Ally X vs. Steam Deck: SteamOS Performance Showdown
Figures are rolling in and they are interesting, especially for the ASUS ROG Ally X. The release of SteamOS 3.8 on non-Steam Deck hardware is official. We are now seeing mind-boggling performance numbers.
SteamOS 3.8 Unleashes ROG Ally X Potential
Tech reviewer ETA Prime recently tested the ROG Ally X with the new SteamOS. The findings are telling. Both the ROG Ally X and the Steam Deck were limited to the same 15W TDP. The Ally X consistently pulled ahead. These are not marginal wins. In some cases, the performance margin was large.
Powering Performance: Benchmarks at 15W TDP
ETA Prime conducted gaming tests at 15W TDP. Here are specific examples:
- Cyberpunk 2077: Ally X achieved around 53 FPS versus Steam Deck's 44 FPS. This is roughly a 20% performance boost.
- Black Myth: Wukong: Ally X showed approximately a 12% performance advantage.
- Shadow of the Tomb Raider: ASUS handheld demonstrated about a 10% performance advantage.
The more potent hardware in the ROG Ally X performs strongly in the optimized SteamOS environment. This is evident even when power is matched with the Steam Deck.
Unlocking More Power with SimpleDeckyTDP
SteamOS 3.8 on Ally X idles at about 18W out of the box. It lacks simple power limit controls. However, the "SimpleDeckyTDP" plugin solves this. This utility unlocks the Ally X full power range. It can now idle between 4W and 40W.
Specific benchmarks at 40W were not detailed. However, imagine the potential performance increase. Higher power could mean significantly higher frame rates. Smooth 60 FPS gaming in many games becomes more attainable. Upscaling techniques could further enhance this.
Room for Optimization
Is it perfect yet? Not entirely. Some games, especially those not officially announced for Steam Deck, may need tuning. Monster Hunter Wilds was one example during testing. However, this is a strong start.
Dramatic improvement is already apparent. This shows SteamOS efficiency and the ROG Ally X hardware power. The larger 80Wh battery in Ally X combined with SteamOS offers an appealing blend of performance and playtime.
The Future of Handheld Gaming
This is positive development. Future performance on newer handhelds with AMD Strix Point or Intel Lunar Lake processors will be exciting to observe. Handheld gaming is becoming more compelling.
