Console/Gaming Mode - Set External Monitor Resolution/Refresh?

[Schneider(9er) Zero]

It appears that there is simply no way to specify the resolution and refresh rate output of the steam deck to external monitors while in the 'gaming mode' (rather than desktop mode).

My Steam Deck will default on my tv to 4k30.. which seemingly adds an INSANE amount of input lag while gaming, whether im using a Bluetooth controller or the built in controls. Is that the same experience everyone else is getting? The only way I've been able to fluidly game on the Steam Deck (with my tv) is to go into Desktop mode and manually set the resolution to 1080p@120... then everything feels great.

Is there any hope that we will be able to specify the external monitor output while in gaming mode in the future?

[Schneider(9er) Zero]

引用自 TmTigran：

引用自 Schneider(9er)：

Someone on Reddit told me this.. but I have yet to confirm.

"Yup! Update was pushed at the beginning of the month. In game mode, you can go to a game's Properties page (from the Steam Library) and under General, you can set the target resolution for either when using an external display or all the time. If setting it for an external display, the external screen resolution will be capped to what you configure. The screen resolution will still be the default in handheld mode.

Here's an article on it: https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2022/06/steam-deck-now-lets-you-override-display-resolution-for-games/

No more hacking for custom resolutions in Game Mode!

The only issue with this solution so far is the Game Scope (performance graph tool) is not affected by the custom resolution. If you configured a 4k screen to use 1080p, the Game Scope will use the native resolution and be tiny. This is minor at this point."

This doesn't seem to work for non steam games.

Also for people who have gotten it to work in desktop mode.. How? When I try to use a controller in Desktop mode on any game.. The controllers stay in "Desktop" configuration, and no buttons work, except for start... which is just keybound to escape.

To be frank, I wouldnt expect it to work with non steam games. For non steam games, id just launch in desktop mode always.

[midnightmatrix]

引用自 TmTigran：

引用自 Schneider(9er)：

Someone on Reddit told me this.. but I have yet to confirm.

"Yup! Update was pushed at the beginning of the month. In game mode, you can go to a game's Properties page (from the Steam Library) and under General, you can set the target resolution for either when using an external display or all the time. If setting it for an external display, the external screen resolution will be capped to what you configure. The screen resolution will still be the default in handheld mode.

Here's an article on it: https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2022/06/steam-deck-now-lets-you-override-display-resolution-for-games/

No more hacking for custom resolutions in Game Mode!

The only issue with this solution so far is the Game Scope (performance graph tool) is not affected by the custom resolution. If you configured a 4k screen to use 1080p, the Game Scope will use the native resolution and be tiny. This is minor at this point."

This doesn't seem to work for non steam games.

Also for people who have gotten it to work in desktop mode.. How? When I try to use a controller in Desktop mode on any game.. The controllers stay in "Desktop" configuration, and no buttons work, except for start... which is just keybound to escape.

+1 This is literally the EXACT issue I always run into. Valve: either please add an option to change game scope resolution for non steam games or fix the steam overlay for flatpaks so we can game with a controller in desktop mode

[RelentlesS]

引用自 Schneider(9er)：

引用自 RelentlesS：

Bump as I ran into this issue multiple times now with game mode using an external display, I am able to change the refresh rate to 144hz and the resolution manually in desktop mode, but this doesn't stick for game mode and I am stuck with the 60hz or 30hz and resolution set by steam in game mode. Having the option to manually set my own resolution and refresh rate in game mode would fix this.

try this out... https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2022/06/steam-deck-now-lets-you-override-display-resolution-for-games/

This doesn't work for non-steam games nor does this allow you to change refresh rate and resolution on external displays (example change to 144hz instead of being stuck at 60hz or change to 60hz 1080p instead of 4k 30hz if your display defaults to that in steam game mode.

[Schneider(9er) Zero]

引用自 RelentlesS：

引用自 Schneider(9er)：

try this out... https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2022/06/steam-deck-now-lets-you-override-display-resolution-for-games/

This doesn't work for non-steam games nor does this allow you to change refresh rate and resolution on external displays (example change to 144hz instead of being stuck at 60hz or change to 60hz 1080p instead of 4k 30hz if your display defaults to that in steam game mode.

You're right, but its something..... steam just nneeds to fix this.

[TmTigran]

引用自 Schneider(9er)：

引用自 RelentlesS：

Bump as I ran into this issue multiple times now with game mode using an external display, I am able to change the refresh rate to 144hz and the resolution manually in desktop mode, but this doesn't stick for game mode and I am stuck with the 60hz or 30hz and resolution set by steam in game mode. Having the option to manually set my own resolution and refresh rate in game mode would fix this.

try this out... https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2022/06/steam-deck-now-lets-you-override-display-resolution-for-games/

Sadly, this doesn't work on Non-steam games.. Thus forcing you to go into PC mode, or use Windows.

[RelentlesS]

I wonder if Valve actually reads these requests.

[TmTigran]

引用自 RelentlesS：

I wonder if Valve actually reads these requests.

Probably not.

[Arlen]

Valve not promising 4k gaming on the Deck is not the issue, here. I just want the option to set the resolution no matter what external display I connect to *in game mode.*

Nevermind the games, the game mode UI barely even functions in 4k. Just navigating through the library, settings or the store is painfully laggy and slow. If I hook it up to a 1080p monitor, though, it's perfect.

People have 4k TVs. People will be happy playing in 1080p (or lower) on them. Remote play exists. Just give us a "main / max display resolution when docked" option in the main settings, or something.

[Martin]

I'm almost sure that this feature is on Valve TODO list.

[TmTigran]

引用自 Martin：

I'm almost sure that this feature is on Valve TODO list.

This is something that didn't need to be on a "To Do" list.. It should be one of the things they did as soon as they decided they wanted the deck to connect to TVs.

[Angular Velocity]

Please give an option for max resolution in gaming mode. Many different friend groups of mine have witnessed the deck fail at connecting to a TV, followed by me troubleshooting and giving excuses. I've tried different docks and HDMI cables, and this always happens. 1080p monitors/TVs work great.

This has been a constant problem for me as I only connect the Deck when with friends and they see my collection, and ask to play something together. I come prepared with a hub and hdmi, only to find out they have a 4K TV and there is no way to set the resolution in gaming mode. This leads to me having to explain why this simple process isn't working because this limitation breaks most emulation, and makes it a bad experience for normal steam games. I then try to switch to desktop mode, and big picture is such a bad experience too, it takes over a minute to load, and the controllers do not reliably hook into the game. The recent addition of overriding the game resolution has no effect on this problem. In addition the collections page is a slow mess at this resolution with many games installed.

[Schneider(9er) Zero]

引用自 Angular Velocity：

Please give an option for max resolution in gaming mode. Many different friend groups of mine have witnessed the deck fail at connecting to a TV, followed by me troubleshooting and giving excuses. I've tried different docks and HDMI cables, and this always happens. 1080p monitors/TVs work great.

This has been a constant problem for me as I only connect the Deck when with friends and they see my collection, and ask to play something together. I come prepared with a hub and hdmi, only to find out they have a 4K TV and there is no way to set the resolution in gaming mode. This leads to me having to explain why this simple process isn't working because this limitation breaks most emulation, and makes it a bad experience for normal steam games. I then try to switch to desktop mode, and big picture is such a bad experience too, it takes over a minute to load, and the controllers do not reliably hook into the game. The recent addition of overriding the game resolution has no effect on this problem. In addition the collections page is a slow mess at this resolution with many games installed.

Dang, that sounds rough. For me, desktop mode with big picture works just fine... interesting. I just manually set the resolution/refresh rate in desktop mode with the mentioned linux commands earlier in this thread.

[Marlock]

yes, desktop mode behaves just fine, like is expected of usual linux distros... it's just Valve that is being slow to reinvent the wheel in Gaming Mode

ps: there has been a recent update offering resolution configs, but probably in beta

[TmTigran]

引用自 Marlock：

yes, desktop mode behaves just fine, like is expected of usual linux distros... it's just Valve that is being slow to reinvent the wheel in Gaming Mode

ps: there has been a recent update offering resolution configs, but probably in beta

The config thing is... Weird.. I won't say it's "stupid" but I don't think it works.

1) Doesn't seem to work on non steam games *so no go for emulators*

2) You can set the "GAMES" resolution to be 480 screen.. but the deck still seems to send out a 4k signal, still causing the same issues.

[Schneider(9er) Zero]

引用自 TmTigran：

引用自 Marlock：

yes, desktop mode behaves just fine, like is expected of usual linux distros... it's just Valve that is being slow to reinvent the wheel in Gaming Mode

ps: there has been a recent update offering resolution configs, but probably in beta

The config thing is... Weird.. I won't say it's "stupid" but I don't think it works.

1) Doesn't seem to work on non steam games *so no go for emulators*

2) You can set the "GAMES" resolution to be 480 screen.. but the deck still seems to send out a 4k signal, still causing the same issues.

If you manually set the resolution in desktop mode, it will absolutely not send out a 4k signal unless you tell it to.