NVIDIA Switch GPU 16nm
NVIDIA graphics card specifications and benchmark scores
At a Glance
NVIDIANVIDIA Switch GPU 16nm Specifications
GPU Core
Shader units and compute resources
The NVIDIA Switch GPU 16nm GPU core specifications define its raw processing power for graphics and compute workloads. Shading units (also called CUDA cores, stream processors, or execution units depending on manufacturer) handle the parallel calculations required for rendering. TMUs (Texture Mapping Units) process texture data, while ROPs (Render Output Units) handle final pixel output. Higher shader counts generally translate to better GPU benchmark performance, especially in demanding games and 3D applications.
Switch GPU 16nm Clock Speeds
GPU and memory frequencies
Clock speeds directly impact the Switch GPU 16nm's performance in GPU benchmarks and real-world gaming. The base clock represents the minimum guaranteed frequency, while the boost clock indicates peak performance under optimal thermal conditions. Memory clock speed affects texture loading and frame buffer operations. The Switch GPU 16nm by NVIDIA dynamically adjusts frequencies based on workload, temperature, and power limits to maximize performance while maintaining stability.
NVIDIA's Switch GPU 16nm Memory
VRAM capacity and bandwidth
VRAM (Video RAM) is dedicated memory for storing textures, frame buffers, and shader data. The Switch GPU 16nm's memory capacity determines how well it handles high-resolution textures and multiple displays. Memory bandwidth, measured in GB/s, affects how quickly data moves between the GPU and VRAM. Higher bandwidth improves performance in memory-intensive scenarios like 4K gaming. The memory bus width and type (GDDR6, GDDR6X, HBM) significantly influence overall GPU benchmark scores.
Switch GPU 16nm Theoretical Performance
Compute and fill rates
Theoretical performance metrics provide a baseline for comparing the NVIDIA Switch GPU 16nm against other graphics cards. FP32 (single-precision) performance, measured in TFLOPS, indicates compute capability for gaming and general GPU workloads. FP64 (double-precision) matters for scientific computing. Pixel and texture fill rates determine how quickly the GPU can render complex scenes. While real-world GPU benchmark results depend on many factors, these specifications help predict relative performance levels.
Maxwell 2.0 Architecture & Process
Manufacturing and design details
The NVIDIA Switch GPU 16nm is built on NVIDIA's Maxwell 2.0 architecture, which defines how the GPU processes graphics and compute workloads. The manufacturing process node affects power efficiency, thermal characteristics, and maximum clock speeds. Smaller process nodes pack more transistors into the same die area, enabling higher performance per watt. Understanding the architecture helps predict how the Switch GPU 16nm will perform in GPU benchmarks compared to previous generations.
Power & Thermal
TDP and power requirements
Power specifications for the NVIDIA Switch GPU 16nm determine PSU requirements and thermal management needs. TDP (Thermal Design Power) indicates the heat output under typical loads, guiding cooler selection. Power connector requirements ensure adequate power delivery for stable operation during demanding GPU benchmarks. The suggested PSU wattage accounts for the entire system, not just the graphics card. Efficient power delivery enables the Switch GPU 16nm to maintain boost clocks without throttling.
Switch GPU 16nm by NVIDIA Physical & Connectivity
Dimensions and outputs
Physical dimensions of the NVIDIA Switch GPU 16nm are critical for case compatibility. Card length, height, and slot width determine whether it fits in your chassis. The PCIe interface version affects bandwidth for communication with the CPU. Display outputs define monitor connectivity options, with modern cards supporting multiple high-resolution displays simultaneously. Verify these specifications against your case and motherboard before purchasing to ensure a proper fit.
NVIDIA API Support
Graphics and compute APIs
API support determines which games and applications can fully utilize the NVIDIA Switch GPU 16nm. DirectX 12 Ultimate enables advanced features like ray tracing and variable rate shading. Vulkan provides cross-platform graphics capabilities with low-level hardware access. OpenGL remains important for professional applications and older games. CUDA (NVIDIA) and OpenCL enable GPU compute for video editing, 3D rendering, and scientific applications. Higher API versions unlock newer graphical features in GPU benchmarks and games.
Switch GPU 16nm Product Information
Release and pricing details
The NVIDIA Switch GPU 16nm is manufactured by NVIDIA as part of their graphics card lineup. Release date and launch pricing provide context for comparing GPU benchmark results with competing products from the same era. Understanding the product lifecycle helps evaluate whether the Switch GPU 16nm by NVIDIA represents good value at current market prices. Predecessor and successor information aids in tracking generational improvements and planning future upgrades.
About NVIDIA Switch GPU 16nm
The NVIDIA Switch GPU 16nm is a Maxwell 2.0 architecture part built on a 16 nm TSMC process, targeting the Nintendo console segment. It carries 2,000 million transistors on a 100 mm² die, with a transistor density of 20.0M / mm². This is an end-of-life product, released on 2019-08-15, and its benchmark data places it at the 50th percentile among all GPUs, though no specific benchmark scores or rival comparisons are available in the data.
Benchmark Performance
Benchmark results for the NVIDIA Switch GPU 16nm are sparse, with no individual scores recorded in the data. The only performance indicator available is the percentileVsAllGpus field, which places this chip at the 50th percentile. That figure suggests a median position in the overall GPU landscape — neither a standout performer nor a bottom-tier part. In practical terms, a 50th percentile ranking typically means the GPU can handle lighter workloads at modest settings, but it will struggle with demanding tasks.
The raw compute figures reinforce this interpretation. The chip delivers 393.2 GFLOPS of FP32 performance and 786.4 GFLOPS of FP16 performance, with the FP16 figure operating at a 2:1 ratio relative to FP32. The pixel rate is 12.29 GPixel/s, and the texture rate is 12.29 GTexel/s. These numbers are low by modern desktop standards, but they are consistent with a low-power, portable-oriented part. The base clock sits at 384 MHz, boosting to 768 MHz, which explains the modest throughput.
Without nearestRivals data, direct percentage comparisons are impossible. However, the 50th percentile ranking implies that roughly half of all GPUs in the database outperform this chip, while the other half trail it. That positions the NVIDIA Switch GPU 16nm as a distinctly entry-level performer. For context, a chip in the 50th percentile would not be suitable for high-refresh gaming or heavy compute workloads, but it can handle basic 2D tasks, older titles, or light emulation. The data does not include any benchmark scores, so all conclusions must derive from the percentile and raw specs.
Memory Subsystem
The memory configuration is a major limiting factor. The NVIDIA Switch GPU 16nm ships with 4 GB of DDR4 memory on a 64-bit bus, yielding a total bandwidth of 25.60 GB/s. The memory clock is 1600 MHz, with an effective data rate of 3.2 Gbps. These figures are modest, even for a low-power part.
A 64-bit bus is narrow, and combined with DDR4 memory, the bandwidth is roughly a quarter of what typical desktop GPUs from the same era offered. For high-resolution gaming, this is a severe constraint. At 1080p, textures and frame buffers can exceed the available bandwidth, causing stuttering or reduced texture quality. At 1440p or 4K, the situation becomes untenable — the memory subsystem simply cannot feed the shading units fast enough. The 4 GB capacity is also limiting; modern games at high settings often exceed that amount, leading to texture pop-in or outright crashes.
The 25.60 GB/s bandwidth is particularly restrictive for memory-intensive workloads like large compute shaders or high-resolution shadow maps. For a console GPU, this is acceptable if the target is 720p or 900p with optimized settings, but it is not a design suited for pushing high resolutions on demanding titles. The data shows no bus interface or additional memory details, so the picture is incomplete, but the available numbers paint a clear picture of a bandwidth-starved part.
How It Compares
The data does not include any nearestRivals entries, so there are no direct competitor names, scores, or deltaPct values to reference. This absence means a positional analysis against specific products is not possible. The only comparative metric is the 50th percentile, which serves as a general reference point.
Given the lack of rival data, the NVIDIA Switch GPU 16nm must be evaluated on its own merits. Its 15 W TDP, 256 shading units, 16 TMUs, and 16 ROPs are all consistent with a very low-power design. In the broader market, such a configuration would place it well below mainstream desktop GPUs, which typically feature thousands of shading units and much higher memory bandwidth. The 4 GB DDR4 memory and 64-bit bus are far behind what even entry-level discrete cards offered in the same period.
For users, the practical implication is that this GPU is suited for its intended console use case — low-resolution, optimized gaming — rather than as a general-purpose PC graphics solution. Without rival data, any claims about being ahead or behind a specific product would be speculation, which the available facts do not support.
FAQ
Q: What is the process node for the NVIDIA Switch GPU 16nm?
A: The GPU is built on a 16 nm process at TSMC, with a die size of 100 mm² and a transistor count of 2,000 million.
Q: How much memory does the NVIDIA Switch GPU 16nm have, and what type is it?
A: It has 4 GB of DDR4 memory on a 64-bit bus, providing 25.60 GB/s of bandwidth.
Q: What are the clock speeds of this GPU?
A: The base clock is 384 MHz, the boost clock is 768 MHz, and the memory clock is 1600 MHz (3.2 Gbps effective).
Q: Does the NVIDIA Switch GPU 16nm support ray tracing?
A: No, the data shows no RT cores or tensor cores for this GPU. It is based on Maxwell 2.0 architecture, which predates dedicated ray tracing hardware.
Q: What APIs are supported by this GPU?
A: It supports DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.
Q: What is the power consumption of this GPU?
A: The TDP is 15 W, which is very low and typical for a mobile or console-oriented part.
Ray Tracing and Feature Set
The NVIDIA Switch GPU 16nm does not include any RT cores or tensor cores, according to the available data. This is consistent with its Maxwell 2.0 architecture, which predates NVIDIA’s dedicated ray tracing hardware introduced in later generations. Consequently, hardware-accelerated ray tracing is not supported. Any ray tracing effects would have to be handled via software, which would be impractical given the low compute throughput of 393.2 GFLOPS FP32.
The feature set is otherwise defined by its API support. The GPU supports DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. DirectX 12_1 support means it can handle feature level 12_1, which includes conservative rasterization and rasterizer-ordered views, but not the full DirectX 12 Ultimate feature set. Vulkan 1.4 support is current and provides access to modern rendering techniques, though the hardware will limit their effectiveness.
The display output is a single USB Type-C port, which is unusual for a discrete GPU but typical for a console or mobile integrated solution. The shading units number 256, with 16 TMUs and 16 ROPs. These are minimal counts, and the pixel rate of 12.29 GPixel/s and texture rate of 12.29 GTexel/s reflect that. For feature-based comparisons, the lack of RT and tensor cores places this GPU firmly in the pre-ray tracing era, suited for traditional rasterization only.
Power and Cooling
The NVIDIA Switch GPU 16nm has a TDP of just 15 W, which is exceptionally low. This means it generates very little heat and can be cooled by a passive heatsink or a small, low-profile fan. The data does not include a slot width, power connector requirements, or a suggested PSU, which is unusual for a discrete GPU page but consistent with a console-oriented part.
Given the 15 W TDP, power delivery is straightforward. No external power connectors are listed, which suggests the GPU draws all its power from the motherboard or system board. A dedicated PSU recommendation is absent from the data, but a 15 W part would be well within the capabilities of any standard power supply. The dimensions are 239 mm in length (9.4 inches), 101 mm in height (4 inches), and 28 mm in width (1.1 inches), which are compact and suitable for tight chassis.
Cooling requirements are minimal. At 15 W, the thermal load is trivial, and even a basic aluminum heatsink would suffice. The low clocks (384 MHz base, 768 MHz boost) further reduce heat generation. This design prioritizes efficiency and portability over performance, which is evident in every aspect of the power and cooling profile. There is no launch MSRP data to report beyond the stated 299 USD, and that figure is mentioned once here for completeness.
Detailed benchmark scores and charts for the NVIDIA Switch GPU 16nm are below.
Benchmark Scores
No benchmark data available for this GPU.
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