Nintendo Switch | Apple A11 Bionic | |
CPU comparisonIn this CPU comparison, we compare the Nintendo Switch and the Apple A11 Bionic and use benchmarks to check which processor is faster.
We compare the Nintendo Switch 8 core processor released in Q1/2017 with the Apple A11 Bionic which has 6 CPU cores and was introduced in Q3/2017. |
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NVIDIA Tegra (2) | Family | Apple A series (22) |
NVIDIA Tegra X1 (2) | CPU group | Apple A11 (1) |
2 | Generation | 11 |
Cortex-A57/-A53 | Architecture | A11 |
Mobile | Segment | Mobile |
-- | Predecessor | Apple A10 Fusion |
-- | Successor | Apple A12 Bionic |
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CPU Cores and Base FrequencyThe Nintendo Switch is a 8 core processor with a clock frequency of 1.00 GHz (1.75 GHz). The processor can compute 8 threads at the same time. The Apple A11 Bionic clocks with 2.39 GHz, has 6 CPU cores and can calculate 6 threads in parallel. |
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Nintendo Switch | Characteristic | Apple A11 Bionic |
8 | Cores | 6 |
8 | Threads | 6 |
hybrid (big.LITTLE) | Core architecture | hybrid (big.LITTLE) |
No | Hyperthreading | No |
No | Overclocking ? | No |
1.00 GHz (1.75 GHz) 4x Cortex-A57 |
A-Core | 2.39 GHz 2x Monsoon |
1.00 GHz (1.75 GHz) 4x Cortex-A53 |
B-Core | 1.19 GHz 4x Mistral |
Artificial Intelligence and Machine LearningProcessors with the support of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can process many calculations, especially audio, image and video processing, much faster than classic processors. Algorithms for ML improve their performance the more data they have collected via software. ML tasks can be processed up to 10,000 times faster than with a classic processor. |
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Nintendo Switch | Characteristic | Apple A11 Bionic |
-- | AI hardware | Apple Neural Engine |
-- | AI specifications | 2 Neural cores @ 0.6 TOPS |
Internal GraphicsGraphics (iGPU) integrated into the processor not only enable image output without having to rely on a dedicated graphics solution, but can also efficiently accelerate video playback. |
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NVIDIA Tegra X1 (Maxwell) | GPU | Apple A11 |
0.30 GHz | GPU frequency | 1.07 GHz |
0.77 GHz | GPU (Turbo) | -- |
1 | GPU Generation | 8 |
20 nm | Technology | 10 nm |
1 | Max. displays | 1 |
2 | Compute units | 12 |
256 | Shader | 192 |
No | Hardware Raytracing | No |
No | Frame Generation | No |
2 GB | Max. GPU Memory | 3 GB |
12 | DirectX Version | -- |
Hardware codec supportA photo or video codec that is accelerated in hardware can greatly accelerate the working speed of a processor and extend the battery life of notebooks or smartphones when playing videos. |
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NVIDIA Tegra X1 (Maxwell) | GPU | Apple A11 |
Decode | Codec h265 / HEVC (8 bit) | Decode |
Decode | Codec h265 / HEVC (10 bit) | Decode |
Decode / Encode | Codec h264 | Decode / Encode |
Decode | Codec VP9 | Decode |
Decode | Codec VP8 | Decode / Encode |
No | Codec AV1 | No |
Decode | Codec AVC | Decode |
Decode | Codec VC-1 | Decode |
Decode / Encode | Codec JPEG | Decode / Encode |
Memory & PCIeUp to 4 GB of memory in a maximum of 2 memory channels is supported by the Nintendo Switch, while the Apple A11 Bionic supports a maximum of 3 GB of memory with a maximum memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s enabled. |
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Nintendo Switch | Characteristic | Apple A11 Bionic |
LPDDR4-3200 | Memory | LPDDR4X-4266 |
4 GB | Max. Memory | 3 GB |
2 (Dual Channel) | Memory channels | 1 (Single Channel) |
25.6 GB/s | Max. Bandwidth | 34.1 GB/s |
No | ECC | No |
2.50 MB | L2 Cache | 8.00 MB |
-- | L3 Cache | -- |
-- | PCIe version | -- |
-- | PCIe lanes | -- |
-- | PCIe Bandwidth | -- |
Thermal ManagementThe Nintendo Switch has a TDP of 5 W. The TDP of the Apple A11 Bionic is 8 W. System integrators use the TDP of the processor as a guide when dimensioning the cooling solution. |
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Nintendo Switch | Characteristic | Apple A11 Bionic |
5 W | TDP (PL1 / PBP) | 8 W |
-- | TDP (PL2) | -- |
-- | TDP up | -- |
5 W | TDP down | -- |
-- | Tjunction max. | -- |
Technical detailsThe Nintendo Switch has 2.50 MB cache and is manufactured in 20 nm. The cache of Apple A11 Bionic is at 8.00 MB. The processor is manufactured in 10 nm. |
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Nintendo Switch | Characteristic | Apple A11 Bionic |
20 nm | Technology | 10 nm |
Chiplet | Chip design | Chiplet |
Armv8-A (64 bit) | Instruction set (ISA) | Armv8-A (64 bit) |
-- | ISA extensions | -- |
-- | Socket | -- |
None | Virtualization | None |
No | AES-NI | No |
Operating systems | iOS | |
Q1/2017 | Release date | Q3/2017 |
-- | Release price | -- |
show more data | show more data | |
Nintendo Switch
8C 8T @ 1.75 GHz |
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Apple A11 Bionic
6C 6T @ 2.39 GHz |
Nintendo Switch
8C 8T @ 1.00 GHz |
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Apple A11 Bionic
6C 6T @ 2.39 GHz |
Nintendo Switch
NVIDIA Tegra X1 (Maxwell) @ 0.77 GHz |
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Apple A11 Bionic
Apple A11 @ 1.07 GHz |
Nintendo Switch
8C 8T @ 1.75 GHz |
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Apple A11 Bionic
6C 6T @ 2.39 GHz |
Nintendo Switch
8C 8T @ 1.00 GHz |
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Apple A11 Bionic
6C 6T @ 2.39 GHz |
Nintendo Switch
8C 8T @ 1.00 GHz |
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Apple A11 Bionic
6C 6T @ 2.39 GHz |
Nintendo Switch
8C 8T @ 1.00 GHz |
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Apple A11 Bionic
6C 6T @ 2.39 GHz |
Nintendo Switch
8C 8T @ 1.00 GHz |
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Apple A11 Bionic
6C 6T @ 2.39 GHz |
Devices using this processor |
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Nintendo Switch | Apple A11 Bionic |
Nintendo Switch | Apple iPhone 8 Apple iPhone 8 Plus Apple iPhone X |