Report: Nintendo Switch 2 DLSS Might Not Be as Powerful as It Sounds

John Elden Ring

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Transcript via IGN

Sources have reportedly told Digital Foundry that the custom Nvidia T239 chip rumored to be in the next iteration of the Nintendo Switch does not include deep learning accelerator (DLA) capability, which may have a big impact on its DLSS upscaling capabilities. With DLA, DLSS upscaling would effectively be "free," or at least require quite a bit less CPU power. Without it, the Switch 2 may be limited to 1080p, or "possibly 1440p if you're lucky, depending on the game."

These estimations are based on broadly equivalent hardware and remains far from confirmed. However, it potentially puts a dent in the Switch 2's capabilities, which have been rumored to be in the range of the Xbox Series S.

DLSS (which stands for Deep Learning Super Sampling) has been at the center of the rumors swirling around a potential Switch 2 for over a year now, with the first references to DLSS and the Tegra 239 graphics chip as potential Switch 2 features popping up in the massive NVIDIA hack that occurred in March 2022. Earlier this month, Digital Foundry published a detailed deep dive into the rumored custom processor and its likely capabilities.
 
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Danja

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Good for them... Chasing power isn't important for them... I wish Sony would stop too but unfortunately they'd get slaughtered for it.
 

Vertigo

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I don’t expect it to even match the steam deck.
 
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Darth Vader

I find your lack of faith disturbing
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IGN is clueless as ever, DLA isn't available on standard Nvidia GPU and DLSS is powered by Tensor cores.

That and talking out of your ass.

First, DLA is available on Orin APUs:


The T239, which is rumoured to be the Switch 2, is part of the Orin family.


The Orin (as well as the Xavier) can also have Tensor Cores, meaning DLSS is possible.

So, it's not beyond the realms of possibility that the Switch 2, or whatever it's called, could have DLA and DLSS.
 

sugarbetik

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That and talking out of your ass.

First, DLA is available on Orin APUs:


The T239, which is rumoured to be the Switch 2, is part of the Orin family.


The Orin (as well as the Xavier) can also have Tensor Cores, meaning DLSS is possible.

So, it's not beyond the realms of possibility that the Switch 2, or whatever it's called, could have DLA and DLSS.
DLA isn't available for desktop and mobile GPU, it's only available for automotive and robotics etc.

DLA is pretty much useless for gaming bullshit and IGN is pretty much clueless like you.
 

Darth Vader

I find your lack of faith disturbing
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DLA isn't available for desktop and mobile GPU, it's only available for automotive and robotics etc.
The T239 is rumoured to be based on the T234, which is precisely available for automotive and robotics multiple industries.

DLA is pretty much useless for gaming bullshit and IGN is pretty much clueless like you.
I don't give two shits about what IGN says, I give even less shits about DLA being useful or useless. I do care about pointing out that you are wrong. And you are. Again.

An embarrassment.
Edit: Here, if you want to read, cope, and seethe.

 

Entropi

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If a SoC component isn’t the bare minimum to run a game, Nintendo will scrap/remove it to cut costs and improve battery life.
 
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flaccidsnake

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Icon has actually represented itself pretty well on this, good work yall:

A lot of other Gaming Communities are running wild with Switch 2 expectations.
 

BroodCorp

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These pre-release “how powerful is the Nintendo console” discussions are always pointless.

Before the Switch came out you would’ve never have guessed that the latest DOOM would run competently on the system, for example. Obviously no one is anticipating that it will be top of the line. That’s never Nintendo’s m.o.
 

historia

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The T239 is rumoured to be based on the T234, which is precisely available for automotive and robotics multiple industries.


I don't give two shits about what IGN says, I give even less shits about DLA being useful or useless. I do care about pointing out that you are wrong. And you are. Again.

An embarrassment.
Edit: Here, if you want to read, cope, and seethe.

Have you ever consider that the T239 would be massive cut down, features and specs wise too cut costs.

New Nintendo handheld is surely at 400-500 US Dollars price range.

DLSS also not magic either, even with DLA. The handheld have to operate with the power budget of below ten watts, and LPDDR5 would hamper CPU performance even further. DLSS could not do jackshit if the CPU is weak.

And there is the mention of possiblity of 10nm, so there is that.

Also unlike Sony, Nintendo yearn for profits from their hardwares. At least 20% of the cost gonna be profit

So much hopium in Nintendo next handheld that gonna be shattered lol.
 
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flaccidsnake

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These pre-release “how powerful is the Nintendo console” discussions are always pointless.

Before the Switch came out you would’ve never have guessed that the latest DOOM would run competently on the system, for example. Obviously no one is anticipating that it will be top of the line. That’s never Nintendo’s m.o.
something similar is going to happen this time when Switch 2 is announced with chopped and screwed versions of Elden Ring and Cyberpunk. the so-called 'impossible port' idea will live on.

the big difference between switch and switch 2 is the steam deck (and friends) exists now. you actually have an affordable option to buy real Cyberpunk AND take it with you, along with your save without double-dipping.
 
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historia

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Historically speaking, Nintendo Wii/Wii U/Switch hardware has always been a downgrade from their counterparts elsewhere.


The Tegra X1 chip is actually downclocked compared to the chip present in the NVIDIA Shield and the Pixel C. It also lacks a few Kepler feature sets that the Shield has.
 
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Darth Vader

I find your lack of faith disturbing
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Icon has actually represented itself pretty well on this, good work yall:

A lot of other Gaming Communities are running wild with Switch 2 expectations.
What do you mean?

Have you ever consider that the T239 would be massive cut down, features and specs wise too cut costs.

New Nintendo handheld is surely at 400-500 US Dollars price range.

DLSS also not magic either, even with DLA. The handheld have to operate with the power budget of below ten watts, and LPDDR5 would hamper CPU performance even further. DLSS could not do jackshit if the CPU is weak.

And there is the mention of possiblity of 10nm, so there is that.

Also unlike Sony, Nintendo yearn for profits from their hardwares. At least 20% of the cost gonna be profit

So much hopium in Nintendo next handheld that gonna be shattered lol.
Why are you rambling? Yes, I have considered that the T239 would be cut down, that's almost a given. My comment was not about that, but rather the other lad saying that these cards don't / can't have DLA, when in fact they not only can, they have it by default pretty much.

On what you said
  • The power envelope does not need to be below 10 watts. Hell, the original switch is not below, but rather above ten watts, at least on release. [link]
  • 10nm makes no sense since the Tegra X2 is 16nm, the Xavier is 12nm, and the Orin is 8nm. The APU is likely Orin based, so it will be 8nm
  • Based on power envelope alone, they can go for any of the Orin APUs (with necessary cutbacks) from the Orin NX 16GB all the day down to Orin Nano 4GB.
  • Considering previous reports on the T239, it's very possible it will be a cut back Orin NX 16GB, probably with half the RAM. I'm saying NX 16GB because the 8GB version is a 6-core, and I highly doubt nintendo will go that low. However, it is possible.
All in all, it's a 1 something TF APU, which is very underpowered by today's standards, but considering its AMPERE, it will outperform the Switch massively. And it will very likely have DLSS.

My bet is in it being either a modified NX 16GB or an NX 8GB

As for hopium, stop projecting so much. I really hope nothing from Nintendo other than the games they make. Their hardware has been subpar for quite a few years and expecting a portable console to have top of the line hardware is dumb, unless you want a mammoth like the Steam Deck or 30 seconds of battery life.
 

BroodCorp

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something similar is going to happen this time when Switch 2 is announced with chopped and screwed versions of Elden Ring and Cyberpunk. the so-called 'impossible port' idea will live on.

the big difference between switch and switch 2 is the steam deck (and friends) exists now. you actually have an affordable option to buy real Cyberpunk AND take it with you, along with your save without double-dipping.
Yeah but the price difference will still spur majority of the gaming populace to take a chance on Nintendo. But to your point the “impossible port” narrative will be significantly impacted by Steam Deck. Switch got a major boost for a whole generation simply due to not having a major handheld competitor.
 
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flaccidsnake

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Yeah but the price difference will still spur majority of the gaming populace to take a chance on Nintendo. But to your point the “impossible port” narrative will be significantly impacted by Steam Deck. Switch got a major boost for a whole generation simply due to not having a major handheld competitor.
You can get a Deck from Valve right now for $350, which is probably around where the Switch 2 is gonna land. The kind of Switch owner who was actually excited to play Witcher 3 and Doom would be way better served on a portable PC. Of course those want to play Zelda Mario Metroid Pokemon forever and/or are a child will want Nintendo hardware.
 
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