Nintendo Switch vs MediaTek Dimensity 800U

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CPU comparison with benchmarks


Nintendo Switch CPU1 vs CPU2 MediaTek Dimensity 800U
Nintendo Switch MediaTek Dimensity 800U

CPU comparison

In this CPU comparison, we compare the Nintendo Switch and the MediaTek Dimensity 800U and use benchmarks to check which processor is faster.

We compare the Nintendo Switch 8 core processor released in Q1/2017 with the MediaTek Dimensity 800U which has 8 CPU cores and was introduced in Q3/2020.
NVIDIA Tegra (2) Family Mediatek Dimensity (36)
NVIDIA Tegra X1 (2) CPU group MediaTek Dimensity 700/720/800 (4)
2 Generation 1
Cortex-A57/-A53 Architecture Cortex-A76 / Cortex-A55
Mobile Segment Mobile
-- Predecessor --
-- Successor --

CPU Cores and Base Frequency

The 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 MediaTek Dimensity 800U clocks with 2.40 GHz, has 8 CPU cores and can calculate 8 threads in parallel.

Nintendo Switch Characteristic MediaTek Dimensity 800U
8 Cores 8
8 Threads 8
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 2.40 GHz
2x Cortex-A76
1.00 GHz (1.75 GHz)
4x Cortex-A53
B-Core 2.00 GHz
6x Cortex-A55

NPU AI performance

The performance values of the processor's AI unit. The isolated NPU performance is specified here, the total AI performance (NPU+CPU+iGPU) can be higher. Processors with support for artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can process many calculations, especially audio, image and video processing, much faster than classic processors.

Nintendo Switch Characteristic MediaTek Dimensity 800U
-- AI hardware --
-- AI specifications --
-- NPU + CPU + iGPU --

Integrated graphics (iGPU)

Graphics (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.

NVIDIA Tegra X1 (Maxwell) GPU ARM Mali-G57 MP3
0.30 GHz GPU frequency 0.95 GHz
0.77 GHz GPU (Turbo) --
1 GPU Generation Vallhall 1
20 nm Technology 7 nm
1 Max. displays 2
2 Compute units 3
256 Shader 48
No Hardware Raytracing No
No Frame Generation No
2 GB Max. GPU Memory 4 GB
12 DirectX Version 12

Hardware codec support

A 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.

NVIDIA Tegra X1 (Maxwell) GPU ARM Mali-G57 MP3
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 / Encode
Decode Codec VC-1 Decode / Encode
Decode / Encode Codec JPEG Decode / Encode

Memory & PCIe

Up to 4 GB of memory in a maximum of 2 memory channels is supported by the Nintendo Switch, while the MediaTek Dimensity 800U supports a maximum of 12 GB of memory with a maximum memory bandwidth of 17.1 GB/s enabled.

Nintendo Switch Characteristic MediaTek Dimensity 800U
LPDDR4-3200 Memory LPDDR4X-4266
4 GB Max. Memory 12 GB
2 (Dual Channel) Memory channels 2 (Dual Channel)
25.6 GB/s Max. Bandwidth 17.1 GB/s
No ECC No
2.50 MB L2 Cache --
-- L3 Cache --
-- PCIe version --
-- PCIe lanes --
-- PCIe Bandwidth --

Thermal Management

The Nintendo Switch has a TDP of 5 W. The TDP of the MediaTek Dimensity 800U is --. System integrators use the TDP of the processor as a guide when dimensioning the cooling solution.

Nintendo Switch Characteristic MediaTek Dimensity 800U
5 W TDP (PL1 / PBP) --
-- TDP (PL2) --
-- TDP up --
5 W TDP down --
-- Tjunction max. --

Technical details

The Nintendo Switch has 2.50 MB cache and is manufactured in 20 nm. The cache of MediaTek Dimensity 800U is at 0.00 MB. The processor is manufactured in 7 nm.

Nintendo Switch Characteristic MediaTek Dimensity 800U
20 nm Technology 7 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 Android
Q1/2017 Release date Q3/2020
-- Release price --
show more data show more data


Rate these processors

Here you can rate the Nintendo Switch to help other visitors make their purchasing decisions. The average rating is 2.8 stars (8 ratings). Rate now:
Here you can rate the MediaTek Dimensity 800U to help other visitors make their purchasing decisions. The average rating is 0 stars (0 ratings). Rate now:


Average performance in benchmarks

⌀ Single core performance in 1 CPU benchmarks
Nintendo Switch (36%)
MediaTek Dimensity 800U (100%)
⌀ Multi core performance in 1 CPU benchmarks
Nintendo Switch (37%)
MediaTek Dimensity 800U (100%)

Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)

Geekbench 6 is a benchmark for modern computers, notebooks and smartphones. What is new is an optimized utilization of newer CPU architectures, e.g. based on the big.LITTLE concept and combining CPU cores of different sizes. The single-core benchmark only evaluates the performance of the fastest CPU core, the number of CPU cores in a processor is irrelevant here.
Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch
8C 8T @ 1.75 GHz
270 (36%)
MediaTek Dimensity 800U MediaTek Dimensity 800U
8C 8T @ 2.40 GHz
753 (100%)

Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)

Geekbench 6 is a benchmark for modern computers, notebooks and smartphones. What is new is an optimized utilization of newer CPU architectures, e.g. based on the big.LITTLE concept and combining CPU cores of different sizes. The multi-core benchmark evaluates the performance of all of the processor's CPU cores. Virtual thread improvements such as AMD SMT or Intel's Hyper-Threading have a positive impact on the benchmark result.
Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch
8C 8T @ 1.00 GHz
702 (37%)
MediaTek Dimensity 800U MediaTek Dimensity 800U
8C 8T @ 2.40 GHz
1882 (100%)

iGPU - FP32 Performance (Single-precision GFLOPS)

The theoretical computing performance of the internal graphics unit of the processor with simple accuracy (32 bit) in GFLOPS. GFLOPS indicates how many billion floating point operations the iGPU can perform per second.
Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch
NVIDIA Tegra X1 (Maxwell) @ 0.77 GHz
393 (100%)
MediaTek Dimensity 800U MediaTek Dimensity 800U
ARM Mali-G57 MP3 @ 0.95 GHz
365 (93%)

Geekbench 5, 64bit (Single-Core)

Geekbench 5 is a cross plattform benchmark that heavily uses the systems memory. A fast memory will push the result a lot. The single-core test only uses one CPU core, the amount of cores or hyperthreading ability doesn't count.
Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch
8C 8T @ 1.75 GHz
0 (0%)
MediaTek Dimensity 800U MediaTek Dimensity 800U
8C 8T @ 2.40 GHz
593 (100%)

Geekbench 5, 64bit (Multi-Core)

Geekbench 5 is a cross plattform benchmark that heavily uses the systems memory. A fast memory will push the result a lot. The multi-core test involves all CPU cores and taks a big advantage of hyperthreading.
Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch
8C 8T @ 1.00 GHz
0 (0%)
MediaTek Dimensity 800U MediaTek Dimensity 800U
8C 8T @ 2.40 GHz
1783 (100%)

AnTuTu 9 Benchmark

The AnTuTu 9 benchmark is very well suited to measuring the performance of a smartphone. AnTuTu 9 is quite heavy on 3D graphics and can now also use the "Metal" graphics interface. In AnTuTu, memory and UX (user experience) are also tested by simulating browser and app usage. AnTuTu version 9 can compare any ARM CPU running on Android or iOS. Devices may not be directly comparable when benchmarked on different operating systems.

In the AnTuTu 9 benchmark, the single-core performance of a processor is only slightly weighted. The rating is made up of the multi-core performance of the processor, the speed of the working memory, and the performance of the internal graphics.
Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch
8C 8T @ 1.00 GHz
0 (0%)
MediaTek Dimensity 800U MediaTek Dimensity 800U
8C 8T @ 2.40 GHz
368465 (100%)

AnTuTu 8 Benchmark

The AnTuTu 8 Benchmark measures the performance of a SoC. AnTuTu benchmarks the CPU, GPU, Memory as well as the UX (User Experience) by simulating browser and app usage. AnTuTu can benchmark any ARM CPU that runs under Android or iOS. Devices may not be directly compareable if the benchmark has been performed under different operating systems.

In the AnTuTu 8 benchmark, the single-core performance of a processor is only slightly weighted. The evaluation consists of the multi-core performance of the processor, the speed of the RAM and the performance of the internal graphics.
Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch
8C 8T @ 1.00 GHz
0 (0%)
MediaTek Dimensity 800U MediaTek Dimensity 800U
8C 8T @ 2.40 GHz
334689 (100%)

Estimated results for PassMark CPU Mark

Some of the CPUs listed below have been benchmarked by CPU-monkey. However the majority of CPUs have not been tested and the results have been estimated by a CPU-monkey’s secret proprietary formula. As such they do not accurately reflect the actual Passmark CPU mark values and are not endorsed by PassMark Software Pty Ltd.
Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch
8C 8T @ 1.00 GHz
0 (0%)
MediaTek Dimensity 800U MediaTek Dimensity 800U
8C 8T @ 2.40 GHz
3621 (100%)

Devices using this processor

Nintendo Switch MediaTek Dimensity 800U
Nintendo Switch Unknown

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