ROG Xbox Ally X Gains Major Performance Boost with New Armory Crate Features and Xbox Game Profiles
ROG Xbox Ally X Gains Major Performance Boost with New Armory Crate Features and Xbox Game Profiles
Introduction
The ROG Xbox Ally X is finally getting the performance upgrades its owners have been waiting for. Recent firmware releases from ASUS and Microsoft introduce a suite of tools that let users fine‑tune CPU cores, manage power more intelligently, and apply per‑game performance profiles directly from the Xbox ecosystem. These changes translate into smoother gameplay, better battery life, and a more console‑like experience on a handheld PC.
Major Updates Overview
Two key updates landed this week:
- Armory Crate SE 2.1.15.0 – ASUS’s device‑management utility received a substantial feature set tailored for the Ally line.
- Default Game Profiles (Preview) – Microsoft’s Xbox team added per‑game power profiles that automatically adjust TDP based on the target frame rate.
Both updates are already live and compatible with the ROG Xbox Ally, Ally X, and the standard Xbox Ally.
Armory Crate SE 2.1.15.0 – New Features
The latest Armory Crate SE build brings a host of enhancements that improve both performance and usability.
Core Management for Z2 Extreme CPUs
- The Z2 Extreme processor (3 performance cores + 5 efficiency cores) now allows users to enable or disable individual performance and efficiency cores.
- Disabling cores reduces power draw for the CPU, freeing up thermal headroom for the integrated GPU (iGPU).
- Changes require a quick reboot, after which the system reports the new core count in Task Manager.
Additional Quality‑of‑Life Improvements
- Custom key bindings to toggle full‑screen mode.
- Update notifications directly within the Command Center.
- Integration of AMD Radeon Chill into the FPS limiter, allowing smoother frame pacing.
- FPS limiter range lowered to 40‑45 fps, better matching the handheld’s variable refresh rate display (up to 120 Hz).
- Revised bottom bar UI and a Windows power‑mode selector for manual performance tuning.
These tweaks give power users more granular control while keeping the interface approachable for casual gamers.
Default Game Profiles – Xbox’s Per‑Game Power Management
Microsoft’s preview of Default Game Profiles introduces an automatic TDP adjustment system that tailors power delivery to each supported title.
- When a game’s frame rate falls below the target FPS, the profile boosts power to help reach the target, at the cost of a modest battery increase.
- If the game exceeds the target, the profile caps FPS to the desired level, conserving power.
- The system currently supports ~40 titles, including popular shooters and open‑world games such as:
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 & 7
- Call of Duty: Warzone
- Doom Eternal & Doom: The Dark Ages
- Horizon 5
- Gears 5
- Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 & 4
- Minecraft (Windows 10 edition)
- Hogwarts Legacy (handheld‑optimized)
Future updates promise to expand the library, making the feature increasingly useful for the handheld’s growing user base.
Real‑World Testing: Core Tweaking vs. Game Profiles
CPU Core Adjustment
In a side‑by‑side benchmark, the Ally X was run at 18 W TDP with two configurations:
- Full configuration – 8 cores (3 performance, 5 efficiency) – 16 threads.
- Reduced configuration – 6 cores (2 performance, 4 efficiency) – 12 threads.
Both setups delivered playable frame rates at 1080p, high settings. However, the reduced‑core mode showed iGPU clock increases of up to 400 MHz, as the freed power was redirected from idle cores to the graphics engine. This resulted in a modest but noticeable uplift in FPS for GPU‑bound titles.
Default Game Profile in Action
Testing Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 & 4 demonstrated the profile’s impact:
- Without the profile, the game ran uncapped, hovering around 59‑60 fps with power draw near 13 W.
- Enabling the profile locked the output at 60 fps and allowed the system to spike to ~16 W when heavy particle effects appeared, ensuring frame‑rate stability.
A similar test with Doom Eternal (Xbox Store version) confirmed the profile’s functionality, while the Steam version lacked the optimization, indicating current support is limited to Xbox‑distributed titles.
Compatibility Notes and Limitations
- Core disabling works at the hardware level; cores are fully disabled rather than parked, requiring a reboot each time.
- Default Game Profiles are presently limited to games launched via the Xbox app or Game Pass. Steam titles, even when the same game, do not receive the automatic profile.
- Battery savings are most evident when the profile caps FPS for less demanding games; high‑intensity titles will still draw significant power to meet performance targets.
Conclusion
The combined rollout of Armory Crate SE 2.1.15.0 and Xbox’s Default Game Profiles marks a significant step forward for the ROG Xbox Ally X ecosystem. Users now have the tools to tailor CPU core usage for optimal GPU performance and to rely on per‑game power management that keeps frame rates steady without constant manual tweaking.
As Microsoft expands the supported game library and ASUS refines core‑management workflows, the handheld is poised to deliver a more console‑like experience—smooth gameplay, efficient battery use, and a user‑friendly interface—all within a portable form factor.