This Asus ROG Ally mod can boost speed by 17%

One courageous Asus ROG Ally proprietor has proven that with sufficient ability and persistence you’ll be able to double the unit’s reminiscence from 16GB to 32GB all whereas growing its pace too. Why would you need to do that? Nicely, some video games profit from extra reminiscence plus the quicker reminiscence pace helps increase graphics pace too, as units like this don’t have separate VRAM however as a substitute depend on important system reminiscence.

The Asus ROG Ally is among the many hottest Home windows-based gaming handhelds, with it following within the footsteps of the wildly fashionable Linux-based Steam Deck and competing with the upcoming Lenovo Legion Go.

With its AMD Ryzen Z1 Excessive processor (with built-in graphics), 7-inch 1080p display screen, and 16GB of 6,400MHz LPDDR5 reminiscence, it’s already a way more highly effective unit than the Steam Deck and matches the Legion Go for processor specs. Nevertheless, for these customers that simply need extra, this Asus ROG Ally reminiscence mod could possibly be an possibility, when you’re feeling courageous.

This mod was carried out by YouTuber SlickBuys Mods and Repairs, with them showing the newly put in reminiscence being acknowledged by the system and dealing correctly. Nevertheless, considerably frustratingly, they didn’t do any earlier than and after benchmarks, so it’s not clear if there’s any real-world efficiency enhance by switching from 16 to 32GB and from 6400MHz reminiscence to 7,500MHz reminiscence – a 17% enhance.

To carry out the mod, they needed to fully disassemble the hand-held to entry the motherboard. They then wanted to warmth up the reminiscence chips to soften the solder beneath them, utilizing a precision scorching air gun. As soon as eliminated, the solder joints should be cleaned up, with any current solder eliminated, and the floor usually made good and recent. Then it’s time to put the brand new reminiscence chips into place and warmth them once more to soften the pre-installed solder balls. A BIOS reflash can also be required – utilizing a device accessible for $10 through Aliexpress.

It’s clearly a fiddly course of with loads of potential for slip-ups, although no notably specialist tools is required. Nonetheless, with out understanding fairly what the efficiency good points is perhaps, we’d be inclined to ask an expert to do it, moderately than take the chance, given this can be a $699 gaming handheld. SlickBuys Mods and Repairs suggests some attainable restore retailers in numerous locations around the world that may have the ability to carry out the improve for you.

Would you be tempted by such an Asus ROG Ally mod? If not, you would possibly need to await the Lenovo Legion Go to no less than get 7,500MHz reminiscence in your gaming handheld, with none modification required. In any other case, the Steam Deck OLED is presently our best choice for gaming handhelds, because of its nice display screen, much-improved battery life, and huge listing of suitable video games.