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The ROG Ally seems to be a real handheld.
- Thread starter Gamezone
- Start date
Anyone thinking this tier of hardware will be less than $800 is smoking crack, it's very clear it's going to be beefy ass mobile hardware aimed at an enthusiast crowd.
Also 1080p screen at 7 inches lol, what a waste of resources, the battery life is likely going to be garbage.
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ChuckeRearmed
Member
I guess at least 800$. Even Steam Deck is sold at loss with worse specs.
Imtjnotu
Member
i hope im wrong. i wouldnt mind one but im not spending a dime over $550
ChuckeRearmed
Member
Considering that it runs Windows, I wonder if with a docking station we can make it into a portable PC.
StereoVsn
Member
Yeah, looking at latest info, I would say this will start at $800 minimum, maybe $900 and will go over $1K.
Again, look at their gaming phones or "Flow" tablets. There is no way this will be inexpensive.
jshackles
Gentlemen, we can rebuild it. We have the capability to make the world's first enhanced store. Steam will be that store. Better than it was before.
Seems cool, but I'm not sure if it'll be a worthwhile upgrade from the Steam Deck, especially since it runs Windows.
Price and performance will obviously play a huge part in this.
Price and performance will obviously play a huge part in this.
Gamezone
Gold Member
It will apparently deliver double the performance of the Steam Deck.
www.windowscentral.com
ASUS ROG Ally April Fools' joke was about a very real Steam Deck competitor
ASUS has a new handheld gaming device on the way, though it was unveiled in a confusing way.
www.windowscentral.com
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Gamezone
Gold Member
Can any third party manufacturer pick up SteamOS and use it as Valve does with the Deck?
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THE DUCK
voted poster of the decade by bots
Just watched the dave2d video on YouTube, sure made it sound like asus plans to make the device competitive with steam deck price wise. Makes me more interested for sure. Said they said "very competitive pricing".
Screen looks nice, and it's much quieter.
If its really 2x the power of the Steam Deck that's a huge jump.
Screen looks nice, and it's much quieter.
If its really 2x the power of the Steam Deck that's a huge jump.
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jshackles
Gentlemen, we can rebuild it. We have the capability to make the world's first enhanced store. Steam will be that store. Better than it was before.
Technically, yes. However - currently the public build of Steam OS is the "old" / not Steam-Deck version that uses the old broken Big Picture Mode screen, that's based on Debian 8.
SteamOS
store.steampowered.com
SteamOS 3 "holo" (which is used by the Steam Deck) is not publicly available at this time, and uses some proprietary closed source applications and drivers that currently only run on the Steam Deck. Since it uses Arch Linux as it's base (and the Steam application itself is closed source, but freely available to download) there have been attempts to make a pre-built Arch ISO that's pre-configured to run as close to the Steam Deck setup as possible. This is by far the most popular implementation:
GitHub - holoiso-eol/holoiso: SteamOS 3 (Holo) archiso configuration
SteamOS 3 (Holo) archiso configuration. Contribute to holoiso-eol/holoiso development by creating an account on GitHub.
github.com
It's fine if it's just users doing it - I doubt Valve cares. But if a big company like ASUS came out trying to Frankenstein something like this using proprietary software onto a device that was directly competing with them, they might not like that too much from a legal standpoint.
It's all in the wrist
Member
These things are going to be a dime a dozen. Its a hot new form factor. There are already multiple different models more powerful than the steam deck, and they will release with the frequency of laptops.
You want the steam deck for the support and the OS. My assumption is that the deck will last longer because there is often an effort to get the games to run on that specific hardware.
You want the steam deck for the support and the OS. My assumption is that the deck will last longer because there is often an effort to get the games to run on that specific hardware.
THE DUCK
voted poster of the decade by bots
Technically, yes. However - currently the public build of Steam OS is the "old" / not Steam-Deck version that uses the old broken Big Picture Mode screen, that's based on Debian 8.
SteamOS
SteamOS 3 "holo" (which is used by the Steam Deck) is not publicly available at this time, and uses some proprietary closed source applications and drivers that currently only run on the Steam Deck. Since it uses Arch Linux as it's base (and the Steam application itself is closed source, but freely available to download) there have been attempts to make a pre-built Arch ISO that's pre-configured to run as close to the Steam Deck setup as possible. This is by far the most popular implementation:
GitHub - holoiso-eol/holoiso: SteamOS 3 (Holo) archiso configuration
SteamOS 3 (Holo) archiso configuration. Contribute to holoiso-eol/holoiso development by creating an account on GitHub.
It's fine if it's just users doing it - I doubt Valve cares. But if a big company like ASUS came out trying to Frankenstein something like this using proprietary software onto a device that was directly competing with them, they might not like that too much from a legal standpoint.
Wouldn't valve actually be happy? It drives more people to the Steam store......
That said this unit seems to be actively promoting that it supports multiple stores, so they seem to have thier own custom front end. This might be more attractive to people with a big epic gamed library or uses gamepass pc a lot.
ToTTenTranz
Banned
That dual-fan tells me this thing could operate the SoC at 28W. If it uses the Ryzen 7 7840U we should expect the following specs:
- 8-core Zen4 ~3.2GHz base up to 5GHz boost. Deck is 4-core 2.4-3.5GHz)
- 12CU RDNA3 @ 2.7GHz, up to 4.15 TFLOPs (yes, this is more than the Series S) or 8.3 TFLOPs if we count with the double-pumped ALUs. The Deck is 8CUs @ 1.6GHz, 1.6TFLOPs.
It seems to me the only reason this ROG Ally isn't well over 2x faster than the Deck is memory bandwidth that only grew 36% from 128bit 5500MT/s to 7500MT/s. At the same time there's twice the number of CPU cores, though those are getting twice the L2 and L3 per core so those cores can probably do more tasks without going to the system memory.
Dave2D speculated $600, because Asus told him the price was "very competitive".
Truth be told, it's a windows PC with a single Phoenix SoC and a tiny screen. If it's Asus with their access to high-volume production, high-volume part orders and distribution channels, there's no big reason for this to cost much more than that.
I another interesting thing about a Phoenix-based handheld with windows is that it can truly double as a PC when connected to a monitor, keyboard and mouse. It already has a faster CPU than either of the current-gen consoles.
The only thing I don't like about those insides is the 2230 M.2 slot. Here's hoping the final revision will have the means to insert a regular and drastically cheaper 2280 M.2.
- 8-core Zen4 ~3.2GHz base up to 5GHz boost. Deck is 4-core 2.4-3.5GHz)
- 12CU RDNA3 @ 2.7GHz, up to 4.15 TFLOPs (yes, this is more than the Series S) or 8.3 TFLOPs if we count with the double-pumped ALUs. The Deck is 8CUs @ 1.6GHz, 1.6TFLOPs.
It seems to me the only reason this ROG Ally isn't well over 2x faster than the Deck is memory bandwidth that only grew 36% from 128bit 5500MT/s to 7500MT/s. At the same time there's twice the number of CPU cores, though those are getting twice the L2 and L3 per core so those cores can probably do more tasks without going to the system memory.
Dave2D speculated $600, because Asus told him the price was "very competitive".
Truth be told, it's a windows PC with a single Phoenix SoC and a tiny screen. If it's Asus with their access to high-volume production, high-volume part orders and distribution channels, there's no big reason for this to cost much more than that.
I another interesting thing about a Phoenix-based handheld with windows is that it can truly double as a PC when connected to a monitor, keyboard and mouse. It already has a faster CPU than either of the current-gen consoles.
The only thing I don't like about those insides is the 2230 M.2 slot. Here's hoping the final revision will have the means to insert a regular and drastically cheaper 2280 M.2.
jshackles
Gentlemen, we can rebuild it. We have the capability to make the world's first enhanced store. Steam will be that store. Better than it was before.
Maybe, but if it were me and my company I would take umbrage for a few reasons:
- It would be a competing company using my proprietary software to directly compete with my hardware offering - potentially stealing hardware sales from me.
- It may put undue pressure on Valve support staff - having to take on additional support tickets for a software running on a hardware device that is outside of Valve's control.
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THE DUCK
voted poster of the decade by bots
Perhaps, I don't have a link but I swear valve had an interview at one point saying they welcome steam deck units from other manufacturers using thier os......
I wonder if it will in the real world running Windows vs Steam Deck optimized games running on SteamOS.
HeisenbergFX4
Gold Member
StereoVsn
Member
Yeah, if it’s sold in normal channels with proper support, 2x Deck performance, and under $800… I would probably grab it.
Topher
Gold Member
I guess if it were my company, the first question I would have is do I care if I'm not making money on the hardware? At $399 base model, I'm guessing Valve does not make a profit on Steam Deck. If Valve makes their stuff open source and freely available, they also have no obligation to provide support. Of course, they can provide support for a fee. Basically this is the Google model, isn't it? In the place of ad sales is Steam commission. Not sure why Valve should care if Asus or any other company is using their software when ultimately Valve is the primary one selling the games. But there is probably more to it than we realize since Valve doesn't seem to be in a hurry to go down this road. Perhaps, you are correct and this is about being able to provide support. Not sure.
01011001
Banned
twice the performance of the Deck?
are we talking raw TFLOP numbers or measured framerate
if it's TFLOPs we are talking ~3TF GPU
Topher
Gold Member
twice the performance of the Deck?
are we talking raw TFLOP numbers or measured framerate
if it's TFLOPs we are talking ~3TF GPU
Maybe that's why they don't want to talk about battery life? That's a RDNA 3 APU that is really close to XSS in TF. Of course, it could just be marketing where some guy takes a single spec that is double and applies it to the entire system. Who knows?
I'm intrigued either way. I'm curious how long it is from a prototype to full production. Perhaps a fall 2024 release?
Bruno_Arrais85
Member
Proper support from Asus? yikes
Black_Stride
do not tempt fate do not contrain Wonder Woman's thighs do not do not
Its another Linux Distro and is freely available to anyone, manufacturers included.
Silver Wattle
Gold Member
Why does it have dual fans for an APU?
Topher
Gold Member
Doesn’t the piping spread the heat from the APU out to the fans?
01011001
Banned
yes, but at this point it would not be ideal I think.
we are reaching a point where these handhelds can actually use raytracing reasonably well, and SteamOS/Proton does not support raytracing so far.
I bet this ROG handheld can play Doom Eternal at 60fps with RT enabled for example, Spider-Man at 30fps + RT should also be no issue
DaGwaphics
Member
This seems more like the power level you'd need to ensure you could get through the gen with the device. SteamDeck doesn't appear to be quite powerful enough for that. Hopefully we get more info soon.
Sleepwalker
Member
If it has the build quality of the couple asus laptops ive had in the past I'm skipping this lol.
With that said, it does look kinda cool I guess.
With that said, it does look kinda cool I guess.
chromhound
Member
Confirm Real
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DaGwaphics
Member
The strange moment when you realize your announcement timing maybe isn't that good, aka when you have to reiterate that the product isn't an April Fool's joke. 
StereoVsn
Member
I mean, compared to current crop of Chinese handhelds...yeah.
I have had to RMA couple motherboards from them before, and it wasn't too bad.
Mr Hyde
Gold Member
The strange moment when you realize your announcement timing maybe isn't that good, aka when you have to reiterate that the product isn't an April Fool's joke.
Very strange marketing indeed. Like who the fuck signed off on this? Never seen anything like it before, it comes off as stupid to the point it actually hurts the product. Hopefully this doesn't follow the device around, with people needed to be reminded that it's not a joke. Not a good look here on ASUS marketing department imo. I also hope ROG ally is not the final name on it. Stupid and cringe.
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SmokedMeat
Gamer™
Confirm Real
Damn, that is one good looking handheld.
jshackles
Gentlemen, we can rebuild it. We have the capability to make the world's first enhanced store. Steam will be that store. Better than it was before.
One of the reasons I'm surprised as hell that this is a real thing. Like "how can they be so dumb to initially announce this as an April Fools joke"?
onnextflix5
Member
needs steam os, or no point, as windows on these handhelds are terrible
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supernova8
Banned
Performance is one of the reasons I still didn't take the plunge with the Steam Deck. If this device can do 1080p at, say, medium settings and still hit 60 on a lot of modern-ish games, it's suddenly a viable option even for hooking it up to my 1080p monitor.
In terms of pricing, I think it depends on what they really mean when they say "competitively priced". Competitive relative to what? Those AYA NEO deck clones with 6800U APUs are a lot more than the Deck, so we could be easily looking at $700 or more.
I honestly might get this.
In terms of pricing, I think it depends on what they really mean when they say "competitively priced". Competitive relative to what? Those AYA NEO deck clones with 6800U APUs are a lot more than the Deck, so we could be easily looking at $700 or more.
I honestly might get this.
Yes but with a caveat - you can only use ASUS's XG Mobile eGPU thing since the device has proprietary connector. Great performance sure but if you're looking for a cheaper eGPU setup (say, with an RTX 3060) you're out of luck unless ASUS decides to make one.
Topher
Gold Member
All planned, I think. April Fool's Day ad that generates conversation and hype.
Will really depend on how well Asus is able to integrate Armoury Crate into the games. I would prefer Steam OS as well but Windows also provides access to Game Pass which is only available on Steam Deck via streaming so there are some trade offs.
Valve really needs to open up Steam OS for other vendors.
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Topher
Gold Member
Yeah, the proprietary connector sucks. If eGPUs are ever to become a real possibility for most then the external PCIe connector needs to be standardized.
ToTTenTranz
Banned
If it's really just a PCIe 8x bus then it should be relatively easy to build an adapter similar to those oculink we see out there.
EDIT: yup, that's probably it:
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Topher
Gold Member
From what I've read on this since I own an Asus Flow Z13 tablet/laptop with the same connector, Asus has modified the pin layout from standard in their implementation.
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