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Nintendo Switch

Unread postby SriK » 03 Jul 2015 02:47

http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20150702PD204.html

Nintendo's new console is rumored to be launching in July of next year:

Supply chain players gear up for new Nintendo console

Japan-based Nintendo is planning to launch its next-generation games console in 2016 and has recently asked its supply chain partners to start pilot production in October, at the latest. The console will be manufactured by Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry), but Pegatron Technology is aggressively trying to snatch some of the orders, according to sources familiar to the plan.

Pegatron and Foxconn both declined to comment.

Nintendo in March announced its plan of releasing Nintendo NX in 2016 and has started visiting its supply chain partners recently. The orders are expected to be finalized in February or March 2016 and mass production will start in May or June 2016, while the console's official launch may take place around July, the sources said.

Nintendo reportedly is looking to ship 20 million Nintendo NX in the first year. The shipment volume of Wii U is estimated at two million units in 2015, according to Digitimes Research.

Component suppliers such as Foxconn Technology, Macronix, PixArt Imaging, Coxon Precise Industrial, Nishoku Technology, Delta Electronics, Lingsen Precision Industries and Jentech, are also expected to land orders from Nintendo for the new console, the sources added.
Last edited by SriK on 27 Oct 2016 10:45, edited 1 time in total.
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Unread postby SriK » 19 Jul 2015 19:00

http://www.vg247.com/2015/07/17/amd-cou ... x-console/

Rumors that AMD is making the processors for the NX, meaning Nintendo is moving away from PowerPC to x86:

Shabana Arif wrote:AMD has been developing semi-custom chip designs and speculation is rife that one of these just might be for Nintendo’s NX console.

Nintendo has already partnered with AMD for the GPU in the WiiU, so rumours that their next console could have an AMD processor isn’t so far fetched.

Back in December last year, at the Raymond James Financial technology conference, Devinder Kumar – chief financial officer of AMD – mentioned that the company had two semi-custom chips in development. One of the chips was described as being made for a “beyond gaming device,” leaving us to infer that the other would be for a console or something game-related at the very least.

He was quoted by kitguru.net as saying, “I will say that one [design win] is x86 and [another] is ARM, and at least one will [be] beyond gaming, right. But that is about as much as you going to get out me today. From the standpoint [of being] fair to [customers], it is their product, and they launch it. They are going to announce it and then […] you will find out that it is AMD’s APU that is being used in those products.”

And now today, AMD chief executive Lisa Su has confirmed a third semi-custom chip contract for a project potentially worth a billion dollars in sales, according to venturebeat via nintendolife.

AMD isn’t without financial troubles so this could be a lucrative deal – provided the NX takes off.

Is this what they’ve been working on? Let us know what you think in the comments.
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Unread postby Bread » 22 Oct 2016 11:07

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Unread postby Amor fati » 30 Oct 2016 16:17

This is basically a gaming tablet that can be connected to a TV and thus not a direct competitor to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. I doubt it will get much third party support.
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Unread postby Some guy » 22 Dec 2016 12:56

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digit ... c-analysis

Richard Leadbetter wrote:Nintendo Switch CPU and GPU clock speeds revealed

The new console runs faster when docked. Much faster.

Spec reveals are never easy. Months - sometimes years - of anticipation build after initial teasers. Rumours circulate, patent applications are scoured for hints of what the platform holders might be planning, anonymous sources spring up telling us exactly what we want to hear - and then reality hits. Recently, Venturebeat essentially reconfirmed a Digital Foundry report from July, revealing that Nintendo Switch is based on Nvidia's Tegra X1, featuring a GPU based on second generation Maxwell technology. For those hoping for Xbox One power in a portable, it was a blow. Uncertainty remains on how Nintendo has customised the X1 processor, but we can go one step further today in revealing how the power of the console adjusts as Switch transitions from home console into a full portable.

But first, let's dissect the Venturebeat story a little and add our own flavour. In April this year, we first learned that Nvidia tech was 'inside' the Nintendo NX, as it was known then. Further sources came forward across the months to corroborate the story, then sometime in July, Nintendo of Europe held a large event at its Frankfurt HQ where the kit was demoed in action to a very large audience. Both Digital Foundry and Eurogamer now had all the confirmation required to run our stories. From our perspective, the next step was to push further and hammer down the final specification - but this was not easy.

In our story, we speculated that the March 2017 release would allow Nintendo to transition from the Tegra X1 to the more modern Tegra X2 utilising Pascal technology using a FinFET processor production technology, opening the door to better performance and/or longer battery life. Nvidia itself claimed that the custom processor in Switch is based on 'the same architecture as the world's top-performing GeForce gaming graphics cards' - seemingly a stone-wall indicator that Pascal was in Switch (all of the most powerful GPUs on the market when that statement was made were based on Pascal, after all).

Now, to be fair to Nvidia, Tegra X1's Maxwell was the final iteration of the architecture and does have technological aspects that are found in Pascal: specifically, double-rate FP16 support. We're also told that Switch has bespoke customisations that may involve pulling in other Pascal optimisations. And it's also worth noting that at the nuts and bolts level, Pascal and Maxwell are already very similar. So with that in mind, the main difference comes down to the process technology: 20nm in Maxwell, 16nm FinFET in Pascal. Regardless, behind the scenes, sources inform us that Nintendo continued to brief developers with a spec that is uncannily similar to this Twitter leak that actually surfaced before the official reveal - and in crucial areas, it's a match for a stock Tegra X1.

There are some anomalies and inconsistencies there that raise alarm bells though. Tegra X1 is a fully-featured HDMI 2.0 capable processor, so why is video output hobbled to HDMI 1.4 specs? What's the point of a 4K, 30Hz output? The X1 also has 16 ROPs, so why is pixel fill-rate mysteriously running at only 90 per cent capacity - the 14.4 pixels/cycle should be 16 were this a standard Tegra X1. Nvidia's chip also has four ARM Cortex A53s in combination with the more powerful A57s - so why aren't they on the spec too? (In fairness, the A53s didn't actually see much utilisation based on Tegra X1 benchmarks). Other areas of the spec have since been corroborated by Eurogamer: specifically, the 6.2-inch IPS LCD panel with a 720p resolution and multi-touch support, but there is the sense that this is an old spec, that there's a crucial part of the puzzle still missing.

Nintendo Switch - early specs

digitalfoundry-2016-nintendo-switch-spec-analysis-148188265154.jpg


This leaked spec actually appeared on Twitter before Nintendo's official reveal. Thought by many to be out of date or fake, we can confirm that Nintendo has briefed developers recently with the same information. One source tells us that the 4K30 aspect of the spec was not part of the developer presentation, but everything else was. We can assume that the clock-speeds are theoretical maximums, and not the 768/307.2MHz combo we've confirmed as locked in retail hardware.

CPU: Four ARM Cortex A57 cores, max 2GHz
GPU: 256 CUDA cores, maximum 1GHz
Architecture: Nvidia second generation Maxwell
Texture: 16 pixels/cycle
Fill: 14.4 pixels/cycle
Memory: 4GB
Memory Bandwidth: 25.6GB/s
VRAM: shared
System memory: 32GB, max transfer rate: 400MB/s
USB: USB 2.0/3.0
Video output: 1080p60/4K30
Display: 6.2-inch IPS LCD, 1280x720 pixels, 10-point multi-touch support

DF Videocast #6: Nintendo Switch Clock-Speeds Revealed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzS4LbH ... talFoundry

CUDA core count and memory bandwidth are certainly in line with a standard Tegra X1, but critically, the leaked spec is extremely vague about the actual speed of the CPU and GPU, referring only to the maximum speeds seen on Nvidia's Shield Android TV micro-console. Assuming that Switch uses the same 20nm process technology as Shield, those clocks were never going to be attainable for a relatively small, handheld, battery-powered console. The Venturebeat story suggests that Switch is still using 20nm technology, but right now, this remains unconfirmed.

Clock-speeds are a crucial piece of information required to get some idea of Switch's capabilities beyond the physical make-up of the Tegra processor. As many have speculated, the new Nintendo hardware does indeed feature two performance configurations - and the console is categorically not as capable in mobile form, compared to its prowess when docked and attached to an HDTV. And we can confirm that there is no second GPU or additional hardware in the dock itself regardless of the intriguing patents that Nintendo has filed suggesting that there might be. With battery life and power throughput no longer an issue, the docked Switch simply allows the GPU to run much faster. And to put it simply, there is a night and day difference here.

Where Switch remains consistent is in CPU power - the cores run at 1020MHz regardless of whether the machine is docked or undocked. This ensures that running game logic won't be compromised while gaming on the go: the game simulation itself will remain entirely consistent. The machine's embedded memory controller runs at 1600MHz while docked (on par with a standard Tegra X1), but the default power mode undocked sees this drop to 1331MHz. However, developers can opt to retain full memory bandwidth in their titles should they choose to do so.

As things stand, CPU clocks are halved compared to the standard Tegra X1, but it's the GPU aspect of the equation that will prove more controversial. Even while docked, Switch doesn't run at Tegra X1's full potential. Clock-speeds are locked here at 768MHz, considerably lower than the 1GHz found in Shield Android TV, but the big surprise from our perspective was the extent to which Nintendo has down-clocked the GPU to hit its thermal and battery life targets. That's not a typo: it really is 307.2MHz - meaning that in portable mode, Switch runs at exactly 40 per cent of the clock-speed of the fully docked device. And yes, the table below does indeed confirm that developers can choose to hobble Switch performance when plugged in to match the handheld profile should they so choose.

eurogamer-gx1b7a.jpg


Available CPU Speeds:

Undocked: 1020MHz
Docked:1020MHz

Available GPU Speeds

Undocked: 307.2MHz
Docked: 307.2/768MHz

Available Memory Controller Speeds:

Undocked: 1331/1600MHz
Docked: 1331/1600MHz

As things stand, a docked Switch features a GPU with 2.5x the power of the same unit running from battery. And while some questions surround the leaked specs above, any element of doubt surrounding these CPU and GPU clocks can be seemingly be discounted. Documentation supplied to developers along with the table above ends with this stark message: "The information in this table is the final specification for the combinations of performance configurations and performance modes that applications will be able to use at launch."

So how will this differential affect the games we play? The Switch handheld screen has a 720p resolution - so the gulf in GPU clocks means that in theory at least, there's overhead there to run a 720p mobile title at 1080p when docked. One developer source likens this to creating two different versions of the same game - almost like producing a PS4 game and a PS4 Pro variant. At the very least, QA will require titles to be tested thoroughly in both configurations, plus a lot of thought will be going into exactly how to utilise GPU power in each mode.

But perhaps the biggest takeaway from this is that those hoping for Switch to bring Nintendo back into contention with Microsoft and Sony's hardware should temper expectations. While there will be multi-platform projects (a point Nintendo made in its reveal with the Skyrim footage), we should not expect to see Switch versions of cutting-edge blockbusters. That should be fairly obvious when we consider that Xbox One S uses 16nm FinFET technology with gaming power draw in the region of 75-80W. Nvidia's GPU technology is more power-efficient, but it stands to reason that a mobile device (which typically operate with a 5-10W power budget) won't be in the same league.

But from a different perspective, this makes what we have seen even more impressive. Nintendo's hardware is all about an all-in-one console you can take anywhere while continuing to play the same games. We fully expect to see the kinds of fare displayed in the reveal trailer fully realised: Nintendo doing what it does best, basically. Even a 307.2MHz GPU based on Maxwell technology should be capable of out-performing Wii U - and certainly the Zelda: Breath of the Wild demo seen recently on the Jimmy Fallon show revealed a level of performance significantly smoother than that seen in last year's E3 code running on Wii U hardware. We should also remember that Nvidia has produced a bespoke software layer that should allow developers to get much, much more from the processor compared to what we've seen Tegra achieve in the Android-powered Shield console.

Although the picture on Switch's technological make-up is now coming into focus, our enquiries continue. We know how fast it runs, but what are the custom modifications that set apart the bespoke Tegra from the stock X1? While we're confident that our reporting on Switch's clock-speeds is accurate, all of the questions we have concerning the leaked spec remain unanswered. Those anomalies still seem odd, and details of the processor's customisations remain unknown at this time. Has Nintendo added a bunch of smaller tweaks or has it been a little more ambitious?

Performance at lower clocks could be boosted by a larger GPU (ie more CUDA cores), but this seems unlikely - even if Switch is using newer 16nm technology, actual transistor density isn't that different to Tegra X1's 20nm process - it's the FinFET '3D' transistors that make the difference. A larger GPU would result in a more expensive chip too, with only limited performance gains. And if Switch is using a more modern 16nm Tegra chip, we would expect Nintendo to follow Nvidia's lead in how the new process is utilised. However, the Tegra X2 features the same CUDA core count and apparently boosts GPU clocks by 50 per cent, the opposite direction taken by Nintendo.

Specs are one thing but the games are quite another and what we've seen so far certainly looks impressive bearing in mind that Switch has to operate effectively as a handheld device with a tight power budget. We'll be looking forward to the Switch reveal next month for the full hands-on experience, but clearly with these specs in mind, the focus will be on the console's defining feature - the ability to run the same games on an HDTV or on the go. Resolutions aside, will we actually be able to tell the difference or is the experience as seamless as the reveal trailer suggests? We can't wait to find out. In the meantime, Nintendo has yet to respond to our request for comment.
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Unread postby El Chaos » 17 Jan 2017 22:41

Nintendo Switch's packed-in Joy-Con Grip doesn't charge controllers, if you want a Grip that charges controllers, you need to spend another $30: http://www.usgamer.net/articles/nintend ... ontrollers

Nintendo Switch voice chat works through mobile app:
https://gamerant.com/nintendo-switch-vo ... obile-app/

So. You can't recharge the battery of the system's controller(s) with the basic SKU, unless maybe you leave the Joy-Cons plugged to the main unit while it's docked (therefore you would be unable to play) or connected to a wall socket and using it in "portable mode", and apparently neither the system nor its controllers feature a built-in microphone in order to use voice chat. One of the controllers has room for a motion infrared camera, but not a microphone, or at least a 3.5mm jack for a headset...

Gramps Nintendo is really going senile.
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Unread postby El Chaos » 05 Mar 2017 02:02

Nintendo Switch review - Digital Foundry presents its complete technical breakdown of the new console: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digit ... tch-review

Thomas Morgan wrote:In many ways, Nintendo Switch is what the Wii U should have been, and even reprises some of the best games in its catalogue. It's a better built machine, sporting higher grade materials, an innovative Joy-Con controller setup, and a gorgeous screen. The company's strength in handheld design is clearly tapped into, and while it may be pushed as a home console first, it's more appetising to see it as the successor to the 3DS. Switch rightly takes the crown as the most powerful dedicated gaming handheld right now, but the bonus is its effective, and seamless home console mode.

Certain limitations are clear though. As a hybrid console it has drawbacks on both sides of the package. In a portable state, the battery struggles to hold for over three hours in taxing titles, something even a sizable 4310mAh battery can't avoid. Meanwhile, for the docked, home console experience, the known technical specifications do fall short of competition from PS4 and Xbox One. Don't expect top-of-the-line third party games to reach Switch, and if they do, expect a degree of compromise in visual quality or performance.

There's no denying this is still a compelling piece of technology. Putting aside the controller sync issues and an unconvincing stand, there's a lot to celebrate. The Joy-Cons adapt brilliantly to any situation, and the tablet is ruggedly built in most other regards, with a smart finish, delivering games at a quality beyond anything we've seen on a handheld. It's a cliché, but the value of any hardware rests on great software, and it's Nintendo that will be the one to watch going forward. As the years roll on, we can fully expect the Switch's potential will be better tapped into, and fine-tuned to impressive results.

However, as a launch product, the £280/$300 price-point is a big ask compared to the competition, especially bearing in mind a launch title line-up based primarily on Wii U ports. There are also many extra costs too - a larger SD card is essential, the Pro controller is recommended for home use, and an external powerbank is worthwhile on the go. For now, what we have is a strong foundation to build on; it's pricy and not without fault, but we can't wait to see where Nintendo take the concept.
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Unread postby ExiledOne » 05 Mar 2017 02:20

http://www.theverge.com/2017/3/3/148104 ... game-files

Dieter Bohn wrote:Three annoying ways Nintendo Switch storage is locked down

Now that Nintendo Switch consoles are arriving (though not for everybody), we have finally found out exactly what you can and can’t do with them when it comes to save files and downloaded games. The answer: not very much at all.

Polygon has pointed out all the various problems, which amount to a system that’s significantly more locked down than the competition. It seems as though Nintendo wants to limit everything to a single console rather than to your online Nintendo account — which could make life a bit more difficult if you lose your Switch or happen to want to use a friend’s.

Here are the three main problems:

When you save your game, it only can be saved to local storage. You can’t move the save file to a microSD card and it’s not uploaded into the cloud. So if you’re 40 hours into Zelda and lose your console, you’re fresh out of luck and will have to start over.

You can’t take a microSD card out of one Switch and put it in another one — as far as Nintendo’s concerned, it has to be reformatted. This presumably makes it harder for people to pirate games — but it also means that you can’t take your downloaded games and just play them on another console, even if you log in with your account.

Downloaded games are locked to one console at a time. Even if you log in to another console, you can’t download and play your eShop-purchase games unless you deregister your other console and activate the new one.


That last part might not seem like a big deal, but is does mean that if you lose your Switch (or it gets stolen), you have to call Nintendo and have the company deregister your old device before you can download them again. And even then, your save files are kaput.

Other systems like the Xbox or Playstation have much more user-friendly policies when it comes to your games and their associated save files. It’s not just that your games are saved to the cloud so you can start where you left off on any console — it’s that you can log into another console and have access to your games (though there is some persnickety “primary console” stuff to deal with sometimes).

Nintendo got some well-deserved plaudits for choosing to launch the Switch without region locking, but it seems like Nintendo’s progressiveness ended there. Perhaps these restrictions (and those annoying Friend Codes) will get better with future updates, but I wouldn’t assume that’ll be the case. Right now, if you’re lucky enough to own a Switch, make sure you understand what you can and can’t do with these files. It’s probably less than you would like.
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Unread postby icycalm » 05 Mar 2017 15:36

http://gamengai.com/forum/viewtopic.php ... 712#p28712

EOJ wrote:I have read a lot of negative things about the console. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:

-Save games are locked to the console and cannot be moved or backed up (Perhaps an anti-piracy attempt?)
-No web browser or apps whatsoever. Very bare-bones UI.
-Screen gets scratched easily putting in/out of the dock.
-Joy-cons can randomly become unresponsive during play.

Good stuff:
-Region-free, easy to buy from any region's online store on the same Switch.
-Japanese games released at retail thus far have an option for English text. Good for people who want to buy physical versions of games only released digitally outside of Japan, like "I am Setsuna" (I enjoyed this game on the PS4).
-Zelda sounds like a good game.

Maybe by the end of the year Nintendo will have ironed out the issues, and it will be a good time to buy.


In addition, NeoGAF users are saying their brand-new consoles come with scratches and dust and markings on the screws right out of the box, as if people are putting them together by hand.

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1350032

levyjl1988 wrote:Anyone else opened their Nintendo switch to find dust and micro scratches on theirs?

I think it should be the industry standard to have a nice plastic film over any tablets.
When I opened mine I found dust and micro scratches. I really expected that there would be even a nice plastic film, but it felt like it was just shoved in a plastic bag and that's it. You can clearly see the rough and rushed manufacturing for this product.

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Note: The dust on the product isn't from my room but from when I opened the product.
Also the micro scratches is visable when I adjust it to certain light conditions so the photo may not show it well, it really irks me. I'm also used to owning apple products and other tablets where they provide a film for the screen and it feels really nice to peel off. I am usually confident with purchases where they take extra care and it feels tightly packaged and manufactured.

Anyone else found any similar problems when opening their Nintendo Switch?


Bony Manifesto wrote:No dust on mine, but the screw heads on the back are clearly worn - someone's done them up by hand at some point.
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Nintendo plans new Switch version for 2019

Unread postby Adjudicator » 26 Oct 2018 02:31

Updated model of Nintendo Switch is planned to be released in latter half of 2019: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gaming/news ... nned-2019/

Original Wall Street Journal article (the full content of the article is locked for subscribers only): https://www.wsj.com/articles/nintendo-p ... 1538629322

The revised Switch is speculated to improve on the LCD screen, battery life and device size—which would be similar to the Nintendo DS being revised to the DS Lite.
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Unread postby recoil » 10 Mar 2019 12:25

https://www.theverge.com/2019/3/6/18254 ... kit-switch

Andrew Webster wrote:Nintendo just announced a Labo VR kit for the Switch

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Nintendo’s getting into virtual reality, but not in the way you might expect. Today, the gaming giant announced the latest in its Labo line of DIY cardboard accessories, which turns the Nintendo Switch into a makeshift VR kit.

As with previous Labo sets, there are a few options to choose from. The main VR kit costs $79.99 and includes six different cardboard kits to build, including VR goggles, a blaster, a camera, and an... elephant, as well as a screen holder and “safety cap.” For those looking to spend a bit less, there’s also a basic starter kit that includes just the goggles and blaster for $39.99. Additional accessories like the elephant can be purchased late in $20 sets. The kits will include Labo software, which features games, step-by-step instructions, and the “garage” mode for building your own Labo creations.

“We wanted to design an experience that encourages both virtual and real-world interactions among players through passing around Toy-Con creations,” Doug Bowser, incoming Nintendo of America president, explained in a statement.

Labo first debuted back in April, offering a distinctly Nintendo take on DIY. Since then, Nintendo has released a few new kits and introduced Labo to schools, though the company has said in the past that it doesn’t believe the initiative has reached its full potential yet.

“We want to get to a demographic that’s not traditionally reached by games at all,” Nintendo EPD general manager Shinya Takahashi told The Verge back at E3. “I think the case with Nintendo Labo right now is that there are some people who know about it, and quite a lot of potential still for us to explore.

The new VR kits will be available starting on April 12th.
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