Doom: Dark Ages Hits PC Performance Snag

Doom: The Dark Ages has arrived, and if you're passionate about handheld gaming PCs like me, you're likely curious whether the Asus ROG Ally X can run it smoothly. While I consider 30fps the minimum threshold for playability, achieving higher frame rates—especially 60fps—would be ideal, though perhaps overly optimistic for such a demanding title.

Doom Eternal famously performed exceptionally well on the Ally, but temper your expectations—The Dark Ages delivers significantly heavier performance demands.

Understanding the Hardware Specs

The handheld gaming PC market offers diverse options, but the Asus ROG Ally X currently leads the pack. While it shares the AMD Z1 Extreme processor with competitors, its standout feature is an impressive 24GB RAM configuration—with 16GB dedicated to GPU usage by default. More crucially, its memory operates at blazing-fast 7,500MHz speeds, delivering superior bandwidth that enhances the Z1 Extreme's integrated graphics performance.

The Ally X represents the optimal testing platform for Doom: The Dark Ages, serving as a benchmark for whether current-generation handhelds can handle modern AAA titles. Until next-gen devices arrive later this year, it effectively sets the performance ceiling for portable gaming.

Asus ROG Ally X

With its doubled battery capacity and enhanced memory performance, the Asus ROG Ally X claims its position as the premier handheld gaming PC currently available.

Testing Doom: The Dark Ages on ROG Ally X

Before diving in, ensure your device runs the latest AMD Radeon Graphics Driver (RC72LA). Access this through Armoury Crate's Update Center for optimal performance.

All tests utilized Turbo Mode (30W) with maximum vRAM allocation (4,096MB) while plugged into power. Since dynamic resolution scaling consistently defaulted to 720p in testing, we focused on direct resolution comparisons.

The testing methodology involved replaying an intensive combat sequence from the game's second mission. Performance at 1080p proved unsatisfactory across all presets—even Low settings only reached 20fps. At 720p, only Medium and Low presets achieved playable frame rates (30fps and 35fps respectively).

Current Hardware Limitations

While the ROG Ally X represents the pinnacle of handheld gaming power today, it's clearly outmatched by Doom: The Dark Ages' demands. Steam Deck owners will face even greater challenges given its comparatively modest specifications.

The imminent arrival of next-generation hardware—potentially including an AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme-powered ROG Ally 2—may finally bridge this performance gap. Until then, handheld enthusiasts will need to compromise significantly or consider alternative platforms.