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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsYes—Starfield runs on the ROG Ally, but the Ryzen Z1 Extreme model is the one to target and a capped 30 FPS experience is the realistic goal. In an early-September 2023 hands-on test of the original Z1 Extreme Ally, open areas reached about 40 FPS, cities were usually below 35 FPS, and demanding scenes dipped to 27–28 FPS. The tester found 720p low-to-medium settings steadier than 1080p and recommended a 30 FPS cap. Those figures are useful guidance, not a current 2026 benchmark of every Ally model.
Quick answer
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Does it launch? | Yes on the Ryzen Z1 Extreme Ally. |
| Is it playable? | Yes, with reduced settings and upscaling. |
| Best target | A consistent 30 FPS. |
| Best resolution | 720p for stability; 1080p output with FSR 2 for a sharper image. |
| Locked 60 FPS? | No reliable basis for expecting it. |
| Best-supported models | Original Z1 Extreme and Ally X 2024. |
| Base Ryzen Z1 | Do not assume it matches Z1 Extreme performance. |
The hands-on results come from the original ROG Ally running in plugged-in Turbo mode. Cities and other busy areas were substantially harder to run than open terrain, so a peak number from an easy scene should not be treated as the game’s normal frame rate.
Which ROG Ally model do you have?
“ROG Ally” covers several different Windows handhelds. ASUS lists the 2023 model with either a Ryzen Z1 or Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, 16 GB of memory and a 512 GB SSD configuration. The Z1 Extreme is the configuration behind the strongest available Starfield hands-on evidence. See the ASUS ROG Ally 2023 specifications.
| Model | What can be said about Starfield |
|---|---|
| Original Ally, Ryzen Z1 Extreme | Proven playable in the cited test at reduced settings, with a 30 FPS target. |
| Original Ally, Ryzen Z1 | A separate, weaker configuration. No controlled Z1-versus-Z1 Extreme result is established here; start conservatively at 720p low. |
| ROG Ally X 2024 | Uses the same Ryzen Z1 Extreme class, plus 24 GB LPDDR5X, an 80 Wh battery and a larger 2280 SSD design. It is a better overall package, but a major FPS increase is not established. |
| ROG Xbox Ally X 2025 | A separate device using Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme. Do not reuse older Z1 Extreme measurements as its benchmark. |
Specifications for the Ally X are listed by ASUS here, and the ROG Xbox Ally X 2025 is documented here. ASUS also warns that performance varies with drivers and configuration.
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#1 Best Overall
- [Xbox experience brought to life by ROG] : The Xbox gaming legacy meets ROG's decades of premium hardware design in the ROG Xbox Ally. Boot straight into the Xbox experience just like a console.
- [Xbox Game Bar integration] : Launch Game Bar with a tap of the Xbox button or play your favorite titles natively from platforms like Xbox Game Pass, Steam, Epic Games, or Windows games on the go.
- [All your games, all your progress]: Powered by Windows 11, the ROG Xbox Ally gives you access to your full library of PC games from Xbox and other game stores. With Xbox Play Anywhere, you can pick up right where you left off on your PC or Xbox and jump back into the game anytime.
- [Never stop gaming]: Powered by ultra-efficient AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor, the ROG Xbox Ally offers console-caliber performance and can game for hours, even away from a wall outlet.
- [Game-ready storage and fast memory]: Store your full library and multitask seamlessly with 512GB SSD and 16GB of LPDDR5 6400MHz RAM. The ROG Xbox Ally makes playing any game in the palm of your hand possible.
What performance should you expect?
The September 2023 test of the original Z1 Extreme Ally reported approximately:
- Open areas: around 40 FPS.
- Cities: rarely above 35 FPS.
- Heavy city scenes: occasional dips to about 27–28 FPS.
- Recommended target: cap the game at 30 FPS for steadier pacing.
The tester had not completed the entire game, so these are early-game observations rather than a full modern benchmark. The report found 1080p low with FSR 2 playable but subject to city dips, while 720p low-to-medium was more stable. Read the complete test at SteamDeckHQ.
Recommended settings for a stable 30 FPS
720p stability profile
- Connect the Ally to AC power.
- Select Turbo mode; the tested baseline used plugged-in 30 W operation with 65 W power delivery.
- Set the game to 1280×720.
- Choose the Low preset and enable FSR 2.
- In Armoury Crate, set the FPS limiter to 30 FPS before launching the game.
- After testing busy settlements, raise individual settings to Medium only if frame pacing remains acceptable.
720p gives the Z1 Extreme more headroom and can make small interface text softer on the seven-inch display. That is the central trade-off: smoother play versus a less crisp image.
1080p-output profile
- Set the display output to 1920×1080.
- Keep the in-game preset at Low and enable FSR 2.
- Start around a 90% render-resolution scale.
- If cities fall too far below the target, test 80%, then 75%.
- Keep the 30 FPS limiter enabled and leave FreeSync/VRR on when available.
This is 1080p output, not native 1080p rendering at high quality. The Ally’s 1920×1080, 120 Hz FreeSync Premium panel can smooth fluctuations, but VRR cannot create additional performance. ASUS documents the limiter and display controls in its ROG Ally support guide.
Rank #2
- [Xbox experience brought to life by ROG] : The Xbox gaming legacy meets ROG's decades of premium hardware design in the ROG Xbox Ally. Boot straight into the Xbox experience just like a console.
- [Xbox Game Bar integration] : Launch Game Bar with a tap of the Xbox button or play your favorite titles natively from platforms like Xbox Game Pass, Steam, Epic Games, or Windows games on the go.
- [All your games, all your progress]: Powered by Windows 11, the ROG Xbox Ally gives you access to your full library of PC games from Xbox and other game stores. With Xbox Play Anywhere, you can pick up right where you left off on your PC or Xbox and jump back into the game anytime.
- [Never stop gaming]: Powered by ultra-efficient AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor, the ROG Xbox Ally offers console-caliber performance and can game for hours, even away from a wall outlet.
- [Game-ready storage and fast memory]: Store your full library and multitask seamlessly with 1TB SSD and 16GB of LPDDR5 6400MHz RAM. The ROG Xbox Ally makes playing any game in the palm of your hand possible.
Using Radeon Super Resolution instead
FSR 2 is the simplest first choice because it is integrated into Starfield. If you prefer driver-level upscaling, ASUS’s RSR path is:
- Enable RSR in the Ally’s Command Center.
- Set Starfield to 720p.
- Let the driver upscale the 720p image toward 1080p.
RSR does not affect a game set to 1080p, so do not enable it while also expecting a 1080p in-game resolution. Avoid stacking multiple upscalers unless you are deliberately comparing image quality.
Before troubleshooting, fix the common bottlenecks
Bethesda’s official PC guidance recommends this order:
- Install the game on an internal or suitable NVMe SSD, not a hard drive.
- Update AMD graphics drivers, Windows, BIOS and Armoury Crate as applicable.
- Use a high-performance power profile and connect the charger.
- Confirm the expected GPU/APU is selected.
- Disable Steam Overlay if using Steam, or turn off Xbox Game Bar in Windows Start → Settings → Gaming → Xbox Game Bar.
- Verify the installation: use Steam’s file-verification command for Steam, or the Xbox App’s repair/verification options for a Microsoft installation.
- If launch or performance problems persist, check antivirus exclusions and repair DirectX files.
- Try a new Windows user profile only after the other steps fail.
Full instructions, including separate Steam and Xbox App paths, are in Bethesda’s support article.
Rank #3
- Play All Your Games – The ROG Ally supports all Windows-compatible games across platforms such as Steam, Xbox Game Pass, Epic, GOG, and more.
- 90-Day Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Included - Play Minecraft Legends and hundreds of PC games on the ROG Ally with 3 months of Game Pass. With games added all the time, there’s always something new to play. *Terms apply.
- Play the Way You Want – Embrace versatility with the ROG Ally. Game on-the-go with handheld mode, or share the fun with friends and family by hooking it up to your TV and connecting multiple controllers.
- Incredible Power – Equipped with AMD’s Z1 APU with RDNA 3 graphics and 2.8 TFLOPs, the Ally makes playing any game on the palm of your hand possible.
- Stunningly Beautiful Visuals – On the Ally, games are crisp and clear thanks to its 7” Full HD touchscreen display with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate and AMD FreeSync Premium technology.
Steam and Xbox/Game Pass PC versions
The Ally runs Windows 11, so either storefront is relevant. Steam uses Steam’s overlay and file-verification menus; the Xbox or Game Pass PC route uses the Xbox app and Microsoft Gaming Services. There is no established basis here for claiming that one storefront inherently delivers higher FPS on the same Ally. Troubleshoot through the launcher you actually installed.
Original Ally versus Ally X
The Ally X 2024 adds 24 GB of LPDDR5X memory, an 80 Wh battery, 1 TB or 2 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe options and a more accessible M.2 2280 design while retaining the Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor family. Those changes matter for battery life, storage and memory headroom. They do not, by themselves, prove a dramatic Starfield frame-rate advantage over an original Z1 Extreme Ally, so buy the X for the broader hardware package rather than a promised FPS jump.
Is the base Ryzen Z1 good enough?
The base Z1 is not covered by the strongest hands-on result, and it should not be assumed equivalent to the Z1 Extreme. If you already own one, begin at 720p Low with FSR 2, plugged-in power and a 30 FPS cap. If you are buying specifically for Starfield, the Z1 Extreme is the evidence-backed choice; the base model only makes sense if you accept that performance may require more compromises.
When an Ally is—and is not—the right purchase
It makes sense if you:
- Accept a tuned 30 FPS experience.
- Prioritize portability over high or ultra 1080p quality.
- Already own, or plan to buy, a Z1 Extreme model.
- Usually play near a charger and want Windows access to Steam, mods and Xbox PC/Game Pass.
Look elsewhere if you:
- Require a locked 60 FPS.
- Expect high settings at native 1080p.
- Primarily play unplugged and dislike the battery demands of a heavy game.
- Want a console-like experience with no resolution, upscaling or power adjustments.
Bottom line
If you already own a Ryzen Z1 Extreme ROG Ally, Starfield is worth trying: use plugged-in Turbo mode, Low settings, FSR 2 and a 30 FPS cap. Choose 720p when consistency matters most, or 1080p output with reduced render scale when you prefer a sharper presentation. The Ally X is the more comfortable long-session device, not a guaranteed faster one. Do not buy the base Z1—or any Ally—expecting desktop-quality 1080p at 60 FPS.
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