A new Nintendo Switch 2 rumor has surfaced claiming that the next-generation hybrid console could actually arrive with more memory than a powerful rival like the Microsoft Xbox Series S. The same source has also offered an update in regard to the Switch 2’s potential DLSS support and ray-tracing capabilities.

  • Mossy Feathers (They/Them)
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    6010 months ago

    Nintendo having hardware with some oomph? Bullshit. Their thing is making cheap consoles that appeal to anyone who isn’t an edgy teenager. Dlss, Ray tracing, etc is still too new for them.

    • hypelightfly
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      5110 months ago

      Having more RAM than the series S doesn’t translate to “having hardware with some oomph”. The series S is memory starved. 10GB was a small amount even when it launched.

    • @red@feddit.de
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      2310 months ago

      I mean the Xbox Series S will be a 4 year old non-high-end console by the time the Switch 2 will be released. I can definitely see them go in that direction.

      Maybe it will have more RAM, but it will most likely have slower/cheaper RAM. LPDDR5 or LPDDR5X instead of GDDR6. Should also be more power efficient.

      • Mossy Feathers (They/Them)
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        1410 months ago

        Ram is easy to believe, but imo raytracing and dlss are still too new. That said, something I hadn’t thought about is that with the OG Switch using Nvidia’s tegra, it’s entirely possible that Nvidia pushed them to adopt a next-gen version that includes dlss and rtx support.

        • Dudewitbow
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          10 months ago

          Neither are too new. Both features are technically available for volta gpus or newer. The switch was maxwell, and unless you fully believe the switch 2 will use pascal (2016), then it is at the very minimum, using volta, which means it can use rtx/dlss (but i dont expwct it to ACTUALLY use rtx)

        • @Perfide@reddthat.com
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          10 months ago

          Raytracing, no chance just from a performance standpoint even if it “supports” it, but DLSS is a given. If anything, I’m worried they’ll end up relying on DLSS to get games “playable”, just like what’s happening on PC.

          It’ll definitely be DLSS 2, though. No chance they get DLSS 3.

        • @red@feddit.de
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          10 months ago

          I bet the Switch 2’s SoC will include a GPU based on Ampere or newer, which means RTX 3000 series capabilities which. Nvidia Tegra Orin from 2019 already included that much.

          Of course it will be very likely more limited than even a 3060 mobile chip, but it could include both RT and DLSS 3.5 if they wanted to. I doubt they use RT but DLSS would make a lot of sense.

      • HypxOP
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        310 months ago

        It just needs to be a Steam Deck w/nVidia hardware instead.

    • Kbin_space_program
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      910 months ago

      Stable internet servers, to me, is probably the single most important thing.

      The lack of those is the primary reason all of their online league attempts are failing, despite the games themselves being perfect for leagues.

    • @ninjan@lemmy.mildgrim.com
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      610 months ago

      More importantly too battery draining. I can’t imagine them making a much bulkier switch but it could be that DLSS and Raytracing is docked only or optional with battery warnings if used undocked.

      • @alehel@beehaw.org
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        110 months ago

        Nintendo never really did complicated. Can’t imagine them doing a battery warning with features you can turn on/off.

    • @Blackmist@feddit.uk
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      610 months ago

      DLSS or the AMD knock-off would actually be pretty good for them.

      RT is kind of pointless in low end hardware though.

      Be interesting to see if they support VRR since they control what screen goes into it. A lot more PC users accepting 40fps since Steam Deck. Forcing everything into 30 or 60 is kind of limiting.

  • Gamma
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    10 months ago

    Here we go again with the rumors 🙃 the worst part of the Nintendo console lifecycle

    That being said, DLSS would be awesome on something like the switch

    • @red@feddit.de
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      910 months ago

      I just wonder whether they want to use DLSS for more FPS on the handheld or whether it’s simply their future way to upscale from the native handheld resolution to 4K when docked.

      Surely DLSS would be very taxing on the battery life, but it would be great to improve the docked experience which is often rather bad (stuttering, etc.) with the old Switch.

      • Gamma
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        10 months ago

        Personally, I only want it in the dock. Handheld doesn’t have to be that high res but it would be really nice to have in TV mode

      • @Lojcs@lemm.ee
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        210 months ago

        Why should it be very taxing for the battery? Docked or not it ultimately decreases the amount of work the gpu has to do.

    • kratoz29
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      410 months ago

      I don’t remember how the rumours of the Switch OLED were… but I guess some were funny.

      • @t3rmit3@beehaw.org
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        10 months ago

        don’t know where you got that idea, but 16gb of ddr3 can be gotten easily for $30, as where 16gb of ddr5 is going to run you $100 minimum (talking retail prices, obv)

        • @Lojcs@lemm.ee
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          10 months ago

          Just looked up the cheapest new 16G options in Turkey

          • Ddr3: 1195₺ ~ $44
          • Ddr4: 837₺ ~ $31
          • Ddr5: 1179₺ ~ $44

          Ddr5 is cheaper than you think

        • @b9chomps@beehaw.org
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          10 months ago

          I think there is a difference (like you said) between you picking up 2 sticks of remaining DDR3 stock and a console manufacturer sourcing it for their new console.

  • Jordan Lund
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    1710 months ago

    Low bar. :) The Xbox One X has more RAM than the Xbox Series S.

      • Jordan Lund
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        1410 months ago

        More shocking is the speed of the RAM involved.

        Xbox Series S
        8 GB running at 224 GB/s
        2 GB at 56 GB/s

        By comparison:

        Xbox Series X
        16 GB @ 560 GB/s

        PS5
        16 GB @ 448 GB/s

        Xbox One X
        12 GB @ 326.4 GB/s

        Steam Deck
        16 GB @ 88 GB/s

        Switch
        4 GB @ 25.6 GB/s

      • Jordan Lund
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        210 months ago

        More shocking is the speed of the RAM involved.

        Xbox Series S
        8 GB running at 224 GB/s
        2 GB at 56 GB/s

        By comparison:

        Xbox Series X
        16 GB @ 560 GB/s

        PS5
        16 GB @ 448 GB/s

        Xbox One X
        12 GB @ 326.4 GB/s

        Steam Deck
        16 GB @ 88 GB/s

        Switch
        4 GB @ 25.6 GB/s

        • hypelightfly
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          510 months ago

          You’re highlighting the slower 2GB but in reality that’s not used by games in the first place. They’re relegated to the 8GB which is significantly faster.

          The Steam Deck has essentially 2x the available memory but it’s much slower. The point being “having more RAM” isn’t some amazing feat. It really depends on all the involved specs. Even amount/bandwidth isn’t enough. GDDR has much higher bandwidth than DDR or LPDDR but it’s also higher latency. It’s tuned for graphics, not system RAM depending on the work load one can be faster than the other.

          • Jordan Lund
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            310 months ago

            If it had 10 GB at the higher speed it would still be hamstrung, but not as badly as it is with 8 GB and 2 GB that’s essentially unusable except for maybe UI overlays.

            • hypelightfly
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              10 months ago

              The 2 is mostly used by the OS. Yes, it would be better if it was all faster but it still wouldn’t be used by the GPU as it’s segmented.

              It’s all moot to my original point though. Having more RAM isn’t some miracle or a sign it will be faster.

  • Poggervania
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    1410 months ago

    More RAM doesn’t really mean anything in gaming performance. It helps, but a faster CPU and GPU with a good whack of VRAM is gonna help more.

    • Primarily0617
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      2610 months ago

      arguably RAM matters the most

      gpu and cpu you can just downgrade the quality, but at a certain point everything has to fit into memory

      e.g., baldur’s gate 3 literally couldn’t be properly ported to the S because of a RAM limitation

      • Poggervania
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        410 months ago

        Oh shit, really? Wasn’t even aware of that lol, I always had the generally recommended amount of RAM in my gaming rig so I never thought that would be a thing.

        • @dom@lemmy.ca
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          1910 months ago

          There is a point where more ram doesnt help and maybe that’s what you are thinking of. It’s more “must be this tall to ride” from my understanding

      • @EddoWagt@feddit.nl
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        410 months ago

        Also, textures, usually they don’t really cost performance and absolutely change the visuals of a game, but can be massively limited by a lack of ram

    • Drew
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      1010 months ago

      Consoles have shared RAM between CPU and GPU, more RAM is more VRAM

    • Never_Sm1le
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      610 months ago

      You are thinking from pc pov. PS3 is perhaps the last major home console that have dedicated ram and vram, maybe 3ds had it on the handheld front

  • .:\dGh/:.
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    310 months ago

    One thing about the 12GB of RAM: it may be costly now, but it will become cheaper after three, four years into the cycle.

    Second, there is also the bandwidth. The Steam Deck has 32x4GB LPDDR5. I believe they wanted 8GB but DLSS and ML (if they add them to the next SoC) require at least 4GB plus. Hence, 32x4GB (96 bits). If the Steam Deck can get away with slightly more, then why not slightly less.

    So yes, I can see this device with 12GB of RAM to ensure DLSS and ML work without hitches.