NVIDIA Claws Back Console Chips Business: Nintendo Switch Announced

[illli]

I seriously doubt it will be backward compatible.
firstly, it is a completely different type of architecture. Unless they emulate the wii u hardware, in which case the games will play like crap.
Secondly, nintendo would rather you buy the remake of zelda/mario/cart games again. thats their modus operandi: selling rehash after rehash after rehash of the same games.
thirdly: seems like they double downed on the lame clunky/cumbersome tablet/controller thing. the MAIN reason i had no interest in the wii u.
fourth: seems like they 'borrowed' the concept from another company: morphus x300

 

[Xzibit]

There is no mention that this Tegra proc is Pascal. If so, good! If not, not worth even looking at.

Dev kit info

CPU:
Four ARM Cortex-A57 cores, maximum 2GHz
L2 cache, 2MB
64-bit ARMv8
Crypto extension enabled

GPU:
NVIDIA second-generation Maxwell architecture
256 CUDA cores, maximum 1GHz
1024 FLOPS/cycle
Texture: 16 pixels/cycle
Fill: 14.4 pixels/cycle

Main memory:
Capacity of 4GB
Bandwidth: 25.6 GB/s
VRAM: Shared

System Memory:
Capacity: 32 GB, Maximum transfer rate 400 MB/s
USB
USB 2.0 and 3.0
Video Output
60 fps, at maximum of 1920x1080 pixels
Or 30 fps at 3840x2160 pixels
The screen:
6.2" IPS LCD 1280x720 pixels
Capacitance method, 10-point multi-touch

 

[the54thvoid]

...Dev Kit.

Not production model. More likely the x2 version for the March 2017 release.

Digital Foundry also reports that Switch dev kits are currently using the X1 model. But here's the interesting bit: Nvidia is already gearing up for its successor, the X2. The X1 utilizes what's called Maxwell architecture, while the X2 uses what's called Pascal architecture - but don't get too hung up on the wording there. Basically, all you need to know is that the way Nvidia constructs its X1 chip is based on 2014 technology, while the X2 is based on 2016 technology.

If they did put a Maxwell in then they deserve to fail.

 

[semantics]

Dev kit info

CPU:
Four ARM Cortex-A57 cores, maximum 2GHz
L2 cache, 2MB
64-bit ARMv8
Crypto extension enabled

GPU:
NVIDIA second-generation Maxwell architecture
256 CUDA cores, maximum 1GHz
1024 FLOPS/cycle
Texture: 16 pixels/cycle
Fill: 14.4 pixels/cycle

Main memory:
Capacity of 4GB
Bandwidth: 25.6 GB/s
VRAM: Shared

System Memory:
Capacity: 32 GB, Maximum transfer rate 400 MB/s
USB
USB 2.0 and 3.0
Video Output
60 fps, at maximum of 1920x1080 pixels
Or 30 fps at 3840x2160 pixels
The screen:
6.2" IPS LCD 1280x720 pixels
Capacitance method, 10-point multi-touch

The gpu and memory bandwidth seems entirely anemic. 256 cuda cores even their lowest end mobile gpu had more then that, shared 4gb memory with that throughput seems terrible.

Also those flops/cycle single precision one assumes that's different. I think all current nvidia gpus are 2 fma instructions per a cuda core times the base clock. That's 4 fma instructions per a cuda core.

The internal storage may seem small but i'm guessing those SD cards type games is where it will be stored etc so it's not that big of a deal outside of production cost is likely twice that of dual layered blu-ray. That being said it's probably more powerful than the Wii U and that Wii U had some good looking HD games, not alot but some.

 

[Xzibit]

...Dev Kit.

Not production model. More likely the x2 version for the March 2017 release.



If they did put a Maxwell in then they deserve to fail.

Dev kits are similar to the Jetson TX1 Dev kits if not the same or modified.

The take away is the rumored 720p 60fps target. Might be okay for a hand held but tablets and phones are already at a higher resolution. I suspect the 1080p is upscaled when docked. They are also reporting vents and a possible fan inside the unit.

 

[jabbadap]

...Dev Kit.

Not production model. More likely the x2 version for the March 2017 release.

If they did put a Maxwell in then they deserve to fail.

Should be pascal, or nvidia does not know what is their current top performing geforce :

Nintendo Switch is powered by the performance of the custom Tegra processor. The high-efficiency scalable processor includes an NVIDIA GPU based on the same architecture as the world’s top-performing GeForce gaming graphics cards.

 

[esrever]

Also those flops/cycle single precision one assumes that's different. I think all current nvidia gpus are 2 fma instructions per a cuda core times the base clock. That's 4 fma instructions per a cuda core.

They are likely talking about half precision which is what nvidia quotes for their X1. It will be 500GFLOPs of single precision if the cores are maxwell.

 

[Prima.Vera]

Why don't we just simplify all that PR crap to this:

Is a new portable console, similar to PS Vista/DS/Shield with a TV output.

Done.

P.S.

Is using cartridges again?? Did they learn nothing from the DS ??

 

[ShurikN]

They will still pocket more cash than AMD get from Microsoft and Sony.

And you know that how...

 

[eidairaman1]

Not sure what is so troubled about the WiiU, I mean yeah its not selling as much as the others but with that criteria everything but the most succesfull product in a category can be considered "troubled".

Anywho, pretty cool I guess, hope those rendered images are not final though I mean, what is up with that "D-pad" being 4 buttons... come on nintendo you have a damn patent on the traditional D-pad, use that thing!

the name Wii again confused many

 

[hardcore_gamer]

And you know that how...

Can't argue with rectum-derived facts.

 

[Fluffmeister]

Sweet, you ladies know I'm right.

 

[BiggieShady]

If they did put a Maxwell in then they deserve to fail.

Wow, it *is* a Maxwell Tegra X1 in a dev kit ... it's a shield reskinned ... what's the point putting x1 in a dev kit, when they squirt a new (modified) arch each year and it's obvious by release it will have to be pascal ... and devs need to code close to the metal for this little machine to use pascal goodies like smp.
Ah, fuck it, it's nintendo, they went with 4000 series AMD VLIW GPU for a Wii-U ... they have a fetish for old tech, so anything is possible

 

[nexus_a]

The gpu and memory bandwidth seems entirely anemic. 256 cuda cores even their lowest end mobile gpu had more then that, shared 4gb memory with that throughput seems terrible.

Also those flops/cycle single precision one assumes that's different. I think all current nvidia gpus are 2 fma instructions per a cuda core times the base clock. That's 4 fma instructions per a cuda core.

The internal storage may seem small but i'm guessing those SD cards type games is where it will be stored etc so it's not that big of a deal outside of production cost is likely twice that of dual layered blu-ray. That being said it's probably more powerful than the Wii U and that Wii U had some good looking HD games, not alot but some.

Apparently the dev kit used Tegra X1 chip and the real console will have X2.

Also when undocked it runs at 720p to conserve battery and reduce temp. When docked (connected to TV) it runs at 1080p.

 

[Xzibit]

Apparently the dev kit used Tegra X1 chip and the real console will have X2.

Also when undocked it runs at 720p to conserve battery and reduce temp. When docked (connected to TV) it runs at 1080p.

Reports of battery life don't look so good. Its going to be playing at 720p on a 6-7 inch screen. Its also thick so it shouldn't have a small battery or its draining it fast which past Tegra products have been known for.

Battery life is probably one of the biggest mysteries of the Nintendo Switch. Unfortunately, things don’t look good as of now. Laura Kate Dale stated that she’s heard about mediocre battery life, with a source from Ubisoft talking about a maximum battery life of three hours.

 

[Ithanul]

Hell, I could care less about the battery life.

For the love of all mighty, just give me a darn Pokemon, Fire Emblem, and/or Advance Wars game on that thing so I can finally game those on a sweet big TV screen.

Plus, I'm glad they gone to cartridge base. Far easier to store and faster load times.

 

[IceScreamer]

If anything, the concept itself looks neat, but the hardware looks underwhelming.

 

[Aquinus]

Just because it can be a handheld device and be plugged into a TV doesn't mean that it does either of those tasks well. Just think of all the people that would rather have a real tablet than just an over-sized smartphone or the people that realized that having an over-sized smartphone ends up sucking at being a phone and a tablet instead of doing either task well...

 

[Durvelle27]

Looks interesting

 

[Aquinus]

Nintendo just doesn't want to jump on the x86 gravy train.

 

[BiggieShady]

I have a feeling this thingy will have low power mode when detached, and auto overclock (boost) when in dock. And the bulky dock will also serve as a heatsink in contact with tablet aluminium body

 

[Aquinus]

I have a feeling this thingy will have low power mode when detached, and auto overclock (boost) when in dock. And the bulky dock will also serve as a heatsink in contact with tablet aluminium body

I'm waiting for a lawsuit about it catching fire.

 

[Vayra86]

Boy, Nintendo keeps failing, now.

Good luck. What happened to a real console?

Really? They've had console best sellers in the past years, and not just one, but most of them. The first Wii introduced console gaming to a whole new category of 'gamers' and effectively created its own market for a while.

When I see this, I see a crapload of really good ideas implemented in a really good way.

- Docking: adopted in business and it works there. Microsoft develops Continuum. The whole world is considering or using docking solutions, Nintendo adopts it in the console and uses it to double down on the investment for consumers.
- Same screen multiplayer: you see those controllers? Small, perhaps not very ergonomic, but they do enable split/same screen multiplayer side by side. Not a single other console on the market has this right now, let alone handhelds.
- Low-power / mobile oriented games: synergy with the smartphone market, again potential for huge numbers of new customers

These are all things the current consoles do not, can not offer.

All of the above still doesn't mean I'm buying one. But hey.

 

[BiggieShady]

split/same screen multiplayer side by side

With all that split screen it makes sense why maxwell arch has multiple viewport rendering (beside multi resolution render support in shadow warrior on pc) ... I may be reaching but with pascal's simultaneous multi projection, probably you'll be able to stick the tablet into nintendo's VR headset (coming soon maybe) ... tablet already has rails on the side

 

[AsRock]

Seems pretty cool but price is going matter a lot and those mini joypads eek enjoy that hand\finger pain.