While we still wait for official information on the Nintendo Switch – the console’s public unveiling is scheduled for 12th January 2017 – we’re relying on industry insiders, leaks, and patent filings to try to piece together the specifications of the Japanese company’s new hardware. A recent patent suggests that the Switch will downscale from 1080p when docked to 720p when used in handheld mode, but a Tokyo-based reported has rubbished the idea, claiming the console will output at much higher resolutions than anticipated.
According to Takashi Mochizuki, a tech reporter for the Wall Street Journal, the Nintendo Switch will actually output at 1440p when docked, using DisplayPort over USB-C connection at 5Gbps, and 1080p in handheld mode. The information comes via Ace Research Institute analyst Ace Yasuda.
“Nintendo Switch uses Displayport over USB-C; internal bus speed at 5Gbps, faster than 3DS’s 128Mbps,” Mochizuki tweeted today (23rd December).
“Nintendo Switch’s resolution not likely 1080 to 720 but WQHD to 1080. VR just for patent purpose not likely to be used,” he explained, adding, “this means internal chips can handle WQHD and downgrades to 1080 when docked & undocked.”
Ace Research Institute analyst Yasuda: NintendoSwitch uses Displayport over USB-C; internal bus speed at 5Gbps, faster than 3DS's 128Mbps
— Takashi Mochizuki (@6d6f636869) December 22, 2016
Ace Yasuda: Nintendo Switch's resolution not likely 1080 to 720 but WQHD to 1080. VR just for patent purpose not likely to be used.
— Takashi Mochizuki (@6d6f636869) December 22, 2016
Sorry for confusion. this means internal chips can habdle WQHD and downgrades to 1080 when docked & undocked. why? https://t.co/qU8R29xC75
— Takashi Mochizuki (@6d6f636869) December 23, 2016
While 1080p output in handheld makes the Switch a far more attractive proposition, we still don’t know if this will be true 1080p resolution or upscaled from 720p. Either way, we’ve less than a month until we find out from Nintendo itself. The Nintendo Switch is expected for release in March 2017.
Nvidia’s ultra old and ultra slow GeForce 210 can “handle” even higher resolutions. It can display at 2560×1600. Try to play games in that resolution with a G210. And if they mean real gaming, probably they mean original Unreal Tournament graphics, from 1999. Think about it. 256 maxwell cores at 1GHz maximum. Probably not even a simple GTX 750 (NON Ti), and when undocked probably half of a GT 710.