NVIDIA’s Tegra239 SoC Allegedly Featured in Nintendo’s Next-Gen Switch; First Chip Image Emerges

It seems like Nintendo’s latest console, the Switch 2, retains some impressive tech under its hood, much like its predecessor, thanks to a little NVIDIA magic. For the first time, we’re getting a peek at what’s inside with the chip being pictured online.

NVIDIA’s new Tegra239 chip is reportedly what powers the Nintendo Switch 2, embracing an ARM-based architecture that promises robust performance. When the Switch 2 was launched, there were murmurs about its ability to deliver 4K video quality at 60 FPS through the docking station, but specifics about its internals remained elusive. Given Nintendo’s partnership with NVIDIA for its Tegra SoCs, speculation naturally circled around the next-generation chip. Now, thanks to a reveal by @Kurnalsalts, we’ve got visual confirmation of the “T239” label on the chip.

A tweet from Kurnal (@Kurnalsalts) on April 23, 2025, showed the chip without giving away much more. However, building on previous rumors, this SoC is believed to be equipped with eight Arm Cortex-A78C processing cores, a GPU combining Ada Lovelace and Ampere elements, and sporting 1536 CUDA cores. The CPU clock speeds range from 1.1 GHz to 1.5 GHz, adjusting higher when the console is docked, and it couples with a 128-bit memory interface enhanced by LPDDR5 technology.

While specific details on the Tegra239 remain sparse, it’s confirmed that the SoC supports DLSS upscaling, which significantly boosts the console’s output capabilities. If you’re curious for an in-depth look at what the Switch 2’s housing, check out our detailed breakdown on it. By rolling out the Tegra239, NVIDIA demonstrates its ongoing ambitions with custom ASICs and keeps its exclusive ARM collaboration with Nintendo robust.

What’s intriguing is the timing: when will NVIDIA unveil its much-anticipated chip aimed at the AI-powered PC segment? Hints have suggested a partnership with MediaTek on a new ARM-centric chip, possibly dubbed the N1X or N1 series. However, concrete updates on that front are still on the horizon.