Hello all! I guess you could consider this a part 2 of my theoretical questions about the Nintendo Switch. Some of you viewing this may remember my last thread by the title of “is a UFS Mod possible on the Nintendo Switch?” The goal of this was to try and figure out if the internal storage could be pushed past the 256GB limit that eMMC is limited to. After some great discussion the conclusion was made that because UFS is so different from eMMC that an upgrade would not be possible. I was directed to make another thread for this question.
However thanks to @evil_santa (great name BTW) through Ctcaer I learned that the Switch has a unused PCIe x4 slot. This in theory could mean that the switch could have a NVMe drive in it. If one person or a group of people put in the work to do it. The goal of this thread is to discuss what challenges and or other information may be needed for this to happen. If it is even possible.
From here on out I will be using all of my current technical knowledge to try and discuss this question. I’m going to be upfront and say I do not know everything there is to know about the switch l and I am not a huge software guy so if I miss speak or say something incorrect I am sorry and don’t mean it in a arrogant or stupid way.
So first what comes to my mind is finding this PCIe x4 connection. Obviously the switch doesn’t have a M.2 connector on it so this would be harder to find then with just a gloss over. I am not a expert on board design but I am going to go out in a limb and say that this connection or the base(s) for it anyway are close if not on the Tegra X1 itself. Obviously if things are at the molecular/silicon level then this whole thing goes out the window.
For arguments sake let’s assume that’s not the case. The next thing would be trying to get said connector into a useable M.2 slot and make sure that slot works electrically speaking. This would definitely require some soldering on someone’s part. Difficult but not impossible. (At least to my knowledge) I should also add that the required voltages for a SSD may not be able to be supplied by the Switch’s internal battery this could put the kaibosh on this whole idea too.
The next order of business would be to figure out the fitment into the Switch’s tight space. Ideally for the largest capacity a NVMe 2280 SSD would be the best but the switch is super small and a 2230 would be more likely to fit. This is also assuming no modifications would need to be done to the chassis or exterior of the switch.
Alright, we’re almost there… next big hurdle would be the software side if things. Obviously there would need to be loads of adjustments done in order for a NVMe drive to even be read by the switch. This is the area I know the least about some discussion on this would be very appreciated.
Some smaller “notes” that come to mind to me are Battery Drain and Heat. It remains to be seen how much of a difference in battery life adding a SSD would be but I’m assuming it’s going to make it slightly worse. Secondly the SSD will generate heat and this would need to be dissipated properly. Again this remains to be seen how this can be mitigated. Ford idea that comes to mind is thermal pads/paste depending on where it is in the system.
Alright, Phew. That’s it for me the thread is open now, let me know if I missed anything. Please do chime in if you know something that can be helpful or have a question. That’s the ultimate goal of this is to have a open discussion and maybe learn a thing or two!
Thanks!
-D
However thanks to @evil_santa (great name BTW) through Ctcaer I learned that the Switch has a unused PCIe x4 slot. This in theory could mean that the switch could have a NVMe drive in it. If one person or a group of people put in the work to do it. The goal of this thread is to discuss what challenges and or other information may be needed for this to happen. If it is even possible.
From here on out I will be using all of my current technical knowledge to try and discuss this question. I’m going to be upfront and say I do not know everything there is to know about the switch l and I am not a huge software guy so if I miss speak or say something incorrect I am sorry and don’t mean it in a arrogant or stupid way.
So first what comes to my mind is finding this PCIe x4 connection. Obviously the switch doesn’t have a M.2 connector on it so this would be harder to find then with just a gloss over. I am not a expert on board design but I am going to go out in a limb and say that this connection or the base(s) for it anyway are close if not on the Tegra X1 itself. Obviously if things are at the molecular/silicon level then this whole thing goes out the window.
For arguments sake let’s assume that’s not the case. The next thing would be trying to get said connector into a useable M.2 slot and make sure that slot works electrically speaking. This would definitely require some soldering on someone’s part. Difficult but not impossible. (At least to my knowledge) I should also add that the required voltages for a SSD may not be able to be supplied by the Switch’s internal battery this could put the kaibosh on this whole idea too.
The next order of business would be to figure out the fitment into the Switch’s tight space. Ideally for the largest capacity a NVMe 2280 SSD would be the best but the switch is super small and a 2230 would be more likely to fit. This is also assuming no modifications would need to be done to the chassis or exterior of the switch.
Alright, we’re almost there… next big hurdle would be the software side if things. Obviously there would need to be loads of adjustments done in order for a NVMe drive to even be read by the switch. This is the area I know the least about some discussion on this would be very appreciated.
Some smaller “notes” that come to mind to me are Battery Drain and Heat. It remains to be seen how much of a difference in battery life adding a SSD would be but I’m assuming it’s going to make it slightly worse. Secondly the SSD will generate heat and this would need to be dissipated properly. Again this remains to be seen how this can be mitigated. Ford idea that comes to mind is thermal pads/paste depending on where it is in the system.
Alright, Phew. That’s it for me the thread is open now, let me know if I missed anything. Please do chime in if you know something that can be helpful or have a question. That’s the ultimate goal of this is to have a open discussion and maybe learn a thing or two!
Thanks!
-D