Steam Decks vs Rog Ally

[Mr Jt (Gog is king)]

If you like handheld pcs and you already own a steam deck(or if you are interested into buying a handheld device) are you actually interested in the new asus rog ally? If you don’t have a deck which one would you buy?
The Rog ally actually has a 1080 p screen and 120hz refresh screen. It’s also comes with windows which is kinda meh but since it’s a pc you can install linux on it

[The Everlasting Stillness ☯]

Would never get the Ally, because the performance difference is nowhere near enough to justify its price, which is 800 euro, or 860 dollars for me. For reference, my 256GB Deck was 549 euro with tax. You can get a 512 gig card for something like 45 euro on sale, A1 class. The 512gb model which is mostly pointless is still 679 euro.
The Deck being so dirt cheap compared to what it can do is why it was such a good deal. Not saying the Ally is bad, because it is a good device, but I already have a very good PC and the Deck is plenty for anything and everything I want to do on the go. Plus having the dock makes it a completely full-fledged PC with even more possibilities. I am very happy with my Deck.

[Boblin the Goblin]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Sweezy Go-Go-Nuts:

Would never get the Ally, because the performance difference is nowhere near enough to justify its price, which is 800 euro, or 860 dollars for me. For reference, my 256GB Deck was 549 euro with tax. You can get a 512 gig card for something like 45 euro on sale, A1 class. The 512gb model which is mostly pointless is still 679 euro.
The Deck being so dirt cheap compared to what it can do is why it was such a good deal. Not saying the Ally is bad, because it is a good device, but I already have a very good PC and the Deck is plenty for anything and everything I want to do on the go. Plus having the dock makes it a completely full-fledged PC with even more possibilities. I am very happy with my Deck.

I'm hoping the Ally doesn't set a trend of just raw power over optimization.

While the Deck doesn't have the raw power, with it's OS being built around optimization of it's hardware. It is able to do things that, on paper, its hardware shouldn't be able to do as well as it does.

[The Everlasting Stillness ☯]

Początkowo opublikowane przez SlowMango:

Początkowo opublikowane przez Sweezy Go-Go-Nuts:

Would never get the Ally, because the performance difference is nowhere near enough to justify its price, which is 800 euro, or 860 dollars for me. For reference, my 256GB Deck was 549 euro with tax. You can get a 512 gig card for something like 45 euro on sale, A1 class. The 512gb model which is mostly pointless is still 679 euro.
The Deck being so dirt cheap compared to what it can do is why it was such a good deal. Not saying the Ally is bad, because it is a good device, but I already have a very good PC and the Deck is plenty for anything and everything I want to do on the go. Plus having the dock makes it a completely full-fledged PC with even more possibilities. I am very happy with my Deck.

I'm hoping the Ally doesn't set a trend of just raw power over optimization.

While the Deck doesn't have the raw power, with it's OS being built around optimization of it's hardware. It is able to do things that, on paper, its hardware shouldn't be able to do as well as it does.

Exactly, and it also pretty much single-handedly made Linux an almost entirely hassle-free gaming experience. I really want to move away from Windows full time and it’s finally very much in reach. Valve’s software magic really is something, and having the “ecosystem” bonus with your local pc and such is a very welcome addition.
Throwing raw power at a problem is what’s really killing PC gaming right now in general. It is a huge issue.
By the way, you probably know of this, but to whoever doesn’t, CryoUtilities offers an even greater experience on Deck with very few, if any, drawbacks. Check it out here.
https://github.com/CryoByte33/steam-deck-utilities/blob/main/docs/tweak-explanation.md

[Mr.Gold]

Początkowo opublikowane przez SlowMango:

Początkowo opublikowane przez Sweezy Go-Go-Nuts:

Would never get the Ally, because the performance difference is nowhere near enough to justify its price, which is 800 euro, or 860 dollars for me. For reference, my 256GB Deck was 549 euro with tax. You can get a 512 gig card for something like 45 euro on sale, A1 class. The 512gb model which is mostly pointless is still 679 euro.
The Deck being so dirt cheap compared to what it can do is why it was such a good deal. Not saying the Ally is bad, because it is a good device, but I already have a very good PC and the Deck is plenty for anything and everything I want to do on the go. Plus having the dock makes it a completely full-fledged PC with even more possibilities. I am very happy with my Deck.

I'm hoping the Ally doesn't set a trend of just raw power over optimization.

While the Deck doesn't have the raw power, with it's OS being built around optimization of it's hardware. It is able to do things that, on paper, its hardware shouldn't be able to do as well as it does.

That is a point I think needs to be made over and over again. Because next year 8th gen APUs are coming and they are even more performant. When I got the deck and reading Valve's plans for it I was really happy. At last we have some sanity on the PC Market. Finally we can get hardware that is guaranteed to last and break away from the yearly/biyearly upgrade cycle. Finally someone is telling devs "here is your baseline. Run your games here on 800p native and then scale up". And all these other handhelds miss the point. So next year, more unoptimized ports, ally is no longer satisfactory, am I stuck forking out another 7 or 800 bucks to upgrade?

[WarnerCK]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Sweezy Go-Go-Nuts:

it also pretty much single-handedly made Linux an almost entirely hassle-free gaming experience.

Not really. It's got Linux on from the manufacturer, as you'd get from Dell, System 76, Tuxedo, or wherever. The A/B update system is OK (and you can get the same from other immutable distros) but isn't without its downsides. Proton has been part of Linux Steam everywhere for five years, gamescope has been available elsewhere for years. SteamOS isn't that special; Linux has been fine for ages, but people didn't notice until the Deck made people try it.

[Drak3]

Początkowo opublikowane przez SlowMango:

I'm hoping the Ally doesn't set a trend of just raw power over optimization.

It won’t. Aya, GPD, AOKZOE, and a few other handheld makers have been on that trend for a few years now.

[The Everlasting Stillness ☯]

Początkowo opublikowane przez WarnerCK:

Początkowo opublikowane przez Sweezy Go-Go-Nuts:

it also pretty much single-handedly made Linux an almost entirely hassle-free gaming experience.

Not really. It's got Linux on from the manufacturer, as you'd get from Dell, System 76, Tuxedo, or wherever. The A/B update system is OK (and you can get the same from other immutable distros) but isn't without its downsides. Proton has been part of Linux Steam everywhere for five years, gamescope has been available elsewhere for years. SteamOS isn't that special; Linux has been fine for ages, but people didn't notice until the Deck made people try it.

Yes, the Deck made it extremely easy to use and let people try it with almost no knowledge required. Proton as a whole might have been an option for a long time, but this neat little package was not. That’s what I meant. Many people that had zero knowledge of linux can now see that it’s a fairly viable alternative to windows at this point. I didn’t claim it’s perfect, of course it is not… but then again windows is about as far from perfect as you can be, so..

[Mr.Gold]

Początkowo opublikowane przez WarnerCK:

Początkowo opublikowane przez Sweezy Go-Go-Nuts:

it also pretty much single-handedly made Linux an almost entirely hassle-free gaming experience.

Not really. It's got Linux on from the manufacturer, as you'd get from Dell, System 76, Tuxedo, or wherever. The A/B update system is OK (and you can get the same from other immutable distros) but isn't without its downsides. Proton has been part of Linux Steam everywhere for five years, gamescope has been available elsewhere for years. SteamOS isn't that special; Linux has been fine for ages, but people didn't notice until the Deck made people try it.

Although that is true and even for gaming when wine had a major release in 2013 or so it was a big improvement, Steam Deck popularized Linux in a scale not seen before imho. One in 4 linux users on Steam are using the deck. And that is set to increase as the deck seems to be selling really well (not surprising with the ammount of free advertising).

[ToysRsus]

Początkowo opublikowane przez @R+5:

Początkowo opublikowane przez ToysRsus:

SteamOS has very little to do with a classic Linux distribution. It's much closer to Android or ChromeOS.

Actually it doesnt. its based in arch, so its closer to manjaro kde, which is also a linux os. chrome os is closer to firefox os, in relation to business model and purpose, and so is android; but comparing those to a desktop linux os like steam os, or anything else, is misleading. steam os could be considered a sort of "enhanced" desktop os, because its meant to take advantage of the hardware of steam deck, but only for that reason. the update process is also different to the approach of any mobile os.

1. SteamOS is not a desktop system, because you could just leave the desktop out. There would then simply be no desktop mode. Most users will never use it anyway. The desktop is not an essential part of the system.

2. SteamOS uses Arch the way ChromeOS uses Gentoo Linux. Valve could have used Gentoo for SteamOS as well. Valve could also switch to another distribution at any time. The system is frozen and does not change. It basically doesn't matter which distribution you use for building an immutable OS.

3, Just like ChromeOS and Android SteamOS is an immutable OS. Anything you install outside of flatpak will be wiped with the next SteamOS update.

[[?]legit]

Początkowo opublikowane przez SlowMango:

Początkowo opublikowane przez Sweezy Go-Go-Nuts:

Would never get the Ally, because the performance difference is nowhere near enough to justify its price, which is 800 euro, or 860 dollars for me. For reference, my 256GB Deck was 549 euro with tax. You can get a 512 gig card for something like 45 euro on sale, A1 class. The 512gb model which is mostly pointless is still 679 euro.
The Deck being so dirt cheap compared to what it can do is why it was such a good deal. Not saying the Ally is bad, because it is a good device, but I already have a very good PC and the Deck is plenty for anything and everything I want to do on the go. Plus having the dock makes it a completely full-fledged PC with even more possibilities. I am very happy with my Deck.

I'm hoping the Ally doesn't set a trend of just raw power over optimization.

While the Deck doesn't have the raw power, with it's OS being built around optimization of it's hardware. It is able to do things that, on paper, its hardware shouldn't be able to do as well as it does.

What optimization are you talking about? Almost no PC games are optimized for the deck. Steam OS relies on proton which is basically just a windows emulator. Again, where is anything optimized on the deck?

[KripTed]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Drak3:

Początkowo opublikowane przez KripTed:

The ROG ally is a huge stepping stone in terms of PC portable handheld devices. Just wish they made it in black.

Only in price. Otherwise the AOKZOE A1 Pro and GPD Win Max 2 (7840U version) both are a leg up on the Ally.

Początkowo opublikowane przez KripTed:

What’s sad is that, STEAM is a company which is based on PC for gamers, yet it lacks functions and features PC gamers want. The deck barely scratches the surface in my opinion.

What few features the Deck lack are largely looked at as non deal breakers. The important stuff is there.

Never checked those two out. Going to take a look. Either way, the Ally beats the deck. 60Hz and poor compatibility and lack of games is a huge deal breaker for me. It’s the MAC of handhelds at this point.

[Boblin the Goblin]

Początkowo opublikowane przez ?legit:

Początkowo opublikowane przez SlowMango:

I'm hoping the Ally doesn't set a trend of just raw power over optimization.

While the Deck doesn't have the raw power, with it's OS being built around optimization of it's hardware. It is able to do things that, on paper, its hardware shouldn't be able to do as well as it does.

What optimization are you talking about? Almost no PC games are optimized for the deck. Steam OS relies on proton which is basically just a windows emulator. Again, where is anything optimized on the deck?

Proton and SteamOS are optimized around using the Deck's hardware. This is why even though the Ally has a decent step up in raw power, it doesn't have an equal step up in game performance.

Even in the video being shown, at equivalent power levels, the fps gain is not huge over the Deck.

[[?]legit]

well said.

[Boblin the Goblin]

Początkowo opublikowane przez KripTed:

Początkowo opublikowane przez Drak3:

Only in price. Otherwise the AOKZOE A1 Pro and GPD Win Max 2 (7840U version) both are a leg up on the Ally.




What few features the Deck lack are largely looked at as non deal breakers. The important stuff is there.

Never checked those two out. Going to take a look. Either way, the Ally beats the deck. 60Hz and poor compatibility and lack of games is a huge deal breaker for me. It’s the MAC of handhelds at this point.

Except the Deck can play x32 games while no Macs can't.

In fact, that statement alone reveals a lot.

[KripTed]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Mr.Gold:

Początkowo opublikowane przez KripTed:

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Haven’t jumped on it yet. As I don’t pre order any item, be that games or hardware. It is on the pricey side. But the quality compared to the deck is definitely worth that extra. I mean the deck is 819$ for me. The ROG is 899. Before taxes. Given the 80 dollars more. It’s well worth it. The ROG ally is a huge stepping stone in terms of PC portable handheld devices. Just wish they made it in black.

What’s sad is that, STEAM is a company which is based on PC for gamers, yet it lacks functions and features PC gamers want. The deck barely scratches the surface in my opinion.

You misunderstood me. I have a deck and super happy with it. It fulfills my needs has all the functions I need as a PC gamer (including trackpads which allow me to play strategy games on the go) and plays all games I want to play at acceptable framrates. A lot of the time I scale down the frame rates to save battery if I am using it on the go.

That price difference is small indeed. In Europe you can buy 2 64GB decks for the price of the Ally and even the most expensive deck is about 150 dollars cheaper which translates to a bunch of games or a dock and an SD card or something else. For that difference, I don't think the Ally is worth it imho. And I came from the camp that was super excited about it but the literal lying and false advertising paired with the disappointing performance (you gain resolution or frames over the steam deck. Not both) pushed me into the "wait and see" camp.

From what I’ve seen. Performance wise, the Ally destroys the Deck. The Deck beats the Ally in low power consumption/wattage and frames. That’s about it. I personally don’t care for the track pad at all. As well as the cooling design and how loud the Steam Deck is. As well as the lack of games and compatibility issues. Like I said previously, the MAC of handheld devices. Oh and thanks for the points by the way. Need them for my other account. :)