In the competitive world of PC gaming handhelds, the ASUS ROG Ally has been a formidable contender, praised for its powerful AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor and vibrant 120Hz display. However, like many of its Windows-based rivals, it faces a constant battle: balancing high performance with decent battery life. Now, a surprising new contender is changing the game, and it’s not a piece of hardware, but a software alternative.
According to extensive testing from the popular technical YouTube channel The Phawx, the ROG Ally sees a significant performance and efficiency boost when running on Bazzite 43, a Fedora-based Linux distribution that mimics the console-like experience of SteamOS, compared to the Windows 11 operating system it ships with.
This head-to-head battle doesn't just pit Windows against Linux on the same device; it also throws the Steam Deck OLED and its optimized SteamOS into the mix, creating a fascinating three-way showdown.
The Testing Setup
To get a clear picture, The Phawx put the $599 ASUS ROG Ally through its paces with three different configurations: its native Windows 11 environment, a clean install of Bazzite 43, and a comparison with the Steam Deck OLED running the latest SteamOS 3.8. The tests focused on two demanding titles—Cyberpunk 2077 and DOOM: The Dark Ages—measuring average frame rates, critical "1% lows" (which indicate stuttering), and power efficiency.
Cyberpunk 2077: A Clear Win for Linux
The results in Night City were stark. Running at 720p using the Steam Deck preset:
- On Bazzite 43 (20W): The ROG Ally achieved an average of 38.8 FPS, with remarkably stable frame times. The 1% lows were at a very playable 31 FPS.
- On Bazzite 43 (15W): Even when power was throttled, it maintained a smooth 36.2 FPS, demonstrating exceptional power efficiency.
- On Windows 11 (20W): The same hardware managed only 32.1 FPS, with more noticeable frame drops, including 0.2% lows plunging to 22.7 FPS.
- Steam Deck OLED (15W): For context, Valve's device averaged 34.9 FPS, sitting between the two ROG Ally setups but with the smooth frame pacing Linux is known for.
The takeaway? On Bazzite, the ROG Ally wasn't just faster; it was significantly smoother and more efficient, delivering better performance even with a lower power draw.
For a deep dive into the methodology and on-screen results, check out The Phawx's full video.
DOOM: The Dark Ages: Smoothness Trumps Raw Numbers
The advantage for the Linux-based OS was repeated in the hellish landscapes of DOOM: The Dark Ages (720p, Low settings). Here, the average frame rates were closer, but the story was in the stability:
- Bazzite 43 (20W): Averaged 24 FPS with smooth and steady gameplay, as the 1% and 0.2% lows stayed close to 20-21 FPS.
- Bazzite 43 (15W): Performance barely dipped, averaging 23.8 FPS—again highlighting its intelligent power management.
- Windows 11 (20W): While the average was a slightly lower 21.5 FPS, the experience was worse. The 0.2% lows crashed to 14 FPS, causing noticeable stuttering and uneven frame pacing that isn't reflected in the average FPS number.
The Real Differentiator: Smarter Power Management
Perhaps the most compelling finding wasn't in a AAA game benchmark, but in a test with the classic platformer Celeste. The Phawx demonstrated that on Bazzite 43, the ROG Ally could automatically downclock and adjust power usage to maintain a perfect 60 FPS while drawing just over 7 watts, with no manual tweaking required.
On Windows 11, achieving a similar, stable result required a tedious process of manually adjusting CPU speeds and power limits. Even after all that effort, the gain was minimal—about 5% better efficiency at best.
The Phawx concluded that the core issue isn't raw performance potential, but how the operating systems manage resources. Linux distributions like Bazzite 43 and SteamOS are inherently better at intelligently balancing the CPU and GPU workload and power draw, leading to a smoother, more consistent gaming experience right out of the box. Windows, by contrast, tends to be less optimized for the strict power constraints of a handheld, leading to wasted energy and less stable frame rates.
What This Means for Handheld Gamers
This testing sends a clear message to the gaming community and manufacturers like Microsoft: for the handheld form factor, a lean, purpose-built OS has distinct advantages. While Windows offers unparalleled game compatibility and access to stores like Game Pass natively, it currently trades that for efficiency and smoothness.
For ROG Ally owners willing to tinker, installing a Linux distribution like Bazzite 43 appears to be a legitimate way to unlock better battery life and a smoother gaming experience, effectively closing the gap with the Steam Deck's famed optimization. The ball is now in Microsoft's court to prove it can adapt Windows to be a truly great handheld gaming OS.
Where to find the ASUS ROG Ally:
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