ASUS ROG Ally handheld debuts with Ryzen Z1 non-Extreme APU, priced at $599

ASUS introduces the budget-friendly RC71L-Z1512 ROG Ally handheld console with a Ryzen Z1 processor, offering slightly reduced GPU performance and a $100 lower price tag.

Equipped with 6-core Zen4/Zen4c APU and 4 RDNA3 compute units
7-inch 120Hz display with a 1080p resolution
Supports AMD FreeSync Premium, FSR (FidelityFX) and RSR (Radeon) Super Resolution technologies

ASUS has launched a more affordable version of their ROG Ally handheld device, featuring the Ryzen Z1 processor. This handheld console, known as the RC71L-Z1512, is now available for purchase or pre-order, depending on the region and retailer.

The RC71L-Z1512 is equipped with a 6-core Zen4/Zen4c APU and 4 RDNA3 Compute Units, providing a slightly lower GPU performance compared to the higher-end Ryzen Z1 Extreme variant. However, this reduction in performance comes with a $100 lower price tag. Both variants of the console come with 512GB of storage, although there is no information on the availability of other storage options at this time.

The ROG Ally consoles feature a 7-inch 120Hz display with a 1080p resolution. As they are built on AMD hardware, they offer support for AMD FreeSync Premium, as well as FSR (FidelityFX) and RSR (Radeon) Super Resolution technologies. The platform is equipped with 16GB of LPDDR5-6400 memory, which cannot be manually upgraded.

Similar to the higher-end variant, the Ryzen Z1 Extreme, the Z1 model also supports XG Mobile external GPU support. This allows users to connect ASUS-supplied external graphics for enhanced performance on high-resolution external monitors.

The console is now available for purchase from BestBuy and the ASUS official store in the US. Customers from other countries can find participating retailers through the ASUS website.

Overall, the launch of the more affordable ROG Ally handheld device with the Ryzen Z1 processor offers gamers a budget-friendly option without compromising on performance.

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Background Information

About AMD: AMD, a large player in the semiconductor industry is known for its powerful processors and graphic solutions, AMD has consistently pushed the boundaries of performance, efficiency, and user experience. With a customer-centric approach, the company has cultivated a reputation for delivering high-performance solutions that cater to the needs of gamers, professionals, and general users. AMD's Ryzen series of processors have redefined the landscape of desktop and laptop computing, offering impressive multi-core performance and competitive pricing that has challenged the dominance of its competitors. Complementing its processor expertise, AMD's Radeon graphics cards have also earned accolades for their efficiency and exceptional graphical capabilities, making them a favored choice among gamers and content creators. The company's commitment to innovation and technology continues to shape the client computing landscape, providing users with powerful tools to fuel their digital endeavors.

About ASUS: ASUS, founded in 1989 by Ted Hsu, M.T. Liao, Wayne Hsieh, and T.H. Tung, has become a multinational tech giant known for its diverse hardware products. Spanning laptops, motherboards, graphics cards, and more, ASUS has gained recognition for its innovation and commitment to high-performance computing solutions. The company has a significant presence in gaming technology, producing popular products that cater to enthusiasts and professionals alike. With a focus on delivering and reliable technology, ASUS maintains its position as a important player in the industry.

Technology Explained

APU: An APU, or Accelerated Processing Unit, is a type of processor that combines a CPU and a GPU on a single chip. This type of processor is becoming increasingly popular in the computer industry due to its ability to provide both computing and graphics processing power in a single package. APUs are used in a variety of applications, from gaming PCs to high-end workstations. They are also used in embedded systems, such as those found in smartphones and tablets. The combination of CPU and GPU on a single chip allows for more efficient power consumption and better performance than traditional CPUs. Additionally, APUs are often used in conjunction with other components, such as RAM and storage, to create powerful and efficient systems.

Compute Units: Compute Units (CUs) are a type of processor technology used in the computer industry. They are designed to provide high-performance computing capabilities for a variety of applications. CUs are typically used in graphics processing units (GPUs) and are responsible for the majority of the processing power in modern gaming systems. CUs are also used in other areas of the computer industry, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analysis. CUs are designed to be highly efficient and can provide significant performance gains over traditional CPUs. They are also capable of handling multiple tasks simultaneously, making them ideal for applications that require high levels of parallel processing.

FreeSync: FreeSync is a technology developed by AMD that helps create an amazing gaming or multimedia experience by synchronizing the refresh rate of a display device with the frame rate of a graphics device. It reduces input lag, stutter, and tearing of the screen, allowing for smooth, clear visuals. The technology is now widely used in PC monitors and televisions to provide an enhanced gaming experience. FreeSync helps reduce gaming input latency, meaning gamers can have better, faster reactions, and more accurate gameplay. This technology is highly beneficial for competitive gamers and is one of the reasons why PCs can still compete with consoles. Additionally, FreeSync helps reduce eye strain, allowing users to game or watch movies more comfortably for longer periods of time.

FSR: AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) is a type of rendering technique that looks to boost framerates in games and enable quality high-resolution gaming. It is an software upscaling technology, designed to improve the performance of games without loss of image quality and graphical detail. It works by rendering frames at a lower resolution and then using an open-source spatial upscaling algorithm to make the game look as though it's running at a higher resolution13. It is different from Nvidia's DLSS, which uses machine learning and temporal upscaling to achieve similar results. FSR is part of AMD's FidelityFX image toolkit and does not require specific training or special-purpose logic within the GPU. AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) scales across a broad spectrum of new and older products, including integrated graphics, and is optimized for AMD RDNA and AMD RDNA 2 architecture-based Radeon RX 6000 and RX 5000 Series graphics cards. FSR is also supported on select NVIDIA graphics cards.

GPU: GPU stands for Graphics Processing Unit and is a specialized type of processor designed to handle graphics-intensive tasks. It is used in the computer industry to render images, videos, and 3D graphics. GPUs are used in gaming consoles, PCs, and mobile devices to provide a smooth and immersive gaming experience. They are also used in the medical field to create 3D models of organs and tissues, and in the automotive industry to create virtual prototypes of cars. GPUs are also used in the field of artificial intelligence to process large amounts of data and create complex models. GPUs are becoming increasingly important in the computer industry as they are able to process large amounts of data quickly and efficiently.

Radeon: AMD Radeon, a product line by Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), consists of graphics processing units (GPUs) recognized for their strong performance in gaming, content creation, and professional applications. Powered by innovative technologies like the RDNA architecture, Radeon GPUs deliver efficient and powerful graphics processing. The brand also supports features like FreeSync, enhancing visual fluidity and reducing screen tearing during gaming. Moreover, AMD Radeon GPUs embrace real-time ray tracing for heightened realism in lighting and reflections. With a balance between price and performance, Radeon competes with NVIDIA's GeForce graphics cards and remains a popular choice for a wide range of users.

RSR: Radeon Super Resolution (RSR) is an in-driver upscaling feature that uses the same algorithm found in our AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) technology. RSR works by upscaling lower resolutions set in-game to the native resolution of the active display, providing higher FPS performance. RSR can be configured globally so the effects will be applied to all compatible games. It can also be separately customized for individual games using AMD Software application profiles.