ROG Xbox Ally X runs faster on Linux than Windows, early testing reveals

[Shawn Knight]

In brief: Microsoft's wallet-busting ROG Xbox Ally X has finally arrived, and it didn't take long for the community to start digging into the handheld. While a recent teardown has shown the device to be built for repairability, a new analysis of the system's core operating system isn't quite as favorable.

YouTuber Cyber Dopamine managed to replace the version of Windows that ships on the Ally X with Bazzite, a Linux distribution purpose-built for handhelds that uses Steam's Big Picture Mode for its launcher. Early impressions are incredibly promising, and makes you wonder if Windows is the best fit for the handheld.

The Bazzite-equipped Ally X generated a consistent 62 frames per second in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 compared to just 47 FPS on Windows. In Hogwarts Legacy in 17W power mode, the Linux system again ran the game at 62 FPS versus just 50 FPS with Microsoft's OS. At 35 watts, the delta between the two was a bit smaller: 60 FPS in Windows and 65 FPS with Linux. In low power mode (13W), the difference between the two was just one frame (38 FPS Windows / 37 FPS Linux), but in favor of Windows.

Also worth mentioning as part of the performance discussion is stability. With Windows, Cyber Dopamine noted that frame rates jumped erratically – say from 58 FPS to 52 FPS then dip to 39 FPS before climbing again. Conversely, running games with Bazzite resulted in a much smoother experience without all the dramatic peaks and valleys.

Microsoft launched the Asus-built handheld on October 16 in two variants. The standard ROG Xbox Ally includes 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage, and will set you back $599.99. The Ally X bumps the memory up to 24 GB and the storage to 1 TB, but will ding your wallet for $999.99.

What are your thoughts on the ROG Ally and Ally X? I'm tempted to delve back into PC gaming after a long layoff but I'm not sure I could get past the steep cost of entry here.

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ROG Xbox Ally X runs faster on Linux than Windows, early testing reveals

 

[WhiteLeaff]

In handhelds, every watt counts, and Windows bloatware consumes resources, obviously. Also, the open source AMD driver for Linux has much more active development than on Windows.

 

[m4a4]

...Is anyone still surprised? Assuming the version of Win11 has a handheld mode, it isn't matured and the OS still has that general-purpose (and compatibility) bloat.

 

[Eldrach]

Well - I think we're just seeing the start. I think Microsoft is going to make an OS for the new Xbox that will also run on handhelds in the future.
I'm guessing gamepass doesn't work in Bazzite?

 

[Billybobjoey]

Well - I think we're just seeing the start. I think Microsoft is going to make an OS for the new Xbox that will also run on handhelds in the future.
I'm guessing gamepass doesn't work in Bazzite?

If you want to be technical, you can stream it through a web browser

Really though, I don't think Microsoft will ever be able to de-bloat Windows enough that'll be on the level of Linux. At least, not enough that the higher ups won't get mad about not getting enough telemetry data or AI usage.

 

[Eldrach]

If you want to be technical, you can stream it through a web browser

Really though, I don't think Microsoft will ever be able to de-bloat Windows enough that'll be on the level of Linux. At least, not enough that the higher ups won't get mad about not getting enough telemetry data or AI usage.

You might be right - but also, I don't think they enjoy the fact that their bloaty ware is getting slaughtered in performance - Hopefully that will turn into an Xbox OS at some point..who knows

 

[Starfals]

W11 is bad, nothing new really. We all know it.

 

[mgilbert]

W11 is bad, nothing new really. We all know it.

Been running W11 since its release, both for work and home, running complex audio production applications, extensive spreadsheets, and AAA games. I've never had a problem with it. Sure, it's needless bloated, a bit disjointed, and more complex than it needs to be, but it does work flawlessly. I miss Windows 7.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

You might be right - but also, I don't think they enjoy the fact that their bloaty ware is getting slaughtered in performance - Hopefully that will turn into an Xbox OS at some point..who knows

I doubt MS cares that much. The total PC handheld market is dwarfed by even the series X sales. That's why they eventually just slapped the xbox name on a ROG ally and called it a day.

If you want to be technical, you can stream it through a web browser

Really though, I don't think Microsoft will ever be able to de-bloat Windows enough that'll be on the level of Linux. At least, not enough that the higher ups won't get mad about not getting enough telemetry data or AI usage.

They could, we have LTSC 11 that is significantly pared down, and xbox OS itself is technically windows 11 under the hood.

But the vast majority of their userbase will just use 11 as is or debloat it themselves. There's not much incentive for them to put effort into it.

 

[Watzupken]

The bloat on Windows is intentional, so it is not because Microsoft cannot debloat the OS. All they will do is to reduce priority of some background activities to free up resources. I feel the current Windows OS is designed for data farming and pushing Microsoft’s agenda. Compared to an OS designed mainly for gaming, it’s unlikely for Microsoft to have any solution to the performance delta. I am sure even in a more gaming centric OS used on the Xbox, Microsoft will include all the AI bloat once the hardware is ready.

 

[TheBigT42]

If you want to be technical, you can stream it through a web browser

Really though, I don't think Microsoft will ever be able to de-bloat Windows enough that'll be on the level of Linux. At least, not enough that the higher ups won't get mad about not getting enough telemetry data or AI usage.

Fixed it: "I don't think Microsoft will ever de-bloat Windows"

 

[TheBigT42]

I doubt MS cares that much. The total PC handheld market is dwarfed by even the series X sales. That's why they eventually just slapped the xbox name on a ROG ally and called it a day.
They could, we have LTSC 11 that is significantly pared down, and xbox OS itself is technically windows 11 under the hood.

But the vast majority of their userbase will just use 11 as is or debloat it themselves. There's not much incentive for them to put effort into it.

Take a look at 11 IOT LTSC. That is what windows should look like....But still, I am not going to run any ver of 11 on any of my personal computers.