Doom: The Dark Ages Struggles on Handheld Gaming PC

Doom: The Dark Ages has finally arrived, and if you're a handheld gaming PC enthusiast like myself, you're probably eager to know if the Asus ROG Ally X can handle this latest installment. Aiming for a minimum of 30 frames per second (fps) for a playable experience, with an ideal target of 60fps, let's dive into the performance details.

While the previous game in the series, Doom Eternal, ran exceptionally well on the Ally, don't expect the same performance with The Dark Ages. Here's why:

A Note on the Hardware

Handheld gaming PCs are more diverse than ever, and the Asus ROG Ally X stands at the forefront. Equipped with the AMD Z1 Extreme, it boasts a significant advantage: 24GB of system memory, with 16GB allocated to the GPU. This memory operates at a swift 7,500MHz, providing faster memory bandwidth crucial for the integrated graphics. This makes the ROG Ally X the ideal candidate to test Doom: The Dark Ages, pushing the boundaries of what current handhelds can achieve.

The Best Handheld Gaming PC### Asus Asus ROG Ally X

7With double the battery life and enhanced memory speed, the Asus ROG Ally X has solidified its position as the top handheld gaming PC on the market. See it at Best Buy.

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

Before you start playing Doom: The Dark Ages, ensure your chipset is updated. On the ROG Ally X, this is straightforward: Open Armoury Crate, click the cogwheel, and navigate to the Update Center. Look for the AMD Radeon Graphics Driver update, and if it's not visible, select Check for Updates. Once the RC72LA update is available, choose Update All.

For optimal performance, I plugged the Ally X into an outlet and used the Turbo Operating Mode (30W). I also set the Texture Pool Size in the game's graphics menu to the maximum of 4,096 megabytes, leveraging the ample 24GB of RAM (16GB usable) even at the highest settings.

All tests were conducted with resolution scaling disabled. I tested various graphics presets with dynamic resolution, but the results mirrored those at 720p, as the target frame rate was unattainable, causing the dynamic resolution to default to 720p.

Doom: The Dark Ages ROG Ally X Performance

For these tests, I repeatedly played the opening section of the second mission, Hebeth, as it immediately immerses the player in intense action, challenging the hardware with its effects and particles. The results were surprising.

At 1080p, Doom: The Dark Ages on the Ally X was unplayable, averaging just 15fps on Ultra Nightmare. Lower presets barely improved performance, with Nightmare, Ultra, and High averaging 16fps, and Medium at 17fps. Only the Low preset at 1080p managed 20fps, but it's still not smooth enough for a comfortable experience.

At 720p, the game performed better, but not ideally. Ultra Nightmare, Nightmare, and Ultra averaged 24fps, while High reached 26fps. These frame rates are not what I'd call playable, but they're bearable if you're desperate to play on a handheld. It wasn't until I dropped to Medium at 720p that the game became playable, hitting 30fps. Low settings at 720p were even better, averaging 35fps.

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

As much as I love handheld gaming PCs and my Asus ROG Ally X, it's clear they don't have the power to handle Doom: The Dark Ages effectively. If 30fps is your minimum for playability, you're limited to the Medium and Low graphics presets at 720p.

Steam Deck users will face similar challenges, as its specs are less powerful than the Ally X. You'll likely be restricted to 800p resolution on Low graphics to achieve 30fps, a scenario that applies to all current-generation handhelds.

However, hope is on the horizon. The next generation of mobile chipsets, such as the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme, expected later this year, may change the game. Leaks suggest this chipset could power the Asus ROG Ally 2, and there are even rumors of an Xbox-branded model. We'll need to wait and see how these new devices handle demanding titles like Doom: The Dark Ages.