‘Nintendo Switch runs at a much lower clock speed in portable mode’

The Nintendo Switch’s GPU clock speed is 2.5 times faster when the device is docked compared to when used as a handheld. However, the console’s processor will continue to run at the same speed, regardless of which position the Switch is in.

The clock speeds are slightly noticeable because they are lower than what the Tegra X1, the chip that the Switch supposedly runs on, can offer at most. The maximum CPU speed is half of what the Tegra X1 offers as standard and the maximum GPU speed of the Switch is a quarter lower. This is probably done to extend battery life. In addition, it is relevant that the handheld displays 720p images while the dock has a 1080p output. This also contributes to reducing the effect of the lower GPU speed.

In addition, according to Eurogamer’s sources, developers can choose to keep the clock speed in the dock as low as in handheld mode. The numbers are said to come straight from documentation intended for Switch game developers. The dates also state that the data is “a final determination of the specifications and configurations as they will be when the console is released.”

The rumor comes from Eurogamer, which also announced earlier this year that the Switch would be a hybrid console with detachable controllers and an Nvidia soc. That rumor later turned out to be correct. Nintendo did not respond to Eurogamer’s requests for comment.

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