Doom: The Dark Ages has arrived, and handheld gaming PC enthusiasts face a key question: Can the Asus ROG Ally X deliver playable performance? Setting 30fps as the minimum viable target (with 60fps being ideal but unlikely for this demanding title), we put this premium handheld through its paces.
A Note on the Hardware
While current PC handhelds share similar AMD Z1 Extreme processors, the ROG Ally X stands apart with its substantial 24GB RAM (16GB allocated to GPU) running at blazing-fast 7,500MHz speeds. This memory advantage creates optimal conditions for testing Doom: The Dark Ages – establishing performance benchmarks that weaker handhelds will struggle to match until next-generation models arrive.
Asus ROG Ally X
With double the battery capacity and superior memory speed, the Asus ROG Ally X currently leads the handheld PC market.
Performance Testing Methodology
After updating to the latest AMD graphics driver (RC72LA), we conducted tests with maximum vRAM allocation (4,096MB) while plugged into power using Turbo Mode (30W). Testing focused on the intensive second mission (Hebeth) using native resolutions with scaling disabled.
| Preset | 1080p | 720p |
|---|---|---|
| Ultra Nightmare | 15fps | 24fps |
| Nightmare | 16fps | 24fps |
| Ultra | 16fps | 24fps |
| High | 16fps | 26fps |
| Medium | 17fps | 30fps |
| Low | 20fps | 35fps |
The Verdict
Doom: The Dark Ages pushes current-gen handhelds beyond their limits. While technically playable at Medium/Low settings (720p/30fps), performance falls far short of expectations. The Steam Deck and other handhelds face even greater challenges.
Hope lies with next-gen hardware like the rumored AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme-powered ROG Ally 2 – potentially offering the muscle needed for demanding titles like this. Until then, players seeking optimal performance should consider alternative platforms.
