ASUS ROG Ally X Upgrade Guide: RAM, SSD and CPU

Lifecycle and support

A current model: sold new and supported.

Dates not listed haven't been published by the manufacturer or a reliable third party.

Storage: M.2 2280 NVMe SSD and microSD

The Ally X has a single M.2 slot that takes a standard 2280 NVMe drive over PCIe 4.0 x4. There is no second slot, so a bigger SSD means taking out the factory drive and putting the new one in its place. ASUS says the Ally X supports the standard M.2 2280 form factor so you can upgrade later. Only 2280 is documented; shorter lengths such as 2230 or 2242 are not mentioned, and SATA M.2 drives are not mentioned either, so stick with an NVMe 2280 drive.

ASUS does not state a maximum capacity for upgrades, and we found no stated thickness or thermal limit for the drive. The largest factory capacity listed is 2TB. Factory SSD size varies by region: ASUS's US and Canada pages list 1TB and 2TB versions, the Global and Philippines pages list only 1TB, and some marketing pages say "up to 1TB".

For extra space without opening the unit, there is one UHS-II microSD slot that supports SD, SDXC and SDHC cards. Real speeds depend on the card you choose.

Buying tips

• Buy an NVMe M.2 2280 drive with a PCIe 4.0 x4 interface.
• Skip 2230, 2242 and SATA M.2 drives; ASUS documents only 2280.
• Pick the capacity you need up front if you'd rather not swap the drive again.
• For a microSD card, look for UHS-II if you want the slot's top speeds, but expect speeds to vary by card.
• Remember the old drive is removed, so plan how to move or reinstall your games and Windows.

How to upgrade

Before you start

• Back up your saves, files and anything else you want to keep; the factory drive is replaced, not added to.
• Consider creating Windows recovery media or checking ASUS support for a recovery option before you swap the drive.
• ASUS support is the place to check before opening the unit; we found no official service guide or word on how opening it affects your warranty.
• Have the owner's manual or ASUS's support guidance handy for exact disassembly.
• Work on a clean, well-lit surface with a small precision screwdriver set and an anti-static strap or mat if you have one.

Steps

1. Back up your data
   Copy saves, game libraries and settings to another drive or cloud storage. Have recovery media ready so you can reinstall Windows on the new drive.
2. Power off and unplug
   Shut the Ally X down completely (not sleep), then disconnect the charger and any accessories plugged into the USB ports.
3. Ground yourself
   Touch a bare metal object or wear an anti-static strap before handling internal parts. Hold the SSD by its edges.
4. Open the case
   Follow ASUS's official guidance or the owner's manual for removing the back cover. We found no published steps for which screws or shields to remove, so don't guess.
5. Swap the SSD
   Remove the factory M.2 2280 drive and fit your new NVMe 2280 drive in the same slot, making sure it is seated and secured the way the original was.
6. Close the case
   Refit any shields or covers you removed, then close the case and replace the screws without overtightening.
7. Check that it's detected
   Power on and open the BIOS or Windows Disk Management to confirm the new drive appears at its full capacity. Then reinstall Windows and your games.

Good to know

• We found no official ASUS service guide for opening the Ally X, so exact screws, shields and the warranty impact of swapping the SSD are unconfirmed. Check ASUS support first.
• ASUS lists different SSD capacities by region, and says specs vary by market and model and are subject to change.
• ASUS's spec pages say LPDDR5 while its marketing pages say LPDDR5X 7500; the exact memory type is not consistently stated.
• We could not confirm whether the Ally X has any proprietary expansion connector.

Frequently asked questions

How much RAM can the ROG Ally X take?

It can't take any more. The 24GB of memory (2x12GB, dual channel) is soldered to the board, so there is no slot to add or replace RAM.

Is the ROG Ally X RAM LPDDR5 or LPDDR5X?

ASUS is inconsistent. The spec pages say LPDDR5, while the product pages and a retailer datasheet say LPDDR5X at 7500. LPDDR5X is most likely correct, and the 7500 figure is probably a data rate in MT/s rather than a clock speed. Either way, it can't be upgraded.

Can I upgrade the ROG Ally X SSD?

Yes. It has one M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe slot, and ASUS says the standard 2280 size allows future upgrades. You replace the factory drive, as there is no second slot.

What is the largest SSD the ROG Ally X supports?

ASUS doesn't state a maximum capacity for upgrades. The largest factory option listed is 2TB, and we found no stated thickness or thermal limit for replacement drives.

Does the ROG Ally X support M.2 2230 or 2242 SSDs?

Only the 2280 size is documented. Shorter lengths aren't mentioned, so choose a 2280 NVMe drive.

Can I upgrade the ROG Ally X CPU?

Nothing in ASUS's documents describes a user-replaceable processor or CPU socket, so you should treat the processor as fixed. The Ryzen Z1 Extreme's integrated graphics also share the soldered memory pool.

Official documents and references

• ASUS ROG Ally X specifications (US)
  Official specs for memory, M.2 slot, microSD and ports
• ASUS ROG Ally X specifications (Global)
  Global spec page with 1TB SSD listing
• ASUS ROG Ally X specifications (Canada)
  Spec page listing 1TB and 2TB entries
• ASUS ROG Ally X product page (India)
  ASUS statement on M.2 2280 upgrades and 24GB memory
• ASUS ROG Ally X product page (New Zealand)
  Marketing page with LPDDR5X 7500 and Gen4x4 NVMe details
• ROG Ally X retailer datasheet
  Third-party datasheet with memory, weight and battery details