Tushar Mehta / Android Authority
TL;DR Bazzite, a Steam-like Linux-based operating system, was installed on a ROG Xbox Ally X.
It appears the OS may offer better gaming performance than Windows.
Bazzite also wakes faster, offers more control, and may be slightly more energy-efficient.
When the ROG Xbox Ally X launched, it received a lot of mixed reviews. While many found the hardware to be fine, it’s the software that has been the main sticking point. It features a lightweight version of Windows that comes with an Xbox full-screen experience, which is meant to optimize the operating system for handheld gaming. However, this experience doesn’t quite land the plane. To see if Windows is really what’s keeping this device from reaching its true potential, some creators tried installing a Steam-like OS based on Linux called Bazzite.
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Two YouTubers who go by ETA Prime and Cyber Dopamine (via Windows Central) decided to try and install Bazzite on their ROG Xbox Ally X. They were able to install the OS successfully with little to no issues. They then began testing Bazzite to see how it compares to Windows.
Not only does Bazzite offer a clean interface that’s friendly for controllers, but it also offers more control over the hardware. You can adjust various settings such as TDP limits, GPU frequency caps, and fan curves. Other settings, like RGB lighting control, are also being worked on by the Bazzite team.
Another area of improvement is how fast you can put the device to sleep and come back to where you left off. In Cyber Dopamine’s video, he points out that you can wake the device almost instantly and start playing. Windows, on the other hand, can take much longer to wake up.
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