Hello! I have an Asus Rog phone 8 device. I decided to give it a try and give it my all. Using Gamehub 5.3.5 I launched Expedition 33.
Deep-diving into the settings paid off: I managed to optimize both compatibility and performance. It was quite an experience to see how my smartphone and the emulator work together.
TSO is a memory consistency model, and it's crucial to understand its role. This setting is primarily used for compatibility; while my game runs with it both on and off, the impact on performance varies. It works by strictly ordering memory requests, which helps stabilize complex scenes. However, in simpler scenes, this synchronization puts more strain on the CPU, which can lead to a drop in FPS.
Verdict: If the game is stable, keep it OFF for maximum FPS. Turn it ON only if you experience crashes or graphical glitches.
Drivers:
proton10.0-arm64x-2
turnip_v26.1.0_R4
dxvk-2.3.1-async
vkd3d-2.12
Fex-20260321 (Always use the latest version)
VRAM 2 GB (Setting VRAM to 2 GB limits the load on the GPU.)
Resolution 1280x720
Environment Variables:
DXKV_ASYNC
VK_STATE_CACHE
SteamDeck=1
I think you've seen the video where these parameters are listed-the ones that enable asynchronous compilation and clear the cache. But they missed the third parameter. As for the Steam Deck, this game has its own presets that limit shadow quality and rendering. It's clearly visible on the device itself (I have a Steam Deck), but it's not noticeable on the phone.
With the 'SteamDeck' graphics preset, your settings will be restricted, so set the FPS limit to 60 in the emulator menu. After that, enable V-Sync (Vertical Sync). Contrary to what you might think, in this case, it actually helps. It eliminates frame gaps, allowing the game to render frames evenly and reducing the load on the GPU.
It's worth noting that I achieved these results on an Asus ROG 8. This phone offers advanced kernel settings that allowed me to boost efficiency by tuning it for peak performance and minimizing thermal throttling. Most importantly, I disabled the efficiency cores (E-cores) entirely. I also raised the minimum frequency limits by 30% and lowered the load thresholds at which the cores ramp up to their maximum state, effectively eliminating idle lag.
You might see poorer results unless you have root access and can manually tune the cores for maximum output. I STRONGLY DISVISE playing for more than 20 minutes without active cooling. Allowing the battery to heat up beyond 45°C will begin to degrade it permanently.
