Nintendo Switch vs MediaTek Helio G25

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CPU comparison with benchmarks


Nintendo Switch CPU1 vs CPU2 MediaTek Helio G25
Nintendo Switch MediaTek Helio G25

CPU comparison

In this CPU comparison, we compare the Nintendo Switch and the MediaTek Helio G25 and use benchmarks to check which processor is faster.

We compare the Nintendo Switch 8 core processor released in Q1/2017 with the MediaTek Helio G25 which has 8 CPU cores and was introduced in Q2/2020.
NVIDIA Tegra (2) Family Mediatek Helio (37)
NVIDIA Tegra X1 (2) CPU group MediaTek Helio G20/G30 (4)
2 Generation 1
Cortex-A57/-A53 Architecture Cortex-A53 / Cortex-A53
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 Helio G25 clocks with 2.00 GHz, has 8 CPU cores and can calculate 8 threads in parallel.

Nintendo Switch Characteristic MediaTek Helio G25
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 2.00 GHz
4x Cortex-A53
1.00 GHz (1.75 GHz)
4x Cortex-A53
B-Core 1.50 GHz
4x Cortex-A53

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 Helio G25
-- 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 PowerVR GE8320
0.30 GHz GPU frequency 0.65 GHz
0.77 GHz GPU (Turbo) --
1 GPU Generation --
20 nm Technology 20 nm
1 Max. displays 1
2 Compute units 1
256 Shader --
No Hardware Raytracing No
No Frame Generation No
2 GB Max. GPU Memory --
12 DirectX Version 10

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 PowerVR GE8320
Decode Codec h265 / HEVC (8 bit) No
Decode Codec h265 / HEVC (10 bit) No
Decode / Encode Codec h264 No
Decode Codec VP9 No
Decode Codec VP8 No
No Codec AV1 No
Decode Codec AVC No
Decode Codec VC-1 No
Decode / Encode Codec JPEG No

Memory & PCIe

Up to 4 GB of memory in a maximum of 2 memory channels is supported by the Nintendo Switch, while the MediaTek Helio G25 supports a maximum of 6 GB of memory with a maximum memory bandwidth of 12.8 GB/s enabled.

Nintendo Switch Characteristic MediaTek Helio G25
LPDDR4-3200 Memory LPDDR4X-1600, LPDDR3-933
4 GB Max. Memory 6 GB
2 (Dual Channel) Memory channels 4 (Quad Channel)
25.6 GB/s Max. Bandwidth 12.8 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 Helio G25 is --. System integrators use the TDP of the processor as a guide when dimensioning the cooling solution.

Nintendo Switch Characteristic MediaTek Helio G25
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 Helio G25 is at 0.00 MB. The processor is manufactured in 12 nm.

Nintendo Switch Characteristic MediaTek Helio G25
20 nm Technology 12 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 Q2/2020
-- 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 Helio G25 to help other visitors make their purchasing decisions. The average rating is 1.8 stars (6 ratings). Rate now:


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 Helio G25 MediaTek Helio G25
PowerVR GE8320 @ 0.65 GHz
42 (11%)

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 Helio G25 MediaTek Helio G25
8C 8T @ 2.00 GHz
139 (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 Helio G25 MediaTek Helio G25
8C 8T @ 2.00 GHz
845 (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 (100%)
MediaTek Helio G25 MediaTek Helio G25
8C 8T @ 2.00 GHz
0 (0%)

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 (100%)
MediaTek Helio G25 MediaTek Helio G25
8C 8T @ 2.00 GHz
0 (0%)

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 Helio G25 MediaTek Helio G25
8C 8T @ 2.00 GHz
109554 (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 Helio G25 MediaTek Helio G25
8C 8T @ 2.00 GHz
93586 (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 Helio G25 MediaTek Helio G25
8C 8T @ 2.00 GHz
1186 (100%)

Devices using this processor

Nintendo Switch MediaTek Helio G25
Nintendo Switch Unknown

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