The Tegra X1 SoC in the Nintendo Switch was originally intended for various uses like Android set top boxes and automotive applications, with a focus on video encode and decode capabilities. The Tegra X1’s video engine surpasses desktop Maxwell’s in certain aspects, and requires custom software support from Nvidia. Testing showed that the Tegra X1 can handle H264 decoding well but lags behind in terms of NVENC bitrate efficiency compared to desktop Maxwell. The Tegra X1 also boasts strong HEVC support, matching desktop Maxwell’s quality while excelling in speed. Nvidia’s decision to develop a unique video block for the Tegra X1 instead of reusing Maxwell’s is surprising but results in competitive compression efficiency with Intel’s HD 530.
https://chipsandcheese.com/2024/06/28/examining-the-nintendo-switch-tegra-x1-video-engine/