Switch 2 spec breakdown digs into its processor and GameChat

Nintendo’s Switch 2 specs page is light on details. However, Digital Foundry has shared what it says are “rock solid” specifications for the upcoming console in an article and a video, offering new information about its processor and a testing tool for developers for GameChat.

On its specs page, Nintendo only describes the Switch 2’s chip as a “custom processor made by Nvidia.” Nvidia shared a bit more last month, including that its chip enables DLSS and real-time ray tracing on the Switch 2. Digital Foundry gets more specific: it says the Switch 2’s custom Nvidia T239 system-on-a-chip uses an ARM Cortex A78C CPU with eight cores. Six cores will be available to developers, while two will be used for the system.

The GPU uses Nvidia’s Ampere architecture. The console also has 12GB of LPDDR5X memory, though the system will hold 3GB in reserve.

As for the Switch 2’s display capabilities, while VRR is supported on the console’s screen, the device doesn’t support VRR while in docked mode and connected to HDMI, Digital Foundry reports. Nintendo originally advertised that VRR would be available while docked as well, but it’s since scrubbed mentions of that on its website. 

Digital Foundry also notes an interesting tidbit about GameChat, the new Discord-like chat system for the Switch 2. Nintendo is offering developers a GameChat testing tool that “simulates API latency and L3 cache misses that the real world GameChat system incurs on the system, meaning developers can test this without needing active GameChat sessions running,” Digital Foundry says. Hopefully, this testing tool will help developers make sure that GameChat doesn’t bog down their games.

Digital Foundry has a lot more detail than I covered here, so check out its coverage of the specs to learn more. The Switch 2 is scheduled to launch on June 5th, and if you missed getting a preorder, you might want to consider lining up at Best Buy.