Specifications for Nintendo Switch leaked by Japanese journalist

Nintendo seems to be utilizing a Tegra chip for its upcoming Switch console.  Image INQUIRER.net

Nintendo’s unveiling of the Switch didn’t leave much room for details regarding the hardware. However, a Japanese journalist has just revealed this information to the masses.

Nishikawa Zenji, a journalist who knew of the PlayStation 4 Pro long before the reveal, stated that the Nintendo Switch will likely be an NVIDIA Pascal “Parker” architecture-based device, reports Zelda Informer.

The Pascal architecture is the technology used in the 1050+ range of graphics cards from NVIDIA. “Parker,” on the other hand, seems to be a reference to the yet to be announced Tegra X2 chip.

So far what is known of the Tegra X2 is that it has 50-100% higher performance than mobile processors. Its CPU architecture consists of two next-generation 64-bit Denver CPU cores (Denver 2.0). These are then paired off with 64-bit ARM Cortex A57 CPUs for a heterogeneous multi-processor configuration.

The Denver 2.0 CPU is a seven-way superscalar processor that supports the ARM v8 instruction set. It also implements an improved dynamic code optimization algorithm with additional lower-power retention states. These two Denver cores are then interconnected through a coherent interconnect fabric.

What all these specifications suggest is that the Switch shares more similarities to an Xbox One console. However, Nishikawa notes that the Switch will likely be running at at 1 TFLOP for greater power efficiency when using the device on the go. Docking the Switch may give it a boost in power to support 1080p natively.

Finally, Nishikawa notes that the configuration of the Switch could pave the way for an upgrade scheme similar to what the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 are currently implementing as Tegra technology continues to be developed.

If the rumors happen to be true, it bodes well for both Nintendo and gamers. Nintendo will have a versatile and powerful device that has the capacity to run triple-A games while gamers will have a gaming console that can stand the test of time and the unrelenting march of technology.  Alfred Bayle