Nvidia Tegra Officially Confirmed As The Tech Behind Nintendo Switch

better be a new tegra chip and not the x1

Nice

tegra 1 or 2 ?

It says custom chip so I doubt it will be exactly X1 or X2, but another report did say it's architecture is very similar to that of the GeForce series

AMD, right guys?

@KingofSaiyanZ Five-hundred ninety-nine U.S. dollars.
(I'm leaning towards $350-400. It's not going to be cheap)

@A01 Yeh, cos it matters that much, am I right?

Poor SuperMetalDave64, lol.

Judging by the looks of the games it's about 360 level of graphics... so possibly based on the X1 chip. Hopefully it's the X2.

Either way I don't really mind - I'm totally sold on the Switch and it's a day 1 purchase for me!

@A01 Yes they are: http://www.nintendo.co.uk/Nintendo-Switch/Nintendo-Switch-1148779.html

@A01 Name changes are not out of the question, but with a name like that, it looks like we're stuck with it.

It honestly doesn't look any better then Wii U, hopefully it doesn't go down the same path.

@CyberGW

Nvidia has always used the same core architectures from GeForce in the Tegra GPU's.

Would be awesome if Nintendo supported shadowplay with the Switch.

@6ch6ris6 it says custom right in the article.

I need exact specs and screen resolution.

"Nintendo Switch is powered by the performance of the custom Tegra processor."

It's neither the X1 nor X2!

For the moment, my faith in Nintendo is restored.

Now, we'll see what the price is, the horsepower, and the battery life when it's portable ends up being.

But for now, impressed!

@Moon That's because all of the games show were made on previous systems. XD

When he plugged Skyrim back into the TV it looked like the remaster, especially because of the more advanced lighting effects. I'd say that the console is at least on par with the XBONE.

From Nvidia

Nintendo Switch is powered by the performance of the custom Tegra processor. The high-efficiency scalable processor includes an NVIDIA GPU based on the same architecture as the world’s top-performing GeForce gaming graphics cards.

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.

Gameplay is further enhanced by hardware-accelerated video playback and custom software for audio effects and rendering.

We’ve optimized the full suite of hardware and software for gaming and mobile use cases. This includes custom operating system integration with the GPU to increase both performance and efficiency.

NVIDIA gaming technology is integrated into all aspects of the new Nintendo Switch home gaming system, which promises to deliver a great experience to gamers.

G-Sync support please? Maybe with the tablet being a G-sync display?

I hope the chip set has the power to emulate old games nicely and give Nintendo the ability to have backwards compatibility!!

A custom Nvidia part is what I expected. I thought the X1 was too standard and too old by this point. I wouldn't be surprised if it used Nvidia's custom CPU(Denver, or perhaps something new) design like the 64-bit version of the K1 which is a monster of a mobile chip compared to the standard K1 and X1 based on just CPU. Though the people who thought it wouldn't be Nvidia due to the financial reports made a good case, I figured there were a couple of plausible ways around that and I did not consider it solid evidence.

@Damo maybe it was all posted 3 hours ago in the forums.

@faint but it has to be based on either x1 or x2.

I'll take Joy-Con as a name over Wiimote any day.

Nintendo...is back!!

@rjejr
Where you at. All that NX reveal mongering and now you're nowhere to be found!

Custom could mean anything. I hope it's at least based off the X2. Anytime Nintendo are deliberately vague like this about hardware it's not a good sign.

It sure has a more modern design than the X1 cause it is based on the new Pascal architecture. Things look promising, as seen in the list of software partners!

"based on the same architecture as the world's top-performing GeForce gaming graphics cards".

@Damo Hey Damo, there you are, I was looking to congratulate you in the other article. (I know you probably don't believe that but it's true. I've been busy. Nobody ever believes me about anything, it's ok) but I didn't see you comment over there to hit the reply button, guess you guys must be busy. Finally some real news.

Yeah, I'm pretty impressed, it was all correct - Nvidia, detachable controllers, tablet, dock. It's like they had the entire thing 100%. It's pretty amazing actually, all this time we thought we were in the dark but we knew pretty much everything about NX.

So, anything else you know you want to share that isn't out there yet? That dock is pretty big, does it have a 128GB SSD in it? Come on, you can tell me.

@BlatantlyHeroic I really hope you're right!

@JaxonH Nowhere to be found? I have like a dozen comments in the Switch article, you just ain't looking in the right place . Heck I even have 1 over on Psuhsquare - some guy named Punished_Boss I go back a ways with called me over - Sammy will probably drop the ban hammer for that NS pic I posted

So you gotta be happy w/ this huh? Buy 2, 1 for home, 1 for the truck, save points in the cloud maybe? You know I don't game on the go so I'm sticking w/ my Wii U. Though do we have a confirmation of 3DS cart compatibility yet? Hey @Damo when your done gloating, can I simply pop a 3DS cartridge in that slot and play 3DS games in there and on my TV? Wait, what am I saying, 1 screen, nevermind. Unless those controllers attach to the top and bottom as well? They don't, do they? Can we wireless out to the TV like a good version of the Gamepad for dual screen? So many questions.

Anyway, it isn't for me. I'm sure my kids will want 1, or 2, we'll have to see abut the price and how the account system works. Hey @Damo can you check on that as well - is this 1 NNID like the 3DS or multiple like the Wii U? That's kind of a big deal in my household, I would imagine yours as well.

Cool

Nvidia I am happy with prefer them too AMD in PC's anyway.

@Damo Man, you must have been dieing if you really new 100% all of that yourself and you weren't just going on the word others. Like, I don't even want to know, don't tell me dieing. Of course, it is a litte unfair to the rest of us if you "knew" knew, and the rest of us had to try and piece it together for ourselves. I still can't believe they put that screen behind a wall and didn't turn it into a Sony Dash so we can use it as a map in Pikmin 4. Don't make no sense, it's a step back from Wii U and 3DS if no dual screen.

Well keep up the good work. And in the future, feel free to just say "We know" rather than report on EG's or ER's rumours. Just say "we know".

@Moon Looks more like Xbox One to me. Definitely an improvement on BOTW visuals in comparison to the Wii U.

I fail to see how this can be as powerful as an XB1. Totally disappointed.

It's a ultra tegra if it is on par with the top graphic cards

@Damo I'm here. Already nailed myself to the cross in several articles. Still a bit baffled but I'm beginning to see little rays of sunshine. I do wonder, like some other people, if the third party support will be full force this time. I guess time will tell.

Oh, and good detective work. Credit where credit's due. (tips hat)

The system contains a custom Tegra chipset which includes a GPU "based on the same architecture as the world's top-performing GeForce gaming graphics cards."

It's defintely not based on the X1. It's using the New Pascal architecture like the New GeForce cards.

Poor vita LOL. This is the ultimate victory for Nintendo - a perfect console?

@Moon I can tell because the trees weren't the ugly ones that base Skyrim has. They're the better ones from the remastered version.

@Damo Oh, and I can't speak for @rjejr but I wouldn't let a little thing like this (or even real click bait articles) deter me from visiting what I think is one of the better independent Nintendo sites out there.

We swallow the bitter pill and we move on. Just takes a bit longer to stomach for old guys like me and @rjejr...

P.S.

PlayerEssence and SuperMetalDave were mostly theorizing, only HappyNintendoFan claimed definite sources, so there's a slight difference. The common denominator is that they are all wrong, though. Unless Nintendo does have more systems up their sleeve in the future. I still have to integrate that whole "family of systems" and Nintendo needs to be like Apple stuff in there somehow...

@BlatantlyHeroic Good eyes, man!

@rjejr I've half a mind to expose my own Ubi-source now, because that guy really got my hopes up in a triple A home console. But I'll be the wiser person instead of the sore loser, so I'm not even going to bother...

@LeRaposa well, It's Nintendo... so you'll probably never see them.

Nintendo and Nvidia working together, this is gonna be good!

@kamikazilucas Its a custom tegra chip

@rjejr
I understand wanting 2 screens. I liked 2 screens also and still do. Buuuuut... it is more a luxury extra than anything else. I mean, you won't find a 2 screen console anywhere else, so either way you're gonna have to stomach only having one screen. So you may as well judge Switch fairly on its own merits as a single screen console.

And if it doesn't meet your liking on its own merits, that's one thing, but to dismiss it for lacking dual screen while not dismissing other consoles for the same reason, or categorizing it as handheld and therefore disqualified when it's every bit as much console as any other console... seems illogical.

I'm Nvidia user and i'm always happy with cards.. The first xbox also used Nvidia and that's how we got amazing graphics. Nvidia FTW!

@Damo Well in the good spirit after the NX reveal I'll use this post to say "I'm sorry" to you, because I was very aggressive in the Ghostbusters article sometime ago.

@Damo Color me carefully optimistic, now that the first wave of utter astonishment has passed. And thanks for the compliment.

The other day, I doodled this one:

Guess that can go into the trash can now, huh?

@dumedum Yeah I feel like sony is thinking "we were so close!" ps tv/vita plus remote play (and mixed bag game library) makes it a horseshoes and hand grenades scenario.

@Damo
you are a pro my dude. respect
@everybody
so should i sell my wii u in mint condition with all major releases?!?

@JaxonH "seems illogical"

Well right now I'd say my reaction is more emotional. Which is why Vulcans suppress theirs.

And just b/c Sony and MS never had it doesn't mean I give Ntineod an automatic pass for getting rid of it. Wii U had it, 3DS had it, doesn't seem like NS has it. So I think I'm allowed to be upset about that and not only look on the bright side of life. That part comes later, first comes the constructive criticism. I always start w/ the constructive criticism, better to find out what I don't like about it now so there are no bad surprises later.

If we were car shopping we'd call it "kicking the tires". Whenever buying a car always look for the problems first, be impressed by the nice paint job later. Same goes for home ownership. Look for cracks, flooding termites, be impressed by the landscaping after the rest checks out. Thats the way I operate - get all the bad stuff out of the way first, enjoy the good stuff later. I haven't gotten to the good stuff yet, I'm sure there's plenty to come.

Remember Splaton? Remember using gyro controls to shoot and the map to jump? How does that work w/ only 1 screen? I just wish they found a way to make this Wii U 2, make it powerful enough for the tablet to work outside of the dock, though I'm sure the tech isn't there yet, can't stream 1080p and surround sound out of a handheld. So they did what they needed too, docked it, behind a wall. I'm working thru my grief.

@ThanosReXXX Well, your mock-up may be out of date, but that original, Nintneod knew they were using it for NS back in May. It's got hybrid slogan written all over it. And I'm sure I wrote that back then.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSJfqiaZvss

@Damo Oh come on, nobody loves Thanos and I. we're old and cranky.

It still doesn't all add up for me though.

Why make each kid in my house buy a separate dock, we only have 1 TV, do we need 3 docks?
Why make a screen that sits behind a wall? Just take the screen out and save me $50. Or take the wall out and give me a clock.
Give me the Pro controller I saw, keep the parts.
Why abandon years of DS, 3DS and Wii U dual screen play? I know Starfox was a bust and Nintneod Land was a bust but there are games dual screen works well - XCX, WW HD, Splatoon.

This is a hybrid thru and thru, not really any other way to describe it, I'm just still a little uncertain about some of the design choices.

And at the end of the day, I still don't have anything new to play on my Wii U for another 6 months.

That sounds decent enough but I don't know much about the chip so I'll need to wait and see how pretty the games look instead.

@rjejr "Has hybrid written all over it"

Why, because of the rectangle with the buttons in it? That hardly counts as a solid giveaway. And neither was that 2DS commercial.

I have too many questions to say I'm in. The physical look is solid. But I'm curious about the specs and details before I throw my money into a preorder. Like @rjejr, I was really hoping for a super Wii U or something. I actually liked the idea behind the Wii U and I love my 3DS too. I was hoping for a Wii U with the power to play all the games that couldn't be played on the Wii U because it wasn't powerful enough.

Like rjejr, I have two son. I'm already thinking, "will I need to buy 3 of these things?". Maybe it's time to switch gears and go to the Xbone or PS4.....but we'll miss out on the Nintendo games we love so much.

Honestly, it's cool to finally see "it", but I would rather have been given the specs/details.

@dkxcalibur Like is it a touchscreen or not? Of course it has to be a touchscreen b/c it's a tablet, but it's Ntineod, and the top screen of 3DS isn't touch.

Hey @Damo - since the cat is out of the bag now, are we sure it's a touch screen? I know it has to be, but maybe Nintnedo decided to save money? Can't use the screen at all while it's docked, can't even see it.

Remember way back when you wrote that article about Wii U Gamepad replacing a tablet?

https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/07/talking_point_should_nintendo_be_promoting_the_wii_u_gamepad_as_a_tablet_killer

I want NS to replace my 7" tablet, but I need touch. Is NS just a display?

My initial reaction was - "Of course it's touch, they just want to save multitocuh to reveal later b/c Wii U and 3DS were single touch." But now I'm nto so sure. But you are, you've known for months, you're like bloody Dr. Zauis in the Planet of the Apes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuytpQT6gW4

@ThanosReXXX "Why, because of the rectangle with the buttons in it?"

No b/c it's a take on "There's no PLACE like it" and you can play the same game anywhere, home or away.

I hate the dock, more than you do now apparently, but 1 thing I really do like, cart in the tablet, not the dock. I'd prefer a separate no screen cheaper less ugly home console that required me to put it in the dock, but I'm glad for that top slot.

Question - touch screen or no? Smart money says of course, but Ntineod has faired so well today they have to screw up somewhere. Maybe they are saving touch to show off multitouch, or maybe they hate tablets as much as you do, so it's the top part of the 2/3DS, not the bottom? Display has to be cheaper than a toucshcreen, yes?

Well, I needed something new to be 50-50 on.

Apologies if I've already asked you that, been an extremely long day and I haven't even stopped for breakfast yet and is 2:30.

@rjejr Touch screens are stupid. Why would anyone want to put smudges on the screen that they view their games with? I hate smudges.

Doesn't the picture at the top make them look similar to the PSP?

All that graphical quality on the go. Very impressive indeed.

@BlatantlyHeroic Why would anybody build a big screen and then build a big wall dock so I can't see the screen I paid for while it's docked? Make it a clock or a calendar or weather report or music videos, but don't cover it up.

You never know w/ Nintnedo. Even when you do, you don't.

Please be X2.

@rjejr No worries man, same here. Been replying to comments here almost non-stop since the reveal. But it's a quiet night over here, so I've got the time.

Still not on board with the dock myself either, but that's more out of spite of not getting a dedicated home console, and because of you frequently mentioning it up til today. And you don't really hate it, you just hate the front bit of it...

I actually like that bit, like I said before: if you're gaming on the TV, why would you want to be distracted by a small screen with either the same or a different view? And I'd be sitting too far from the TV for it to have any use anyway. And I already have several digital clocks underneath my TV. (decoder, VCR (yes, I know) and a Blu-ray recorder, all with clocks on them)

I assume that when you slide it in the dock, the screen is automatically switched off so all of the handhelds processing power can be combined with the dock's own power in order to give that full bump in visuals.

@BensonUii No, that's not it. Family is different form factors. Otherwise all the iPhones are also a family of systems. Iwata has talked about Apple on several different occasions, always talking about the interaction between the various different devices and their shared OS and/or ecosystem and tool set.

So that's tablets, phones, iPods and PC's. Now THAT's a family of systems...

@ThanosReXXX "you just hate the front bit of it.."

But the front bit is half the dock.

And it probably has to turn the screen off to keep the thing fomr melting down. I knwo those screens dont' get too hot, but covered like that could be bad.

And I do like the idea of a dock. It's a great - if not special - concept. The NS is a handheld w/ TV out, I get that. And the dock makes it more than that w/ whatever is in the dock. But why cover the front?

Still no sign of @Captain_Gonru I didn't notice any amiibo in that video, did you? Can't us eamiibo while the NS is in the dock, so maybe external or in the Pro or jigsaw puzzle controller? Gonru won't be happy with still no answer.

Perhaps it has a front to it, so that you don't pull the handheld off the base connector and have it go smash on the floor when you click the gamepads off of it?

@Xaessya What exactly were you watching to say this?

@rjejr "But the front bit is half the dock. "

Maybe they'll give a nod to the old Game Boy Color and also bring out a transparent version, so old @rjejr can see his switched off tablet screen through it...

Amiibo probably with a portal or some other contraption via the USB ports, although I've only seen two, so that's not very generous if we also need one for an external HDD. At least we can now add small drives with only one USB cable because of USB 3, so for $50 you'll have a good USB 3.0 HDD drive:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Western-Digital-WD-My-Passport-Ultra-1TB-USB-3-0-Portable-External-Hard-Drive-/331707316978

No idea where @Captain_Gonru is. Guess he has a life besides continuously chatting on a Nintendo website...

@rjejr I mean, why would you need to see a screen that's not in use though? The dock is meant to connect the system to the TV and most likely boost its power/charge it. All they're doing is keeping a blank screen from being view able, because it's honestly a distraction for some people.

It also keeps the system from falling out if you accidentally do something clumsy.

Hype

@Damo So how does it feel to be a mere mortal who has to guess at stuff?

I was thinking about that haptic stuff as well. I don't know about the Apple stuff, I'll Google it later. Maybe just for mobile games, not NS games. But yeah, it's probably in there. We'll at least we know most of it, guess they needed to leave some intrigue for later.

Thanks for the feedback all day long, you've been a trooper, get some rest.

@Captain_Gonru I'm not a big fan of joy-con, but it's just a stupid name, it's not like putting a wall in front of a beautiful LCD screen.

@Damo I'd say haptic feedback could still be an option on that pro controller. I certainly do hope that it has analog triggers this time...

Man, I've completely settled down again, and no strong substances of any kind needed to numb my "pain"...

Just looking at the good points from now on, since it's here and we have to go from there, but I do hope they're going to release some more info or footage before March. They could very well be crazy enough to keep their mouths shut again til the end of the year. This is Nintendo we're talking about, after all...

@Captain_Gonru No worries man. Was working myself, I just stopped when the trailer started, which was at 4pm over here.

What Bluetooth thingy?

@Captain_Gonru Ah, okay. I was thinking I missed something in that trailer. Well, gotta go catch some zzz's now. It's 1:48am over here...

@BlatantlyHeroic If you ever used the Game pad as a map in Pikmin 3 while playing with the other controller options then you would know why I want to see the screen. Pikmin 4 is my most wanted game.

Also, I like information. Do you know what a Sony Dash is?

But if I can't see the screen, why am I paying for it? Give me a screenless home option with the new Pro controller, none of that puzzle nonsense.

@RedeadLink YES! That would be AMAZING!

If you read the text at the the end it did say game footage not final; graphics and features subject to change.

@yomanation It must use Pascal. Any older chipsets than that with NVIDIA and it's a junker by 2017. It should be using a customized, slightly cheaper version of Tegra X2. Considering all of the data being processed in multiple ways, including wireless processing, we can likely expect real world performance to be comparable with the GTX 1050. That one is in the $110 range, which should allow enough for about $240 to keep the rest of the system within a $350 margin. I don't think Nintendo will want to go into the $400+ range.

This was one of the predictions: https://forums.anandtech.com/threads/nvidia-tegra-parker.2484411/

One thing's for sure, the NX won't come even close to competing in power against PC's with 2x the budget for hardware and 0.5x the budget for software/sales. But at least what is there should be snappy and efficient.

I don't think third parties would be so excited for it if it was using a X1 chip so I think a customized X2 chip with Paschal technology is a safe bet. If that's the case it will be a damn powerful hybrid. PS4 level graphics at home and on the go anyone?