Nintendo Switch 2 Chooses NVIDIA Over AMD Due to Battery Concerns
Solomon Thompson / 3 months ago
Nintendo‘s upcoming Switch 2 console is grabbing attention with rumors around its specifications and design. According to recent leaks, the Japanese gaming giant opted against using an AMD APU in its new handheld device due to battery life issues.
Battery Efficiency Takes Priority
The report by Moore’s Law is Dead highlights that AMD’s chip, while powerful, could not meet Nintendo’s requirement for efficient power consumption. AMD’s chip was effective at 15 watts, but Nintendo aimed for a lower power target to ensure longer battery life. This decision steered Nintendo towards NVIDIA’s Tegra chip, which operates efficiently at 5 watts and offers a satisfactory performance for handheld gaming.
AMD wanted to push the system to 15 watts in handheld mode to achieve next-gen performance, but Nintendo wasn’t willing to increase the battery size and weight. Instead, the new Switch 2 is expected to come with a 20Wh battery capacity, offering better longevity without compromising the device’s portability.
The NVIDIA Tegra T239 SoC chosen for the Switch 2 features advanced technology, including an eight-core ARM A78C cluster and CUDA cores for enhanced graphics. This chip, paired with DLSS technology and efficient power usage, aims to deliver a high-quality gaming experience while keeping production costs manageable, a crucial factor for Nintendo’s pricing strategy.
