Photo by ROG Ally Z1 vs. Steam Deck: A GPU Compute Battle
In a recent showdown between the Asus ROG Ally Z1 and the Steam Deck, Chips and Cheese conducted GPU compute benchmarks to compare the performance of these two entry-level PC handhelds. The tests, using Nemes’ Vulkan benchmark suite, aimed to evaluate various aspects of GPU performance, shedding light on how these devices stack up against each other.
Asus ROG Ally Z1 and Steam Deck
Breaking Down the Benchmarks
Chips and Cheese ran a series of tests, including Vulkan Floating Point Compute Throughput, Vulkan Integer Compute Throughput, Vulkan Cache and Memory Latency, Vulkan Cache and Memory Bandwidth, Memory Bandwidth to Compute Ratio, and CPU to GPU Link Bandwidth. Each test focused on different aspects of GPU performance, providing valuable insights into the strengths and weaknesses of the ROG Ally Z1 and the Steam Deck.
“The newer iGPU architecture nets a lead in some areas, but the Deck remains competitive and in some tests outright wins due to having more Compute Units on hand.”
Performance Comparison
In the Vulkan Throughput testing, the Z1 ROG Ally and the Steam Deck traded blows depending on the workload. While the Z1 Ally showcased superior latency in Cache and Memory testing, the Steam Deck excelled in certain areas due to its higher number of Compute Units. The Memory Bandwidth to Compute Ratio testing highlighted the architectural efficiency of the devices, with the Z1 Ally presenting a different ratio compared to high-end desktop GPUs like the RX 6900 XT.
“The common wisdom for handheld PC gaming purposes at this point is that the Steam Deck is your best bet for an entry-level experience.”
Making the Choice
Ultimately, the benchmark results suggest that for handheld gaming, the Steam Deck offers a more optimal gaming performance compared to the ROG Ally Z1. While the Z1 Extreme Ally provides better performance when plugged into a power source, the standard Z1 Ally falls short in gaming performance when compared to the Steam Deck.
If users are looking for enhanced performance, investing in the Z1 Extreme Ally might be a better choice, as it outperforms the non-Extreme version and offers a more competitive edge against the Steam Deck.
Stay tuned for more updates on the latest in handheld gaming technology and performance benchmarks.
