The
Steam Deck OLED has higher computing power compared to the
Nintendo Switch 2, based on raw performance metrics. Here's why:
CPU Comparison:
- Steam Deck OLED: Uses a custom AMD Zen 2 APU with 4 cores and 8 threads, clocked between 2.4 - 3.5 GHz. This architecture is more powerful and efficient than the Switch 2’s ARM-based processor.
- Nintendo Switch 2: Expected to use a custom Nvidia Tegra T239 chipset with 8 ARM Cortex-A78C cores, likely clocked lower than Steam Deck’s CPU. While the extra cores could help in multi-threaded tasks, the individual core performance is weaker than Zen 2.
Winner: Steam Deck OLED (higher clock speeds and better architecture for gaming performance).
GPU Comparison:
- Steam Deck OLED: Uses an RDNA 2 GPU with 8 compute units (CUs) running at 1.0 - 1.6 GHz, providing up to 1.6 TFLOPS of raw power.
- Nintendo Switch 2: Expected to feature a 12 SM Ampere-based Nvidia GPU, supporting DLSS (AI upscaling) and ray tracing. Its raw power isn't confirmed, but estimates suggest ~1 TFLOP native, which may be boosted via DLSS.
Winner: Steam Deck OLED (higher raw GPU power, but Switch 2 may benefit from DLSS upscaling).
RAM Comparison:
- Steam Deck OLED: 16 GB of LPDDR5 RAM at 6400 MT/s.
- Nintendo Switch 2: 12 GB of LPDDR5 RAM (estimated speed not confirmed).
Winner: Steam Deck OLED (higher RAM capacity and faster memory bandwidth).
Conclusion:
The
Steam Deck OLED has superior
CPU, GPU, and RAM, making it more powerful for running high-performance games. However, the
Nintendo Switch 2 could optimize performance using
DLSS upscaling, making games look better at lower computational costs.
If you want raw power and PC-like gaming, the Steam Deck OLED is the better choice. If you prefer Nintendo exclusives and efficient upscaling, the Switch 2 might still deliver impressive performance despite lower hardware specs.