HandheldPicksThe four power modes explained
The ROG Ally X has three preset TDP profiles plus a Manual mode. Here's what each one actually does:
| Mode | TDP | Use case | Expected battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silent | 13W | Indie games, emulation, video | 5-7 hours |
| Performance | 17W | Most older AAA games | 3.5-4.5 hours |
| Turbo | 25W | Modern AAA, demanding games | 2-3 hours |
| Manual (custom) | up to 30W | Maximum performance | 1.5-2 hours |
These numbers are CPU+GPU TDP, not total system draw. Total system draw is roughly TDP + 5-7W (display, RAM, WiFi).
How to switch profiles
Three ways:
- Command Center: Press the three-line button on the left of the Ally X. The TDP profile is at the top. Use the d-pad to switch.
- Per-game profiles in Armoury Crate: Go to Armoury Crate → Game Library → select a game → set its default TDP. It'll auto-apply when you launch.
- Keyboard shortcut: F4 cycles through profiles when in-game.
I recommend setting per-game profiles in Armoury Crate. Once configured, you don't think about it again.
Real benchmarks: which TDP for which game
Tested across 30+ games at 1080p. Here are the results for popular titles. Settings unless noted: medium preset, FSR 2 (Quality), 1080p.
Modern AAA (need 25W+)
| Game | 17W | 25W | 30W |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 28 fps | 42 fps | 47 fps |
| Starfield | 24 fps | 35 fps | 39 fps |
| Baldur's Gate 3 (combat) | 32 fps | 48 fps | 53 fps |
| Hogwarts Legacy | 26 fps | 41 fps | 45 fps |
| Helldivers 2 | 35 fps | 52 fps | 57 fps |
For these games, 25W Turbo is the right baseline. 30W only gives ~10% more frames for 30%+ more battery drain — not worth it unless docked.
Mid-tier (17W is enough)
| Game | 13W | 17W | 25W |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elden Ring | 38 fps | 55 fps | 60 fps (capped) |
| Diablo IV | 42 fps | 60 fps | 60 fps (capped) |
| Doom Eternal | 48 fps | 60 fps | 60 fps (capped) |
| Resident Evil 4 Remake | 35 fps | 52 fps | 60 fps (capped) |
For these games, 17W Performance hits 60fps without breaking a sweat. Save the battery.
Indie / older (13W Silent is the move)
| Game | 13W |
|---|---|
| Hades II | 60 fps locked |
| Vampire Survivors | 60 fps locked |
| Stardew Valley | 60 fps locked |
| Hollow Knight | 60 fps locked |
| Disco Elysium | 60 fps locked |
| Dead Cells | 60 fps locked |
Don't use Turbo for these. You'll cut battery life in half for zero frame benefit.
Recommended Manual mode profile
If you want to set up a custom Manual profile that beats Turbo without the heat of full 30W:
CPU TDP (sustained): 27W
CPU TDP (boost): 30W
GPU clock: Auto
Fan curve: Custom (max 60% above 75°C)
This delivers 96% of 30W performance at noticeably better thermals and fan noise. I run this as my "maximum mode" on modern AAA games.
Game-specific tweaks
Some games respond unusually to TDP changes:
Starfield
Caps out around 35fps regardless of TDP above 25W. CPU-bound on the Ally X. Save the battery — 25W is enough.
Cyberpunk 2077
Benefits from FSR 3 frame generation more than additional TDP. Enable FSR 3 in graphics settings, drop to 25W, and you'll hit 50-55fps.
Helldivers 2
Use 30W Turbo + High graphics. The game is well-optimized and the Ally X handles it surprisingly well.
Anything from Bethesda (Skyrim, Fallout 4)
ENB-modded loads benefit hugely from 30W. Vanilla loads are fine at 17W.
Battery vs performance tradeoff
The relationship between TDP and battery isn't linear. Here's what I've measured (battery drain per hour of gameplay):
- 13W Silent: 13Wh/hr (~6 hours from full)
- 17W Performance: 18Wh/hr (~4.5 hours)
- 25W Turbo: 28Wh/hr (~2.8 hours)
- 30W Manual: 38Wh/hr (~2 hours)
Going from 25W to 30W is a 36% battery hit for 8-12% more frames. Almost never worth it on battery.
When to plug in
If you're docked or near a charger, the answer is always 30W (or the custom 27W/30W Manual profile). The Ally X charges fast enough that you can play at full power while charging.
For travel: 17W Performance is the sweet spot. You get 4+ hours of usable gaming, and 17W handles 80% of titles at 60fps.
Bottom line
Default to per-game TDP profiles in Armoury Crate. Set demanding AAA titles to 25W Turbo, mid-tier games to 17W Performance, and indie/older titles to 13W Silent. You'll get the best of all worlds without thinking about it after initial setup.