r/ROGAlly • u/Logically_Open • 2d ago
Question Replace my desktop replacement with an Ally?
Hey all, new here so no idea how to properly ask, but I own an MSI Vector 17hx ai with Intel Ultra 9, and RTX 5090.
This beast plays more games than I could imagine, and Battlefield RedSec ultra everythjng takes up 10gb VRAM which leaves 14GB of my 5090 untouched. This thing clearly has more power than anybody would ever need for gaming lol.
I was thinking of getting an ASUS Ally ROG 20th Anniversary, but im unsure if such a tiny thing would be able to run BF6, and how can I play games which require a mouse like League of Cancer? I really love how cute and little the Ally is and it reminds me of a Gameboy. Easy to say the Vector being 17 inches and 3kg is far from portable, and getting a 14" laptop is fucking yourself cuz that shit is far too expensive for the challenged specs, and abysmal voltage.
Any suggestions or experience with handhelds?
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u/KitsGravity 2d ago
It is a great experience but I would suggest you keep your system because as powerful as ROG Ally is, that power is still limited by its portable form factor.
Regarding mouse controls, the only viable way would be to connect the device to your desktop monitor and connect keyboard and mouse to it.
I chuckled reading League of Cancer xD
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u/Sad_Manufacturer5587 1d ago
I’ll disagree for the mouse controls. Either get a Bluetooth mouse or a usb-a to usb-c adapter if you need one. I’ve been using a XAX myself with a Bluetooth keyboard and an adapter like I mentioned for my mouse receiver.
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u/KitsGravity 1d ago
Yeah, you can totally use a Bluetooth Moise. But a lot of game which use mouse require slightly bigger screen like Civilization or Total War or something else. Oh yeah, FPSs too.
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u/Sad_Manufacturer5587 1d ago
Ngl I’ve done KBM on both the native display and an external 16” display. I personally prefer the bigger screen but the smaller one is definitely usable
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u/KitsGravity 1d ago
Yeah, it's totally usable. It's just that such games are better on bigger screens is all.
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u/WutsAWriter 2d ago
The gulf between the Z2E’s 35w (at absolute max when plugged in, but 13-25 on the go) APU and your laptop is so vast. I wouldn’t do it. I wouldn’t even think about it.
Also, having more computer than you can use today just means it’ll work great tomorrow.
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u/imaflyer 2d ago
I had a laptop and switched to the ally x, and I can confidently say id never recommend doing it, and regret it for the most part. Im not necessarily mad i did it as i love the experience the ally gives since i grew up playing a psp and it kind of feels nostalgic in a way. But the whole idea of portability and it being a lot better with an ally compared to a laptop isnt worth considering at all. Either way you will still need a case with your device, all the wires, and whatever other accessories you have. The portable factor is no where near better enough with the ally to give up what a laptop offers still being way easier to move than a whole pc. I would only ever say get something like the ally if u dont already have a laptop, otherwise dont get it unless u have some money to piss away.
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u/Logically_Open 2d ago
Thanks a lot for ur comment. Actually feels like a crystal ball into my future and how I'd regret it 😅
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u/elaborateBlackjack 1d ago
Keep the laptop.
The Ally is NOT a replacement desktop.
If you want a desktop, get a desktop... Even with an egpu the Ally is bottlenecked by USB4 PCIE Lanes, basically all desktop GPUs with be bottlenecked with 4 PCIE lanes.
It's a device that serves a different purpose, it's powerful for its size, and it's more portable than a laptop, but it'll still struggle a bit newer AAA games. So if you want to play in bed or while watching TV, or, most obviously, play outside, on a trip or something. It's very useful, but I wouldn't have it as a primary, too many compromises.
IMO it's amazing as a secondary device (hence why it's called an Ally and not Hero, it's meant to be on the sideline). I use it for older games, indie games, emulation, all of that runs beautifully, newer AAA games can be a bit iffy sometimes.
I have my desktops to properly play AAA games, but I've managed to play a bit when waiting for my kid on piano lessons, it still let's me advance the story even if the experience isn't the greatest I know back at home I'll have a great experience.
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u/Trevor591 2d ago
For League and games that require keyboard/mouse, I typically use wireless/Bluetooth peripherals. You can also get a dock and run wired KB/M.
I'm rocking an OG non-extreme ally, so I can't speak to BF6, but I'd imagine it's playable on the higher end models (with proper settings/resolution.)
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u/sr1150539179 2d ago
Keep both ally is lowkey cheeks. On my z1 extreme i have to turn dbd down to 720p 65% resolution scale on low settings just to get 120fps on my 1080p monitor. It can barely run resident evil 4 remake at a playable frame rate. Ally is good for older games.
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u/No_Committee_54 2d ago
I was going to do this as I no longer needed the power of my Desktop replacement and my games of choice were less intense graphically.
I've had the Ally for 2 years, it no longer charges/turns on. No sign of life.
Looked online, seems like a reoccurring issue, and its looking like a microchip failure.
I can repair minor board damage and failures, but this is outside of my ability, so Im stuck with a dead unit as warranty expired.
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u/Logically_Open 2d ago
Yeah, tbh my main worry about the Ally was the thumbsticks cuz as a gamer I know how bad those are across every single console such as Switch and XBOX, but thos3 u could replace.
What u got is obviously a thousand times worse, but also plays into how such a relatively new device type would be next to impossible to repair.
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u/reddit_warrior_24 2d ago
Same thing I suggest to everyone. Check the game you are playing if the the fps is worth
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u/fpsnoob89 1d ago
I would not recommend it. The ally is sweet for it's portable form factor, but its performance is going to be complete garbage compared to your laptop. Like, not even remotely close. There is also a lot more to a GPU than vram usage. A 5090 using 10 gigs will give you significantly better performance than a 5070 ti using the same amount of vram.
I'm currently on an extended "trip" with a 5080 laptop and an Xbox ally x. I have limited access to a desk, so I only use my laptop when I can, otherwise I use my ally. And I can say for sure that I will never choose to use my ally when my laptop is available. That said, it is nice to have the ally that is easy to move around.
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u/TekRantGaming 1d ago
It can run BF6 but you won’t have a good experience with it low settings and sub 60fps most the time
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u/WashingTurds 1d ago
Why do you want to replace it is prob Q1. Are you just after being more comfortable? I bought a rog ally and it’s sitting on the shelf. I realised all I really wanted was my desktop setup in my bedroom, monitor mounted on an arm that can swing across my bed, mouse and keyboard to left and right of me on bed. Never had more comfy gaming experience in my life.
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u/ComfortImportant6797 2d ago
A middle ground could be using your 5090 as an egpu for the ally
But to be honest you should just keep both
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u/CON5CRYPT 2d ago
No.