Ok sorry i'm not expert ^^
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Confirmed: The Nintendo Switch is powered by an Nvidia Tegra X1
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Ok sorry i'm not expert ^^
ethomaz
Banned
It was 4x high-power ARM CPU or 4x low-power ARM CPU.
It can't be used both at the same time... it is one or other... so at the end it is a 4x ARM CPU.
LordOcidax
Member
Even with 4 cores is more powerful.
There is no better "cutting edge" option for this product spec. I really don't know what people expected them to use without sacrificing the entire concept.
DSi wasn't great because they removed the GBA port. But I really liked the New 3DS XL because of the improved 3D.
Sigh... How much should it cost then?
Can you explain why it should cost less?
Why would you come into a thread about discussing the technical specifications of the Switch to post this?
LordOfChaos
Member
Oh, easily, over the 7th gen.
The other leaks that were part of what so accurately portrayed the Switch also said devs have 3 threads though I think, as the OS has to reside on one of the A57s, and the CCI can't keep the A53s on at the same time. So 3 at ~1.1GHz, still makes me ponder about that dev "switch CPU >> XBO CPU" post or whatever, but he gave no details so I guess that could be anything. Per-core it's better than Jaguar, but not at 3@1GHz vs 6.5@1.6.
A lack of customizations as was stated is strange. But to the people saying that it's disappointing that it's an X1: what mobile chip should they have gone with?
Any other mobile chip out there still doesn't have the GPU performance of an X1 (sans maybe Apple chips, but that ain't happening). Tegra X2 simply wasn't ready.
I suppose they could have waited until fall and gone with Tegra X2, but then they would have to compete against the hype for Scorpio, and other holiday games.
This was simply their best option.
Any other mobile chip out there still doesn't have the GPU performance of an X1 (sans maybe Apple chips, but that ain't happening). Tegra X2 simply wasn't ready.
I suppose they could have waited until fall and gone with Tegra X2, but then they would have to compete against the hype for Scorpio, and other holiday games.
This was simply their best option.
I could be wrong but there seem to be two versions of the X1, one with only 4 cores and one with 2x 4 cores and I think the reveal last year was talking about the switch having the 4-core X1. Well it doesn't matter much anyway I guess, most games will only use the 4 fast cores and I guess the slower ones will be used for the interface, web browsing, music and video (eventually, as the Operating System evolves).
Blimey, Nintendo really did piss in your cornflakes.
I think the Switch is the best hardware Nintendo has put out in a long time. And I have a dodgy left joycon. It's attractive, distinctive and the concept is immediately appealing. Unlike the Wii U which didn't know its arse from its elbow.
Could it be cheaper? Yes.
Does it need to be cheaper at the moment? No.
And as for launch title impressions as someone who experienced Saturn Virtua Fighter 1, I'm sure Zelda is going down just fine.
NOLA_Gaffer
Banned
What exactly are you comparing the Nintendo Switch to determine that it's too expensive?
4x A15 @ 2.2Ghz > 3 or 4 A57 @ 1 Ghz
Shield Tablet 327 gflops > undocked Switch 197 gflops
But it offers zero tablet features...
And I don't really think the bom on the controllers or dock offset the cheap plastic and lack of a glass screen. iPad mini 2 with an A7 probably is about as powerful as well, for less money and much better build quality. Not to mention a much better screen.
LordOfChaos
Member
I think it's mostly that the TX1 isn't much touched on, i.e a TX1 with added SRAM blocks to reduce memory pressure would be much more enthusing than a seemingly bog standard TX1 tied to 25GB/s memory, which we know what performance to expect out of.
Not even remotely close.
Skittzo0413
Member
Yeah, they really didn't say much at all.
Comparing the two die shots might reveal something custom, but I'm no good at that. At first glance they look almost identical (when flipped 180 degrees of course) but we'll need some deeper analysis to figure out if they are identical.
Considering that even the TX1 in the Shield TV throttles to levels below the Switch I think it's safe to say the Shield tablet with a TK1 also throttles.
Nvidia shield costs about 200e here. I don't think a rumble function is worth extra 150-200.
Yep so a 3 year old tablet that launched at $199 is more powerful, and has a better screen. Bom on dock and joycons is nowhere near $100.
It's funny how some people don't stop for a few seconds and think "wait, maybe I don't know enough about this to post that".
I'm not knocking the hardware itself but it sucked that I couldn't play Xenoblade for example on my 3DSXL. With a mid-gen upgrade, you run the risk of alienating people with older hardware if you create exclusive software for the new hardware. However, with the Pro and Scorpio not having any exclusive content, it looks like consumers are mostly willing to pay more for better performance on existing games. If Nintendo put out a Switch Pro that lets you run in handheld mode with docked performance, a 1080p screen, better battery, and maybe even 4k while docked but NO exclusive games that can't run on the OG Switch, there very well may be a market for it in a few years.
Ok then compare to the k1. More gflops in portable mode and it's 3 years old.
They kind of shot themselves in the foot with such low clocks.
And again, the Tegra X2 simply isn't much better at the clock speeds Nintendo needs to run it at to keep it from throttling horribly in a portable form-factor.
BlastProcessing
Member
NOLA_Gaffer
Banned
From what I'm looking at on Amazon the Nvidia Shield doesn't have a screen, for one.
I'm not arguing that a screen is worth $100, but that's a good place to start in regards to the price difference.
So? What are you getting at? That they shouldn't price this thing to sell at a profit? That the product shouldn't exist?
Pop-O-Matic
Banned
Gotta make room for that $90 dock.
I don't have a clue, Nintendo opted for the strongest mobile GPU/CPU combination, it's crazy to see a mobile "smartphone" APU pushing out PS3 quality games or better on the go. And all we saw till now were WiiU ports, even Fast RMX is one and it is completely trouncing the WiiU prequel to that game: *click* for digital foundry review
I guess Switch2 will be able to output PS4(nonpro) quality in roughly 5-6 years.
Skittzo0413
Member
Except this is only true if you think the K1 doesn't throttle, which it surely does.
Gotdatmoney
Member
If the way more efficient X1 thermal throttles down to below Switch Clocks, what on earth makes you believe that the Shield tablet isn't?
You also do not know what you are talking about.
The tools/ dev environment that keeps getting so much praise by devs is in large part Nvidias work and probably where most of those 500 man years went. I see no reason Nintendo won't stick with Nvidia.
The only example we have for efficiency while maintaining power are the androids.
Tegra x2 is 17 and 18 while tegra x1 is a half fed stage 1 cell.
You don't know what you are talking about.
Do you think the Nvidia Shield Tablet sustains those clocks for anything longer than a few minutes?
Living the Dream
Member
And yet the console is outright expensive for what little tech you do get.
TheGreatMightyPoo
Banned
Hey, leave Pie and Beans alone.It's funny how some people don't stop for a few seconds and think "wait, maybe I don't know enough about this to post that".
Aztechnology
Member
I think this is sarcasm but I can't be sure. Kind of has to have some basic apps and a browser at the least to be defined as a tablet device IMO.
That $199 to $250 would still be making a profit, and is more representative an appropriate price point. It's an early adopter tax. Do you thinking Nvidia was selling tablets at a loss?
If they keep moving them at $299 they will keep the price there, but given they basically refused to drop Wii U price despite it being a sales disaster it's hard to say.
SuperDowns
Banned
They should be focusing on a longer tail. I hope there is a price drop in the future.
ethomaz
Banned
There is no X1 chip with only A57 unless Nintendo asked nVidia to remove them... that means the X1 on Switch is custom that is not the case from the die shots.
Tablets and phones have a hard time sustaining max clocks for more than a few minutes before throttling down due to thermal issues.
And obviously, thermal throttling in a game console would lead to awful sustained performance, and would be completely unacceptable.
It's disingenuous to call the joycons a rumble function
They have hd rumble, ir scanner, and accelorameters , let's say that adds 50
Then throw in the dock, add another 50
So that 200 going to 300 makes perfect sense.
Sure, a low quality 720p screen.
Well, i asked in hopes that the thing might have some actually interesting features that might justify the price for me but the only thing i can think of is that Nintendo thinks it's Apple.
I'm confused. Does the touchscreen, battery, and other hardware cost less because nobody has written a browser or eBook reader to run on it?
Jonneh3003
Banned
Not sarcasm. Having apps and a browser would make it a tablet in line with IOS and Android offerings but the form factor of the Switch is the same as that of a tablet. It's a small portable computing device. My point with calling it a tablet is it's silly to directly compare it to large consoles like the PS4 and Xbox One.
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