Linux on the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X: A Glimpse into a Smoother Gaming Experience, With Caveats
The quest for the ultimate portable gaming experience is a relentless pursuit, and the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X, with its Windows 11 optimized for gaming, is the latest contender. However, the allure of Linux, particularly the SteamOS-inspired Bazzite distribution, beckons for those seeking an even more fluid and console-like feel. Renowned tech vlogger Dawid Does Tech Stuff took up the challenge, installing Bazzite on the Ally X to see if it could indeed eclipse its Windows counterpart.
The experiment aimed to ascertain whether a different software platform could unlock superior performance and a more intuitive user interface for the portable powerhouse. It’s no secret that Linux, exemplified by SteamOS, has influenced Microsoft’s approach to Windows gaming, with Valve's collaboration with Lenovo on the Legion Go S further underscoring the platform's potential.
The Installation Journey: Bumps in the Road
The path to Linux nirvana wasn't entirely smooth. Dawid encountered his first hurdle when Bazzite’s installation failed to format the Ally X’s SSD, a roadblock attributed to BitLocker encryption. A quick deactivation and a subsequent partitioning of the drive for a dual-boot setup paved the way for the installation to proceed.
Upon the initial boot-up, the device's controllers remained unresponsive, a common teething problem. Thankfully, after a few minutes, they began to register, albeit partially. Certain crucial buttons, including the menu, were initially inactive. Dawid ingeniously circumvented this by leveraging the Steam interface to remap the buttons manually, a testament to the flexibility of the Linux ecosystem.
A Taste of Responsiveness: The Linux Advantage
Despite the initial control quirks, the immediate impression was overwhelmingly positive. The system exhibited a remarkable leap in responsiveness; menus sprang open instantaneously, button presses registered without a hint of delay, and navigation felt significantly more fluid. It was as if the device had shed a layer of cognitive burden, as Dawid eloquently put it, “it felt like I had cleaned its brain of cement.”
However, this newfound swiftness came at a cost. Certain hardware functionalities, such as the vibrant RGB lighting and the granular power modes, along with the integration of Asus's proprietary Armoury Crate software, ceased to function entirely. This highlights the ongoing challenge of achieving full hardware parity with Linux on consumer devices.
Performance Benchmarks: Cyberpunk and Beyond
To quantify the performance gains, Dawid put the ROG Ally X through its paces with demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Shadow of Mordor. In Cyberpunk 2077, initial performance metrics were elusive until the installation of the MangoHUD utility. Post-setup, the game presented a marginally smoother experience, characterized by reduced input lag and a noticeable uptick in frame rates compared to its Windows 11 performance. While not a revolution, the improvements were tangible.
The results for Shadow of Mordor were more subdued, with Linux offering no significant advantage in raw graphical horsepower. Nevertheless, the overall interface speed and responsiveness within the game were demonstrably superior. Intriguingly, a subsequent reboot saw the controllers once again become unresponsive, only to spontaneously revive the following day, with the RGB lighting inexplicably returning to life.
The Verdict: Promising, But Not Quite There Yet
Dawid’s experiment ultimately concluded that, at present, installing Bazzite on the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X is a challenging endeavor that may not yet justify the effort for the average user. The Bazzite distribution, while built on the solid foundation of Fedora and inspired by the elegance of SteamOS, requires further optimization to seamlessly integrate with the specific hardware nuances of the newer Xbox-branded devices.
For those eager to explore this avenue, a period of patience is recommended. The Asus ROG Xbox Ally X is still a fresh piece of hardware, and the vibrant Linux development community is actively working to bridge compatibility gaps. As more time passes and the devices become more ubiquitous, we can anticipate more polished and stable Linux experiences for portable PC gaming.
Comments (0)
There are no comments for now