If you have any of the ASUS ROG handheld gaming PCs, whether that be the new Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X or older ROG Ally and ROG Ally X, there's a chance that you aren't getting the best playing experience out of your gaming device.
Unlike a console, which is typically optimized for gaming out of the box, ASUS ROG gaming handhelds need to be tweaked after you get them, if you want the smoothest gameplay possible.
1. Change VRAM according to the kind of games you're playing
In case you aren't already aware, most PC gaming handheld systems allocate amounts of RAM specifically to graphics processing to help the device render images, store textures, and quickly access various graphics data — this allocation is known as VRAM (video random access memory).
The thing is, setting your device to an adequate VRAM allocation based on the game you're playing can help your device run games more smoothly and efficiently.
By default, the Xbox Ally and ROG Ally are set to 4GB (max 8GB) while the more powerful Xbox Ally X and ROG Ally X come out of the box with an 8GB default (16GB max).
As seen in my ROG Ally VRAM guide and my colleague's Xbox Ally VRAM guide, you can go into the Armoury Crate software and make VRAM adjustments. Just note that your device will have to restart after VRAM has been changed.
It's typically better for a device to be set at around 8GB VRAM when running more graphically intensive games if you want to get the smoothest experience. The Xbox Ally X and ROG Ally X can go up to 16GB, but this has diminishing returns that will just consume power without really giving a performance increase.
Conversely, if you're playing a simple 2D game, changing VRAM allocation to around 4GB will be enough to keep up with your needs without pulling too much power from the system.
2. Understand when to use which TDP mode
When you press the Armoury Crate button to the left of your Xbox Ally X's screen, a side menu pops up that allows you to change TDP (thermal design power) modes.
By default, each ASUS ROG handheld has four preset TDP modes, and knowing when to switch modes will help your system play better and run more efficiently.
The white ROG Ally and Xbox Ally have Windows (15W), Silent (5W), Performance (15W), and Turbo (20W) modes.
Meanwhile, the Xbox Ally X and ROG Ally X TDP is set a little higher with Silent (13W), Performance (17W), Turbo (25W), and Turbo+ (30W) modes.
If you're playing simple pixel-art graphics games, then putting the system down to Silent mode will help the battery last longer. If that doesn't seem to be enough power, then put it up to Performance mode.
Meanwhile, if you're playing a more graphically intensive AAA game, you'll want to put TDP at its max setting to help the system run smoothly. Just remember to change down to a lower TDP mode when you're done. You don't want to keep the device running at max power all the time.
3. Change Windows settings and install latest updates to get the best gaming performance
Since the Xbox Ally, Xbox Ally X, ROG Ally, and ROG Ally X are all Windows 11 handheld gaming PCs, they all have the same software bloat issues.
Thankfully, there are a few Windows settings you can change to make these devices run more efficiently. You also should make sure to upgrade your handhelds whenever possible to ensure the best performance.
There is a lot to go over here, so check out my colleague, Mauro Huculak's, in-depth guide on the 12 essential Windows 11 tweaks to supercharge your ASUS ROG handheld to see what you can do.
3. Turn on HYPR-RX to double FPS in AAA games
Many people don't know that you can greatly increase game performance on the Xbox Ally X and ROG Ally X simply by enabling AMD graphics features in a program called AMD Software. Just note that a game must be compatible with these features in order for you to see these improvements.
Here's how to enable these graphics-enhancing features:
- Use your finger to swipe up from the bottom of the screen and type "AMD Software" into the Windows search that appears.
- Note that if you're in Xbox full screen experience on the Xbox Ally X, you'll need to swipe up from the bottom and exit to Windows desktop first.
- In the Home tab, tap on the Enable button under HYPR-RX window. This will turn on a suite of AMD graphics features.
- Note that HYPR-RX features aren't available for the white Xbox Ally or ROG Ally, but you can still enable Performance features.
- If you want to further customize these graphics features, head to the Gaming tab and then the Graphics sub tab and then interact with the toggles and sliders.
One of the most notable graphics features in HYPR-RX is AFMF (AMD Fluid Motion Frames), which uses AI to generate additional frames and boost FPS (frames per second). In my experience, AFMF tends to double the amount of frames you usually see for significantly smoother gameplay.
Note: It's annoying, but HYPR-RX sometimes gets disabled when a big AMD update gets installed. So, if your handheld feels like it's being sluggish, you might need to go back into AMD Software and enable this graphics suite again.
4. Upgrade your SSD for faster speeds and larger storage capacity
Most gamers know that a solid-state drive (SSD) is where games and data are stored on a PC, so they understand that having a larger capacity is helpful for having more game files. However, some people don't realize that different SSDs offer different speeds, and this affects a handheld's performance.
The unfortunate truth is that ROG Ally and Xbox Ally handhelds don't come with very fast SSDs (Legion Go handheld SSDs are much faster), which isn't ideal since SSD speeds determine how fast a game loads, saves, or accesses data.
Because of this, I highly recommend handheld owners upgrade their internal SSDs, not only to increase storage space, but also to make their systems faster.
I've previously written a guide on how to upgrade ROG Ally and ROG Ally X SSDs, and I will be writing a similar guide for Xbox Ally handhelds as well. It's a pretty easy process. Just make sure you do everything carefully so you don't damage your device.
The ROG Ally and ROG Ally X utilize smaller 2280 NVMe drives, whereas the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X have 2230 NVMe slots, so make sure you get the right size for your device.
I've listed two options below, but there are plenty more to choose from online.
This 2TB M.2 2280 SSD offers fast read speeds of up to 7,250 MB/s and write speeds up to 6,900 MB/s to keep up with your on-the-go gaming needs. It's the correct type to fit into the new Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X handhelds.
👉See at: BestBuy.com
I've specifically installed this WD_Black SN770M SSD in both my ROG Ally and my ROG Ally X, so I can easily recommend its faster read and write speeds and larger capacity over the SSDs that come in these handhelds. .
👉See at: BestBuy.com or Amazon.com
6. The right accessories level up your gaming handheld experience
While not exactly a tweak, if there's one thing I've learned over the last few years, it's that having the right handheld accessories can seriously level up the playing experience.
These are the peripherals I specifically use with my devices and recommend to everyone:
- Tomtoc Arccos G-47 handheld bag: $44.99 at Amazon.com — Large enough to fit any handheld and several accessories.
- JSAUX 6-in-1 Dock for Xbox Ally: $29.99 at Amazon.com — One of the only TV docks that is designed with a USB-C cable that actually fits larger handhelds without straining. Pair it with an Xbox controller and your Xbox Ally X suddenly feels more like a console.
- JSAUX Screen Protector (2pk) for ROG Ally and Xbox Ally: $12.99 at Amazon.com — Your handhelds are expensive; this is a simple way to protect them.
- dbrand Killswitch Travel Case for Xbox Ally X: $79.99 BestBuy.com — This provides the slimmest protection possible and also give your handheld a kickstand.
- JSAUX ModCase for ROG Ally: $29.99 at Amazon.com — Makes your handheld easier to grip and adds a kickstand.
- Anker 20,000mAh Power Bank: $69.99 at Amazon.com — Makes it easy to charge your handheld's battery back up on the go.
- Artciety Foldable Bluetooth Keyboard: $40.99 at Amazon.com — I use this regularly to interact with certain games that need me to enter text or use a cursor.
- SanDisk 1TB Extreme microSD Card: $76.47 at Amazon — A fast and easy way to add more storage to your handheld without opening your device.
- Syntech USB-C to USB-A adapters [2-Pack]: $7.99 at Amazon — Lets me connect my USB-A accessories to my ASUS ROG handhelds.
- JSAUX 90 Degree USB-C Male to Female Adapter [2-Pack]: $7.99 at Amazon — Puts less strain on your USB-C ports and cables so they are less likely to get damaged.
You can also check out our list of the best Xbox Ally accessories or our list of the best ROG Ally accessories to get more ideas.
Make sure you're getting the most out of your handheld gaming PC
The Xbox Ally X and ROG Ally X are powerful gaming devices, given that they are portable PCs. However, they aren't set to their max potential out of the box. If you take the time to adjust VRAM and TDP based on the types of games you're playing, then you'll get a smoother and more battery-efficient experience.
Of course, making changes to Windows settings and enabling AMD graphics features will also make these devices run far more smoothly. Hopefully, you found this page helpful and are able to play your favorite games on Xbox Ally X better than before.
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