If you're a fan of intense gaming experiences and own an Asus ROG Ally X, you're probably eager to dive into the latest installment of the Doom series, Doom: The Dark Ages. But before you get too excited, it's important to set realistic expectations, especially when aiming for a smooth gameplay experience at a minimum of 30 frames per second (fps), with 60fps being the dream scenario for such a demanding title.

In the vibrant world of handheld gaming PCs, the Asus ROG Ally X stands out as a top contender. It's powered by the AMD Z1 Extreme, a processor shared by many of its peers, but what sets it apart is its robust 24GB of system memory, with 16GB dedicated to the GPU. This memory operates at a blazing 7,500MHz, providing the crucial memory bandwidth needed for the integrated graphics to perform at their best.

This makes the ROG Ally X an ideal candidate for testing Doom: The Dark Ages. Its advanced specifications serve as a benchmark for how well current handhelds can handle the game's demanding requirements. As games continue to push the boundaries of technology, the Ally X will be a critical gauge for whether other, less powerful handhelds can keep up—until the next wave of handhelds arrives later this year.

The Best Handheld Gaming PC### Asus Asus ROG Ally X

7With its doubled battery life and significantly faster memory, the Asus ROG Ally X has solidified its position as the premier handheld gaming PC available. Check it out at Best Buy.Can the Asus ROG Ally Handle Doom: The Dark Ages?

Before embarking on your Doom adventure, ensure your ROG Ally X is up to date. Updating is straightforward: navigate to Armoury Crate (accessible from the bottom right menu button), click the cogwheel at the top, and head to the Update Center. Look for the AMD Radeon Graphics Driver update. If it's not listed, hit 'Check for Updates'. When the RC72LA update appears, select 'Update All'.

For optimal performance, I tested the Ally X while plugged in, using Turbo Operating Mode (30W). I also maximized the vRAM allocation for Texture Pool Size in the in-game graphics menu to 4,096 megabytes, a significant jump from the default 2,048, leveraging the Ally X's generous 24GB of RAM (16GB usable) even at the highest Ultra Nightmare settings.

All tests were conducted with resolution scaling disabled. While I tested dynamic resolution, the results mirrored those at 720p due to the game's inability to reach the target frame rate, causing dynamic resolution to default to 720p anyway.

Doom: The Dark Ages ROG Ally X PerformanceUltra Nightmare, 1080p15fpsUltra Nightmare, 720p24fpsNightmare, 1080p16fpsNightmare, 720p24fpsUltra, 1080p16fpsUltra, 720p24fpsHigh, 1080p16fpsHigh, 720p26fpsMedium, 1080p17fpsMedium, 720p30fpsLow, 1080p20fpsLow, 720p35fpsFor testing, I repeatedly played the opening sequence of the second mission, Hebeth, in Doom: The Dark Ages. This section immediately immerses players in action, challenging the hardware with intense effects and particles. The results were eye-opening.

Running Doom: The Dark Ages at 1080p on the Ally X was a struggle. At Ultra Nightmare, the game averaged a dismal 15fps, rendering it unplayable. Lowering the settings to Nightmare, Ultra, and High barely improved the situation, with an average of 16fps, while Medium settings offered only a slight bump to 17fps. Even at Low settings, the game managed just 20fps, which still falls short of a smooth experience. Achieving 1080p is simply not feasible across any graphics preset.

Switching to 720p showed some improvement, though still not up to par. Ultra Nightmare, Nightmare, and Ultra settings hovered around 24fps, with High settings slightly better at 26fps. These frame rates are barely playable, suitable perhaps for die-hard fans desperate to experience Doom: The Dark Ages on their handheld. It wasn't until I set the game to Medium at 720p that it became playable, hitting the 30fps mark. Dropping to Low settings yielded a more satisfactory 35fps.

Asus ROG Ally X Isn’t Ready for Doom: The Dark Ages

Despite my love for handheld gaming PCs and the Asus ROG Ally X, it's clear that the current hardware falls short for Doom: The Dark Ages. The Ally X's performance with this game is underwhelming. To achieve the minimum playable frame rate of 30fps, you're limited to the Medium and Low graphics presets at 720p.

For Steam Deck users, the outlook is even grimmer, given its less powerful specs compared to the Ally X. If the Asus handheld struggles, the Steam Deck will likely only manage 30fps at its 800p resolution on Low graphics settings, a scenario that applies to all current-generation handhelds.

However, there's a glimmer of hope on the horizon. With the upcoming release of the next generation of mobile chipsets, such as the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme expected to be featured in devices like the Asus ROG Ally 2 and possibly an Xbox-branded model, we may see significant improvements. Only time will tell how well these future handhelds will handle demanding titles like Doom: The Dark Ages.