Doom: The Dark Ages Struggles on Handheld PC

If you're a fan of handheld gaming PCs and eagerly awaiting the release of Doom: The Dark Ages, you might be wondering how the Asus ROG Ally X handles this demanding title. Setting a minimum of 30 frames per second (fps) for playability, with an ideal target of 60fps, let's dive into whether this device can meet those expectations. While the previous installment, Doom Eternal, ran smoothly on the Ally, brace yourself for a different experience with The Dark Ages.

A Note on the Hardware

The world of PC gaming handhelds is flourishing, with the Asus ROG Ally X leading the pack. Powered by the same AMD Z1 Extreme as many top contenders, it stands out with its impressive 24GB of system memory, of which 16GB is dedicated to the GPU. Moreover, its memory operates at a speedy 7,500MHz, offering superior bandwidth crucial for the Z1 Extreme's integrated graphics. This makes the ROG Ally X the ideal candidate for testing a game as demanding as Doom: The Dark Ages, serving as a benchmark for other handhelds.

The Best Handheld Gaming PC: Asus ROG Ally X

With twice the battery life and much faster memory, the Asus ROG Ally X has positioned itself as the premier handheld gaming PC. Available at Best Buy, it's a top choice for gamers looking for the best performance on the go.

Can the Asus ROG Ally Handle Doom: The Dark Ages?

Before diving into gameplay, ensure your chipset is updated. On the ROG Ally X, this is straightforward: navigate to Armoury Crate (bottom right menu button), click the cogwheel at the top, and head to the Update Center. Update the AMD Radeon Graphics Driver if available, or check for updates to install the RC72LA update.

For testing, the Ally X was plugged into an outlet and set to Turbo Operating Mode (30W) to maximize performance. I also increased the vRAM allocation to the maximum of 4,096 megabytes in the in-game graphics menu, utilizing the device's 24GB RAM effectively.

Tests were conducted with resolution scaling disabled. Although dynamic resolution was tested, the results mirrored those at 720p due to the unattainable target frame rate, causing the game to default to 720p anyway.

Doom: The Dark Ages ROG Ally X Performance

I repeatedly played the opening section of Doom: The Dark Ages' second mission, Hebeth, to test performance under intense conditions. At 1080p, the results were dismal, with an average of 15fps on Ultra Nightmare, barely improving at lower settings. Even at Low, the frame rate was just 20fps, indicating 1080p gameplay is unfeasible across all presets.

Switching to 720p offered slightly better results, yet still fell short of ideal. Ultra Nightmare, Nightmare, and Ultra averaged 24fps, while High reached 26fps. These aren't considered playable, but they're tolerable if you're eager to experience Doom: The Dark Ages on your handheld. It was only at Medium settings at 720p that the game became playable, hitting an average of 30fps. Low settings at 720p performed even better, reaching 35fps.

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

As a dedicated fan of handheld gaming PCs and the Asus ROG Ally X, I must admit this game pushes the device beyond its limits. Achieving 30fps is only possible at Medium and Low graphics presets at 720p, highlighting the Ally X's struggle with Doom: The Dark Ages.

For Steam Deck users, the outlook isn't brighter, given its lower specifications compared to the Ally X. Playing at 800p on Low settings might barely reach 30fps, a scenario that applies to all current-generation handhelds.

However, there's hope on the horizon. The upcoming AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme chipset is expected to enhance performance in future handhelds, potentially including the Asus ROG Ally 2 and even an Xbox-branded model. These advancements could significantly improve the gaming experience for demanding titles like Doom: The Dark Ages. Stay tuned to see how these developments unfold.