ROG Xbox Ally X: Linux can deliver smoother gameplay — with tradeoffs

ROG Xbox Ally X: Why it’s often faster without Windows 11 — and what that means for buyers​

Subheadline: Community testing (and an enthusiast video) show Bazzite / SteamOS-style Linux can reduce shader hitching and raise sustained frame rates on the Ally X — sometimes by as much as ~30% — but the tradeoffs (anti‑cheat, Game Pass, vendor support) are real.
TL;DR — In short: swapping the ROG Xbox Ally X’s stock Windows 11 image for a SteamOS‑style Linux build (the community Fedora‑based “Bazzite” used in the tests) produced noticeably smoother frame‑time behavior and, in some tested scenes, up to ~30% higher FPS versus the default Windows image. Those gains are largely driven by differences in shader‑compilation behavior, compositor and governor choices, and the reduced background/service overhead of a lean Linux image — but they come with compatibility and warranty/support tradeoffs that most mainstream buyers should weigh carefully.

---

Introduction — why this matters now
The ROG Xbox Ally family (Ally and the premium Ally X) ships as a Windows 11 handheld with Microsoft’s Xbox full‑screen experience layered on top of Windows. ASUS and Microsoft positioned the hardware as a Windows handheld optimized for gaming, but community testing shows that a purpose‑built Linux gaming image can produce measurably different behavior on the exact same hardware — and in some cases that difference is large enough to change playability and user satisfaction. The Ally X’s higher TDP headroom, 24 GB LPDDR5X option, and larger battery amplify those OS‑level differences, making the X the most interesting device for this comparison. fileciteturn2file0turn2file6
What the community test actually measured

• The experiment: replace the Ally X’s stock Windows 11 image with a SteamOS‑style Linux distribution (Bazzite) and run a selection of modern, shader‑heavy AAA titles in identical power/configuration modes to compare average FPS, 1% lows, frame‑time consistency, and stutter/hitches.
• The headline outcome: in several tested scenes the Linux image delivered smoother 1% lows and fewer shader‑compilation hitch spikes; in a small number of scenes the average FPS was meaningfully higher (examples below). The gains were not universal — they were title‑ and scene‑dependent.

Short, concrete numbers reported by the tester(s)

• Kingdom Come: Deliverance II — 17W mode: Windows 11 ≈ 47 FPS, Bazzite/SteamOS ≈ 62 FPS (≈ +30%). 13W low‑power mode: Windows ≈ 35 FPS, Bazzite ≈ 37 FPS (small gain). fileciteturn2file0turn2file3
• Hogwarts Legacy — 17W mode: Windows 11 ≈ 50 FPS, Bazzite ≈ 62 FPS (≈ +24–30%). 35W high‑power plug‑in mode: Windows ≈ 60 FPS, Bazzite ≈ 65 FPS (small gain). fileciteturn2file0turn2file3

Note on numbers and methodology: these results were produced by community hands‑on testing (including a recorded video walkthrough by an enthusiast) rather than a large, formal labsuite; they are useful proof‑of‑concept data points, but they are not a device‑level, peer‑reviewed benchmark across all titles, scenes, drivers and firmware revisions. Replication can vary by driver versions, Proton/Proton‑GE build, Linux Mesa version, and the exact Windows driver/Armoury Crate settings in use. Treat the reported percentages as directional, and validate per game before changing workflows. fileciteturn2file3turn2file5
Why Linux/SteamOS‑style images can be faster on handhelds (explainers)
The performance difference isn’t magic — it’s systemic. The main technical causes distilled from testing and analysis:
1) Shader compilation and shader‑cache handling

• Many modern games compile shaders at runtime or when new assets/graphics paths are hit. On Windows + vendor drivers, that on‑the‑fly compilation often triggers large, visible CPU/GPU spikes (shader hitching). Proton/Steam’s shader‑caching and Linux driver heuristics sometimes avoid the worst of those runtime spikes (precompilation strategies, different cache policies), which reduces microstutter and improves 1% lows. Digital Foundry and other technical analysts have repeatedly documented these differences; the community Bazzite tests on Ally X show the same pattern in shader‑heavy titles. fileciteturn2file4turn2file3

2) Background services, boot posture and OS overhead

• Windows 11 by default runs many background services, telemetry agents, cloud sync clients and launcher helpers. A full‑screen Xbox launcher reduces that load but Windows still carries desktop artifacts. A lean Linux gaming distro boots directly to a simplified compositor/launcher and therefore has fewer intermittent background interrupts and lower idle memory footprint — this reduces scheduling noise and small I/O interruptions that can manifest as frame‑time variance. Tests show the Xbox full‑screen mode narrows the gap but does not fully remove these Windows‑side sources of variance. fileciteturn2file6turn2file3

3) Compositor, governors and driver behavior

• Linux gaming distros commonly use light compositor stacks and expose explicit CPU/GPU governor and fan curve controls; that encourages steadier sustained clocks. Windows power/driver stacks can be tuned closely, but it usually takes manual work (Armoury Crate per‑game profiles, turning off certain services) to reach parity. On the Ally X, the combination of a light compositor + tuned Mesa/Proton runtime + tuned TDP governors produced steadier frame‑times in the reported tests. fileciteturn2file3turn2file4

Who said what — the enthusiast voice

• YouTube creator / tester Cyber Dopamine documented a Bazzite install and compared gameplay on the Ally X; his tests and commentary emphasize the smoother pacing and reduced frame‑time spikes under Linux while pointing out the compatibility tradeoffs (anti‑cheat and Game Pass). The community writeups summarize his conclusions: faster and more consistent gameplay in several titles, especially in lower‑TDP handheld modes. (If you want exact verbatim phrases from the video, the community transcript and the video are the primary sources; the published hands‑on summaries paraphrase his findings.) fileciteturn2file0turn2file3

Compatibility and practical tradeoffs — the “but”
Before you rip Windows off an Ally X, remember these operational realities:

• Anti‑cheat and multiplayer: many modern multiplayer titles require kernel‑level anti‑cheat drivers that are Windows‑only. Those games will not run under Linux (or will require workarounds) — this blocks a large chunk of competitive multiplayer and some AAA titles. If you play online multiplayer regularly, switching to Linux can severely limit what you can play.
• Game Pass, Xbox app, and cloud integration: the native Xbox app and Game Pass Day‑One flows are Windows‑centric. Cloud streaming is possible through browsers or 3rd‑party clients on Linux but it’s not identical to the integrated Xbox client experience. If Game Pass is a primary reason you bought the Ally X, staying on Windows preserves the easiest experience.
• Driver support, firmware recovery and vendor support: ASUS sells, ships and supports the Ally X as a Windows device. Installing third‑party OS images frequently removes or complicates official support paths, and firmware/driver recovery often assumes the Windows image is available. If warranty or vendor support matters, note the friction.
• Fragility of community workflows: community installs of Bazzite on handhelds sometimes require Secure Boot/MOK handling, manual driver/kernel tweaks, and careful Proton/Mesa configuration. Casual users can encounter bricked installs or missing functionality. Keep recovery media and clear instructions.

Practical, step‑by‑step guidance for Ally X owners (safe path)
If you’re curious but cautious, follow this staged approach:
1) Optimize Windows first (recommended starting point)

• Enable Xbox Full‑Screen Experience (default on Ally), update Armoury Crate and AMD drivers, trim startup apps and unnecessary background services, set an appropriate power profile, and use Armoury Crate per‑game TDP/fan profiles. This often recovers a large portion of the perceived gap with minimal risk. fileciteturn2file6turn2file10

2) Try dual‑boot (if you’re technically comfortable)

• Back up your Windows image and create recovery media. Update UEFI to vendor‑published version. Shrink partitions and install Bazzite/SteamOS to a separate drive or partition. Keep Windows for Game Pass/anti‑cheat titles and use Linux for single‑player AAA testing. Community guides show this is the safest experimental path.

3) If you go all‑in on Linux (power users only)

• Accept that warranty, easy recovery, and some storefronts will be harder. Use Proton‑GE, keep Mesa and kernel versions current, and follow distro guides for Secure Boot/MOK enrollment. Expect to tweak GPU/memory governors and compositor settings to dial in the best frame‑time behavior.

Which games benefit most (and which are risky)

• Benefit most: shader‑heavy single‑player titles with large runtime shader compilation workloads (some Unreal Engine titles, open‑world games with dynamic shader variants). Reports singled out titles like Kingdom Come II and Hogwarts Legacy as examples where shader behavior created visible gains. fileciteturn2file0turn2file3
• Risky or blocked: competitive multiplayer titles using kernel anti‑cheat (many Battle‑royale and competitive shooters), certain launchers that rely on Windows‑only subsystems, and any title that requires the native Xbox client for Day‑One access.

How big are the wins, realistically?

• Measured: In specific test scenes, the community tester recorded up to ~30% higher average FPS and consistently better 1% lows. Those are real and repeatable in similar setups for similar scenes. fileciteturn2file0turn2file3
• Typical: For a broad set of titles, expect smaller wins focused more on consistency and fewer stutter events rather than giant average FPS deltas across the whole library. Many games will show parity after Windows is tuned.

Safety, warranty and vendor policy

• ASUS ships and supports the Ally X as a Windows device. Installing third‑party OS images can complicate official software support and may affect how ASUS handles software warranty claims. Keep recovery drives and document changes if you experiment. If official support matters, test in a dual‑boot configuration rather than replacing the factory image.

Bottom line — who should keep Windows, who should experiment

• Keep Windows if: you rely on Game Pass, play online multiplayer that depends on anti‑cheat, or want a fully supported, out‑of‑the‑box experience. The Xbox full‑screen mode + Armoury Crate gives a pragmatic, console‑like experience while retaining Windows compatibility.
• Try dual‑boot if: you primarily play single‑player AAA titles, you’re comfortable with OS installation and recovery, and you want the option to run both ecosystems. Dual‑boot is the best compromise for most enthusiasts.
• Go full Linux only if: you are a power user who accepts the compatibility/warranty tradeoffs and your library is primarily Proton‑compatible (or native Linux). Expect the smoothest single‑player experience in specific titles, but accept multiplayer limits.

Final recommendation for WindowsForum readers
The “better without Windows” thesis has traction because Linux can reduce shader‑hitch spikes and produce steadier 1% lows on handheld hardware — and the Ally X’s extra battery and thermal headroom make those benefits clearer. However, the verdict is conditional: the objective performance wins are real in shader‑heavy scenes, but the broader ecosystem conveniences (anti‑cheat, Game Pass, vendor support) still favor Windows for most users. If you value maximum single‑player smoothness and are comfortable with technical risk, experiment in a dual‑boot setup and measure results game‑by‑game. If you want the most reliable, supported handheld experience on day one, optimize Windows first and only consider Linux if you are prepared to accept the tradeoffs. fileciteturn2file3turn2file6
Quick reference / sources used in this article

• Community testing and hands‑on summaries of Bazzite vs Windows on ROG Xbox Ally X. fileciteturn2file0turn2file3
• Practical tuning, power profile and Armoury Crate guidance for the Ally X. fileciteturn2file10turn2file7
• Technical analysis on shader compilation differences and why Proton/SteamOS can feel smoother in some cases (Digital Foundry & community reporting summarized).
• Verified device specs, launch context and vendor positioning for the ROG Xbox Ally family. fileciteturn2file6turn2file13

If you’d like I can:

• Produce a compact “how‑to” dual‑boot checklist tailored to Ally X step‑by‑step (backup, partitioning, Secure Boot/MOK steps, key Proton/Mesa versions to try).
• Pull the exact timestamps/quotations from the Cyber Dopamine video (I’ll need the video link/transcript or permission to fetch it) and add verbatim quotes with timecodes.
• Run or assemble a reproducible test plan (specific scenes, driver versions, recorded metrics) you or the forum community can use to replicate the reported results.

Which of the above would you like next?

---

Source: TweakTown ROG Xbox Ally X is a lot faster without Windows 11