The battle for the soul of your gaming handheld is heating up, and the results might surprise you. The newly launched Asus ROG Ally X, armed with the powerful Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, is being hailed as a proper next-gen portable PC. But while it ships with Windows 11, a growing number of tech enthusiasts are discovering that its true potential might be unlocked by an alternative, Linux-based operating system called Bazzite. Fresh testing from a prominent YouTuber reveals that the ROG Ally X can deliver a staggering performance uplift of up to 32% in certain games when running Bazzite OS compared to the default Windows 11 environment.
What is Bazzite OS? The SteamOS Alternative You Need to Know
Before diving into the numbers, let's address the elephant in the room: what exactly is Bazzite OS? For those deeply embedded in the handheld PC community, it's a name that's becoming impossible to ignore. Bazzite is an open-source, Fedora-based Linux distribution that is meticulously designed to offer a console-like experience, heavily inspired by Valve's SteamOS on the Steam Deck.
Its core strength lies in its user-friendly interface and deep optimization for gaming, handling everything from controller input to system-level game suspension with a level of seamlessness that Windows has historically struggled to match on handheld form factors. It's not just an OS; it's a tailored experience for gamers who want to pick up and play without fiddling with desktop modes.
The Suspension Test: A Tale of Two Experiences
The comparison, conducted by the YouTube channel Cyber Dopamine, starts with a feature that is crucial for any portable device: suspend and resume. The ability to instantly jump back into a game exactly where you left off is a hallmark of modern consoles and a key quality-of-life feature.
As you might expect, this is where Bazzite OS immediately shines. The system demonstrated a near-instantaneous resume from suspension, dropping the user right back into the action. Windows 11, on the other hand, showed its desktop roots, taking noticeably longer to wake up and re-sync the game, breaking the immersion of a quick gaming session.
The Raw Performance Numbers: Bazzite OS Pushes More Frames
But the real meat of the comparison lies in the framerate tests. Cyber Dopamine put the ROG Ally X through its paces with two demanding titles: the recently released and graphically intense Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and the open-world wonder of Hogwarts Legacy. The tests were conducted at various power modes to simulate different battery life and performance scenarios.
Game 1: Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
- At 17W Mode:
Windows 11: 47 FPS (Average)
- Bazzite OS: 62 FPS (Average)
- Performance Uplift: A massive 32% on Bazzite OS.
- At 13W Mode:
Windows 11: 35 FPS (Average)
- Bazzite OS: 37 FPS (Average)
- Performance Uplift: A smaller, but still present, 6% gain for Bazzite.
The results here are undeniable. For a game as demanding as Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, the efficiency of Bazzite OS translates directly into a much smoother gaming experience, especially in the 17W mode where the performance gap is most dramatic.
Game 2: Hogwarts Legacy
- At 50W Turbo Mode:
Windows 11: 50 FPS (Average)
- Bazzite OS: 62 FPS (Average)
- Performance Uplift: A significant 24% on Bazzite OS.
- At 35W Performance Mode:
Windows 11: 60 FPS (Average)
- Bazzite OS: 65 FPS (Average)
- At 13W Silent Mode:
Windows 11: 38 FPS (Average)
- Bazzite OS: 37 FPS (Average)
In Hogwarts Legacy, the trend continues, with Bazzite OS maintaining a clear lead in the higher power modes. Interestingly, at the lowest 13W power draw, the two operating systems are essentially neck-and-neck, suggesting that the performance benefits of Bazzite become more pronounced as the hardware is allowed to stretch its legs.
For a deeper dive into all the tests and visual proof, be sure to check out the full comparison video from Cyber Dopamine right here
Beyond Raw FPS: The Battery Life and Stability Factor
While the framerate boosts are headline-grabbing, Cyber Dopamine also hints at other critical advantages for Bazzite OS. The lightweight nature of the Linux-based system often leads to less background overhead, which can translate to improved battery life—a holy grail for any handheld gamer. Furthermore, users often report improved system stability and a more consistent gaming experience without the background updates and telemetry that can sometimes plague Windows.
The Final Verdict: A Compelling Alternative Emerges
So, what does this all mean for an ROG Ally X owner? Windows 11 still holds the crown for sheer compatibility, offering native access to stores like the Xbox App and Game Pass PC without any workarounds. It's the plug-and-play option for the mainstream user.
However, for the tinkerer, the performance enthusiast, or the gamer who values a console-like "it just works" experience, Bazzite OS has emerged as a shockingly powerful contender. With demonstrated performance uplifts of up to 32%, superior suspend/resume functionality, and potential gains in battery life, it's an alternative that can no longer be dismissed as a niche project.
The Asus ROG Ally X is a beast of a machine, and it seems that to unleash its full potential, you might just need to look beyond Windows.
Want to experience the power of the ROG Ally X for yourself? You can check the latest price and availability on Amazon.
What are your thoughts on using Linux-based OS like Bazzite on gaming handhelds? Let us know in the comments below!
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