Nintendo Switch | Apple A17 Pro | |
CPU comparisonIn this CPU comparison, we compare the Nintendo Switch and the Apple A17 Pro and use benchmarks to check which processor is faster.
We compare the Nintendo Switch 8 core processor released in Q1/2017 with the Apple A17 Pro which has 6 CPU cores and was introduced in Q3/2023. |
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NVIDIA Tegra (2) | Family | Apple A series (22) |
NVIDIA Tegra X1 (2) | CPU group | Apple A17 (1) |
2 | Generation | 17 |
Cortex-A57/-A53 | Architecture | A17 |
Mobile | Segment | Mobile |
-- | Predecessor | Apple A16 Bionic |
-- | Successor | -- |
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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 A17 Pro clocks with 3.78 GHz, has 6 CPU cores and can calculate 6 threads in parallel. |
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Nintendo Switch | Characteristic | Apple A17 Pro |
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 | 3.78 GHz |
1.00 GHz (1.75 GHz) 4x Cortex-A53 |
B-Core | 2.11 GHz |
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 A17 Pro |
-- | AI hardware | Apple Neural Engine |
-- | AI specifications | 16 Neural cores @ 35 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 A17 Pro (6 GPU Cores) |
0.30 GHz | GPU frequency | 1.40 GHz |
0.77 GHz | GPU (Turbo) | -- |
1 | GPU Generation | -- |
20 nm | Technology | 3 nm |
1 | Max. displays | 3 |
2 | Compute units | 24 |
256 | Shader | 768 |
No | Hardware Raytracing | Yes |
No | Frame Generation | No |
2 GB | Max. GPU Memory | 6 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 A17 Pro (6 GPU Cores) |
Decode | Codec h265 / HEVC (8 bit) | Decode / Encode |
Decode | Codec h265 / HEVC (10 bit) | Decode / Encode |
Decode / Encode | Codec h264 | Decode / Encode |
Decode | Codec VP9 | Decode / Encode |
Decode | Codec VP8 | Decode / Encode |
No | Codec AV1 | Decode |
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 A17 Pro supports a maximum of 8 GB of memory with a maximum memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s enabled. |
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Nintendo Switch | Characteristic | Apple A17 Pro |
LPDDR4-3200 | Memory | LPDDR5-6400 |
4 GB | Max. Memory | 8 GB |
2 (Dual Channel) | Memory channels | 1 (Single Channel) |
25.6 GB/s | Max. Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s |
No | ECC | No |
2.50 MB | L2 Cache | 20.00 MB |
-- | L3 Cache | 24.00 MB |
-- | PCIe version | -- |
-- | PCIe lanes | -- |
-- | PCIe Bandwidth | -- |
Thermal ManagementThe Nintendo Switch has a TDP of 5 W. The TDP of the Apple A17 Pro is 11 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 A17 Pro |
5 W | TDP (PL1 / PBP) | 11 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 A17 Pro is at 44.00 MB. The processor is manufactured in 3 nm. |
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Nintendo Switch | Characteristic | Apple A17 Pro |
20 nm | Technology | 3 nm |
Chiplet | Chip design | Chiplet |
Armv8-A (64 bit) | Instruction set (ISA) | Armv8.6-A (64 bit) |
-- | ISA extensions | -- |
-- | Socket | -- |
None | Virtualization | None |
No | AES-NI | No |
Operating systems | iOS | |
Q1/2017 | Release date | Q3/2023 |
-- | Release price | -- |
show more data | show more data | |
Nintendo Switch
8C 8T @ 1.75 GHz |
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Apple A17 Pro
6C 6T @ 3.78 GHz |
Nintendo Switch
8C 8T @ 1.00 GHz |
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Apple A17 Pro
6C 6T @ 3.78 GHz |
Nintendo Switch
NVIDIA Tegra X1 (Maxwell) @ 0.77 GHz |
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Apple A17 Pro
Apple A17 Pro (6 GPU Cores) @ 1.40 GHz |
Nintendo Switch
8C 8T @ 1.75 GHz |
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Apple A17 Pro
6C 6T @ 3.78 GHz |
Nintendo Switch
8C 8T @ 1.00 GHz |
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Apple A17 Pro
6C 6T @ 3.78 GHz |
Nintendo Switch
8C 8T @ 1.00 GHz |
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Apple A17 Pro
6C 6T @ 3.78 GHz |
Nintendo Switch
8C 8T @ 1.00 GHz |
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Apple A17 Pro
6C 6T @ 3.78 GHz |
Devices using this processor |
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Nintendo Switch | Apple A17 Pro |
Nintendo Switch | Apple iPhone 15 Pro Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max |