of news we are getting for the Switch... but we're meant to be Nintendo fans on this site right? Let's just give hope a chance.
I didn't think about this to today but seeing they are releasing the console as kind of mobile. And with Sony and Microsoft half gen upgrade consoles would they release more powerful models down the line? They have done that with the dsi and the new 3ds. They are handhelds but this console kind of counts as that now.
@CrazedCavalier Well, we actually do know in what direction we need to look. X1 is based on Parker, and the chip in the Switch is Pascal-based, which is the same tech used as in the X2 and in their latest range of PC graphics cards. So, I expect the handheld to be around Xbox One power undocked, and if the docked overclocking rumor is true, then it could come quite close to the PS4.
Besides that, a lot of people are still taking the SCD rumor seriously, so if that will also arrive later on, then the docked system will operate at a level above the standard PS4.
To all people being overly negative:
YES, it is definitely part business talk and OF COURSE he's not going to talk down a device that his company is so heavily invested in, but consider this ironclad reality:
It is heavily rumored, actually all but confirmed, that the tech inside the Switch is Pascal-based, which means that Nvidia has made a HUGE investment to get a foothold in the console industry, so they better deliver, otherwise it is going to be both their and Nintendo's loss.
And their reputation as far as graphical chips go is more than rock solid, so he doesn't really need to brag about Pascal's capabilities, because it actually is quite good.
For a frame of reference, here are two video's showcasing the graphical capabilities of the Tegra K1 (the X1's predecessor) and one of the Tegra X1, and keep in mind that Pascal has almost double the capabilities of the Tegra X1, so there really isn't all that much to be worried about.
Of course, it is still up to the developers to use that available power, but they would be beyond stupid not to make use of it, since it would make porting their work much easier instead of cramping their own style and shoehorning some kind of custom version into the hardware.
Full dedicated Unreal Engine support also confirms that there won't be a shortage of options for third parties, so this time around, all the enthusiasm they are expressing might actually be genuine...
@ThanosReXXX I've been wondering if the SCD could be similar to Nvidia's GeForce Now service - supercomputers in the cloud streaming to the device. The Shield can also use Nvidia's PC chips to stream games from PC. There's no indication yet that the Switch will have anything like these services, but the technology apparently exists.
@rjejr keep it real lol 3ds stomped a mud hole in the vita.sony knows they can't touch Nintendo in the handheld division.just facts!!
@3MonthBeef
Obviously you haven't spent enough time around kids.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XkuirEweZvM
@Slim1999 DS stomped a mud hole in the 3DS. Apple will sell more iPod Touch this holiday for people to Super Mario run than Nintendo will sell 3DS. The future does not stand still for any tech or any company.
Custom unfortunately usually means less. Because this will be about yield & cost efficiency. Performance is second.
I really hope Nintendo pushed for performance.
@rjejr Keep in mind that the architecture the GameCube used was also used by the Wii and Wii U, so that's around 15 years of life. The Switch using cutting-edge ARM-based architecture would imply that Nintendo's going to be sticking with it for a while, since the ARM (mobile) market is growing. I would even say that it'll last longer than the x86 based architectures of the PS4 and Xbox One, since the x86 has a shrinking market.
@BiasedSonyFan No, what I "seem" to think is that it can come pretty close to Xbox One on it's own, and if the SCD is really a thing, then coming close to PS4 is actually not all that unrealistic.
And I never said Pascal was a chip: I said that the tech inside the Switch is Pascal-based, and all hardware that is Tegra X1 and below is Parker-based, so the hardware inside the Switch is better than that, period.
I am in the IT business, I know my hardware, so no need to educate me on what hardware can or can't do.
Fact will be that either way, the hardware is pretty versatile and more than capable to support modern game engines, and as such the games that run on them.
Maybe not in the exact same fidelity or resolution than the other two consoles, but pretty damn close nonetheless. The videos I provided already prove that much, even to someone with no technical knowledge whatsoever. All these videos show the architecture running on tablets, so it's actually quite an accurate representation of what we can expect. And that will still be true if it's "only" going to be X1 based, which it's not.
@Danrenfroe2016 I have no idea how you've come to that conclusion, but it isn't true. Custom chipsets are simply tailor made to offer specific abilities that the standard chipsets don't have, so they can never be less. Worst case scenario, they'll be different, but seeing as they offer options that the standard chipset doesn't have, they will more than likely be more versatile and more powerful than their non-custom counterparts.
Well, even if it was a turd, they sure as hell wouldn't say as such. They want it to sell, regardless. Of course they would talk it up as the next big thing. That being said, I'm excited for it, so...
As an nvidia gpu user I am very happy to hear such positive news. The more I hear about the NS the more I feel confident that I can easily go back to Nintendo/PC combo with little loss in game library. If it is region free I'm golden.
Prepare to be amazed by it's price... xD
@rjejr
Hate to say it but you're right. Might take a decade or two but that transition is happening.. 😩
Well, he is of course going to say that, but it will be interesting to see what gamers and potential consumers actually have to say once they see and maybe even play the final thing.
@CircuitWrangler3 Hear, hear. I'm speaking as someone actually having tried a number of mobile games and still sticking to a number of them - but they never changed my mind that consoles and handhelds are where it's at. I don't mind indies, but the dominance of freemium policies and the lack of proper physical controls limits my options as a gamer a lot IMHO. I actually welcomed being able to play Disney Infinity on Android (as long as it lasted... sigh), but in practice doing the platforming and action on a touchscreen "gamepad" proved less than convenient in my experience. And racing/vehicle challenge stages... proved almost unplayable. Yeah, putting acceleration and steering on one immaterial "stick" didn't help either, but still.
I think mobile gaming is pretty ripe for stuff like adventure games and visual novels, board games and object finder games, various CCGs... even some RPGs as long as they're turn-based. But the rest belongs on platforms with proper gamepads (and the battery you won't have to share with your phone's PHONE functionality like staying in touch or making calls), I believe. Yes, I know there are Android-compatible wireless gamepads nowadays, but good ones cost their own penny, and now Nintendo is offering a similar "set the screen like a mini TV and use the gamepad" deal anyway (not to mention earlier although naturally bulkier and more expensive "personal game environments" like Gaems Vanguard).
I think I'll wait to see if Nintendo actually supports this thing. It took ages for the Wii U to build up a decent games library and it looks like the switch doesn't have backwards compatibility to fall back on. Even if this thing is worth it, there's no guarantee we'll be able to get one; just look at the recent Amibo and NES Classic shortages
Hundreds of engineering years?
I see scalable tech and new Switchs every 3 years.....
You know what's an easy thing to do to amaze gamers? Show off great games on it.
@DanteSolablood
They also profit if their hardware is perceived to be good and lose money if it's perceived to be bad. So, them talking it up isn't really anything to get excited over, or draw anything from...
Nintedo just should avoid getting ports more than 3 months from the release day, virtual console games, they are REALLY expensives, and take time to reprogram, if you wanna play just buy the system and the game, nintendo should just focus on new things. Ports of the WII U??? Well if they are done already ok, but no more "better graphics-same-game". Nintendo should put they staff only in development off switch titles.
About the hardware...Well no need to be more than a PS4 or XBOX ONE, since all games will have to work on those platforms.
Interesting thing to be noticed is that if you search for tegra x2 on the Nvidia's page the site will show you the Nintendo Switch as the first option...Just saying
It's just purely marketing bla bla, I wouldn't give this too much attention. Don't believe that 500-years crap for a second.
They'll probably just put crappy hardware in it and try to fool everyone again.
And to anyone hoping this will be on par with PS4 or XB1: Don't get your hopes up. That's technically impossible.
@BiasedSonyFan: Ehm, the Tegra chip in the Switch is based on Maxwell architecture, not Pascal. It's last-gen (for PC hardware).
@shani Wait, NVidia released a statement saying the chip in the Switch IS based on Pascal architecture. What am I missing?
For some reason I don't see Nintendo and Nvidia doing their Sgt. Pepper thing and reminiscing on "twenty years ago today", especially before there is even a single sales report. In the end they're here to make money.
@LetsGoRetro Well of course they want to make profit, but again.. spending up to 2 years on custom software & hardware is still quite a feat. They probably don't spend that long developing the GPUs in most "gamers" PCs. I'm still pretty hopeful.
And yet, it's confirmed to not even be as powerful as the 3 year old PS4.
Even if it is as powerful as the 3 year old PS4, the XB1 S and PS4 Pro are both now a thing, with 4k and HDR capabilities.
So, there goes the home console market for Nintendo. So let's turn our heads to the portable market. Many portable gamers have already voiced their concerns over the sheer size and clunkiness of the Switch as a portable only device.
Which leads the Switch to the same situation the Wii U was in: jack of all trades, master of none. The only market that will flock to Switch is the same market that flocked to Wii U. Die hard Nintendo fans.
Switch would be lucky to sell in the GameCube range of lifetime numbers, and that's just unfortunate for Nintendo, because there's no 3DS this go around to pull the Wii U, I mean Switch, out of the water.
@JLPick
Ow, party games ?
My recommendation is Wii Party or Wii Party U. The board games are interesting enough, especially Roulette, Bingo, Swap Meet, Snake & Ladder, Globe Trotter. Don't worry about graphic. Still crisp enough to be enjoyed. Also, Go Vacation Wii really good deal. With 50 different of activities (minigames) and different levels + Open World style gameplay, you can explore the beauty of 4 different Resorts together with your wife or kids. Well, maybe the graphic is not really detail enough (the trees, bushes, some complex objects still looks like low polygon texture) but i'm sure it doesn't really matter. Well, hopefully you can enjoy some Wii games with your family members.
@BiasedSonyFan @DanteSolablood What, which nvidia statement? Do you have a link?
I just found this, but it's not an official source, just a rumour.
Now I'm confused... I'm pretty certain that the official report after the Switch reveal said something about Maxwell, but I can't find it anymore (or at least it doesn't say so here).
So maybe I was wrong about the used architecture, I apologize.
Still, it doesn't really matter that much which architecture it's based on. It's just a mobile chip. It's ARM, not x86. It's not the real deal...
Nvidia themselves said that it doesn't mean it's on par with their graphic cards (Maxwell or Pascal). I'll try to find that statement at least.
@Savino
Convince them again. If me, I will do anything to make them pay attention to Nintendo stuffs.
@Senpai_Bruh
Relax. And so what if Nintendo still being Kiddie ? I like Kiddie stuffs from Nintendo.
@rjejr
Ah, relax. I still pay attention to 3DS games. I know Apple will launched some new Iphones but my heart still on Nintendo. I'm neutral with Apple, doesn't seems like a rival to me but if I got Iphone from Jackpot prize, I will sell it to buy another Nintendo machines. Guess, 1 newest Iphone (with price around $ 900 - $1000) equal two Switch (if the price same with Wii U) or 3 New 3DS XL.
@shani "the same architecture as the world’s top-performing GeForce gaming graphics cards." https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/2016/10/20/nintendo-switch/
@BiasedSonyFan "You did, however, compare the Pascal and X1 as if they were comparable things."
No, I did not. If you think I did, you misinterpreted me. What I meant was that Pascal is a different GPU from the one used in Tegra X1. I mistakenly designated that as being Parker, but of course I should have said Maxwell, which is what the X1 GPU is based on, so that was my mistake. Parker is obviously the SoC that the Pascal-based GPU is a part from.
Now, with that out of the way, the rest of my statement remains the same, except for replacing Parker with Maxwell, obviously.
There are numerous sources, including the now completely confirmed as correct Laura Kate Dale, that support the notion that the Switch is based upon Pascal infrastructure, so that is all but confirmed. And that in and of itself means that it cannot be a Tegra X1. The only possible option left is that it is some kind of hybrid, in-between form of Tegra X1 and X2, which could happen, seeing as it is a custom design, but why would they do that, if the X2 architecture is already available to them, so it's both easier and more cost-effective to base the custom chip on that. The X1 is obviously also already there, but it's more than 2,5 years old, so it's old tech and Nintendo has been looking to move away from going that route, like they did with the Wii and Wii U, at least: according to Tatsumi Kimishima.
Nvidia has only been working with Nintendo for 2 years now and obviously they were already hard at work before that, getting their X2 ready for production, so it's far more likely that Nvidia made a deal with Nintendo to incorporate X2 in the Switch. And that possibility is also enforced by Nvidia canceling the Shield 2.
"The X1 is a chip. The Pascal is not; it is an architecture. The comparison you should have made is between the X1 and Parker chips."
Pascal is an architecture, yes, and it is what the GPU is based upon. Parker isn't a chip, however. Parker is a SoC, incorporating much more than just a chip.
If you want to discuss hardware with me, get your facts straight or just don't bother. I stand by what I said, and the rest of the rumors I mentioned all come from the EuroGamer source, aka Laura Kate Dale, who has been 100% correct so far.
She is also the one mentioning the dock having some sort of functionality that puts the tablet into an overclock mode, which also explains the extra and active cooling in the dock. And it being underclocked when out of the dock also makes sense, both in battery life and overheating prevention, since the handheld itself apparently has no active cooling.
Guess we'll find out soon enough who's right or not. I hope you will be just as big of a man as I am, since I'm not afraid to admit I was wrong, but there's a lot of people that just remain silent...
Having said that, my original post was not meant to start a discussion on what is or what is not inside the Switch; it was meant to show that it is actually going to be quite a capable system either way, even if it would be some kind of custom X1 derivative. Which is why I also posted videos of the X1's predecessor, which was also already quite a capable architecture.
@ThanosReXXX
"She is also the one mentioning the dock having some sort of functionality that puts the tablet into an overclock mode, which also explains the extra and active cooling in the dock. And it being underclocked when out of the dock also makes sense, both in battery life and overheating prevention, since the handheld itself apparently has no active cooling."
The dock likely doesn't have any complex hardware. The cooling vents are at the top of the switch only, which means that a dock with fans wouldn't really do much. I do think their are internal fans though that only run when docked so battery life doesn't plummet. It's also only a 720p screen, so it's not like outputting 1080p would be beneficial in any way.
@Diogozaca While I don't care much about ports, new editions for Pokken, Splatoon, and Mario Kart will be welcomed if they improve the games enough. If straight-up ports help Switch sales, though, I am all for them. If Nintendo ports the games in-house then it will drain their resources, but most of the time they outsource porting to companies that specialize in porting rather than development
@Anti-Matter Your obsession with Nintendo is amazing.
@cleveland124 I never claimed there to be any special hardware in the dock itself. For the dock to allow for the tablet to overclock, all it needs is a switch/detector and those fans. The power is in the handheld, but overclocking it outside of the dock will likely result in serious overheating, not to mention an even shorter battery life.
Fans operating to preserve battery life makes no sense. Fans are to prevent overheating as you probably know full well.
I'm a PC gamer mostly. Nvidia's chips this year have been the biggest generational leap since I entered the market in '95. Almost twice as powerful, and 50-60% cheaper to produce.
There's a real chance Nintendo could equal the xbox one's graphics power -particularly with a lower resolution- without taking a loss if they can get Nvidia to sell at cost initially, but keep the same price as cost to manufacture decreases. Nvidia would make a lot of money if the console sells well, and Nintendo can sneak a 'no loss' past investors even though it'll pay more for the card in the long run. The downside would be that the cost of the console might not be something they could drop in the next few years while still making a profit.
@BiasedSonyFan From your comments, it sounds like you don't know what architecture means. An architecture is a specification for a family of 'chips'. Thus, a 'chip' is a specific implementation of an architecture.
@roboshort There are many games that really deserved a lot more attention on the WII U, that is a fact, but instead of bringing port they could make something really new with things they already have, for instance: imagine a pokemon stadium or colosseum, with the mechanics of pokken tournament, with the implementation of the super effect/not much effect damages. If they put theyr efforts in bring that, even if the mechanics are already implemented they would still bring a completly new gae which would certainly be more than welcome for those who already have pokken on the WII U and like it. Is these kind of thing Nintendo should open their eyes. It's a very few amount of people who don't care to buy the same game on every platform just 'cause they liked it, most looks for new things that could bring the feeling of something they already like but in a different set, like the mario games on each generation.
The 2 big N are clearly meant for each other.
Nvidia has a lot at stake with Switch, it will be standing up against the other 2 AMD machines.
There will be games for Switch that aren't portable, it only runs when docked to the power supply at home. Remembered Sony said that the Vita is as fast as the PS3 but if it runs at that speed the battery will be dead in 2 mins? Same thing applied to Switch, some games can only be played with power supply, those will be PS4 quality.
Nvidia states "Gameplay is further enhanced by hardware-accelerated video playback and custom software for audio effects and rendering." its mean that the Chip would have a hand in commanding certains tasks as for video and sound, by creating "fixed paths" where the data would flow, wich would makes the chip less stressed, enhancing the speed of data transmission. So even if the chip is less capable in numbers, it can have a little more on it, because of the support hardware.
January 12th can't come quick enough!
@rjejr I for one love rotary phones, but I'm just weird ☺
@ThanosReXXX
"Fans operating to preserve battery life makes no sense. Fans are to prevent overheating as you probably know full well."
I guess I'm the one confused. If the fans are in the switch and they don't use any battery power (and thus CPU/GPU draw more power), why not run them all the time?
@RennanNT That's the same source that I linked in my previous post. And it basically says nothing. No mention of Pascal or Maxwell.
@CrazedCavalier
Except the "X2" does NOT exist in anything other than NX rumors and the Nintendo fandom. Tegra Parker, the successor to the X1, still does not have a formal name and at the moment it's designed for use in just cars.
As NVIDIA has said, at the moment we only know that NX is using a custom Tegra chip. We have no real data on how it will really perform and there is no real way to compare it to anything else. Same goes for Parker, we have DO have a spec sheet for Parker when used in an automobile, but no real comparison with other devices and SoCs.
@rjejr
I think he meant the continuation of an Nvidia chip in future hardware. As he mentioned nintendo tends to stick with a certain architecture for a bit. I think it isn't too farfetched to imagine another console team up between them. Specially if the switch blows up big.
@AVahne NVIDIA's Tegra SoC's have always been a top dog in performance, always right there with the best alongside Apple's SoC's. It's only real problem was it's power management, it drained a lot of battery. So I don't understand why you're asking to check expectations? As for for me I have high expectations, even more after the Tegra X1.
what's not to like here? nvidia are the leaders for gpu tech, producing the most efficient hardware for years now. great move for all concerned!
@shani The 3 top performing graphic cards are all Pascal. It's up to you to believe if they would be this misleading though.
@Diogozaca the trailer, while not officially indicative, already suggests we might get Skyrim, an updated re-release of a game YEARS old. Everyone and their Sackboy doll is investing into remasters lately anyway (although with Sony, it's partly because of no last-gen compatibility, too), and I personally welcome the possible chance of catching up with a lot I would have needed a strictly home console to experience before. If NS has the power it seems to promise plus the "seamless gameplay" factor it's confirmed to have, new and exclusive games should come in no small supply anyway.
Same with Virtual Console - it's legal emulation and needs to LIVE ON because none of the old games (nor their native systems) were built to last forever. New limited releases like NES Mini are more for collector's pleasure and commemoration value. But VC is:
no need to do shamanic dances about connecting old consoles to modern screens;
no need to deal with batteries on old handhelds (one thing I'll never miss about Gameboy & Co) where you could barely even tell when they would die next time;
an extra chance to see a game released in other regions officially like it happened with the first Sin and Punishment;
a chance for restoration of long unavailable features and even interaction with newer titles like it happened with Pokemon RGBY;
extra perks like state saving - even for players who would understandably prefer none of the save scumming it tempts to do, the ability to take a break without progress loss risk anytime rather than "in half an hour when the next savepoint/checkpoint is due" is nothing to sneeze at.
(After several edits, I give up any responsibility for how this comment section works with bulletpoint lists. Seriously, what's its problem?)
(Then again, I was being stupid, too - why not just list the points as simple separate paragraphs?)
@nhSnork Have you tried using '•' instead of '-'?
@AVahne I don't think expectations should be low I mean if the chip can handle Zelda botw then it's gotta be a pretty damn good mobile chip
@CircuitWrangler3 I agree, while the DS expanded towards the casual, the 3ds is fueled by "hardcore" games. There are millions of gamers that would never trade a dedicated device for a mobile.
The growth may not be big as the ds generation, but dedicated devices will always have a place in the sun. Only dumb and rushed analysis says otherwise.
@Nintendian I doubt it as making some games docked exclusives would confuse the messaging of the Switch and once again put Nintendo back in the Wii U situation.
@TheWPCTraveler Just did as prompted, thanks. Alas, this time the system didn't even bother with word spaces.
@Savino "the kids even don´t care about Mario or Pokemon... they´re into Minecraft and FNAF...
Did you try turning your kids off and on again?
@khaosklub
100 engineers working for a year = 100 years of engineering
50 engineers working for 2 years = 100 years of engineering
That's just to measure the amount of resources spent on the project.
@khaosklub I think they count every hour worked by every engineer on the team. This adds up
There's more information about this subject in this article:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/10777/nintendo-announces-switch-portable-gaming-console-powered-by-nvidia-tegra
I've been wondering how Nintendo was going to get around NVIDIA's GameWorks SDK, since it's a program that primarily increases NVIDIA's control over the product, which I would have assumed Nintendo would not want to allow an outside party to have on their product. It seems like NVN will use GameWorks in some capacity, which on the bright side would somewhat normalize porting between NX and PC, at least for products that NVIDIA supports. In other words, we can expect more reliable major third party support this time around. (But unfortunately less indie support, unless Nintendo pays for the tab on the GameWorks SDK.)
This is good news for third parties who are willing to work within NVIDIA's framework, and bad news for those who aren't. If you don't go through NVIDIA, you can't develop for the NX. I had thought Nintendo would want to avoid a situation like this... But then again, AMD offers nothing of note like this for mobile devices, and Nintendo has no idea how to develop mobile hardware on their own. NVIDIA is the biggest player they could turn to with the way NX is designed. So I suppose they felt that they needed to make a deal with their version of the devil to move forward.
@ThanosReXXX The bottom line is, there's no official announcement yet on whether it'll be based on Maxwell or Pascal, or even some other architecture, but let's hope that it does indeed use Pascal.
I think the big reveal here is the proprietary API, dubbed NVN. Considering it may include major parts of the restrictive GameWorks SDK, this tells us that anyone who doesn't go directly through an NVIDIA deal cannot officially develop for the NX. Any and all middleware must abide by NVIDIA's criteria in addition to Nintendo's. Any thoughts on that?
@RennanNT
Well for one, it's not really up to me, because nvidia already mislead the public before (e.g. the GTX 970).
And besides, that statement "the world’s top-performing GeForce gaming graphics cards" is extremely vage. It deliberately doesn't specify which time it's referring to, it could easily mean the last generation. Don't assume they actually mean the most recent graphic cards just because the statement was made in October.
It also doesn't specify what it means by "world's top-performing". This is exactly how marketing lingo works. It is written to make you think they mean something like the Titan X or GTX 980 or 1080 while actually it could mean something like a GTX 480, 660 or 760.
@Anti-Matter I didn't mean it like that. I said I just don't want people not to buy the Switch because it's Nintendo and lot of people look at Nintendo as just a kiddie company. I for one couldn't care what it is or what it looks like. If it's Nintendo, then I'm most likely buying it no matter what. Hopefully Nintendo will bring in new fans and change their minds about the company and console.
@BiasedSonyFan You're a boy that REALLY likes to be right, huh?
I told you not to bother if you don't know what you're talking about or can't even be bothered to get your facts straight.
A SoC is a collection of chips/units on a die, not a single chip, smart @ss.
"Probably because X2 is newer tech that Nvidia is currently reserving for other electronic devices and cars, Nintendo wanted a customized and cost-effective option, Nvidia wanted to get back in the video game console business, Nvidia was willing to sell such a customized and cost-effective option at a loss...it's not implausible."
Indeed, that was what I was getting at, but not Nvidia selling existing or custom X1's at a loss, since these are already old and really wouldn't be all that expensive at purchasing prices, so it's FAR more likely that it is a custom chip more akin to the X2, because it also has to support Pascal, which the X1 can't.
"As for the veracity of the custom-chip rumor: Nate Drake has suggested that the Switch isn't really an X2 chip but a custom chip, and he has credible sources."
And that is also what I said: a custom chip, but based upon the X2, rather than on the outdated X1. I again point to the cancellation of the Shield 2, which was also going to use newer tech than the X1. And NateDrake also said Pascal based, so it's not an X1, period.
And Laura Kate Dale hasn't been wrong so far, so until proven otherwise, there is no reason to at the very least consider that what she is saying has some validity.
"There is a difference between that and a console that is close to the PS4 when docked. The Switch is more likely a console that's below the Xbox One, max."
On it's own it'll probably be below, and only slightly below or equal to when docked. The SCD, which is rumored to be a reality by a multitude of sources (including Laura Kate Dale) will add additional power to bring it up to or slightly over PS4 power.
But worst case scenario, even if it is only ever going to be as powerful as an Xbox One when docked and even with an SCD connected, then it'll still be alright.
People are spelling all kinds of doom for the Switch because it isn't going to be as powerful as the PS4 Pro and Xbox One Scorpio, but seem to keep forgetting the WAY more important fact that both Microsoft and Sony have stated and guaranteed that games for their consoles must work on ALL models, including the standard Xbox One and PS4, so these base models will remain leading for game development, so all the Switch has to do or have is a power level near or similar to that.
So, there is no real threat from the superior models of these other consoles for Nintendo, as long as they are indeed in the Xbox One range and can use all modern gaming engines, which are all scalable. If the Tegra K1 could reach the results that are shown in those videos I posted, then a custom chip somewhere in between the X1 and X2 certainly can do at least as well.
And as long as development is easier and more efficient this time around, then developers will bring their games. Maybe not all of them, but certainly a whole lot more than on the Wii U.
And that brings me back to my final and most important point of the whole discussion, and that is that the Switch certainly does have the potential to do just fine. Nintendo has some great IP's of their own, the hardware they are using is more than capable (as shown in those videos) and they also have a good partner in Nvidia to get on the better side of third party developers.
Of course it's still up to Nintendo to do a better job marketing the system and making sure that third parties are getting and staying on board, but if they nail that, then for the time being, all preconceived worries can be set aside.
@cleveland124 The fans are in the dock, not in the Switch itself. From all I've read, the Switch has no active cooling. That's why it's not outside the realm of possibilities at all to assume that it will run underclocked when portable, and will only run full force when inserted in the dock. And that would also coincide nicely with the fact that the screen is said to render 720p when in portable mode, and the rumor that Nintendo wants to achieve 1080p/60fps on all games when the system is docked.
So, the fans do indeed need power, but since they are in the dock, they will run on mains power, not the batteries. Unless the dock is also wireless...
@cleveland124 But let's suppose that the fans are in the Switch itself: it could also be that they are only activated when inserted into the dock, with the same end result as the fans being in the dock, which is that the system will be able to run in an overclocked mode without overheating.
I'm really excited for Switch. It's been my dream for so long to have console quality games on the go.
Here's the GPD Win, a crowd funded mobile PC gaming device, which runs about $300 and can play most PC games that were early PS3/360 releases. It can emulate some GameCube full speed like Windwaker, it can do Metroid Prime at about 52 FPS, even Twilight Princess although it gets slowdown later in the game, it can of course emulate older systems like PSone and N64 no problem. This is the closest thing to my dream yet...
image host
But the Switch looks like it's gonna be amazing. Way more powerful than the GPD Win, more powerful than Shield (and Shield was an absolutely incredible device), and dang near encroaching on current gen home console levels. I'm stoked.
@ThanosReXXX history. N64 chip is a cheap version of an of the shelf chip. GameCube (great chip by the way, not knocking the PPC.) Is a Standard PPC chip with added functions, but clocked very slow (under 500mhz if I remember right) vs about 700 to 900 mhz if the stand chip.
My point is that consoles usually use gimped or middle of the road chips (cpu and gpu) to reduce cost.
Now I'm all for reducing cost. (Please no more crazy ps3) but Nintendo seems to spend the console budget on the wrong things.
GameCube, great machine, but they gimped the ram big time. Only 40mb of ram! That is insane. Wii 88 mb of ram.
I hope the switch really surprises me.
@PlywoodStick "The bottom line is, there's no official announcement yet on whether it'll be based on Maxwell or Pascal, or even some other architecture, but let's hope that it does indeed use Pascal.
I think the big reveal here is the proprietary API, dubbed NVN. Considering it may include major parts of the restrictive GameWorks SDK, this tells us that anyone who doesn't go directly through an NVIDIA deal cannot officially develop for the NX. Any and all middleware must abide by NVIDIA's criteria in addition to Nintendo's. Any thoughts on that?"
Well, I certainly do think that it will benefit Nintendo, considering Nvidia's rather broad spectrum of third party developer contacts in gaming, which is one of the main reasons why I think that list of supposed third party support is as long as it is. Nintendo having that kind of architecture inside of their console now, will surely help them secure more support, as well as more quality in third party games, since Nvidia's API and middleware will take care of that as far as development and porting is concerned.
And honestly, all rumors, also from what we can now consider to be sources to certainly take seriously, point to a Pascal based architecture, which cannot be an X1, unless Nvidia has found a way to somehow merge X1 and X2 technology into a new custom chip that is compatible with Pascal. (X1 ran on Maxwell)
And I personally think that the possibly restrictive nature of the new API and GameWorks SDK that you mentioned, falls nicely in line with Nintendo's own seal of quality. Sensibly speaking, they would want quality software to showcase their new console, now wouldn't they?
And developers used to programming towards Nvidia hardware on PC are more than likely already used to their methods and SDK's, so I see no reason why a new custom API would all of a sudden make it that much harder. From all reports, NVN is actually meant to make it that much more easier, so porting should be really user friendly. But I guess we'll find out soon enough...
@JaxonH Glad to see that there are at least some people that don't see all those imaginary bears on the road...
@Danrenfroe2016 History indeed, my friend. But so is that behavior of using cheap or last gen tech. Nintendo can't afford another mishap, simple as that. They'll still have the money, so they won't go bankrupt like some people so readily like to think, but the damage to their name will probably be irreversible, and that will be a long term problem.
And Nvidia too can't afford this. They have probably invested a LOT of money to get back in the console business, after their last outing, which was the PS3. Together with Nintendo, they'll more than likely have dotted all their i's and crossed all their t's before getting into bed with what was formerly known as code name NX.
By no means is it a done deal and an open road to success, but all signs so far at the very least point to a better thought out strategy and a decent start up of their new system. Come January, we will see the first fruits of Nintendo and Nvidia's combined labor and then we might also be able to more clearly see where it's all going.
To get a better launch than the Wii U should not really be a big stretch for them. That much can at least already be said...
@ThanosReXXX Thanks for the optimistic words. Too many "realists" are bashing the Switch with stuff like "No way it'll be as powerful as the Xbox One, so the 3rd party support will be trash", and it's been kinda killing the hype for me a little bit. Glad to see some people who actually know what they're talking about aren't painting such a dismal picture of the Switch's future. Of course, nothing is guaranteed, but I don't think there's any question that it can at the very least surpass the Wii U, which is something Nintendo needs. I grew up with the SNES and N64 and then the Gamecube and Wii, so I've got a very big soft spot for Nintendo, and I'd hate to see another failure. Glad to see that it looks like they've learned from at least some of their mistakes.
@ThanosReXXX
Yes, I thought that's what I was saying. Active cooling in the switch that is only active when docked due to power concerns.
I don't see how there is a feasible way the dock could provide cooling. From the reveal, the only vent is on top of the switch that sticks out of the dock. Since you are supposed to be able to grab the switch at any moment and play on the go, the casing itself cannot be used as a heat sync. I suppose you could just blow fans in it's direction and hope for the best, but that doesen't seem like you could over clock much that way.
@cleveland124 Maybe these well thought out videos will also help a bit more to speculate on what could be in the dock:
There aren't a whole lot of people that think that there's actually active cooling inside the tablet itself. Fans take up space, and if you look at the dock, it's rather bulky, or maybe even too bulky to just be a means to charge it and connect it to your TV.
And we haven't seen the back of the dock yet. Fan openings could be there.
@cleveland124 And in case you're wondering: yes, I posted two videos with slightly opposing views, the second one supporting fans being in the Switch itself, but both come up with good reasons for the dock to give it some extra power.
@JaxonH
Why, hello there, Xperia Play successor.
@BiasedSonyFan A die is an integrated circuit, and for all intents and purposes, a processor package, but it is NOT a single chip, and neither is a SoC. We can mince words all night long, but maybe we should just skip this particular part, since you have your interpretation and I have mine, and we're apparently nowhere close to meeting in the middle.
As for those sources: check Laura Kate Dale's Twitter account, and even NateDrake has mentioned something about it.
Those two videos I posted in comment #114 also very objectively speculate on the further purposes of the dock.
To be clear: I'm not saying there's additional hardware inside the dock to add power to the tablet, I'm only saying that the dock allows the Switch to overclock without it running the risk of overheating.
"Except it's not. Nvidia clearly wants to reserve the X2 (or Parker) chip for the car industry, so Nintendo and Nvidia probably met halfway on the custom-chip that the Switch would use. Nintendo likely got a chip that is based on the Pascal architecture for energy efficiency (on a 16 nm fabrication) but also looks more like the X1 chip instead of the X2 chip. Again, see Nate Drake's tweets about the matter (Direct-Feed Games)."
Like I already stated: NateDrake also clearly stated Pascal-based. X1 is Maxwell, not Pascal. And I also didn't say a straight up X2, but either a derivative of, or a custom hybrid of the two.
In any case, newer tech than what was in the original Nvidia Shield.
An additional note on the horsepower issue of the Switch:
Bethesda explicitly stated that they would not develop for the Switch if the hardware wasn't AT LEAST on par with the Xbox One, and shortly after that, they released another statement saying they were happy to announce their partnership with Nintendo, so I'd say that should at the very least tell us something...
P.S.
My compliments, glad to see that you can take a bit of a punch and don't feel the need to resort to any immature or insulting behavior.
@AlexSora89
That GPD Win is awesome. Runs full Windows 10, so it actually plays real PC games, can run all PC emulators... it's basically a laptop condensed into a handheld.
@JaxonH
And does it work as a phone, yes?
@AlexSora89
No, it's not a phone.
It's a mobile Windows PC gaming device. Crowd funded by people looking to make a powerful handheld that can play PC games and run emulators.
@JaxonH How does it compare to the GPD XD? I thought the GPD Win was more geared towards the serious user, whereas the GPD XD was more geared towards the gamer. The XD even has a download suite for games incorporated in the OS.
@ThanosReXXX
Can't tell you. I don't own either of them. But my brother got one, which is how I know about it. If it can run Fire Emblem Path of Radiance I'm getting one.
@Savino
Mario Kart 8 was too easy ?
Try 200 cc for Rainbow Road and tell me if it was too easy. It was Damn too hard if you can't drifting with right timing.
And what do you want to blame from Nintendo ? Some Wii U games are too hard for kids? I don't think so. For Mario Kart 8, Even I have unlocked all cups and all players, I still have to unlock the remaining of body parts of vehicles. And it was pretty easy. I have very few Wii U games but I love all of them. If some kids can't play even easy games like that, they were too lazy to try harder. Maybe they were used to play with almost no brainer games and thought it was the best of all. I can say sone of nowadays kids are too lazy to try harder. I can see with my naked my eyes, even some of my students at my school play almost no brainer games, they refuse or bored with systematic or require of thinking games such as Simple RPG, 3D Platformer, Puzzle solving, Rhythm, Life simulation, Cartoon Racing, etc. Even for me when I was young, I was ever played some RPG games, Puzzle, Cartoon Racing, etc and I could mastering by try harder, not giving up easily. Sure I can see some kids today are too spoiled. I feel sorry to them. Well, no company are perfect but at least some Nintendo games still easy enough to be played. Try to engage more.
@ThanosReXXX Thanks for the response. You make some good points! I'll be looking forward to more information as it arrives...
@JaxonH
GPD ? Who created that ?
And emulators ? Ew.... no thanks.
@Anti-Matter
Google it.
This review should tell you everything there is to know.
http://bibblebytes.com/gpd-win-specs-features-design-pros-cons-gpd-win-review
Shenzhen GPD Technologies developed via Indigogo crowdfunding
Intel Atom X5 Z8500 Quad Core Processor
1.44 Ghz Base Frequency with 2.24 Burst Frequency
L1 Cache 32kb*2 L2 Cache 2mb
5.5" 1280 x 720 capacitive touch display (227ppi)
4gb LPDDR3 RAM
64gb Storage with SD to increase capacity
Windows 10 OS with full QUERTY keyboard
USB, HDMI, 3.5mm headphone jack
@JaxonH Ah, okay. Thought you might know. Here's a couple of extensive reviews of the GPD XD. It is said to run everything up til Dreamcast and also quite a few PSP and/or PS2 titles.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwO80jzKhtE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQHfq2t2o3g
Here's an event showcase:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pwl4y4bW3uw
And this guy does a lot of let's plays on the GPD XD:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwuwg-GG7_b-SxzDWmZMHthVieZSIwvzN
@ThanosReXXX
Oh it's cool. I don't need to read reviews. I know what it is. Like I said my brother ordered one.
@BiasedSonyFan "I'm not sure why you continue to insist that a System on a Chip is not a single chip."
And I'm not quite sure why you insist on continuing that part of the discussion, even when I already ever so politely suggested we'd drop that part because it's going nowhere. It's all semantics and interpretations.
"I wasn't referring to the dock, but the SCDs. There is very little information about them."
Ah, okay. My bad... There is some info on that floating around, but right now, it's getting close to midnight over here, so if you don't mind, I'm not going to do an extensive search on it right now. Might get back to you on it if and when I feel like it...
"Right, but you think the Switch SoC is more like the X2. That's where we disagree, and that's also where I can cite sources that suggest that the Switch SoC is more like the X1 than the X2."
No, I don't think it's more like one or the other, but I definitely think it's more modern than the X1 and closer in tech to the X2 for it to be able to support the Pascal architecture. X1 is Maxwell and is not compatible with Pascal unless heavily modified. Much like K1 is also not compatible with newer architecture. Or best case scenario, it will be able to run parts of it, but not at full speed and not with all the capabilities that the new architecture offers.
"Bethesda's statement should not be taken literally. They were probably just referring to a console that runs modern video game engines, which describes the Switch. Several insiders are claiming that the Switch is less powerful than the Xbox One but a still capable machine from the graphics hardware standpoint."
And why should Bethesda's statement not be taken literally? Seeing as it is LITERALLY what they said. There was no ambiguity in their statement. So, several insiders can claim all they want, Bethesda is the one familiar with the hardware and the one that has signed the agreement based upon their own wants and needs. I think it's wiser to go with their assessment...
And for the record: I only think it'll reach Xbox One powers when docked, to not confuse what it actually is that we're talking about.
And no offense, but you seem to want to continue this discussion just to be right on all points, but you're not. We can certainly agree to disagree and in my honest opinion, that might be the better option, since I don't really feel like continuing if we can't come to some sort of compromise or move forward.
So, once again: no offense, but if that's the case, then I'm signing off on this talk right now. Cheers.
@JaxonH I thought you were only talking about the GPD Win. That's a considerably different machine.
@PlywoodStick You're more than welcome.
@ThanosReXXX
"talking about GPD Win... considerably different"
I was talking about GPD Win. But I know what they both are. I don't really care about the differences between them I was just pointing out the types of devices out there that provide gaming on the go
@JaxonH Hey man, no worries. Didn't know you already knew about the gaming only XD.
@JaxonH
I have read from Google about GPD, but I still prefer official genuine video games from Nintendo. Sure, it's so temptating with many simulators but i'm done with all emulators. Btw, is that thing legal ? Considering GPD offers so many simulators that can play illegal ROMs.
@Anti-Matter
Of course it's legal. You can buy it on Amazon.
All it is is a PC. Just a tiny laptop. Laptops aren't illegal. Just happens to have analogs and buttons. It's a PC running Windows 10, that's all it is. Does what a PC does, plays the games a PC plays, can run Excel and Word and any program a PC can run. And, if you so choose, it can run any emulator a PC can run.
It's just a tiny Windows 10 laptop the size of a handheld with analogs and buttons. Can buy it on Amazon (though I think it's sold out)
@BiasedSonyFan Maybe I didn't explain properly. An architecture is the blueprint. A chip is the physical object built based on the architecture. Tegra X1 is the architecture for a system of processors and memory (which includes the GPU). Pascal is an architecture for a GPU. Saying that you cannot compare TegraX1 to the Pascal is like saying you cannot compare a washing machine/dryer combo unit to a washing machine. One is a more complicated system, but they are definitely comparable in terms of their ability to wash clothes.
@CrazedCavalier lol. I wouldn't go that far. As I have a Shield, it's definitely not quite 360 level and I can say for sure X2 will certainly NOT be on par with an Xbox One.
Maybe half way there but NO. NO NO.
@JaxonH
Oh, I see. About GPD, can I remove permanently all the emulators inside because maybe I can consider GPD as an innocence mini laptop without emulators to play illegal ROMs ? And if GPD can play Android games, will it play an official from Apps Store, not hacked or jailbreak games ?
GPD use Windows 10, so if I have original PC game (Let's say The Sims 3 or 4 PC), can I install it consider it will not compatible with Win 10 so need a convertion to be able installed ? Sorry, i'm still newbie about tech.
@Anti-Matter
???
Remove emulators? What emulators? It's a PC. PCs don't come with emulators. It simply has the ability to run emulators, as any PC does.
And no Android. Again, this is a PC. It's literally a laptop running Windows 10 with buttons. Nothing more.
About the NVN API GPU, I believe that the NVN is the initial for Nintendo, Vulkan, and NVIDIA. If it's true, they are really making their mark in making the Nintendo Switch a more reliable home/portable platform!
@BiasedSonyFan
Just wait until January my friend.
@ThanosReXXX Your comment is most definitely on full point. As much as I want to know more about the Nintendo Switch, I'm already impressed at what NVIDIA will add more to the home/mobile platform.
I'd like someone who doesn't directly profit from the Switch selling well to tell me their opinion of how powerful the Switch is.
@Kuhang
My comment is due to how NVIDIA themselves tends to over-embellish a bit on their mobile SoCs' performance when they're actively talking about them. Their chips tend to be pretty good, even when they're not the best, however NVIDIA does have a tendency to make their current Tegra chip look better than it actually is.
Though, I guess they kind of have to considering they have very few customers in the mobile sector nowadays. They've been putting less focus on the actual mobile aspect of their mobile SoCs nowadays and they've been heading into mostly powering cars instead.
@JaxonH
Ouch. Well, I guess my Xperia Play will do for a while, then.
damn! just tell us that there is some gpu ahrdware in the dock with a SLI-like architecture... or another bundle of the switch with this type of dock...
@AlexSora89
Ya the days of dreaming of phone gaming hybrid devices is past I think.
The appeal here is playing PC games on a handheld (not new ones on PS4/X1, but many 7th gen releases run like Skyrim, Resident Evil, etc) and even some GameCube.
I thoughthink Xperia Play was cool, but who's still rockin a 10 year old phone nowadays, except maybe exclusively as a gaming device, which never got many games I don't think. Idk, you'd be able to answer that more than me, but ya
@JaxonH
I have an Xperia Play and, aside from clogging up its own internal memory with pre-installed games I can't seem to get rid of, it's quite the awesome phone. It's the promised land for emulators, that is, provided you don't use too heavy emulators.
@BiasedSonyFan "I am continuing this discussion so that everyone reading this discussion can seek the truth by surveying the evidence. "
Exactly what I thought. It reeks of narcissism, wanting so desperately to be right and also wanting people to see it, so you apparently need an audience so you can feel good about yourself, or at least something to that extent. No offense, but that is far from exemplary behavior...
Maybe you don't mean to come across as stubborn or haughty, but the way I interpret your text, it certainly looks like it.
I'll answer you one last time, and after that, expect no more reaction from me, because this is becoming VERY tiresome.
1). A SoC is a SYSTEM on a chip, you emphasized the wrong word in one of your earlier comments. It is a combination of various components, making it an autonomous entity. Every other chip is not autonomous nor is it made up of similar components as a SoC, and that is the differentiation I make. If you want to look at it differently, that's fine by me, but I'm going to leave it at that.
2). I never said I had hard evidence on the SCD's, all of it is only rumored, based upon Nintendo's patent and several leakers, among which Laura Kate Dale. But there is information, you just need to know where to look. The whole point of the SCD is to boost power. It's described in the official patent and it is mentioned in a number of rumors speculating on what it is and how it is going to be implemented in practice. At some point, various famous bloggers/YouTubers were even theorizing that the dock might be the SCD.
Besides that, it wouldn't be all that hard for a system close to Xbox One power to be boosted up to PS4 levels by means of some extra hardware, so even though that's only a theory, it is well within the realms of possibilities. The difference between the Xbox One and PS4 is only small after all.
3). Nate Drake also said that it was Pascal-based, which should make it be more akin to Nvidia's current gfx cards or SoC's, not to the previous generation. And Nate Drake is not a 100% credible source, EuroGamer and Laura Kate Dale are. Nate Drake just followed the crowd and only supported the hybrid rumors, but has added little new to it himself. If you cross-reference all he said with what Dale said, then you'll notice the similarities and that most of it was already mentioned by her before he corroborated it.
4). Indeed, the Switch doesn't have to be as powerful, as long as it has full engine support, which it apparently has, but Bethesda was VERY explicit in their wording, and that cannot be interpreted any different than the actual words.
Here are some articles mentioning the interview that Pete Hines from Bethesda gave on the matter:
http://nintendoenthusiast.com/article/did-bethesda-hint-at-the-nintendo-switchs-power
http://www.smpgadget.com/2016/11/07/14012-nintendo-switch-could-it-be-as-powerful-as-the-xbox-one.html
In the end, it is all still a theory, and I consider it only to be true for the system in docked mode, but third parties nowadays have quite a list of demands, and it has been said that Nintendo has really listened to them and have been in constant communication with certain parties to assure that the system will deliver what these developers are searching for.
And it seems WAY too short-sighted to me to even consider that all there is to that is Unreal Engine (or any other game engine) support. It simply doesn't stop at catering to game engines, as you well know. There are other things factored in as well, and all these boxes need to be ticked for third parties to come aboard.
While you're at it, give comment #150 a read, that guy also came up with quite a decent theory.
And there's an interesting discussion going on in the NeoGAF forum, concerning the statements that Nvidia's CEO made:
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1312746
@Funky_Kong Nothing wrong with your English and an interesting theory. You've gained a like...
EDIT:
One small correction, though: Nvidia isn't new to the console business. They've helped with both the original Xbox and the PS3, so they have just been out of the console business for a while, but the Switch is definitely not their first effort, so they are not new to the (sub)market.
@Leu10antFalcon Indeed. I'm fully convinced that Nvidia is responsible for at least half of that third party list, because some of them weren't even anywhere NEAR a Nintendo console in previous generations.
Whatever else is going on with the hardware, I have a feeling it will do just fine, and will probably make both companies a healthy profit. Provided that they handle the marketing right this time...
All in all, they're not going to talk bad about the system or nintendo in general...nintendo's giving them money and will continue to give them money throughout the years with them, so they will never talk bad.
I still can't wait for January to get all of the details of the Switch...that will be the cue for me on if I get it at launch, or wait until the following year...I'm hoping for plenty of great games to play on it until the end of 2017, not having to wait years for the games they announce to come out on it, and I don't want an E-shop that doesn't appear until months later and just adds the same old stuff to it (3DS took a few months before the E-shop was even added, and the Wii U took a while for the virtual shop). I'm hoping for something fun and exciting to play, and I hope they pull it off to be (not a contender with the other companies), but just a great system that will have plenty of enjoyment...I haven't really had a fondness that I stuck with for nintendo since the Gamecube, which is still my favorite nintendo system to date (not including the original NES and Super NES or N64, which I also loved)...just seemed like I lost interest fast in the Wii and never really found it in the Wii U...by the way, my love is not including the portable systems, as there's always love for them! I just want a normal nintendo system again with normal controls...I get tired of motion controls, which is why I never owned the Move on PS3, Kinect on 360 or the Camera for PS4.
@ThanosReXXX The marketing is going to be their key points...not just the internet, but commercials maybe during the super bowl would help, more commercials for their games on TV, hype from stores which feature the system and large posters, magazine ads and more. They used to do it big with the Gamecube on down in systems, but seemed to just let it go after the beginning of the Wii's stage. I know I'm off topic, but I'd love to see something like Sony did with the Kevin Butler ads, which were pretty humorous and funny!
Big words... makes me feel good, which is fine, but I can't wait to see the take it for a spin so I can truly form my own opinion. Damn my impatience...
@JLPick Wholeheartedly agreed on the marketing, and I can understand why you liked those commercials. In my opinion, they were better than the other ones, some of them quite weird like with the baby and the little girl with the deformed head and giant eyes...
@KirbyTheVampire Agree with that.
Nintendo needs to Dazzle the masses.
Additional statements of Nvidia's CEO:
https://mynintendonews.com/2016/11/13/nvidia-ceo-reveals-why-they-are-powering-the-nintendo-switch
Wow he said a lot in those few words.
@ThanosReXXX Yeah, agree on the baby one. The only ones that were good were the Kevin Butler ones. The ones I also enjoyed were the old sega genesis commercials...especially the World Series baseball one...they were also classics, but then came the dreamcast ones which turned weird. The old N64 and Gameboy commercials were good too...the Metroid 2 return Of Samus one was a classic at that time, and really got my hype set on getting the game! Maybe nintendo can make the commercials like they used too, and bring the characters into it...like they did with Smash Bros for N64...if you never saw that commercial, you should look it up on youtube...it's pretty good for it's time!
@ThanosReXXX "Additional statements of Nvidia's CEO:
https://mynintendonews.com/2016/11/13/nvidia-ceo-reveals-why-they-are-powering-the-nintendo-switch"
Cheers. Looked down at the comments and wow - it's much more poisonous than in here!
I wonder if all Nintendo's accumulated in-house knowledge of game-oriented chip architecture has helped make this GPU.
If so, it's a dang strong partnership for a custom chip, and it's capabilities are likely to both surprise and delight.
@JLPick Didn't you think the one with the girl was kind of creepy too?
@Funky_Kong You're more than welcome.
And if you like all those channels, then you might also like PlayerEssence, Arlo, Blunty, Gamer Splash, The Commonwealth Realm and The Know.
Nvidia have a history of overpromising on mobile tech.
This will be a Wii U .5
@ThanosReXXX Most of them were...the only ones that seemed to be good and catch my interest and not think it was a horror movie coming to theaters was the Kevin Butler ones. The rest were just strange and unusual, with the exception of some of the game-only ones like the Uncharted ones.
@AVahne I assume you have seen the videos that compare their X1 chip, which is inside the Shield TV which I have? It shows that the X1 is around 30% less powerful in graphical terms than the PS4. Also, the Doom demo that is shown, the PS4 needed over 100w to render it, the X1 needed 10w. If the "highly customised" Tegra SoC is even half again more powerful than the original X1, it will put it graphically on par with the original PS4, obviously not their new one launching next year, Nvidia has invested massively in developing low power usage, but high end output mobile chips.
If it was to use the new X2 chip, which is rumoured to be 2.5 times more powerful than the X1, it would be able to achieve graphical abilities that even the PS4 can not achieve, especially as it is using their new Pascal Architecture.
@ThanosReXXX Just one more month!!!!!
@Leu10antFalcon Indeed, glad the wait is finally over. After the Nintendo presentation, I expect a lot more parties to come out and show us what they have planned.
And I'm also hoping that Nvidia will do their part and show and tell us what's actually inside the Switch and what we can realistically expect the hardware to be able to do.
This is PR talk of course, but it's funny to now read about this incredible machine that will amaze people and contrast it with the Eurogamer power rumors.
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