Nintendo Switch 2 Overheats Playing Demanding AAA Games

[Red Hood]

Too much corner cutting imo

Wonder who nintendo will try to sue over this

 

[evernessince]

I don't have a whole lotta hours clocked in with it yet but my 45€ 8BitDo Pro2 is darn impressive, it feels better quality than my DualSense and gets hall effect sticks, can't wait to try it out more in sims or FPSes

8BitDO controllers are built like a tank. I have the new ultimate that uses TMR sticks and it's fantastic. Also have a GameSir Cyclone 2 that's great as well. They are an upgrade over my Xbox elite controller that I spent $120 that died.

I gotta ask, do devices like the Switch and other such portable devices need more than 6/6E ? I got a Wifi 7 AP because I'm streaming VR from my desktop so I do enjoy the extra bandwidth and lower latency that comes with the tech but I don't really see handhelds getting significant benefit from it...

Wifi 7 absolutely benefits handheld devices given it's improvements to speed, latency, throughput, reliability, and performance in congested environments (provided via MRO, MLO, and puncturing).

of all the things I expected to be bad about the Switch 2, I didn't think Nintendo would put a crap screen on it...
Still, makes you wonder how they managed to make the cooling trash like it is when x86 handhelds with otherwise more powerful SoCs can work it out just fine

I suspect it's because they wanted to keep the weight down. The bigger screen made it heavier so they likely were conservative with the cooling subsystem.

 

[cfenton]

I'd like to see some objective testing on this. I'm sure there are some defective units that will overheat in normal conditions, but that's true of any similar product.

 

[biffzinker]

want to say dust in the fan but it's more like thin economic margins.

The Switch 2 hasn’t been out long to accumulate dust buildup as an over heating issue.

 

[Raiden85]

No issues with overheating here whatsoever. Here’s my temps running BOTW Switch 2 Edition in docked mode, 40c at the hottest point which is nothing. Even if I was to run a more demanding game, it’s not going to be a lot more. It may be an older game, but the Switch 2 update definitely puts a heavy load on this system, as it only just gets slightly over 2hrs of battery life in handheld mode.

And what’s with the hate with Nvidia temps, even my 4090 doesn’t break 65c the majority of the time with a proper air cooled heatsink, since launch I’ve never seen my card break 70c.

Front

Rear

Just proof it's a Switch 2

Running it outside the dock with an extension cable due to a case attached for rear grips, just a temporary solution

 

[wolf]

Sounds like a typical Nvidia inside product to me.

I'd say it reminds me more of Intel CPU's lately, or Radeon's of old than a typical "Nvidia inside product", but I'm sure a quick search will reveal that anything with Nvidia inside typically overheats.... oh wait.

Why do we have to spit toxic nonsense just because nvidia is invloved? Stop it, its not healthy man, chill out.

Yeah, this, and it's sad.

 

[denixius]

"...The company recommends disconnecting the dock, allowing the console to cool, relocating the dock to a well-ventilated area, ensuring air vents remain clear of dust and debris, and closely monitoring performance." This sentence makes me nervous. I was going to purchase one, however, I guess I should wait. Is it just a normal thing for these handheld gaming consoles?

Thankfully, I have the Lite version and don't have any overheating issues. I only imagine how difficult to play with a handheld gaming console with overheating issues.

 

[bad1080]

entered sleep mode during a game of Tears of the Kingdom Switch 2 Edition

demanding games, like a 2 year old game made for the original switch
wtf

 

[Raiden85]

demanding games, like a 2 year old game made for the original switch
wtf

It is a hell of a lot more demanding when they significantly up the resolution, details and then double the frame rate on top.

 

[trsttte]

Sony always were a hardware company

Not really, they were huge in cinema and music at one point until all that went bust.

What would $25 more dollars have bought

Since launch there are estimates going around of 5 million switch 2 sold by end of july, that's 125 million $ nintendo would not profit, and that's just 2 months.

Will you not think of the shareholders!?

Running it outside the dock with an extension cable due to a case attached for rear grips, just a temporary solution

I'd keep it that way until 3rd party docks with better ventilation appear. Pretty stupid of nintendo to do a closed off dock station with no ventilation, there's just no reason for it lol

 

[Tartaros]

people have this nostalgic views of the past that isn't really grounded in reality.
Go look how much the mega drive cost at launch and adjust it for inflation, you're in for the same bad surprise your parents probably had when you asked them to buy one. I'll wait

Price for the Mega Drive was pretty sweet even on launch, but you want the model 1 with very bad jailbar image problems in RGB that only goes away by disabling the composite video signal or the model 2 which some revisions of it had a cheaper FM synth that sounded like crap? Or you prefer the SNES with blurry RGB and wait for the very last revision of the second model to fix it?

All consoles have shit like this, expect them to have some obnoxious problem because too much corner cutting since they are conceived to be the cheapest possible. Even supposed premium consoles like the PS3 had its problems with the lack of underfilling on the chips leading to tons of problems with the first models.

 

[Ravenger]

Same crap has been said in the past about the switch oled version. Typical PEBKAC error. This guy was actually trying to make it overheat on purpose by ducttaping everything, didn't manage it

That was in handheld mode, which uses ~8w total system power. Cooling that is not hard by any means. In docked mode, it's a VERY different story.

 

[JustBenching]

That was in handheld mode, which uses ~8w total system power. Cooling that is not hard by any means. In docked mode, it's a VERY different story.

He docked it as well.

 

[piffdaddy]

Sounds like a typical Nvidia inside product to me.

Explain. I only play on PC but my desktop 5080 runs for hours and hours a Max of 60 celciius. My 4080, 3080 were very similar and my 1080ti didn't get much above that. Those are cool temps. Nvidia hasn't been known to run hot for many years.

no no, those are good enough to call modern today still. kek, can't expect them to put WiFi 7 chips in those things.
Wasn't talking about software.
Analog sticks, well, guess u go buy 3rd party controllers for better ones. Hall Effect sticks are too pricey to mass produce to meet the price target.
The display is outdated? I don't think so. Just business to do IPS for the first version then sell an OLED ver down the line, when sales are dropping after ~2yrs.

We get the business model but the display is super outdated and apparently very slow compared to monitor tech that's been out for eons. Apparently it's even slower than the original switch! That's insane!

 

[Bomby569]

Not really, they were huge in cinema and music at one point until all that went bust.

Yes really, they started as a electronics and hardware company. Their adventures in cinema and music (that still exist today) only started much later when Japan was swimming in cash around the 90's.

 

[chrcoluk]

No worries all they need to do is cut clock speed and voltage.

 

[DigitalAero]

Intel wifi 7 modules are $10 more than wifi 6 and that's retail. I'm willing to bet that you if you adjust for inflation it's around the same price as wifi 6 modules were when the original switch launched.

Whether it's "good enough" is really not relevant, it's clear cost cutting by Nintendo despite a price increase.



There are dozens of companies making quality hall effect controllers in the $26 - $50 price range.

No, they aren't too expensive to produce. They are widely available at very affordable prices. You can even find HE keyboards at $40-60 nowdays and those are typically more expensive.



There's no question the display is outdated.

- It's response performance is that of a circa 2003 display
- It doesn't have backlight zones
- The supported color range is subpar

Typically, a display has to be good with at least one thing, the switch 2's display is good with nothing.

hall effect sticks would interfere with the magnet controller attachment of the console are we being fr here

 

[Tartaros]

hall effect sticks would interfere with the magnet controller attachment of the console are we being fr here

You think so? The magnets would interfere with other components too if they could interfere with hall effect sticks at that distance. But maybe better shielded sticks would do.

But PS1 and PS2 analog sticks were very solid and they weren't hall effect, even N64 with their flawed design that made the mechanism grind itself into dust was decent unless you were a Mario 64 speedrunner, the drifting started to become a common problem PS3 onwards. I've seen cheap aftermarket hall effect sticks developing drifting very quickly too. In the end, it all depends on how cheap they want to go.

 

[evernessince]

hall effect sticks would interfere with the magnet controller attachment of the console are we being fr here

Hall Effect sticks emit a very small magnetic field. It's not enough to interfere in the manner you think. You have to remember that there are hall effect keyboards that have ICs below every key that work perfectly fine.

Even if it was an issue, the fix is as easy as shielding the switch housing.

 

[Dredi]

the drifting started to become a common problem PS3 onwards.

Never seen a ps3 controller drift. They are hall effect and robust as fuck.

 

[Daven]

I'd say it reminds me more of Intel CPU's lately, or Radeon's of old than a typical "Nvidia inside product", but I'm sure a quick search will reveal that anything with Nvidia inside typically overheats.... oh wait.

Yeah, this, and it's sad.

My comment was part joke and part real. Did you even bother to do a real internet search? News stories about Blackwell server chips overheating is all over the place.

https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/new-nvidia-ai-chips-face-issue-with-overheating-servers-information-reports-2024-11-17/

 

[rjc34]

This is entirely Nintendo's fault for not bothering to pay a small premium for a node shrink to 5nm. I genuinely have no idea why they didn't, they're going to earn a bazillion $ from $90 games, just shrink the margins on the console a bit so it can have decent power efficiency.

It's not just about cost, it's also about supply chain and fab availability. Likely much easier to get and guarantee space on Samsung's 8nm fab than any 5nm option. And they're still selling millions and can't keep them in stock.

Just like the Switch 1 - the overwhelming majority of people buying these give absolutely zero shits about the hardware under the hood. They sold over 150 million Switches with that ancient Tegra chipset in it. Surprise surprise... they actually know what they're doing here.

 

[wolf]

My comment was part joke and part real. Did you even bother to do a real internet search? News stories about Blackwell server chips overheating is all over the place.

Thank you for proving my point lol, one single story ran months ago where something Nvidia overheated, so clearly typical of Nvidia inside

If Nintendo can't manage ~10-20w TDP in their highly integrated and long developed device, I dare say that's on them.

Actually the more that I think about it, the more I understand the laugh reactions on your post now

 

[PixelTech]

We get the business model but the display is super outdated and apparently very slow compared to monitor tech that's been out for eons. Apparently it's even slower than the original switch! That's insane!

Ya, there's something wrong their display. I can see there being a chance they do a silent revision of hardware or update to fix the latency. But also what was the Switch 1's latency? Is it better? Guess we'll never know.

 

[Tartaros]

Never seen a ps3 controller drift. They are hall effect and robust as fuck.

I've seen some. But it wasn't a dramatic thing like it is nowadays.