The performance story mainly comes from ASUS’s November 2025 software update—not a universal 2026 speed boost. Armoury Crate SE 2.1.15.0 added smarter frame limiting, Radeon Chill integration and, on the ROG Xbox Ally X model RC73XA, CPU core controls that can give the GPU more power and thermal headroom. Later April–May 2026 updates focused more on Xbox integration, docking, game libraries, shaders, haptics and Auto SR.
Some third-party tests reported gains of roughly 15–20% in selected games, including an approximately 18% Forza Horizon 5 result at 18 W on the Ally X. Those figures are conditional test results, not an ASUS guarantee for every ROG Ally.
At a glance: what each Ally gets
| Model | Documented benefits |
|---|---|
| Original ROG Ally | Armoury Crate improvements, Radeon Chill integrated into the FPS Limiter and revised frame-cap behavior. |
| ROG Ally X | The same software and limiter improvements. The cited ASUS changelog does not document the P-core/E-core control for this model. |
| ROG Xbox Ally | Xbox Default Game Profiles, plus later Xbox-focused library, docking and haptics improvements where supported. |
| ROG Xbox Ally X | Default Game Profiles, the model-specific P-core/E-core controls on RC73XA, later docking and shader features, and ASUS-described NPU-powered Auto SR support in compatible situations. |
ASUS said the November 18, 2025 Armoury Crate SE 2.1.15.0 rollout covered the original ROG Ally, ROG Ally X, ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X. The exact features still depend on the model, firmware and software build. See the ASUS November 2025 changelog.
Why can disabling CPU cores improve gaming performance?
The ROG Xbox Ally X RC73XA includes a setting for controlling its performance and efficiency CPU cores. Parking or disabling selected cores can leave more of the handheld’s fixed power and thermal budget available to the integrated Radeon GPU. That can help a GPU-limited game at a set wattage.
#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.
It is not a hardware upgrade and it will not help every workload. CPU-heavy games, emulation, games with substantial simulation demands and background-heavy tasks may gain little or perform worse when fewer cores are available. Treat the option as a per-game tuning tool, not a universal turbo mode.
A report from Gizmochina, citing ETA PRIME testing, described roughly 15–20% gains in selected scenarios and an approximately 18% improvement in Forza Horizon 5 at 18 W on the Ally X when CPU cores were parked. The result should be read alongside its exact game, power limit, drivers, BIOS, resolution, graphics settings, frame cap and power-source conditions. It does not establish that every Ally—or every game on the Ally X—will be 18% faster. Gizmochina’s report is the source for those third-party figures.
Default Game Profiles are automatic compromises, not a global performance boost
Xbox introduced Default Game Profiles in preview for 40 supported games. When a supported game launches in battery mode, its profile can choose a recommended power target and FPS limit.
- If the game misses its target, the profile may allow more power to pursue it.
- If the game exceeds its target, the profile can cap the frame rate to reduce unnecessary rendering and battery drain.
- The feature can be enabled or disabled from the Armoury Crate Command Center Game Bar widget.
That means battery life is not guaranteed to improve in every game. A profile may consume more power when it is trying to reach a target the handheld cannot otherwise sustain. Manual TDP settings can also compete with or be overridden by automated behavior, so compare both approaches in the games you actually play. Xbox’s original explanation is available in its November 2025 update announcement.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →What changed in the FPS limiter?
ASUS integrated AMD Radeon Chill behavior into Armoury Crate’s FPS Limiter and changed the listed 45 FPS option to 40 FPS. The aim is to better match the Ally family’s 120 Hz display and avoid rendering frames the player may not need.
Do not stack several limiters without checking the result. A game’s own cap, Armoury Crate’s FPS Limiter, Radeon Chill and VRR can interact. If frame pacing feels uneven, test with only one active limiter at a time, then compare average FPS, frame times and input feel.
What the later 2026 updates added
The April–May 2026 releases are a continuation of the software story rather than the source of the original “15–20% faster” claim.
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.
- Armoury Crate SE 2.2.6.0: revised Settings navigation, added an Apps tab to the Game Library and removed the old Media Gallery in favor of the Xbox Game Bar media experience.
- Xbox Ally haptics: optional enhanced vibration was added for the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X.
- Docking and library improvements: Xbox announced improved docked play and collective library features.
- Advanced Shader Delivery: supported games can download precompiled shaders, potentially reducing first-launch compilation work and improving initial smoothness.
- Auto SR preview: Xbox described an upscaling feature for supported DirectX 11 and DirectX 12 games. ASUS specifically associates the NPU-powered capability with the ROG Xbox Ally X, so it should not be generalized to the original Ally or Ally X.
Read the ASUS May 2026 changelog and Xbox’s April 30, 2026 announcement for the documented feature scope.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallHow to install the updates
ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X
- Open Game Bar.
- Open the Settings widget and choose More Settings.
- Open Windows Settings, then Windows Update.
- Install available updates and restart when prompted.
- Open Command Center and select Open Armoury Crate SE.
- Choose Update Center, select Check for Updates, then choose Update All.
These steps follow Xbox’s official Ally setup guidance.
Original ROG Ally and ROG Ally X
Run Windows Update, then open Armoury Crate SE and use Update Center to check for updates. Install BIOS, firmware and component updates only through Armoury Crate SE, MyASUS or the appropriate official ASUS support page. Keep the handheld connected to power and do not force it off during a BIOS or firmware installation.
If an update does not appear, restart the device, check Windows Update again and then return to Armoury Crate SE’s Update Center. Rollouts can be staged.
How to test whether your Ally is actually faster
Use a controlled comparison instead of relying on a headline percentage:
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →- Use the same game, save area or benchmark and graphics preset.
- Keep resolution, upscaling, BIOS, graphics driver and wattage unchanged.
- Compare plugged-in with plugged-in, or battery with battery.
- Use the same frame cap and disable competing limiters.
- Record average FPS, frame-time consistency, temperature, fan noise and battery drain.
- On a supported Xbox Ally, repeat the test with Default Game Profiles on and off.
- On the RC73XA, compare the core-control setting in a GPU-limited game and a CPU-limited game.
A higher average FPS is not automatically a better experience if frame pacing, latency, noise or battery life gets worse.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshooting the common problems
The new option is missing
Check the exact model identifier first. The P-core/E-core control documented by ASUS is restricted to the ROG Xbox Ally X RC73XA. It is not a general ROG Ally setting.
Rank #3
- [Superior Display] 7" IPS FHD (1920x1080) 120Hz Touchscreen Display; Wi-Fi 6E MT7922, Bluetooth 5.4, No Fingerprint
- [Powerful Performance] 2nd Gen Ryzen Z2 A 2.80GHz Processor (upto 3.8 GHz, 4MB Cache, 4-Cores, 8-Threads, ); AMD Radeon shared Integrated Graphics
- [High Speed and Multitasking] 16GB OnBoard RAM; 65W PSU, Type-C Power-In, 4-Cell 60 WHr Battery; White Color
- [Enormous Storage] 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD; 2 USB 3.2 Type-C, Micro SD Reader, Headphone/Microphone Combo Jack, Windows 11 Home-64, 1 Year Manufacturer warranty from GreatPriceTech (Professionally upgraded by GreatPriceTech)
- [Includes] Dockztorm 11-in-1 RGB Docking Station for ROG Xbox Ally/ROG Ally X/ROG Ally, it combines 10 physical ports with RGB lighting: HDMI, RJ45, USB-C host, USB-C 10Gbps, USB-A ports, PD input, plus SD/TF slots—built to expand your ROG Ally setup for gaming, networking, and accessories
Default Game Profiles do nothing
The game must be supported, and Xbox’s feature description specifies battery-mode behavior. Profiles may not activate while plugged in or in an unsupported title.
Battery life got worse
A profile can increase power when a game falls below its target. Disable Default Game Profiles and compare it with a manually selected power mode.
Performance or frame pacing is inconsistent
Turn off competing automatic controls and test one limiter at a time. Check the game’s cap, Armoury Crate’s FPS Limiter, Radeon Chill and VRR rather than changing all of them at once.
An external display still flickers
Update Windows, Armoury Crate SE, graphics drivers and the relevant GameVisual component. Then test the dock, cable and display mode separately—mirroring, extending and docked output can expose different problems.
Should you update?
Yes, in normal circumstances. The updates add useful software controls and fixes, and Xbox Ally owners gain the most visible ecosystem improvements. Just do not expect the update to transform every Ally into a faster device.
Use Default Game Profiles if you want less manual tuning and accept automated power and frame-rate decisions. Use manual settings if you need predictable latency, consistent frame pacing or precise control over a custom TDP profile. The performance case is strongest for specific games—and, for CPU-core tuning, specifically the ROG Xbox Ally X RC73XA.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsQuick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
